sugar's P.o.V.
I woke up at Luscious' in my new room and all I could think about was Hakeem . I wanted everything about him and I pushed it down to be Drae . Luscious was not there when I got here but I expect him to be there at breakfast . I waited it out till the last minute and came downstairs to see him in a suit finishing his meal.
"You look cute" he says to me . I look at my jeans and tank t-shirt and shrug . I sit at the table and begin to fill my plate when Angel walks in with his crew .
"Angel, hi" he says . I look at him and stand and he smiles at me as Luscious takes his hand to shake up.
"I didn't know you would be here " Angel said .
"Drae is actually a friend of the family so she stays with us, got her out here to better things" Luscious says . "We actually won't be long if you two want too..."
"Well Drae if you free " he says and I nod . He smiles and then him and Luscious go into the other room . I sit down to eat when Cookie comes in , screaming my name .
"YARA" she screams .
"In here " I say and she comes in .
" Now baby I know that Hakeem can be a hard time but you have to understand .."she starts .
"Cookie" she stops talking as I say her name . "Hakeem is my first boyfriend and now it's time to get over it "
"Awe baby you don't mean that , you'll always love your first love" she said .
"Well I'm going to try with Angel, as Drae " I said . " Yara is gone when Hakeem picked Tiana, Im pretty sure I will be Drae now "
"Yara" she says . " You know what , you just need time"she takes step back from me. " Angel should be really nice , and I'mma still make sure you're taken care of" she said .
"Thank you Cookie" I said . "Hakeem made his decision and I'm just trying to look out for me" I said . "Because he is not". She nodded . "Well let me go talk to Luscious"
She leaves the room and I feel myself wanting to cry . I missed Hakeem so much . We never really got time together once he left and it was killing me but I sucked it up , and turned to the Butler , Martin .
"Yes miss" he says . The older man steps closer and I wave him closer .
"Today is starting Heavy as a empire employee Martin you know ." I say .I thought of the story Jamal mentioned once of Martin slipping alcohol during the shift and giving some to Jamal and Hakeem. He nodded . "Grab us something , to make it easy"
He nods and walks into the kitchen then comes back with a glass of orange juice . I taste it and it had whiskey . He winked and went back to his post and I downed it .
"Really , Martin" Jamal says behind me as I finish . I jump and he laughs at me as I choke a little on the last of my juice . He sits down and grabs some toast .
"So you and Hakeem broke up" he said .
"Did he tell you?" I asked .
"No" he laughed " he went out last night , you need to go home " .
"He's got Tiana" I said . " And I don't want to be the side chick "
"Tiana is business Sugar, she's the side chick " he laughs . "And you know that , Luscious probably told you first "
"Jamal I'm business" I said . " And I don't belong to Hakeem , I belong to Luscious "
"You don't really feel that way do you?" he asked .
"You want to know why I tell little stories to explain situations Jamal" I asked rhetorically. "Because that's all I know, I can't remember my past. I remember these stories and a box opening to Thirsty. And him saying I belong to Luscious and my name is Yara and Hakeem is my man . So, yes I'm business . The binder I received with information about y'all , the way that I'm Drae at Empire and Yara at home , all apart of my job in this business . So , I'm whatever Role , Luscious needs and he needs Drae , and I need to change my outfit for me to win over Angel " I say .
"Well Sugar , if you ever want to fall out of these roles and be yourself , you can stay with me . Luscious doesn't own you and we all will protect you " he said . "We'll start working on what you're good at so we can find you a real paycheck at Empire besides Luscious' card. ". That resonated with me . Cookie said I was protected but Jamal offered to help me become my own person . That I wanted .
"I like fashion with Ronda, I want to learn to sketch " I said .
"I'll let her know we can start there " he said .
"What y'all talking about " Luscious and Cookie walked into the room .
"Sugar" Jamal started .
"Drae" Luscious interjected .
"Was telling me she liked the fashion stuff so I told her I'd have Rhonda hit her up " he said .
"Oh sounds cool, well come on Jamal we got a meeting and I'll discuss this later,Cookie" he said making eye contact . " Drae do me a favor " I stand and nod. " Angel , is going to some art museum go with him since you about to do fashion and what not " he's about to step out the bathroom , take notes for him I want him to step up his culture for his music . "
"I know nothing about art" I said .
"No this is perfect , it can help your fashion sense " he said . I nodded and then Angel came around the corner .
"So Art Musuem Luscious" he said.
"I actually got a meeting with Cookie and Jamal " Luscious says . "So Drae will be going with you " .
"Well come on Drae " Angel says excited .
"Let me go change my shirt real quick , Jamal , Cookie a word " I say and we start up the steps to my room. Cookie starts to close the door and Luscious comes in too.
" Luscious what the hell" Cookie snaps .
