*James*

Nate was so upset that he didn't walk back to Julia's apartment with us. He called his driver and decided to go home, which surprised me a little. It's like he's waving the white surrender flag and giving up the fight for Julia. All because she is finally thinking about her own future? Grow up, my man.

Things didn't calm down when we returned to the apartment like I thought they would, though. Julia has locked herself in her bedroom, which is something that worries us all. Not that I think she would do anything to harm herself, but this IS Julia. You just don't know for sure some days.

"Julia, can you please open the door?" Trevor Tremont bangs on her door while I begin pacing up and down the hallway. 

"Julia... you need to open this door." Jeremy bangs with more desperation than Trevor does and then uses me to see if that'll work. "James is freaking out, Julia. Open the door."

I smirk when I hear the door unlocking moments later and slip in before Julia changes her mind. I close the door behind me so we can talk in private.

"Works every time." I chuckle.  God, if only Julia knew how many times I played that card when I couldn't speak. Doing little things here and there like being difficult when it was time to eat until I saw Julia take a few bites first. The things I did and games I played. But hey, they worked, and that's what matters.

"Jerk."

"What's got you all riled up today?"  I embrace her, and she hugs me back.

"I'm not having some manic episode. I don't know what I'm having, but it's not that. You can check for yourself." Julia waves her hand towards the bathroom, and I can't resist laughing more and hugging her a little harder. Julia is of sound mind. Her bipolar is not part of what's bothering her.

"Did something specific happen? You've been all over the place in that head of yours these last few days." I admit.

"Yes. I mean- no. But-"

"You know you can talk to me. We're best friends. You can tell me anything." I kiss the top of her head and try to make another joke to lighten up the atmosphere. "Is it because you want to marry me now but can't get that damn ring off your finger? Is that the problem?"

I do get a laugh and an eyeroll out of her before she backs away and sits on the bed. I sit down next to her, ready to listen like she needs me to.

"I need a plan." She starts opening up to me.

"What kind of plan are we talking about. An escape plan? Cuz I can't drive anymore, babe."

"I'm serious, James." 

"Ok ok ok. I'm done." I stop with the jokes and rub her back. "What kind of plan?"

"I don't know!" She cries. "There's so much going on in my head right now."

"I can tell. Julia, talk to me." My voice is now more of a serious tone. All jokes aside, she's having a hard time with something.

But I get nothing out of her. Instead, she hugs me and doesn't let go. All she wants from me right now is to comfort her, not try to fix her problems. I understand and respect that so say no more. I give her what she needs and embrace her for as long as she needs.

*****

*Trisha*

"Are you two fighting or something?" Evan asks while driving me back home. Whatever is going on with Paul, it's affecting our relationship - if there is one. "Sorry if I'm overstepping. Part of being a bodyguard is observing people. Whatever the hell that was -"

"No," I interrupt. "It's fine. I don't know what the hell is going through that fucker's head right now."

Evan laughs at my trucker mouth but then pulls over into the nearest gas station and gets out of the SUV.

"C'mon." He opens my door, but I'm confused as to what's happening. "C'mon..." Evan repeats.

Once I am out, he takes my hand and walks me around the SUV.

"Baby steps. This will get your mind off whatever is going on..."

I realize what the bodyguard is trying to do. He's trying to get me over my fear of driving. I quickly turn and try to walk away but he grabs my arm.

"Evan, I can't."

"You can.  You know the only time I can really clear my head when shit is going down is going for a long drive? Sometimes, I blast music. Sometimes I keep it silent. All I want you to do is try, ok?"

I look at the L.L. Bean model/ bodyguard and shake my head.

"All I am asking is for you to drive around this big parking lot. I don't even want you to go on the main road. Just drive around here for a little bit, ok?" His green eyes sparkle and I let out a sigh, knowing I can't say no to something so minor as driving around the empty plaza.

I climb up into the SUV and the first thing I do is put my seatbelt on. Then I adjust my mirrors and take a deep breath before I switch the gears from park to drive. I'm slow and steady as I drive forward. The plaza is dead with no cars coming in or out. To my right is a Stop & Shop, a Sephora and some kind of uniform store for medical scrubs. Then a Panera Bread at the end. To my left is the gas station and then a liquor store. The lot isn't busy at all so I speed up a little and drive the perimeter, trying not to think of the collision. But my hands are shaking and beads of sweat form on my forehead and the back of my neck.

