105. Villain 🦹‍♀️

Arriving at Ricky Santana's mansion did not change my mood for the better. I'd been feeling uneasy about coming here ever since my last interaction with him.

When we got to the doors, there were three men with metal detector wands in hand. Monica and I were allowed inside while Deonte and his guards had to be patted down and searched.

Two women stood in front of the second pair of doors. One asked, "Do you have your phones?"

"No," Monica lied. "We left them in the car."

"Good, because there is a no phone policy as well as a nondisclosure agreement that all guests have to sign."

The other woman held a tablet out to me. "Please sign."

"Jae A.B. doesn't sign anything without her lawyer present." Monica took the tablet in her hands.

The first woman said, "Jae A.B. is required, and so are you."

I arched my brow. "Just sign it," I told my cousin.

After Monica signed, the woman confirmed her signature before asking if she'd like the agreement sent via text or email.

"Email it to moneymatters_00_1@email.com."

Then, I signed the agreement before having it sent to the same email that Monica gave them. Finally, we were allowed to go inside the mansion.

"Are they still searching Deonte?" I asked.

Monica nodded her head.

"Jae!" Colby nearly ran into me. "I was minutes away from calling you. You look great by the way."

I smiled at him as he linked my arm with his arm.

"You have to perform right away."

"Huh? I thought I was performing at midnight," I said.

Colby shook his head, "There's been a change of plans." He led me over to where the DJ was playing music. "Our performer is here!" He shouted over the music.

The DJ acknowledged me. He pulled back his headphones and asked, "What song are you singing?"

I whispered to the DJ what I wanted him to play. As he arranged the set, I looked around to see where Monica and Deonte were.

"I'm ready when you are," the DJ told me.

"Thanks. I'll point to you."

Colby returned with two shots in his hands.

"No. Thank you," I told him.

"These are for me. I've been running around this place for hours trying to make sure everything and everyone is taken care of." He took both shots before stacking the glasses. "Please tell me you're ready."

"I'm ready."

Colby directed me to a platform that was setup in the middle of the room. It had to be at minimum 2 feet high. I walked up the few steps and stood in the center of the stage.

The DJ scratched the music before stopping it. "Ladies and Gentlemen, turn your attention to the stage. Right now, we have the one and only Jae A.B. ready to sing for ya! Get your hands together!"

Everyone cheered and applauded.

I finally spotted Monica who was making her way towards the stage. Then, I pointed to the DJ.

I went straight into the choreography that Kenneth and I came up with. As expected, everyone was either singing or dancing along.

Once the song ended, I spoke into the microphone. "Wait-a-minute. Y'all didn't come here to see me dance. Y'all ready for some Jae A.B. music?" I held the mic out to the crowd.

"YEAH!"

"Say it louder!"

"YEAH!"

Monica screamed with her phone discreetly in her hand.

I sang acapella, "Don't make meeee... choooseeee..."

Everyone screamed.

The DJ played the track. I began to sing along with the audience. Suddenly, I heard another voice. The screams grew louder. Standing on the platform with me was Aja Frost singing the hook of "Choose" with me.

We locked eyes, and it became very clear that she was not singing kumbaya. When the second verse began, I put my mic down thinking she would sing that part.

Aja shouted, "DJ cut the record!"

Strangely, I noticed that Aja was wearing almost the same outfit from the package that I was sent earlier today. It was a sheer black jumpsuit with a black triangle to cover her hip area and two circles to cover her chest.

The DJ stopped the music.

Aja spoke, "I know you've been waiting for some new music. Well, the wait is over! My new single titled 'Villain' will be released very soon. DJ, give them a little taste."

The song played, "If my rebellion makes you my enemy, then don't hesitate to call me a villain, villain, villain..."

I folded my arms, waiting for this to be over.

Aja Frost laughed, "Sing my song! I'm a villain, villain, villain! What?" She held her mic out to the crowd.

Then, she signaled for the DJ to stop the song.

"I know y'all want to hear something new for the New Year. Am I right?" She asked the audience.

"YEAH!"

"Aja, that was rude," I said to her with my microphone still down.

She stepped towards me, getting so close that she stepped on my foot.

"Aww!" I took a step back.

"I was supposed to perform tonight," she pointed to herself. Aja brought her mic to her mouth, "DJ, let's play another record from my new album."

The crowd screamed as another Aja Frost song was played.

I tried to walk past Aja so that I could step down from the platform.

She blocked me. "Leaving so soon, Jae A.B.?"

"I'm trying to get off the stage so you can have your moment," I spoke into the mic.

"Nobody's stopping you," Aja smiled at me, blocking my path.

I could hear Monica shout, "Let her off the stage!"

Aja finally stepped aside.

I began to walk, but one of my feet hit something causing me to trip. I was too late to stop myself from falling.

"I gotcha!"

I fell into Deonte's arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I hugged him as he picked me up and put me on my feet.

"I think it's time to leave," he stated.

"I agree. Where's my cousin?"

Finally, I was hearing all the commotion. And there she was on stage with a handful of Aja's hair. Two men immediately grabbed Monica off the stage.

Deonte signaled his guards to go after them. Two of them went to Monica's aide while one guard came to escort Deonte and me.

"Monica!" I shouted.

"It's okay, Jamie. She's gonna be alright." Deonte took my hand in his as we headed to the front doors.

When we finally got outside, the two men released Monica. One of them threw her phone on the concrete and stomped on it.

Deonte's guards quickly intervened.

I ran towards my cousin, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay? Did they throw you on the ground?"

Monica slammed her fist into the palm of her other hand. "I was this close to slapping her, Jamie. They were gonna let her do that to you, and not do nothing about it? Like seriously? Not my cousin!"

"Moni, it's okay. I didn't fall. Deonte caught me." I dusted the dirt off her dress.

"Ladies, let's get in the car," Deonte told us.

Two of Deonte's guards got in one car while the other took the driver seat of the second car.

"Where are we going?" I asked Deonte.

He replied, "Back to the Rivers."

My heart was pounding. "No, not yet. We need some fresh air."

"I never want to see her face again, Jamie. You hear me?" Monica looked at me.

I nodded my head as I tried to process what all just happened. What am I gonna do now?