84. A New Attitude 💐

Just about every week, I did a performance. I did twice as many interviews and some photoshoots. Two weeks ago, I was invited to perform at the American Singers & Song Writers Awards. I would be opening the show.

During my stage rehearsal, I heard someone shouting and clapping but I couldn't see them clearly as they stood in the auditorium. After my set, the lights in the auditorium were turned back on.

"Beautiful! Beautiful, baby girl!" A woman clapped her hands.

My eyes nearly shot out my head when I saw the legend Erma Demure. She was in the great league of Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Tina Turner, and many more. I covered my mouth as she was helped by two men, walking onto the stage.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Baby girl, I am a big fan of yours! Honey, I love your look. It's a fashionable disguise."

"I can't believe this." I looked around at my backup singers and musicians. A few of them laughed and the others were just as shocked as I was.

Erma said, "I can't wait until the show is live. Honey, you are hot. Do you hear me?" She snapped her fingers. "I'm so glad you're singing that let me take you home. It reminds me of the 70s, girlfriend."

I finally found my voice. "This is such an honor, Ms. Demure."

"You are too sweet. Follow me to my dressing room." She headed backstage.

I was shaken with excitement as I walked behind her and her two guards. When we got to her dressing room, the guards stayed in the hall. Inside Erma Demure's dressing room was every kind of snack you can think of. Why didn't my dressing room look like this? Then to, I'm not Erma Demure.

"Have a seat, girlfriend!" She told me as she sat down in front of her vanity. "Talk to me, honey. Where are you from? And where'd you learn to do music like that?"

I chuckled as I sat across from her in a chair. "I'm from the South. I grew up listening to you and all the greats. My parents love soulful music."

"I knew it. It's all in your voice, and your speaking voice is so unique. It's beautiful, honey. You sound old. Oh, I hope I didn't offend you."

"No ma'am! I hear it all the time. I'm used to it by now," I admitted.

Erma grabbed a can sitting on her vanity and opened it. "Honey, grab you something to eat on and sip something. You just got off the stage." She drank from the can.

There was so much to choose from. I decided on a bag of cashews and a bottle of water.

Erma pointed at what I grabbed. "That right there is gonna slow you down. This right here - Rich Reach - is the best. Honey, it keeps me going."

"Is it an energy drink?" I asked her.

Erma nodded her head. "Yeah, and it doesn't make you feel bad afterwards like those other ones. Honey, my sister told me about this stuff almost two years ago. She takes the pills. I say the drink is better. Anyway, tell me more, girlfriend. Do you have any siblings?"

Ms. Demure is nosey, but I'm not declining anything she asks me. "No, it's just me. Well, my cousin could be considered like my sister. We're a year apart, and people always say we look alike."

"That's fun. I got 12 sisters and brothers. It's only eight of us left now. Cherish your family, baby girl. Do they visit you often?"

I nodded my head, "My cousin for sure."

"Do you have a man back home?"

I hesitated.

Erma tilted her head. "Honey, that should be an easy yes or no. Don't be playing like a single fool. He either wants you or wants to play with your heart. And you can't be no yes woman. Instead, get you a yes man."

I asked, "I'm sorry, Ms. Demure, but what's a yes woman or a yes man?"

Erma Demure put her drink on her vanity. She clasped her hands together. "Somebody that don't know how to say no. To find out if a man really wants to be with you, you tell him no. If he doesn't change and continue to be there for you, claim you as his woman, then keep him. But if you say no and he starts disappearing like they say ghosting - don't waste your time with him, girlfriend. Let him go!"

I understood what she was saying.

"Honey, I have some stories of my own." She lightly laughed, "I was once married for one week to a boy I met in college. He was handsome from head to toe, and I never said no to him. One day, I just didn't feel good and he was asking me to do something - I can't remember, and I said no. The next day, he asked about it again. I said no. Honey, the day after that I caught him holding hands with some woman on campus. She gon tell me they just got engaged. I took my wedding ring off so fast, he didn't get a chance to apologize or explain. I let him go! You hear me?" She laughed.

I laughed along with her.

Erma continued, "You just made me think of another short-lived relationship I had with this model. We already had a hard-time communicating, but he spoke enough English to understand me and for me to understand him. That was around my After the Storm album. He just couldn't understand my schedule and wanted more time together. I kept telling him after my tour we can spend more time together. He couldn't wait, so that relationship ended. I tell ya, I got stories to last a lifetime, honey."

