Int

Arell had spent the next hour or so playing the rest of his tracks for the group and reviewing each.

WondaGurl was the first to voice her thoughts, straight up telling him that the songs would need more cohesion to fit on the same mixtape, as they were all over the place in terms of style.

Metro had agreed and advised him to create more tracks to serve as interludes or even change the beats on the songs to make it all flow better.

Arell knew they were right. He needed to create a more cohesive project if he wanted to make a real impact. After they wrapped up their session, he thanked everyone for their help and headed out.

On his way home, he decided to check up on Aisha. Her grandmother's condition had been worsening, and the medical fees were becoming increasingly expensive. Aisha had mentioned her grandmother was suffering from chronic kidney disease, which was tough to manage and even harder to cure.

The thought of Aisha's struggle hit him hard and reminded him of how his own life was not too long ago. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was becoming increasingly irresponsible. Just this morning he had almost spent fifty grand on items he could've gotten cheaper, and why didn't he? Because of the brand behind the item.

When he reached Aisha's place, he found her waiting on the porch and took her out for a quick bite. Over dinner, she shared more about what had recently been taking up her time. She was now fully included in Infinity, which Arell wasn't aware of. Apparently, Geoffrey convinced her to quit her job at Threads and become a designer for the brand.

It was a sensible decision since they could afford to pay higher wages than an average store employer. Their lump of money would soon grow bigger as they were about to release their second drop. Based on Geoffrey's projection, while it wouldn't sell as quickly as their previous drop, it was bound to make at least triple what they had made last time within the first month or so.

Aisha had always been real—no pretense, no hidden agendas. Despite their relationship not progressing beyond friendship, she was someone he cared for. And he felt a mix of guilt and resolve. He knew he had to do something meaningful with his money, and helping Aisha felt like a step in the right direction. So, he decided he made a promise to himself and her. He would help her with her grandmother's medical fees, no questions asked.

They spent the rest of the evening eating and talking, and for the first time in a while, Aisha seemed to relax a bit. Arell felt good about his decision, realizing that sometimes the best way to spend money was to make a difference in someone's life.

With that resolved in his mind, Arell shifted his focus back to the task at hand. He had to prepare for filming. The day would be busy with run-arounds to the Puma and Atlantic buildings to get their shots. Luckily, he wouldn't have to do a bunch of scenes with the people they wanted in the video, and honestly, he liked it that way. Less coordination and fewer personalities to manage.

The label wanted good shots with Lil Uzi Vert, so Arell would have to meet him in person unlike the others. The rest of shots would all be in Texas, as Travis was also heading to the SXSW festival Swae Lee and his brother Slim Jxmmi would also be there, along with a host of other people.

<> 

The next day, Arell found himself at the shoot, taking a moment to relax after filming several scenes. The atmosphere was alive with energy, crew members moving about, adjusting lights and equipment. Amidst the hustle and bustle, Arell savored a moment of tranquility.

As he reclined in his chair, Geoffrey approached, accompanied by a young woman. She sported long, wavy hair dyed a striking shade of red and carried herself with both confidence and warmth.

"Arell, meet Kamilah," Geoffrey introduced her.

Arell's eyes lit up in surprise. "Kamilah wow, it's fantastic to finally meet you!" He rose to his feet and embraced her warmly.

Kamilah smiled brightly. "Yeah, it's been a long time coming. How are you?"

"Crazy busy," Arell admitted with a laugh. "But in a good way. And thank you for all the support you've given me. I really appreciate it."

Kamilah brushed off the compliment. "Well, someone's got to have your back. I remember discovering you before all this fame hit," she said, gesturing at the bustling set. "And just look at you now. Also… thank you for the job opportunity."

"Yeah, of course," Arell responded, slightly puzzled about her role. He glanced at Geoffrey, seeking clarification.

Geoffrey chuckled. "She's part of our media relations team now."

Kamilah nodded, adding with a playful smile, "Yup, I have a degree in journalism, so I think I'll be of some use."

"Have you met the rest of the team yet?" Arell inquired.

Kamilah confirmed, "Yes, Geoffrey gave me a tour. They seem like a solid group. What are your impressions of Janelle?"

Arell offered a warm smile. "I met all of them a couple of hours ago. Janelle's amazing. She seemed so easy going."

Kamilah concurred, "Definitely. I liked her immediately. She's got this calm, collected vibe."

"What about Marcus?" Arell asked, showing interest.

Kamilah giggled. "Oh, Marcus is hilarious and he's very laidback."

Arell shared in the laughter. "A much-needed breath of fresh air then."

Kamilah hesitated before continuing, "And then there's Elena..."

Arell gave her a knowing look. "Go ahead. What's your take?"

Kamilah bit her lip, then said, "She seemed kind of bossy."

Geoffrey laughed and interjected, "I think the term you're looking for is 'professional'."

Arell nodded, still smiling. "She's been quite intense but having someone around like that is necessary to keep you grounded."

Kamilah chuckled. "I see. Having someone who keeps things in check isn't such a bad thing, huh?"