"Put on some shorts and that white button up " he said . " Look interested "
"Luscious are you seriously telling this girl how to dress like she's a Barbie doll " she said .
"No like a playmate " he says and walks out the room. I grab some black shorts and a white button up like he says and change clothes in the bathroom.
" So I'll bring you some art history books and when you get back you can refer to your notes and base your fashions off what you like " Jamal says sounding positive .
"Sounds good" I say stepping out the bathroom in my outfit and Cookie rolls her eyes . "What"
"She's pissed it looks good " he says .
"Yes " she agreed . " But is this what you want "
"Yes " I said. "Angel is nice and good lucking and talented. Why should Hakeem have all the fun".
"Okay" I said . I slid on my shoes and came down the stairs and Angel started smiling immediately . I grabbed my bag and he opened the door for me to walk out . We get into the car and the driver pulls off and Angel stares at me cheesing . His vibe was different then Hakeems and I like it .
"So Drae " he says . I look at him and smile. "Why do the Lyons call you sugar "
"It's a childhood nickname " I said lying so easily . " I would do anything for some sweets "
"So dessert is your thing " he asked . I nodded and he nodded as if computing the information.
"So , how'd you end up here " he said.
"Well, I lived a regular life , graduated, and then got in the first box here when Luscious said I could come " I said .
"So what's your relationship with them " he asked .
"Youre asking a lot of personal questions " I said .
"Well , I'm curious of where you came from " he said . " I'm from here " he said . "Luscious met my father in jail whos a dope MC and music producer and promised when he got out he'd work with me and find me a job . So when Luscious came , I played him my music "
"Are you a producer too , do you like make music " I asked .
"I do " he smirked . "Not to be rude but have you been drinking " I laughed and nodded . "Nervous to chill with me ?"
"Yes of course " I said .
"Is it because you used to mess with Hakeem " he said, catching me off guard .
"Who told you that" I said .
"The first time I saw you , it was in his studio " he said . "And Kelly told me "
"I didn't mess with Hakeem " I said lying again. " It's just a childhood crush "
"Oh" he said .
"Yeah, he's with Tiana anyway" I said .
"That's funny " he snorted .
"Why" I said rolling my eyes . "They've been together before "
"It's funny cause Tiana is fucking Kelly" he said . I looked at him . "He had a music release party last night and Tiana came and spent the night. We did a song together, and he kept all his music . Him and Tiana been kicking it a lil minute "
"What?" I said.
"Yeah funny right " he said . " But I guess it'll make great for TMZ" . We stopped in front of the museum and got out the car and headed in . I was floored by the news and tried not to let it affect me as we walked through the museum . I took notes and looked at pictures but had no real focus . I noted what I liked and noted what Angel like and he tried to keep conversation light but it just made me laugh at how goofy he was acting . We got to food area and he brought me a tiny bottle of wine and him some fancy beer and he smiled .
"This was interesting " he said .
"It was " I agreed . " Jamal is bringing me some art and fashion history books so I can learn to sketch with Ronda and this will be some great stuff to look up" I said .
"So fashion is your thing " he said .
"I think so " I said . "That's what I'm here trying to figure out " I shrugged .
"That's cool " he said . "I like to paint myself "
"You do" I said surprised . "Really"
"Yes paint by number , but it's still painting , it's very relaxing and chill " he shrugged . "Plus I buy them online , I'm not super artistic but those have kept my attention since I was a kid "
"Okay " I said smirking myself . I finished my wine and he grabbed me another as we stayed there talking about the exhibits we liked. Angel was artistic type . He was very expressive and emotional and I loved that. We got in the car and headed back to the Luscious' house . I was copying Angel's list and he leaned forward turned my face towards his and kissed me . He pulled away smirking .
"I just wanted to do that before our date was over " he looked out the window . I looked out mine and we were at the house . I handed him his list and he smiles and nodded and I into the house . I walked past the Luscious' office and he calls out to me.
"Sugar " he says . I come back to the doorway and open the door . He turns to me . "Come sit "
I go and sit in front of his desk in one of the leather chairs as he sips his drink. "Would you like a drink"
"No we work in the morning" I said . He nods and slides the drink my way any way . I take a sip of the dark liquid and it burns my chest . I cough setting the drink down .
"So.. how'd it go" he said .
"He wondered why you called me sugar and he asked if I was talking to Hakeem , he saw us in the studio when I first arrived " I said , letting out the red flags first .
"How'd you cover " he asked .
" I told him it's a nick name and that I like Hakeem as a childhood crush" I said .
"Well done playmate " he said . " Besides that was it good , is he into you ?"
"Yes , oh and Kelly released his music , at his own party " I said .
"I heard , I have people on that now but well done " he said .
"Heard from Hakeem ?" He asked . I shook my head and stood to go. "We're leaving for Empire at 9" he said . I nodded and made my way upstairs for bed .