Chapter 26

Marshall POV

Sitting in my studio playing around with another song I had just finished recording, until I was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in"

The door opens and I see Holly standing there.

"Holly, what you doing here?" I said getting up and hugging her "I didn't know you were in Detroit, congratulations on the engagement by the way"

"Thanks" She grinned at me, taking a seat next to me "and I came to have an interview with a radio station, thought I'd drop by, see my favourite rapper, how are things?, where's Stella? She around for lunch?"

I must have pulled a face because she gave me a confused look.

"We uh, broke up, well she broke up with me, I subconsciously sabotaged it..."

"Another one bites the dust huh Marshall"

"Well, technically Stella said that I wasn't comfortable in a healthy relationship, she said I needed the chaos to balance myself"

She raised her eyebrows with a knowing look "Shes not that far off the mark, I mean you kinda thrive with those kinda people, when have you ever been on a stable easy relationship?"

"Touche" I said with a laugh "Actually, there's someone that kinda keeps me awake at night, like I don't know, I'm drawn to her, she's manipulative, chaotic and so fuckin' beautiful it's out of this world, it almost makes me forget that she's also very toxic, but I can't fuckin' stay away, the only thing that's stopped me is that she hates my guts"

"She sounds like... Slim Shady's wet dream?" She said with a chuckle handing me a thumb drive "You're gonna just LOVE the gift I bought for you then, Its a new hook I came up with and I thought of you straight away, sound like it's right up your ally at the moment.."

I took the thumb drive and plugged it in, starting it up, Holly's voice filling the studio.

"Black magic, nightwalkerShe haunts me like no otherNobody told me love is pain, ohBlack magic, dark waterSurrounds me like no otherShe's got my heart in chains"

"That's so dope, definitely have something for this, it's a work in progress but I'm sure can use it"

"Welcome as always..." Holly said sitting back looking at me with a curious gaze "Can I see her?"

"Who?"

"The women who you described, the one who's worked her black magic on you..."

"Why?" I said pulling a face

"I wanna see her... for inspiration of course"

I frowned at her then shrugged " I don't know, I think Leila and Monica go to the bar on Thursdays, I guess we can arrange to be there at the same time"

"Oh her names Leila? And you're telling me she's friends with Monica? As in your personal assistant Monica?" She said then laughed out loud "Jeez Marshall, at least act like you're composed, I didn't even have to bed, you ain't kidding"

"See what I fuckin mean" I said rolling my eyes.

She laughed again "Text me the pub and Elliot and I will meet you there, I definitely need to see this celestial being of a woman that's got you flipped out with my own eyes"

---

We arrived at the bar early that night, so that we didn't look suspicious, ordering drinks and entrees.

"The more I think about what I'm doing right now the more I realise that I'm literally a stalker"

Holly snorted "Honestly? It wouldn't surprise me, you have those kinds of energy, and it's big"

"Man she's so rude, why are marrying that her?" I said pointing to Elliot, who laughed and shrugged.

"So you say she hates you?"

"Yeah, well I don't know why"

"Oh, so you're male and does something and don't remember? Ok got you" She said with a playful smile and rolls her eyes at Elliot "Typical"

"Hey, I take offence to that, I haven't done shit to her"

"You said she is a fan right? Maybe you snubbed her by accident"

"Was, past tense" I said with a snort "She ain't holding a candle to me now, that's for sure"

"This is getting more interesting by the minute"

"Chill the fuck out Nancy Drew, I ai-"

"Marshall shhh... There's Mon-"

As I look up I see Monica and Alec, spotting me and winking at me, Leila walking confidently behind them with Laura, in an oversized Rakim Tshirt that she wore like a short dress with a leather jacket and thigh-high boots, hair cascading down her back.

"I- ok" Holly said, clearing her throat "That's her?"

I turn to face her and nod.

"I see your problem, I understand what's going on here" Holly said with a mischievous grin "That's the devil reincarnated and my god, is she fucking beautiful, you were right, you're fucked"

I roll my eyes "Helpful"

"She is hot, like dangerous hot, like I'm gonna leave Eliot for her if she asked me to hot" She said looking back over the table they were starting to get seated at "Jesus Marshall, no wonder Stella stepped down, she didn't have a chance and she was smart by not letting herself get caught up in it before it was too late, fuck I'm feeling intimidated and we're just friends, she's  like the fucking antichrist of women"

I groaned "Can you not be dramatic over this"

"I got about twenty songs all the based on her already, damn" She said with a grin "What are you gonna do?"

"Well, one, figure out why she hates me"

"And?"

"What do you mean and?"

"Are you gonna like romanticise her? All women love that"

"Apparently not this one, I am two of her least favourite things"

Holly looked at me confused.

"Eminem and a man"

"Yeah but like you've been dealing with that for over twenty years so you'll survive, especially now you got a whole generation of people after you... Again"

"Didn't care in the 2000s, still don't care now" I say with a shrug and a chuckle "Imagine still being upset by that kinda shit, I am making serious bank from it though, my streaming went up and I'm trending, again"

"You're an unstoppable force, people will never learn" Holly giggled "Which leads me to believe you'll get what you want, even if you have to club her over the head and drag her by her hair kicking and screaming"

"Oh haha, that's hilarious" I sorted standing up "I need to take a leak, I'll be back"

She nodded at me and then turned to Elliot, can't I started to head toward the bathrooms, only to collide with the waitress, sending her tray of drinks flying, landing all over us.

I look up to see a familiar set of brown eyes watching me with an amused smirk.

So much for low key.

"Fuck my bad" I said getting up and then helping the waitress up, and then leaned down to help pick up the glass.

"Sir- uh, you don't have to help"

"It's okay-"

"Please if my boss sees I let Eminem help me clean up glass I'll probably get the boot" She said with a nervous smile.

"Ok, I get it" I said holding my hands up and backing back to the table, where Holly sat grinning.

Fuck it.

"Don't say a word"

"When the hell did you get clumsy..." She said then looking over to the table where they all sat "I mean, that was some grade a humiliation"

I fave palmed myself "Believe it or not that's not even the worst that I've done in the last few months"

I suddenly feel a presence next to me, a scent of vanilla and Jasmine hit my senses, looking to my side my eyes run the bare skin of thigh, then up Rakim's face staring back at me, landing on a set of dark eyes, her glossy red lips painted with a playful smirk.

"Superman" She purrs then leans down, lips brushing my ear and starts to whisper, making my hair stand up on ends, and the heat rush through my body.

"We'll be friends, I'll call you againI'll chase you around every bar you attend"

Fuck, here I go again.