I don't doubt it.

"So, where do you live?" She asked me.

"I'm here in L.A.," I told her.

Erma pointed at me. "After the noise, don't stay here. Either go back to your hometown or get you a nice place in a peaceful location. You need to recoup after the a busy lifestyle."

We talked for about five more minutes, because she was being called to do her stage rehearsal. She gave me a hug and said that I was her adopted niece. Monica is going to be so jelly.

As I went back to my dressing room, I couldn't help but to think about all that Erma Demure shared with me; especially, the part about relationships. I opened my dressing room door to find a dozen roses in a glass vase on my vanity. I walked over to it. An envelope read: Jae A.B.

I opened it to find a card with flowers and prewritten words on one side. The other side was was hand-written. It read: Thank you for helping. I hope to see you soon - DWayne

WHO???

Someone knocked on my door.

"Come in!"

The door opened. "Jae, the network is here for interviews. Are you available now. It should take about 10 minutes?"

I turned around to see a woman wearing headsets.

My makeup was already done even though I wore a hat and sunglasses. "Sure."

"Follow me."

After the interview in the green room, I was directed to an area in front of a backdrop that had the network's name on it. I did a few photos before heading back to my dressing room.

"Jae," the woman from earlier called me. "The show starts in four hours. Please be dressed and backstage no less than five minutes before the top of the hour."

I gave her a thumbs up. "I'll be on time."

Thanks to my team, I was on time and my opening performance was great. Everyone in the audience gave me a standing ovation. I was nominated in two categories, but I didn't win either award. Towards the end of the show, I presented the award for Songwriter of the Year. The winner was Producer and Songwriter V.C. Penman. He wrote a lot of songs on pop artist's Danny Guillermo's album that went platinum 10x this year. It was an global hit.

The crowd applauded as he walked on stage. I handed him the award.

"Thank you, thank you," V.C. began. Then, he glanced at me. "Can we all just applaud this beautiful and very talented woman - Jae A.B. for a second, because she is making waves in her own lane." He clapped along with everyone in the building.

I shook my head. "No. This is your moment," I told him.

He smiled at me, "Jae, this is your award for next year. I can't wait for your album to drop." He turned back to face the audience. "This award means a lot to me. I've been in this business for almost two decades, and the road traveled to get here wasn't easy. I've had the opportunity to work with several great artists and Danny Guillermo - First, I didn't expect him to call me of all people. We instantly clicked and got the album finished in a few months. Every song I wrote on his album, he released and it went straight to number number. To the world, all of Danny's fans and music lovers everywhere, my team, and all of American Singers & Song Writers Awards staff and board members, and the Network - ANCB, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My dream is now complete. Thank you!"

Everyone applauded as V.C. Penman held up his award.

Soon, we were headed backstage.

"Jae."

I turned to see V.C. Penman with his phone in his hand. "You going to the Afterparty?"

"I haven't decided, yet," I told him.

"You should go. You can ride with me and Maxville."

"Uhh..." I thought before saying, "I'll let you know."

"Bet." He touched my arm before walking away.

When I got to my dressing room, my hairstylist, makeup artist, and wardrobe stylist helped me go from glamour to girl next door. I was glad to be out of those uncomfortable clothes. At my departure, I carried the roses I received in one hand and my phone in the other. While exiting the building, I bumped into a man.

"Oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry," I looked up and immediately laughed.

Deonte Way shook his head. "Jae A.B.! It's been too long, girl." He gave me a hug.

"How you been?" I asked him.

He replied, "Ever since I released new music, I can't complain. I see you like the flowers I got you."

My brows met, "These are from you?"

Deonte touched his chest. "I'm hurt. I put my name on it, and you still don't know me."

"Oh, D. Way!" I smiled, "I thought it was DWayne. I was like who is that?"

"My bad handwriting," he admitted. "Where you headed to now?"

I shrugged, "Home."

Deonte chuckled, "You really know how to joke. You was just singing 'Home' and now you going home."

I smacked my lips. "There was no pun intended."

"If you say so," he continued, "Congratulations by the way. You really killed it tonight."

I grinned, "Thank you."

Deonte nodded his head. "You're welcome. Actually, I'm going to the Afterparty. You should come... with me. That's if you want to."

"Okay."