"Exactly," Arell agreed. "How are you finding the transition into your new role?"

Kamilah appeared thoughtful. "It's been smooth so far. Excited to be here and eager to pitch in wherever I can."

"Well, that's great to hear—" Arell began, but was cut off by the director calling him over.

"Arell, we need you over here!" Motion Family's director, Gabriel Hart, shouted from across the set.

"Guess duty calls," Arell said with a smile, giving Kamilah a nod before heading toward Gabriel.

"We're going to shoot a scene over the balcony with all the Puma execs," Gabriel said, pointing towards the edge of the rooftop set. "And they want Geoffrey in it as well."

Arell nodded, taking it all in. "Got it. So, what's the setup here?"

Gabriel continued, "We're going for a dramatic shot, capturing the skyline in the background. You'll be center stage, surrounded by the execs. It's about conveying power and success."

Arell listened carefully, absorbing the instructions. Despite the complexities, he found the directing process coming to him with surprising ease. "My director stat must have increased by at least one already," he thought, a small smile playing on his lips.

While waiting for everything to be set up, Arell leaned against the balcony ledge, gazing down at the bustling city below. Cars moved like tiny toys, and buildings stood tall and imposing. Geoffrey stood next to him, chatting about the day's plans.

"Just look at this view," Arell said, lost in the sight.

Geoffrey nodded, folding his arms as a smile graced his lips. "You'll be seeing a lot like it in the near future."

Their conversation was interrupted by Petrick, who had brought Arell into Puma. "Gentlemen," Petrick greeted them warmly. "How's it going?"

"Hey, Petrick," Arell responded, shaking his hand. "It's going great. Just soaking it all in."

Petrick smiled, looking around appreciatively, before addressing Geoffrey. "I love how you've been planning and laying everything out. That marketing document you sent last week was fantastic. And Arell, you're looking sharp today," he added, noting Arell's stylish Puma outfit. It wasn't just any outfit; it was a custom design that combined sleek, modern lines with a touch of classic elegance.

"Thanks, Petrick. Trying to represent," Arell said with a grin.

"We've got some photoshoots lined up after this," Petrick continued. "We'll get some great promotional material out of it."

"Sounds good," Arell replied.

Gabriel called out from across the set, "Alright, we're ready for the next shot!"

Arell and Geoffrey moved into position. The Puma execs took their places by the ledge, creating a powerful backdrop. Arell stood ahead, ready to lip-sync and perform for the camera. As the scene started, Arell moved with confidence, pointing out at the skyline, his energy perfectly capturing the essence of the shot.

"Great shot, everyone!" Gabriel called out after a few takes. "That's a wrap for this scene."

< Meanwhile, In Chicago>

In the dimly lit studio, Lil Reese lounged on a worn-out couch, a blunt dangling from his lips. The room was thick with smoke, and the chatter of his crew filled the air. A couple of guys were in the corner, discussing the latest gun models while passing around a bottle of Hennessy.

Reese pulled on the blunt, exhaling a cloud of smoke that mingled with the haze already enveloping the room. His phone buzzed on the table next to him. He glanced at the screen, seeing Lil Durk's name flash across it. With a sigh, he answered.

"Yo, what's good?" Reese said, his voice casual.

"Folk, you still ain't take that video down?" Durk's voice came through, sharp and irritated.

Reese took another drag, exhaling slowly. "Bro, is you good? Chill, nigga."

Durk's frustration was evident. "You manipulating shit. You know I gave you that verse, and we recorded that how long ago? And you using it to stir some beef up with me and another nigga."

Reese leaned back, unfazed. "You good, folk."

"I ain't clearing that verse, and I ain't pulling up to no Atlanta show," Durk shot back. "You moving mad irregular right now."

Reese smirked, shaking his head. "You sounding real pussy right now."

There was a moment of silence before Durk responded, his voice cold. "Keep talking, Reese. See where that gets you." The line went dead.

Reese put the phone down, his expression hardening. One of his boys, a tall guy with dreads, walked in, holding up his phone. "Aye, we did it," he announced.

Reese's attention snapped to him. "What you talking 'bout?"

The guy handed Reese his phone, showing a video. The screen displayed Arell's grandmother's grave, desecrated with graffiti and trash. The grave had been partially dug up, with dirt strewn everywhere, and a pair of fake bloody handprints had been smeared across the tombstone.

One of the guys on the couch spoke up, "Yo, we really going there? This some heavy stuff, man."

Reese didn't even spare him a glance, his eyes cold. "Post the video, and I'll quote it."

The guy nodded, quickly uploading the video to social media. Reese took out his phone, finding the post and adding a string of laughing emojis followed by a disrespectful statement: "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. #NoMercy."

He put his phone down, looking around the room. "Aight, y'all got your bags packed?"

The guys nodded, a few murmurs of agreement filling the room. One of them spoke up, "Yeah, we ready."

Reese took one last drag from the blunt, exhaling slowly as he looked around the room. "Let's get this shit done." he said, his voice filled with determination.