Amaya's POV

Later that night...

I had enough time between blackmailing Oscar and discussing more about Lil Ricky to get home and comfortably get ready.

When a company wine and dine's you its a big deal. They were really trying to get me to convert. Honestly I think that I might.

More money, less time DJing mindless club nights, more time to come up with beats for artists to buy and use on a song. That was the dream.

Sit on my ass in paradise and become rich.

Instead I had to go to a meeting, laugh, converse, go with someone who I was just yelling at, sign a lengthy contract and then get to paradise. But it was gonna be all worth it.

I put on a dress that I bought when I left Seattle. This was my big girl dress, for special occasions.  I think today counts.

"Did you call your lawyer?" A voice ask from my doorway.

"No not yet. Why?"

"Because damn bitch look at you in that dress." I stood up in the heels I ran out to buy.

"You think so?"

"Yeah, you're gonna knock 'em dead."

"Thanks, Lupe." She came in and started fixing my hair.

"What do you want me to do to this? Your curls are ratchet. Like Rachel from elementary school ratchet. What have you been doing? Not conditioning these bitches."

"I just washed it. Products goes in right as it's damp. You taught me."

"Nah baby. This is just some jacked up shit. Go wet your hair."

"Yes, ma'am." I got up from my bed and did as she told me.

When I was done I ran back into my room with a towel and let Lupe do her job.

"Girl I gave you a spa day so use it. Come in and get a mud mask, facial, massage, a pedi, maybe fix your ratchet hair," she whispered that part, "maybe get that punani so Oscar doesn't have to roam the jungle." I turned and slapped her.

"Guadalupe! Hush, my family is home!"

"Bitch if you don't think that your sisters don't already know about sex and shit, boo you're just acting naive. And don't get me started about your Mami. Woman was a freak I bet."

"Lupe!" I gritted out my teeth.

"So, you and Oscar going on a date. Who would have thought we were sixteen again?"

"This is a business deal. He owes me a favor so he's paying it in tonight."

"And giving you orgasms right? Let me tell you Frannie is the best at..."

"LUPE! Shut up! Sara's right here!" 

Sara was standing in my doorway for the last part of the conversation.

"Are you gonna be home tomorrow?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because its my birthday party with my friends and I really want them to meet you."

"Of course I'll meet them. I just have to go out tonight and I'll be back tomorrow."

"Are you going out with Oscar again?"

"Just for tonight."

"You two should date again. He really needs someone right now."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know. I think he's depressed or something. He has been the same since he got kidnapped."

I looked up at Lupe who nodded in agreement.

"Sara I thought it was Cesar who got kidnapped."

"No from what Tio Javier said. He and Oscar were talking about something about knives but then Mami told me to go play."

"Knives? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, he said that the knife was taken care of. But the only thing Oscar gave Tio was an envelope."

Lupe and I were now locked in eye contact.

"Put my hair in a bun."

"AJ." She warned.

"Put it in a bun, please. Sara go tell Mami I have a date tonight."

"'Kay. Have fun!" She skipped out of my room and downstairs.

"What do you think knives is?"

"Something bad."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know."

=====

I didn't trust Oscar to be ready and I was right. I showed up at his house at 8:15 so we could leave by 8:30. He had just gotten in the shower.

I took that moment to go back into his closet and choose his clothing. I didn't need him showing up to my work thing in a tank top and Dixie shorts.

After setting out a pair of black Dixie pants, a grey plaid shirt, white undershirt and picking out Adidas sneakers I took a seat on the couch.

He got out of the shower and didn't see me sitting on the couch. He hit the doorway of his room and turned around.

"You broke into my house and set out my clothes for me?"

"No, Cesar let me in and you need to hurry up. Vamonos!"

Oscar shut his door and emerged five minutes later dressed and ready.

"You driving or am I?" He asks.

"I will."

The entire car ride to this place was awkward silence. Followed by an awkward walk to the business complex. Then when the company sent a car for us.

Not until we pulled up to this posh Beverly Hills hotel.

"Como estamos jugando esto?" He asks me. (How are we playing this?)

"Actuamos como una pareja. Entonces hago my trato y nos vamos a casa." (We act like a couple. Then I make my deal and we go home.)

"Okay. A bit weird no?"

"I played your fake novia then Maria punched me in the face. You can fake being my novio to my new bosses. Oh I also need you to be Spooky not Oscar. Stiff upper lip."

He laughed and then stuck out his arm for me to grab it.

