*Trisha*

Here we go.

I rush into the studio, knowing I'm a few minutes late, but also knowing Nate won't mind. I've known him forever. He can be high maintenance, but he lets things slide when it comes to me. He wouldn't know what to do without me. I keep him afloat, Because I love him. I'll always love Nate Hollan.

"Sorry I'm late," I rush into the room. Nate gets up and gives me his usual peck on the cheek. "The awards meeting ran late. You know how it is."

"You're good, Trish. We just got here a few minutes ago," Nate sits back down.

"Miss Moretti, Trisha. Nice to meet you." I extend my hand for Julia to shake, studying the woman before me. She is stunning. Like drop- dead gorgeous, but I have a feeling that she is unaware of her own beauty. She appears timid and overwhelmed. However I understand that it has likely been an exhausting day for her. She will need to get used to it quickly, though, as every day in L.A. is a long day. She will be busy, extremely busy.

"Please, call me Julia."

"So, Julia, Playboy over here hasn't started flirting with you yet, has he?" I joke, but I know Nate has. He flirts with EVERYONE. From the very first day, I met him when I was almost 19. He flirted with me on day one and hasn't stopped since. Nate rolls his eyes at me like always, and I give him a little smirk.

"No, not at all!" Julia quickly replies. I can tell she's on edge. Oh God, she's gonna be one of those serious women who can't take a joke, isn't she?

"Oh sweetie, give him another ten minutes, and he'll be all over you in no time." I try to break the ice, and it works. Julia relaxes a little, which in return makes both me and Nate relax.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny, Trish," Nate pauses. "Don't forget who signs your checks." He arches an eyebrow at me, and this time it's me rolling my eyes.

"Oh Please, you'd be fucking lost without me, and you know it." I retort. "Nate doesn't even know what dry-cleaner his clothes get sent to." I give Julia a little wink.

"He'd be wandering around L.A. buck naked if it weren't for me. Which to be honest, I'd pay to see." Nate knows I'm only joking but still kicks me under the table a little. I've seen Mr. Millionaire naked plenty of times ...without paying a penny.

"I'm sure you would, darlin'." Nate flirts, laughs loudly and it fills the room. It's the type of laugh that's contagious and even the two men in back glued to their phones laugh a little.

"I'm keeping my eye on you, Hollan. Behave." I warn him, but I can already see it in his eyes. He has a thing for Julia Moretti. In a way, I'm a bit jealous, but I'm also hopeful. He hasn't been the same since Macy dumped him. That one stung. It was also around the time I called off my engagement to Dave. So, we were both disasters. We leaned on each other to cope, but that's all it was and all it ever will be. He's my best friend.

"I don't think flirting will be a problem. There's a pretty big age gap here," Julia chimes into the conversation a little more now.

"I prefer older women, actually." Nate blurts out, not missing a beat, and raises an eyebrow at her Julia blushes. Like noticeable. It's kinda funny and adorable how embarrassed she gets so easily. I have to keep reminding myself that to Julia, this is a multimillion-dollar celebrity singer. But to me, he's just Nate. My Nate.

"So I've heard." She mumbles.

"You've done ya homework haven't ya, Princess?" Nate says. I watch the slight bantering back and forth between Julia and Nate and smile. This project will be good for him. All I want is to see him happy again.

"Ok. Ladies, let's get down to business. We get to spend all day together tomorrow." He moves the meeting along. And with that, we get down to signing forms and contracts and going over details. It took a good hour, and I could see this is overwhelming for Julia. She's not used to any of this like Nate and I are.

Once Julia leaves the room, Nate and I both sit back in our chairs and share a look.

"This is gonna be harder than I thought, isn't it?" He rubs his forehead and looks my way.

"Give her time. She's not used to any of this shit. Remember why you signed up for this. The publicity. Promote your new album. Gain fans. You wanna go on tour, right?"

"Only if you're coming with me, doll." He flirts.

"You know I am. You wouldn't survive without me." I joke and we both relax a little more.

"You look nice." Nate compliments me and gives me a little grin. He's being genuine. But he's also horny as hell. He always is.

"Yeah yeah, settle down Playboy."

*****

*James*

"Alright, Mags. I'm off." I ruffle her fur and watch my pup curl up in her little bed. Off to my night job at the Marriott. People may say it's not a career but I enjoy it. It's a simple job, and I receive a paycheck. That's all I need. What I cannot tell people is about the side job I have working for Paul. The fourth floor keeps us occupied, and the under-the-table pay helps take care of Mom. Without Paul, I would have to get a second job on top of this one, and there wouldn't be enough time in the day to sleep if I had back-to-back jobs.

I head to work, wondering if this is gonna be a boring shift or an action-packed shift. Little did I know, tonight would change my entire life.

It's almost nine-thirty and no one is around so I lean back in my chair and grab my phone. My youngest sister Kendall is a night owl, so she tends to text me a lot. Stupid stuff. Funny memes and all that. Anything to keep me awake and entertained.

I put my phone down out of curiosity when a black SUV pulls up to the entrance. One of the winners of the America's Voice show is here. I don't watch much TV, so I'm not up to date, but I know this person will be working with Nate Hollan. Security is now tight, to the point where they requested, or rather demanded, that this individual stays on the 4th floor.

Part of me is a little surprised because the 4th floor is off-limits to many, but part of me isn't surprised because Nate Hollan is the wealthiest most well know sonofabitch on the planet. At 30 years old. Lucky bastard.

But this isn't what changed my life. What changes my life is the woman who walks into the lobby behind security.

I stand up straight now, ready to check in the new guest who will be living here at the Marriott for at least six months, if not more.

She's beautiful. Long dark brown hair, brown eyes. She's also tiny. Maybe five feet tall if that? I'd say she's a few years younger than myself, maybe Nate Hollan's age. There's this shyness to her that I find cute.

She remains silent allowing the security team to handle everything. As she follows them to the elevator, she glances back at me briefly. She catches me staring at her and smiles a little with blushing cheeks, causing me to laugh and look away.

The night I met Julia Moretti was the night my entire world got flipped upside down.

****