It was two o’clock. Regina was already supposed to be up there. She was already supposed to be in that studio, in the booth, the headphones on, recording the chorus to one of his raps. That’s who he was, him. She couldn’t say his name anymore, not in any shape or form.

She couldn’t get herself to go through the doors. If she went through the doors it meant she’d have to face Dre, the guys and him. It meant she had to throw away all promise of her dream. Give up the one thing she’d dreamed about since she was only seven years old. But she had to give it up. Even if she was successful, it would be tainted, she’d have no respect and she didn’t want to spend her entire life explaining that she hadn’t slept with him to get the deal.

That cemented it. She wouldn’t deal with that, ever. She didn’t explain herself to anyone.

With a new resolve she marched into the building. By the time she got to the studio door she had drawn herself up to her full height and was ready to conquer the world. She opened the door and found herself facing a room full of the guys she’d been so friendly with, the guys that had won her respect and she their admiration. Then there was him.

He was sitting there, smug look on his face as if he knew that she would show up. He looked away as she entered the room and was greeted by everyone.

“Regina, good, so glad you could get here. Just the little matter of getting you to sign this last page, and then you can hit the booth, Dre and everybody can’t wait to hear you,” Steve Berman said coming up to her and shaking her hand.

“Uh thanks, but uh, I got to say something about that first,” Regina replied awkwardly as she followed Steve to the table where the contract was laid.

“Here it is, if you just want to look it over once more,” Steve said picking up the contract and handing it to her as if she’d said nothing. She flipped through the first few pages but kept her resolve.

“So, if you could, just sign on the dotted line here,” Steve said turning the pages in her hand and then handing her a pen. She stood stock still for a moment, frozen to the spot, scared to death to move. She held her future in her hands. Her dream, her world, everything that meant anything to her was here and now in this moment.

“I can’t do it.” She said snapping the contract closed and handing Steve his pen.

“Wha, what?” Dre asked confused. Regina gripped an edge of the papers in each hand and turned to look at him.

“I don’t fuck mediocre rappers for record deals,” she said, looking him directly in the eye. In one swift motion she tore the contract in half. A groan and a moan of outrage came from behind her as she continued to shred the contract into as many pieces as she couldn’t manage to tear it.

“I don’t fuck anyone to get anything or anywhere.” She took the remaining pieces of the contract and flung them into his lap. She gave him one last look, enough to make him see that he was the one who was wrong, and always would be. She nodded to the guys, to Dre and then stepped out. She raced down the hall, to the stairs. Not stopping until she had hit the street two blocks down from the studio.

“Who wants to hold the fucker while I beat him down?” Dre asked.

“I’d be happy to Dre,” Steve said shaking his head, “What the fuck did you say to her?”

“Don’t start this shit with me man,” Em said threateningly.

“What, the fuck, did you, say, to her, it’s a simple question, now fucking answer it!” Dre growled.

“It was the fucking truth! She fucked her way into getting this deal and you know it!” Em screamed, the veins in his neck popping out as he flew out of the chair.

“Hey Em, you do realize that morning, after you fucked her, you brought her here, key word, you. She tried twice as I recall to leave before you asked her to record anything, and you brought her back, and then threw her into the booth.” Ace said, sitting back.

“Man, you better fix this, it ain’t right,” Swifty said shaking his head.

“You fucked up over this chick?” Dre asked, putting a hand to Em’s chest before he could dive at Ace or Swifty.

“I don’t get fucked up over nobody!”

“Bull shit man. You’re just pissed that she fucked you, and doesn’t want anything else to do with you. And on top of that, she just turned down the opportunity of a lifetime. And why, respect man, fucking respect!” Bizarre snapped.

“Ima gon fuck you up!” Em roared pushing Dre out of his way and flying towards Bizarre.

“Go ahead Bizarre, sit on his scrony ass until he admits he was wrong,” Dre said throwing up his hand and brushing it off.

“Kay Dre,” Bizarre replied as he grabbed Em by the scruff of his neck, jerking him around by the hood of his sweatshirt and throwing him down on the couch.

“Don’t you fucking dare Bizarre!” Em screamed as Swifty grabbed his arms and Kuniva his legs.

“That don’t sound like you admitting you was wrong!” Bizarre said, taking his time to back up to the couch.

“Steve! Get your ass over here and get these fuckers off me!” Em screamed again.

“Shut up Em. All right Dre, so what’s the next move?” Steve asked. Kuniva and Swifty laughed as did the rest of the guys who thought his maneuver was always particularly funny, getting Marshall to admit he was wrong.

“First we got to get the asshole here to get her back, but if you got any suggestions,” Dre added looking over to Em struggling to get away from the guys, but not getting anywhere.

“I’ll write up a new contract, see what I can entice her with. Give her a better deal, sound good to you?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, good, good. Damn I can’t believe he fucked this up,” Dre said shaking his head.

“I know, girls like that don’t grow on trees. You’ll be hard pressed to find another one that’s got everything and enough balls to show him up,” Steve remarked watching as Bizarre slowly lowered himself down to sit on top of Em who was spiting out curse words like venom.

“Yeah, you get ahead on the contract, I’ll take care of dumbass and make sure they don’t break any bones.” Dre said shaking Steve’s hand. Steve nodded and took one last look at Em struggling and screaming underneath Bizarre and laughed before he left. Dre shook his head and ambled over to Em’s rantings, taking a seat by his screaming head.

“You mother fucking pieces of god damn, LET ME UP!” he roared.

“Now Em, this is how it’s going to work. You are going to admit you’re wrong, and then you are going to figure out how to get her back here and signed to a contract.” Dre said calmly.

“No fucking way! Get the fuck off me! NOW!”

“Apparently you didn’t understand what I said, do I need to repeat it?” Dre asked. Em stilled to take a breath, his fighting and struggling taking a lot out of him.

“Admit it Em, you were WRONG!” Swifty said.

“She didn’t ask you to bring her here, did she?” Bizarre egged on.

Marshall felt his blood boiling and the veins in his forehead popping out as he struggled with both trying to get free and with the idea that he had in fact lied to Regina and was wrong.

“Fine, motherfuckers,” he mumbled, laying his head down on the couch and breathing.

“What was that?” Bizarre asked.

“I was wrong!” he shouted.

“Good, now you’re gonna go find her and get the contract back.” Dre said motioning to Bizarre to get off his back. He did so and as soon as he could, Marshall jumped off the couch and was out the door.