"You're doing great, Miss Banks. Do you want music on or keep it quiet? I will do whatever you want so you can keep those trembling hands of yours white knuckling the steering wheel." He smirks.

"Music." I say with a shaky voice. Of course, the radio is playing one of Nate's songs and I can't help but laugh and loosen up a little.

"Jesus Christ, I can't get rid of him." I joke as I listen to Heartbreak Hotel and take a turn.

"Unfortunately, he is probably on every station." Evan lightens up the mood more with his own jokes.

"No kidding." I roll my eyes but tighten my grip when a few cars turn into the lot.

"Keep going. They are turning into the supermarket, that's all. Want to go on the main road?"

I nod. I actually fucking nod and turn left to get onto the busy road.

"Oh my God. I'm doing it!" I exclaim after about a half mile down Thurber Ave.

"You're doing awesome!" Evan nods his head and I notice it out of the corner of my eye that he is smiling proudly. "Ok, go through the intersection and pull into the next plaza up ahead."

I gulp hard when I see the intersection though and my hands clam up. I hear the crunch of James's Range Rover.

"Trisha, you're fine. The light is green. You can keep going."

 I feel the impact.

"Trish..."

I step on the gas and slowly move across the intersection. No one is behind me to beep at me or get irritated, so I take my time. I look at all the roads connecting and tears stream down my face thinking about the collision. But I continue driving.

"You're doing it!" Evan says with excitement. 

I roll through the intersection and continue driving until I can turn right into the plaza. Once there I park the car in front of Target, and I finally exhale the breath I've been holding.

"I'm so proud of you!" Evan puts his hand out for me to high five and even though it's corny as all hell, I high five him back. "See? Baby steps. We can do a little every day until you get more comfortable.

"I did it." I say under my breath.

"Yep. You did it."

*******

*James*

Nate decided to come back after all. He tried to talk to Julia but without any luck.

Watching Julia choose to talk to Jeremy over me puts a pit in my stomach. I can tell Nate feels the same way when he sits down on the couch next to me and sighs heavily.

"You got nothing out of her, huh?" I ask while my focus remains on the slider door.

"Nope. Nothing." Nate admits in defeat. "Something happened to make her suddenly flip out like this. Did you notice anything different last night?"

"Nope. Nothing."  I repeat honestly. I don't recall anything triggering this at all. But this is Julia. Sometimes it just happens. And for some reason, Julia is choosing to open up to Jeremy of all people which puts a bad taste in my mouth. I notice Paul looks up at us when Nate asks if I noticed anything different last night. Almost like he wants to chime in with his two cents, but he remains silent. I also notice Nate squints his eyes at the bodyguard with the wheels turning in that nutty brain of his. Does Nate think Paul has something to do with this? Because he doesn't. At all.I would have noticed, or Julia would have told me. 

Paul has NEVER given Julia the time of day. Not once. He has been completely professional towards her for months so if Nate is thinking otherwise, he's wrong.

*****

*Trisha*

After my little driving lesson with Evan, he drives me back to the studio for the big meeting Nate has with Richard. But when we go into the building, I see Mila walking down the hall with her bodyguards and a few other people. She doesn't see me though.

"Oh my God." I whisper and quickly duck into the first available empty room.

"What are we doing here?" Evan asks with confusion.

"That was Mila Giovanni."

"THE Mila Giovanni? As in the Italian supermodel Mila Giovanni?" Evan's eyes widen when I nod.

"Shit. She's here?" I think out loud then rummage through my pocketbook to find my phone. "I need to warn Nate."

"I'm confused." Evan watches me try to call Nate but with no luck. I text him as well to give him a heads up but he doesn't get back to me so have to resort to texting Paul. I explain it all to Evan once we are in Nates private studio room.

"C'mon, c'mon, C'MON!" I yell at my phone while pacing, waiting for dipshit to answer me. When he finally does, I swear I want to act like him and chuck my phone against a wall. I don't for obvious reasons. I have an ounce of self-control unlike Nate.

[Cancel it.] 

[Nate, I can't. This is to go over the Safe Haven music video. You know this. If you don't show up and plead your case you WILL be working with Mila Giovanni.]

A few minutes go by before Paul texts me and says Nate is on his way.

