*James*

I never liked Jeremy Donovan. I knew there was something off with him. But I had no idea he was the one who was stalking Julia before she met him. He was the one who broke into her Marriott room and tore it to pieces. He was the one to slash her tired. I was on that shift at work. I remember how frightened Julia was. I remember seeing Paul come in to keep her safe.

Had Julia been in that room that night Jeremy could have hurt her. Well, he did hurt her..but much later on. Hearing this news made my blood boil. Especially seeing Julia storming back into the apartment scared as could be when she put the pieces together. 

Before even knowing what was happening, I walked over to Julia to hug and console her. It's what she needed. She cried in my arms for a moment before speaking.

"It was him... That whole time." Julia lifts her head and turns to Paul. "The black SUV. The one with tinted windows. The Escalade. Remember that car?"

"Of course. One of Hardy's minions sent to follow you and Hollan. What about it?"

"Babe, you're seriously shaking." I pull out a kitchen chair and sit her down, then sit next to her.   Maggie doesn't care about this right now. She heads over to Mike, who keeps scratching up and down his arm needing his fix.

"That car... And he pretty much admitted to it just now."

"Oh shit." Trevor blurts out now. "You mean to tell me...."

"Someone talk in full fucking sentences please?" Mike bellows from the cot in the living room.

"It wasn't Susan Hardy. It wasn't the reporter or anyone who worked for her!" Julia cries out. "It was Jeremy!!"

Julia pushes off me and heads to her room. I look up at Trevor who then explains to the lot of us what just happened. How Julia saw Jeremy pull up in a familiar SUV, which could have just been a coincidence if the guy didn't rat himself out saying he could explain. He one big walking red flag, that one.

"I'm gonna go be with her." I'm done listening to this awful shit. Julia shouldn't be alone. I head to the bedroom and sit at the edge of the bed next to her.

"I feel sick to my stomach. I was so scared that night." She begins and rests her head on my shoulder.

"I remember. I was there. It wa-was awful." I sigh and rub her back. "Why would Jeremy do something like that? It just doesn't make sense."

"I need to talk to him. I need more info." She drops back and lays flat on the bed to look up at the ceiling.  I do the same.

"This obsession the guy has over you..." My voice trails off.

"He must have been ecstatic the first day I came here for treatment. What a weird coincidence that I would have mental health issues and need to come here. And that of all people- my stalker would be the only one who knew how to treat me. I wonder how long he was watching me."

"Babe..."I study her face. "I hate to say this but maybe you should cut ties with that doctor all together. Maybe only work with Dr. Tremont."

"Unfortunately, I can't. Even Trevor admitted that Jeremy is smarter than he is when it comes to my diagnosis. I still need to rely on him for his brains. I had it all wrong, though. That SUV. Everything."

I wrap my arms around Julia and she melts into my body, eventually falling asleep from being so mentally exhausted.

******

*Trisha*

"I don't know why you two called me into this meeting. I am just Nate's PA. I can't make decision for him. You know that, right?" I remind both Elliott as well as Richard. Evan stands by the studio conference room door as my bodyguard.

"Honey, you don't know the business," Richard smirks at me. He's been talking to me like I'm an idiot for the last half hour now and I've about had it. "Once Mr. Hollan is back on his feet he will WANT to get back at it." Richard eyes me. I can't stand this guy. I can tolerate Elliott, who has gotten Nate out of sticky situations, being his publicist and all, but Richard? I have no love for Richard.

"No, what he needs is rest. That's why he took this time off to begin with but has yet to get a chance to."

"Listen, sweetheart..."

I glare at Richard and take these pet name as an insult, making him retract and change his wording.

"Miss Banks. Leslie reached out not long ago. Adding the extra concert dates was genius. Tickets sold out in three hours. Now, we could have Elliott here, announce that more dates are coming. People will flock. We can double the prices of tickets and merchandise-"

"Double the prices?! That's not what Nate is about." I feel my face begin to gain heat. "He loves to perform. He wants anyone to be able to afford to attend his concerts. He wants his fans to be able to afford a T-shirt if they want a T-shirt. If you jack up the prices, his REAL fans, the younger crowd, won't be able to purchase shit! You're making a huge mistake. I'm not signing this for Nate."

I push the documents first handed to me off to the side. Richard wanted me to sign on his behalf and bring a copy to Nate. No fucking way. And I can tell Richard is put off with my boldness. I rarely talk back like this. I'm usually pretty even keeled and agreeable but he has gotten under my skin with his money hoarding.

"I have to agree with Miss Banks on this one." Elliott chimes in. "I know this isn't my department"

"No. It's not." Richard snaps at Elliott.

"BUT-" Elliott continues. "I have dealt with his media affairs for ten years. I know his audience. I also know Nate's personality inside and out. He's not doing the Around The World Tour to get rich. He has already earned that title. He wants to perform for his fans. He wants to spread his music around the world to anyone who wants to listen. At decent, fair prices. If you put a sour taste in his mouth he won't do shit for you, Richard. I know Nate. I know this about him. You do not want to cross him or be too pushy. He is no longer in it for the money. You know this. You should be on the same page, sir. With all due respect, you have enough money to last you three lifetimes BECAUSE of Mr. Hollan and his hard work. You don't want to lose his business." Elliott pauses. He's great at what he does. Speak. Get noticed. And Richard is noticing him right now with his dumbfounded look he is sporting.

"Other record labels would bend over backwards to have Nate Hollan. You are easily replaceable. Remember that."

My eyes widen from Elliott's little speech and Richard scoffs.

"Fine." He grabs the documents and shoves them back in his briefcase. "We'll do it your way, Miss Banks. For now.  But sooner or later Leslie isn't going to be as gracious. She's going to want those tour dates booked. Around the world. Not just the U.S."

"And until that time comes, let Nate rest. Heal. Get ready for the tour the right way." I stand up and grab my laptop and cell phone. "Just remember who he is. Not everything is about money...Richard..." I turn as Evan opens the door and hurry out.

I walk fast down the hall, the clacking of my heels echoing through the empty corridor as I hightail it to Nate's personal studio room. Evan runs to catch up to me. He doesn't see my face until I enter Nate's room and close the door. Tears stream down my cheeks, now ruining my makeup. I NEVER speak up to Richard. People think I'm some badass but I'm not. So when he talked down to me the way he did, it affected me.

I kick off my painful stilettos and sit on the couch, grabbing the box of tissues on the way. At first, Evan stands by the door, unsure what to do. But then he drops his shoulders and the big, bearded guy sits next to me. I wipe my eyes and sniff, then laugh a little.

"I shouldn't let him get to me like that." I huff.

"Does he always talk to you in that manner? Because that was probably one of the most disrespectful ways of communication I've ever seen from a businessman." Evan's green eyes soften and he hands me another tissue.

"He's a fucking prick."

"There she is." He laughs at my trucker mouth and gives me a little nudge of the shoulder, making me smile. He's a good guy, Evan.

 I can't say the same for Richard Benson. I can't wait for Nate to pull the trigger on that one and get a new producer.

*******