"Cool. I can go with you or you can ride with me and my people."

I said, "You can go with me."

"I'm cool with that. Give me a minute. I left my jacket in Erma's dressing room. I'm gonna grab it really quick."

I nodded my head. I knew I was supposed to go straight home. How in the world was I going to stay awake for this party?

A few minutes later, Deonte came back with his jacket on and two drinks in his hand. "Ready?" He asked me.

"Yes."

When we got to the car, Maximo gave me a look like that of a strict dad, and I was glad for it.

Deonte got in the back with me after telling Maximo where to take us.

I said, "Thank you for the flowers. I really didn't do much to help."

"Jae, my song is a hit. You gave it more care than I did. You should really consider writing for other artists. V.C. wasn't lying about you being next to receive the Songwriter of the Year award."

"I'm better at writing for myself."

Deonte added, "Songwriters get the credit, just as much or even more money, and you don't have to perform. I wish I could successfully write for others, I'd be somewhere else like Dubai, right now."

I asked him, "Do you like being a singer?"

"It has it's good and bad like any career. The fame can be a monster, though. One time, this fan tried to say I was her baby daddy. That was like my second year as an artist. Ever since then, I be on alert with who I'm around, even family can be scandalous." Deonte asked, "Did you and Zeke break up?"

I bite down on my lip. How do I answer that?

"I saw the leaked photos of him in Atlanta with a woman..."

I began, "Can I be honest with you?"

Deonte nodded his head.

"Please keep this between us."

"I will," he told me.

I said, "Zeke and I were never really dating. It was more to protect me as a new artist."

Deonte clapped his hands. "Y'all did that. Man, so... I could've had a chance back then."

I shook my head. "No. I was and still am a little scared around celebrities."

"I get it, but you're one of us now." Deonte looked out the window. "We're almost at the house. When we get there, just so you know, I do travel with my security, but they don't standout."

"How many do you have?"

"Four," he answered. "Because you trust me which I appreciate, I'm gonna tell you something very important. Don't ever travel without your security even to an afterparty. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows Zeke has another woman. Just decline every offer unless you are interested in someone." He looked at me.

"Thanks for telling me that, Deonte."

"Mr. Max, don't worry. She's protected with me."

"I'm holding you to that," Maximo told him before parking the car.

Deonte put the two cans on the floor.

"Can I have one of those?" I asked him.

"You can have them both. Erma is like my second mom. She's always trying to feed me or give me something every time I see her."

I picked up one of the cans. It was the energy drink that Erma was drinking. I opened it and took a sip. Surprisingly, it tasted like fruit juice.

Deonte helped me out of the car. I linked my arm with his.

"You don't have to do that," he told me.

I unlinked my arm and walked side-by-side with him up the endless steps that led to the entrance of a mega mansion. "Whose house is this?" I asked Deonte.

He replied, "The owner of ANCB, well, his son - Jeffrey Rushmore III or is he the IV?"

Inside the house, I was taken aback. Not even the Rivers' mansion could compare. Now, I know the real reason why people go to afterparties.

I met so many celebrities from actors to singers even TV anchors and athletes. Deonte kept his word and stayed with me the entire night even when women constantly approached him, trying to get him alone. He was definitely more famous than Zeke. Deonte and I danced together a few times. He was respectful, and it made me appreciate him even more.

Another thing I noticed was my energy. I didn't feel tired or nervous. I felt like myself when I'm at home with family. I've never like energy drinks or supplements, but I could get used to this one - Rich Reach.

As we were leaving, Deonte walked me to the car. "I'm glad we came here together. You're a lot of fun, Jae. I might make you my wing-woman."

I giggled, "I had fun, too. Thank you for inviting me."

"No problem," Deonte told me.

We stood by the car.

"Listen," he continued, "if you ever need anything, I mean anything, hit me up. Alright?"

I nodded my head.

"You got your phone on you?" He asked me.

"Yeah." I pulled it out of my pocket.

Deonte put his phone number in it. "You try to stay the same as you are as much as possible." He handed me my phone.

"I will," I said.

Deonte pulled me into a hug. "Good night, Jae." We separated.

"Night, DWay." I waved at him as he walked away.

On the way back to the Rivers' Residence, I couldn't stop thinking about how much fun I had. Sadly, it was the most fun I've had without Zeke, Monica, or A.B. being around. What a day!