"SHIT!" I sat up in bed with a start looking around the darkened bedroom drenched in sweat. My phone was blinking with a few messages.
"Figures." More than a few were from Takisha presently still dating my cousin Jaquan thinking she was sticking it to me.
The loon was unaware that we'd hashed things out beforehand when she attempted to employ a bit of proxy violence to get revenge on me after getting her ass handed to her in public. I just deleted them noticing some from Rashida which peeked my curiosity in that they were links. I swung my feet over the edge of Charity's former bed switching on my flat screen television mounted on the opposing wall.
"Alright I know its fucked up before I even look." I used my phone casting the video onto the screen finding the Sly & Sydney Morning Show already in progress.
Things looked visually intense with Sly and Ken the Comedian sitting on one side of the studio while Sydney sat on the opposite side glaring at them. She was dressed business casual in a burgundy glossy blouse and a brown knee length skirt that clung to her curves. It was odd positioning as she sat facing the camera half facing away from the men with one leg folded over the other. Some badass calve length heeled boots covered her legs and feet.
"Syd, we good right?" Ken asked sort of hunched over his side of the desk looking concerned.
"Why do you keep asking me that shit; shouldn't you know? I really don't appreciate being bum rushed by the two people I trusted most in life. What, are ratings that low that we need my panties out for public consumption?"
"Naw Sydney Syd, we trying to get up in front of things here cause you already sent out a cease and desist letter, Fed-Ex girl. You coming hard on the fellas down stairs before we even have a chance to hash this stuff out. Ain't nobody against you Syd; we trying to understand what's going on round here. People talking about you getting your back blown out downstairs in the studio. Da' Doobies claiming they got receipts and everything."
"Well why don't you interview them nigga?" Sly and Ken did a doubletake. Her regular partner since the show's inception looked strained, noticeably out of himself.
"Sydney we want the unedited interview played on the show to clear things up."
Sly interjected, his words sounding measured.
"Yeah, if it's like you say it is, we'll help you spit roast all those motherfuckers. Just play the unedited audio."
"No."
"So, you're admitting that it's true?" Sly interjected again.
"I said no."
"To which question?"
"Both." She was wearing a pair of shades staring impassively at his face while he reacted visually looking downward.
"This is not just about you Syd; don't you understand that?"
"I understand that we've been doing this job for a very long time and I thought you had my back. You know, ride, or die on all this bullshit and uh, Ken too. You niggas telling me that you believe some little punk ass wannabe drill rappers over me, right? Did it ever occur to you they might want my spot in the afternoon, huh? Or maybe they wanna be up in here kicking it with you and take your shit over? Yeah you believe Myron who unless I'm mistaken got these hands when he put his on my ass last year at the Christmas bash, right?"
Both men looked at one another then back at Sydney.
"If you're not gonna shut it down, then I will Syd." Sly sounded grievously solemn while Ken looked down at the desk in front of him shuffling some papers.
"What're you talking about?"
"You know you're on a shared plan; I called our provider." Sly produced his phone placing it in front of her.
There was an immediate change in her expression as her eyebrows raised over her shades, then her brow furrowed.
"Listen to me Charles; if you play that recording on this show there will be consequences."
"Syd." Ken tried to intervene verbally.
"Shut the fuck up Ken, you don't have legal papers on me; you didn't take vows like Charles did and promise we'd carve out a new phase of my career when I gave up the business to come to this show. Those dusty niggas downstairs are trying to ruin everything Charles; is that what you want, huh? Play that shit if you don't give a fuck."
"I won't Sydney Wilson."
"Good idea, Charles "Sly" Wilson." She responded coldly.
"I can't do it, but Ken can Syd."
He slid his phone in front of his best friend folding his arms afterwards tucking his chin. Ken picked up the phone in both hands staring wide eyed across the room at Sydney. Her mouth was hanging open in disbelief before she gritted her teeth in rage.
"KEN YOU BET NOT PLAY THAT...!!" It was too late as he activated the recording right under his mounted microphone.
"Negging again?"
"You're welcome to your opinion Sydney; did I answer all of your questions ma'am?"
"Everything except one."