"Ready?"

"Nope."

"Great. Let's do this."

We walked arm in arm into the hotel. Security was ramped up tonight. My favorite John Wayne was standing guard of the restaurant.

"Amaya Jackson?" I nodded.

"This way please." We followed a hostess down to the back of the restaurant where four of the bosses sat. Plus my idiot of a manager.

"Amaya! Yay you're here. And who's this?"

"This is Oscar, my boyfriend." I felt Oscar stiffen up.

"Hi Oscar, I'm Steph, Amaya's manager. Let me introduce you to everyone else." She stood up and pointed at each of the four.

"This is Rich he is the music producer with Chamber, Harvey an audio engineer, Marcos is the best booking agent slash publicist in the music industry and Amzi he is in-charge of marketing you."

"Amzi, that's a Hebrew name. Right?"

"Ah yes. How'd you know?"

"My grandmother is Israeli."

"Ah! Ms. Ebba, the one that put all of this together tonight." I turn around and there she is. 

The top woman of owning a record label in California.

"DJ Mama and her guest.."

"Oscar."

"Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

I looked at Oscar and we sat down at the other end of the table. He pulled my chair closer to him. I don't know if it was him being protective or showing possession but I appreciated the caveman-ness.

"A round of Caipirinhas, please." Ms. Ebba says to the only waiter in this place.

Within two minutes drinks were put in front of us.

"DJ Mama, we are very much looking forward to signing you to our label instead of you rotting over with dear old George. Did you listen to the song my assistant sent you?"

"Yes I did. I think its beautiful."

"Well DJ Mama we want you and we want that beat. What do we need to offer you for you to jump to our side?"

"I want 10% royalties on top of the amount your assistant said you'd pay for the beat. And Ms. Ebba you can call me Amaya."

"Okay, Amaya."

"I don't want to DJ in shitty clubs anymore, the hours are too inconsistent and right now I need consistence. I will be happy to come in and work on any beats or programs you wish me to but for a reasonable price."

My manager was eyeing me. She wanted her 10% and I was trying to ensure my future.

"What do you think she should do Oscar?" I stiffened up now.

"I think Amaya can do whatever she wants."

Ms. Ebba and the rest of Chamber was shocked.

"You don't care that your girlfriend goes into these nasty places and barely makes any money?"

"Amaya's a smart girl. She knows what she can handle. Amaya doesn't need any approval or vindication from me to do what she loves. But I also know not to underestimate someone like her."

"What do you mean underestimate her?"

"People have always underestimated her. Amaya got out of our hood, went to college, made something of herself without anyone to help her along the way."

"And did you do that Amaya?"

"Yes. I spent six years on my own, making something of myself."

"Well clearly because we're here ready and willing with a contract. Marcos."

Marcos stood up and took out a large envelope.

"You're going to have to get a lawyer to help you go over this. We have one that you can use if you don't have your own."

"I have one." Oscar says.

"Since you said you don't want to DJ anymore, we'll need to take that out of the contract but this is the start."

"Thank you. Oh I have a cousin made Marco isn't that funny?"

"Yeah." He said lamely and sat down.

"Well I think that concludes everything. Do you have any questions?"

"A few maybe? Um could I change my artist name? I know that DJ Mama is known in clubs and what not but I really hate that name."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Cazadora?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means the Huntress." Oscar replied for me.

"Spicy. I like it. Hell yes. We will have that changed in the contract. Alright I'm late for dinner with my ex-husband. New husband? I don't know we've been married too many times and divorced just as many." Ms. Ebba stood and threw down two hundred bucks.

"Amaya, Oscar great to meet you. I look forward to seeing you two at my Fall Harvest Party next week. My sister's making chili."

Just like that everyone but Steph, Oscar and I left the table.

"Oh my god. That went amaze bags. And I didn't even need to bring up that you lived in a ghetto, your boyfriend did it for me!"

"You're fired."

"What?!"

"I said bye bitch. You don't just gloat that your client is from a hard neighborhood especially when you have a gang leader sitting at the table."

"Haha you mean two gang leader babe." Oscar said to scare Steph.

"What the fuck?! Oh my God."

"Bye Stephanie. Hope to ever see you again. Oh! My lawyer has the termination papers I'll call her on Monday to sent to you."

Oscar stood up and I grabbed his arm again. We left Steph sitting at the table in utter shock.

"Wanna go get some food? I'm buying." I ask Oscar.

"Hell yeah. Free food."