Free Get Over It by Nikki Carter Page A

that his “ familia ” is showing signs of wear and tear. Once Mystique took her toys and went back to the parent company Epsilon Records, Evan lost some bargaining power, I’m sure. And now that I know Big D is doing projects behind his back, it’s even more apparent that something big is going down.
    â€œWhere is Big D?” I ask. “We never make decisions like this without him.”
    Sam lifts an eyebrow and gives a slight smile. He obviously knows where Big D is, but he’s not saying. Evan sits straight up in his seat and squares his shoulders, like he’s ready for a fight—body language that tells me his answer isn’t going to be what I want to hear.
    â€œI didn’t ask Big D to be a part of this meeting.”
    â€œWhy not?” I ask. “Is he no longer a part of Reign Records? If not, I’m out the loop, and I don’t like being out the loop when it comes to my money.”
    â€œI let you know things when you need to know them.”
    Okay, this gets me several degrees over boiling mad. “Evan, no one is your child around here. I asked a question and I expect a response. Is Big D no longer a part of Reign Records?”
    Evan clears his throat and looks each one of us in the eye. “Your man knows all about it, right, Sam?”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sam says.
    Evan jumps to his feet. “Yeah, you playing both sides.”
    â€œI am a freelance producer. I’m not signed to anybody. I’m not exclusive to Reign Records,” Sam says.
    I like that Sam keeps his cool, and doesn’t jump up also to match Evan’s excitement. That temper tantrum stuff is played all the way out. No one is on that, least of all me.
    â€œI think we should have a conversation with all the players in the room,” I say. “I don’t feel comfortable discussing Big D and he’s not even here.”
    â€œWell, if you can’t have a discussion without him, you can bounce too,” Evan says. “ ’Cause he ain’t coming back.”
    Dreya says, “You ain’t know? Big D cut a side deal with Epsilon and is bringing back his label with Dilly as the main artist.”
    My eyes widen. So Big D’s cat is out of the bag. Of course, I look surprised like this is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a thing. I have no idea if I’m convincing. I’m a singer, not an actress.
    â€œSam, did you know about this?” I ask.
    â€œThat’s Big D’s business. I make tracks,” Sam says.
    Evan says, “Yeah he knew. They did this behind my back. Every time I try to help somebody, and try to bring something epic together, folk want to get greedy and mess it up.”
    â€œBig D is the one who brought us together,” I say.
    â€œBut he can’t do for y’all what I can do! That’s why y’all need me. Y’all are just artists. I can replace each one of you, but you can’t replace me. I’m the genius of this thing. How you think Drama has a number-one record without a penny from Epsilon for promotion?”
    We all know how this happened. Evan did some of his behind the scenes activities like pay off a few radio stations to put her song in heavy rotation, leak a few tracks to Internet bloggers, and his biggest media whoring event—marrying my cousin in Vegas, when she really wanted a big church wedding in front of all her family and friends.
    â€œSo what y’all gone do? Y’all walking? Y’all going over there with small-potatoes Big D or y’all gonna stay with the man in charge?”
    Bethany and I exchange undecided glances as Dreya rubs her stomach with one hand and blows on her nails with the other. If it wasn’t for my cousin, I’d be out of here on the first thing smoking, but I have a feeling that if I leave and if Bethany leaves, that Dreya’s career ends up in the toilet.
    Whether I’m with