Chapter 7 - Conditioned Black
Millie sat on the plush interview couch under the bright, slightly blinding stage lights of
The Nightly Show
, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Across from her, Johnny Sullivan flashed his trademark mischievous grin―the kind that made his guests wonder if they were about to be completely embarrassed or have the best time of their lives.
The audience was still cheering wildly at her entrance, a mix of Millie's longtime fans and the show's regulars, as the applause sign blinked to mark the start of the show. When it finally quieted down, Johnny leaned forward, rubbing his hands together.
"Alright, let's get into it," he said, still grinning. "Millie freaking Lucas, everybody! Now, listen―I've been dying to get you on here for a while, and I gotta say, what I'm hearing is that you've been switching things up lately."
Millie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling coyly. "You could say that."
Johnny gestured at her outfit―sleek, modern, edgier than her usual bubblegum pop aesthetic, but absent of her more controversial rebranding ideas. Those would come later. Better to ease the public in slowly. No, instead of her usual pastel princess vibe, she wore a simple black leather corset top, loose cargo pants, and high-top sneakers, her jewelry minimal but striking―a slim, black velvet choker and diamond-studded hoop earrings. She'd worn them at Markus' request.
"I mean, look at you!" Johnny continued, giving her a once-over. "This isn't the Millie Lucas I first met five years ago. What happened to that girl next door vibe? Did you get tired of bedazzled jackets and retire them for crop tops?"
The audience chuckled, and Millie smirked. "Something like that. I guess I just... started re-evaluating who I am, who I want to be as a person. You do this long enough, you realize you don't have to keep playing the same role forever."
Johnny nodded knowingly. "Ahh, I get it. You're in your reinvention era. Like when I stopped doing dumb prank movies and decided I wanted to be taken seriously." He paused dramatically. "For, like, a week."
The audience laughed, and Millie relaxed a little.
Johnny leaned back, tapping his fingers on his desk. "But real talk―your fans here tonight have noticed the shift. Are they going to see it across the board―in your music, your style, your vibe? Or is this more than just about switching up your aesthetic?"
Millie exhaled, choosing her words carefully. "No, it's more than that. I think... as an artist, you have a responsibility to grow, to understand the world better. To give back. And to use your platform for something real."
A murmur of approval rippled through the audience.
Johnny raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like we're leading up to something big."
Millie grinned. "Oh, we definitely are."
Johnny slapped his desk. "Well, let's not make the people wait! Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now―one of the biggest, most talented names in hip-hop, my guy, the one and only―Markus Khan Kwaest!"
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers as the stage doors swung open and Markus strode out―ever confident, charismatic, and effortlessly cool. Dressed in a dark oversized hoodie, gold chains gleaming under the lights, he had the kind of presence that filled the entire room.
Millie felt her heart skip a beat as Markus walked straight up to her, flashing that signature half-smirk that made millions of fans weak. He reached for her hand, lifting it up to kiss her knuckle like her sweet, chocolate prince.
The energy in the studio skyrocketed. Millie fought own the butterflies in her stomach knowing that the world was finally learning who the new Millie Lucas was going to become.
"Ohhh, now this is a power move!" Johnny whistled as Millie and Markus settled on the guest couch together. "I don't think the music industry is going to know what to do with this!"
Millie laughed, her fingers still locked in Markus's firm grip.
"Man, the two of you here together," Johnny continued. "We need to talk. Because this?" He gestured between them. "This is a major adjustment to wrap my head around."
Markus finally let go of Millie's hand and shrugged, casually leaning back. "Yeah, man. We've been keeping this under wraps for a while, but it's time." He turned to Millie, nodding. "You wanna do the honors?"
Millie turned back to Johnny and the eager, electric crowd.
"We're making an album together," she announced, grinning wide.
The audience erupted again, the sound practically shaking the studio. Some of it was enthusiasm, sure, but Millie caught at least a few dissidents shouting in disbelief. She wasn't surprised―not everyone was open to this level of change.
Johnny threw his hands in the air. "Now that is what I'm talking about!" He turned to the audience. "I told y'all I get exclusives!"
The crowd finally began to settle after the big reveal, though an excited buzz still hummed in the studio. Johnny Sullivan leaned on his fist, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"So spill. How did this whole thing come together?" He pointed between them. "Because I certainly didn't see this collab coming. You guys are both top tier performers, sure, but aesthetically... I'm just wondering what it's going to sound like."
Markus chuckled, exchanging a look with Millie. "Well, I guess we should thank one particular night in L.A."
Millie grinned, playing along. "Yeah, we ran into each other backstage after a show, started talking, and the energy was just there."
"Just like that?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow. "You two met up coincidentally and immediately said, 'Hey, let's make an album together'?"
Markus smirked. "Pretty much."