"Oh thank God. He's coming. I need to meet him at the front entrance to warn him beforehand though." I rush out the studio door with Evan tagging along. It doesn't take long to get from The Avalon to Modern Music Studio's, so long as there's no traffic. Right when Ren pulls up to the front doors, Evan and I both come out to meet Nate.

"Shit's gonna hit the fan, Nate." I blurt out but Nate shakes his head reminding me of the Eyes and Ears everywhere. I nod, getting the hint. "Meeting starts in ten minutes. Let's go to your private room and talk so I can update you."  I hurry back to his private room and once the door closes I whip around to face Nate.

"Why are you so wound-up, Trish? What's going on. It's a stupid meeting." 

"Yeah, that's what I was told. He's so fucking conniving." I frown.

"Who, Richard? Yeah, that's not new news sweetheart." Nate chuckles. This is no fucking time for jokes.

"He is making a deal with Mila Giovanni. She's fucking here for the meeting, Nate!!" I throw my arms up in the air.

"What do you mean, he's making a deal?"

"Me and Elliott were having one of our stupid routine meetings when Richard decided to come into the room. He said there was a change of plans and to make sure you made this upcoming meeting, that it had to do with Mila and the Safe Haven music video. Damn it, Nate, I tried calling AND texting you!" I yell at my best friend who fucking ignored me.

"Sorry. Things were-"

"It doesn't matter." I interrupt. "I physically watched Mila and her entourage walk down the hallway into the conference room. She didn't see me. He's making a fucking deal with her. I just know it Nate."

"Shit." Nate nervously scratches the back of his neck now and I feel bad having to be the one to spring this news on him.

"Elliott is still here. He is going to sit in on the meeting." I grab my laptop quickly and take a deep inhale to calm my own nerves.

"Don't I have a say in who I want in the video?" He whispers as we walk out and into the hall.

"Usually yes. But this is Richard we are talking about."

"Shit." 

"Cmon, playboy. Time to face the music." I fix Nate's collar and tuck a lock of hair that fell out of place before opening the conference door. Mila's smile is bright and her bubbly positive energy fills the room. She really is perfect. And perfect for Nate but we won't go there because right now, she's off limits to him and being near Mila is dangerous.

On the other side of the long table is Richard, his P.A., Elliott, and a man I have never met. 

"Mr. Hollan," The man stretches across Richard to shake Nate's hand. "Very nice to meet you."

"And you are?" 

"Right. This is Grant Berkeley. He will be producing the Safe Haven Video." Richard introduces the man.

Nate greets Mila with a silent nod, and I quickly take the seat right next to her, so he has no choice but to sit on the other side of me.

"No translator?" Nate looks around the room. Mila shakes her head and flashes him a proud smile.

"I- uh. Been studying. I can speak and understand more." Her thick Italian accent replies.

"Lets get down to it, shall we?" Richard is ready to begin the meeting. "Ratings were unbelievable with the Heartbreak Hotel video. I want the same to happen this time around. Mila. You brought in quite a fanbase working with Hollan and I have no doubt this time will be just as rewarding."

"I'm happy to be a part of it all, Mr. Benson." Mila responds. Shit. She really can speak English now.

"Wait." Nate is on edge already. "So, she's definitely going to be in the video??"

"We had a previous meeting with Mila and her team, yes." Richard smiles at the beautiful woman.

"I don't think this is a good idea. No offense Mila, but Richard... I get a say in who stars in MY music videos. Correct?" 

Shit. 

I tap Nate's thigh under the table reminding him who we are talking to here. By contract, this man practically owns Nate. Until Nate finds another producer, he needs to watch his tone and reel it in.

"Many factors come in to play, Mr. Hollan." Richard throws out an evil smile that makes my stomach turn in disgust. "And... the contract has been signed. Welcome aboard Ms. Giovanni."

Holy shit. He had his lawyer draw up a contract already? And Mila accepted the offer and signed it? All behind Nate's back. What a rotten shitty thing to do to a man that rakes in so much money and has no choice but to give Richard a percentage of it. This management team sucks and shows no respect or gratefulness for all Nate does and puts up with. Now they fucking go behind his back and do this??

Nate has no choice but to work with Mila Giovanni now.

"I'm so excited! Thank you, Mr. Benson." Mila shines and for a second but glances at Nate with less enthusiasm before looking away. I almost feel sorry for the girl. She IS genuinely excited for this opportunity and can tell Nate wants nothing to do with her.

 Imagine having to work with someone who doesn't want to be around you? 

*******