Free Backstage: Street Chronicles by Nikki Turner

out to Slim. “I’m proud of you.”
    Slim slapped him five.
    “Well to your office we go. Show me the way, champ,” Trey replied.
    Slim turned and headed out the room with Trey following closely behind him. Once they reached Slim’s office, he closed the door behind him. Trey surveyed the office. He started to really take Slim seriously. Maybe he had turned his life around.
    “I’m impressed! I must say, I really am,” Trey said.
    “Thanks, that means a lot to me. Yeah, Candi set up the deal for me. She is my partner in this little venture.”
    “Oh, really? I thought you said you just signed her.”
    “I did, to the label. I never knew she could sing at first. We met on a personal level in the beginning and our friendship grew.”
    “Your friendship, huh? Is that all she is? I mean, is there something else going on with the two of you?”
    Slim easily saw through the bush Trey was trying to run around and knew exactly what he was getting at. “It’s cool, homie, do you!”
    “What are you talking about?” Trey questioned.
    “I know you like the back of my hand. And your eyes are wide and bright. I could see that at the arena. It’s cool. We are only friends and business partners, Trey. Who she fucks, is who she fucks. That has nothing to do with me. As long as she keeps this place packed and people buy her album, that money will pour in and that is all that matters to me is the bread. Now, if you come between that, then I’ll have a problem,” Slim said and started laughing.
    “Cool!”
    Slim laughed harder.
    “What’s so funny?” Trey asked.
    “Nothing!”
    “Tell me,” Trey shot back at him.
    “I just find it funny how you were bitching about possibly losing Susan for good not too long ago and now you are in here asking about Candi. My how quickly things change; Susan seems like a distant memory if you ask me.”
    “Nigga, Susan and I aren’t together. She left me, remember? I’m free to go at whoever I want to.”
    “You don’t have to front for me. I’ve known you all my life. So I know better than to believe that bullshit. I know Susan has you wrapped around her finger. Your ass just doesn’t know how to tell new pussy no. That has always been your problem. That’s the reason why y’all aren’t together now.”
    “Yeah, whatever! We aren’t going to go there because it was more to it than just that. Don’t forget, I know your ass, too, and I know you want something so let’s cut the bullshit. What’s up?”
    “First, hear me out before you say anything.”
    “Okay, what’s up?”
    “I need you to throw the game on Saturday,” Slim said.
    Trey started to laugh. “No, seriously, what’s up?”
    “I’m serious. I need you to throw the game. Right now, every one knows you are on fire so y’all are a heavy favorite to win. If y’all were to lose the game think of how much money the person who bet on you to lose would win. Like the Super Bowl last year, one guy bet one thousand dollars on the Giants and when they upset New En gland he was paid well over a mil. This is easy money. I’m not saying lose the series, just the next game.”
    Trey stood up.
    “You have to be out of your fucking mind. This is my life you are talking about. I can’t believe you even have the balls to ask me something like this.”
    “Let’s be serious, you have what, a year or two left tops? And you know it. There are no more big paydays coming your way. Who do you think you are kidding? We can make ten to fifteenmillion tax-free dollars easily off one damn game. I’m not asking you to lose the championship. It’s one game. You’ll still have two more games after that to win a championship and get your ring. It actually will probably make the odds even better and we can bet on that game also and make more money. But for us to do it, you’d have to throw the game Saturday.”
    “Fuck you, Slim! For real, F-U-C-K you! I can’t believe you are asking me to do this shit. Here it is I get