Millie nodded. It was better to keep the details simple. "I mean, we had a lot of mutual respect already. I loved what Markus was doing, and he thought I had something special too."
Johnny snorted, unconvinced. "So no drama at all? No label shenanigans, no heated debates, no 'creative differences'?"
Millie and Markus glanced at each other, then Markus said smoothly, "Nah, man. We're keeping it sweet and free of conflict."
Millie laughed. "Yeah, just good music and good vibes."
The audience chuckled, and Johnny held up his hands. "Alright, alright, I'll let y'all keep your secrets. But let's talk about the album. What can people expect?"
Millie's face lit up. "We're blending a lot of different influences. It's got some pop, some hip-hop, a little bit of R&B and soul―"
Markus cut in with a teasing smile. "Basically, Millie's pop sensibilities and my more, uh, raw, real approach to storytelling."
Millie playfully nudged him. "I do storytelling too, okay?"
Markus chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Of course, of course."
Johnny smirked at their banter. "And the lyrics? Who's writing what?"
Millie answered quickly, "Oh, we're splitting it evenly―"
"Mostly, yeah," Markus interjected, leaning in front of her. "I mean, I do come from a lyrical background, being a rapper and all, so naturally, I'm bringing a lot of the lyrical foundation. Millie's bringing her ear for melody and structure―the sound."
Millie blinked, her smile faltering for half a second. That wasn't exactly how she saw it, but she didn't want to argue on live television.
Johnny, ever the instigator, picked up on it immediately. "Ohhh, is that true, Millie? You're taking a backseat, lyrically?"
The audience laughed uncomfortably, and Millie forced a chuckle. "No, no, I mean... we're both very involved."
"Of course you are, I'd never count you out, you know that, Millie." He was needling her now, trying to get her to crack just a little. "Meanwhile Markus is over here like, 'Nah, I got this, shorty.'"
"Man, don't be like that, Johnny." Markus gave her a smooth, reassuring nod. "Of course Millie's writing is dope. But you know―rap is a different game when it comes to lyricism―a whole 'nother level."
Millie nodded, though inside, something about the comment nagged at her.
"Well, however y'all split it, I know it's gonna be mind-blowing," Johnny Sullivan was shifting gears again, ready for his next talking point. "So, Millie, tell us a bit of what it's like working with Markus in the studio? I mean, you two coming from different worlds, how does that dynamic play out when you're actually in the booth?"
Millie opened her mouth, ready to answer―except... she hesitated.
How was it? It was like a fuzzy spot in her mind. Pleasant and exciting, but when she wasn't there in the booth, the details just seemed to leave her.
She had considered a dozen ways to describe it, but somehow, none of them came out. Her mind felt like a record stuck on a loop, flipping through words that didn't quite fit. Energetic? Creative? Intense? Fun?
The silence stretched a beat too long.
Johnny raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Uh-oh. Don't tell me you just go in there and stare at each other for three hours."
The audience laughed, and Millie's stomach twisted.
Before she could recover, Markus smoothly jumped in, flashing his trademark charming grin.
"Nah, nah," he said, placing a casual hand on Millie's shoulder. "It's fire in there. Every time we step in the booth―just magic." He turned toward the audience, his smirk deepening. "I mean, working with a performer like Millie? She's got so much energy, she's got style... and damn, when she gets into the music, it's a sight to see."
The audience whooped and whistled at the suggestive tone in his voice.
Johnny cackled. "Oh-ho-ho! Sounds like it's getting hot in the studio, folks!" He wiggled his eyebrows at Millie. "You sure this is just a musical partnership?"
More laughter. More whistles.
Millie's cheeks flamed, but she forced herself to laugh along, flashing a playful smile even as something about Markus' words rubbed her the wrong way.
She was used to being admired for her talent, her voice, her songwriting. But this? This was different.
She'd been in interviews a thousand times before, never once caught off guard―but tonight? Tonight, it was happening again and again.
She told herself to snap out of it.
Smile. Laugh. Play along.
So she did.
But deep inside, the unsettled feeling in her chest wouldn't go away. She didn't know why it was so hard to remember what she worked on during the recording sessions, but she would make an effort to focus on it next time.
The dim, ambient glow of the recording studio lights cast warm shadows on the walls, the air thick with anticipation as Millie adjusted her headphones. The beat pulsed through the speakers, a smooth, seductive rhythm that seemed to vibrate in her chest. Try as she might, now that she was back in the booth, all her pep talk about keeping focus was gone again.
She was buzzing―not just from the music, but from the fact that she was here, working side by side with Markus Khan Kwaest himself.
After the talk show, she'd felt a twinge of doubt, but all of that melted away now.
She had never felt sexier, more powerful, more in control.
Her outfit―meticulously chosen with input from Markus―left no question about her allegiance. A cropped, skintight
Black Lives Matter
