*James*

Julia has been sleeping on the couch for the last few nights. She hasn't been helping me fall asleep and she sure as hell hasn't been in Nate's bed. I don't know where we stand right now, and she isn't ready to discuss anything with either of us. She eats, she does her PT, she searches for a new counselor, and she takes her meds. But she doesn't talk to anyone. Not one person. She doesn't help me with anything, Casey does now. It's like she shut down mentally without actually shutting down.

Both Nate and I are losing her. After today, we are prepared for a huge shut down. Today is the premiere of the Heartbreak Hotel music video. Everyone is on edge. 

Everyone. 

Nate's driver picks him up early in the morning before anyone is awake. He has a full day of promos and shit and then will get ready for the premiere at Trisha's. Julia would have gone with him. I bet she would have worn that dress too. But now... He has to show up with Mila and I can tell it's tearing Julia apart.

*****

*Trisha*

"You look great." I fix Nate's collar and make sure everything is perfect. This is it. The premiere of the Heartbreak Hotel video. Not only is there an actual Premiere, it will be broadcasted live stream for all to see and an after party.

 Being Nate's personal assistant, I go where he goes. So I buy a new dress and spend the day at the salon getting ready. Sorry Paul. Poor fella was bored out of his fucking mind. Now I'm helping Nate get ready  but he keeps being a man and staring at my boobs.

"Knock it off."

"Sorry! I can't help it. It's all just ..there." Nate teases me.

 I can tell he is consumed with Julia. She's been in rare form lately.

"She'll come around, Playboy. She just needs to sort shit out in that head. But today Mila is your girlfriend. You need to stop thinking about Moretti."

Paul steps out of the bathroom in a black button down dress shirt, black plants and black tie. Typical bodyguard attire. But he looks good. REAL good. And he's with me.

"We good to go, boys?"

*****

Ren drives a black limo to the event for tonight. We have to pick up Mila on the way. Nate is nervous. I can tell. 

"Holy shit." I accidentally  blurt out at the sight of Mila walking towards to limo.

Mila comes out in this long fitted white gown. It's beautiful. It's fucking see through as all hell.

"You're so fucked, Playboy." I stare at the beautiful model and then look at Nate.  "I'll make sure you're ok." 

Mila slides into the limo right next to Nate already sporting her 'fuck me' eyes and looks like she wants him for dinner. Even Paul is gawking at her. Mostly her chest though.  I roll my eyes at both men now as we pull up to the red carpet event. Nate needs to play the part from this point on.

Mila steps out first and the flashes of cameras and crowd go wild, per usual. Even louder once Nate comes out and stands next to her. They walk down the red carpet and me and Paul stay a good distance behind them. Nate knows what to do. Take the pictures. Answer the questions. 

They made our table a dry table but this is anything but a dry event. Champagne and booze all around us. At one point while the Director was on stage Mila looked over to the other table and nodded to one of the producers. He eyed her than figured it out, giving her one of the extra glasses of wine.  I roll my eyes at Nate from across the table.

"You're doing good, Nate. I'm right here."  I remind him.

And then....

The Heartbreak Hotel music video is aired.

*****

*James*

"It's all fake, Julia." Casey reminds Julia as we all sit in the living room for the music video premiere. It's all fake. But it wasn't. Not for Mila.

Holy shit.. This is the most provocative, explicit music video I have ever witnessed. It's exactly what the producer wanted to sell. Nate and Mila. Even Jonah looks uncomfortable watching it.  I mean.. this IS Mila Giovanni we are talking about. She's hot as fuck, there's no denying that, but they even made Nate look amazing. I feel like I need to go fucking repent somewhere or take a cold shower after watching that.

"My God.." Casey says under her breath and Jonah nudges her and shakes his head.  Julia is already crying.

"I need air." She rushes out to the balcony when the music video has finished airing. I follow her right out as does my dog.

"Don't worry. I'm in "friend mode." I stutter as I remind her. Julia nods and falls into my arms and cries.

"It's just what they wanted out of him."

All I can do is hold her and let her cry it out. Once she is calm I talk.

"C'mon. Wanna take Mags for a walk with me? I can't go alone. You know..."  I raise my hands that don't cooperate. We let Casey know we are just gonna be around the corner and head into the elevator with Maggie.

It's getting dark out but it's a nice night. Julia holds on to the dog's leash while we walk side by side. Maggie walks in front of us, crisscrossing a little, making us swerve into each other.

"Mags knock it off." She just barks in return. "Such a big baby." I smile down at my dog and Julia helps me untangle her leash from her back leg as we continue to stroll. She does this a few times while we talk.

We talk about silly things. Things that happened at the hotel. Things that made us laugh. Nothing important or stressful. While walking we stumble on a playground. Because it's getting dark, no one is here, so we're able to let Maggie roam a little. She's good with staying close by. I sit on a swing and Julia sits on the one right next to me.

"I can't remember the last time I've sat on a playground swing." She admits and  her eyes gloss over. She's extra emotional today.

"You're not crying, are you Miss. Moretti?" I tease "Can you help me?"

I  try to grasp on to the chains of the swing but my coordination is off and I keeps missing. She jumps off hers and helps me hold on to mine before sitting back down. I swing, just a little, cautiously. We never had a swing set growing up. We  had belts and cigarettes burns.

I watch Julia lean back and start pumping her legs to see how high she can get. She closes her eyes and her hair flows as she swings. These are the little things that make me fall in love with her over and over again. Little moments just like these. I laugh while watching her and her childlike ways.

 Eventually she slows down and then stops.

"Feel better?" I look over at her and smile. She nods and sways her swing so it purposely bumps into mine. "You're like a little kid, you know that?"  I look down at her perfect lips but quickly catch myself and look away. Friend mode. That's all she can handle right now.

"C'mere Mags."  I call Maggie who obediently runs right back to us and attempt to put her harness on. Of course I need help, so Julia does it for me.

And just like the other day, the second our hands touch a spark ignites. I swallow hard and keep my eyes on my dog  trying to ignore it.

"You're a good girl, Mags." I sit down completely on the grass and scruff up her ears. Julia falls back on to the grass as well and I immediately take my spot on her lap before Maggie can.  Julia runs her fingers through my hair and I close my eyes, letting out a sigh.

"James..."

"Julia."

"Think we'll ever figure out shit out?"

*****

*Trisha*

 Nate looks like he may puke. I pat his knee and nod, letting him know I get it but also reminding him to continue to play the part. All the cameras are on Nate, expectantly. He smiles at Mila and kisses her. She fucking kisses him back with so much passion I need to look away. She's not playing the part. This is real to her.

Everyone cheers.

Here comes the interviews. The after-party. The booze. The flirting. At one point someone stupidly hands Nate a glass of champagne and I quickly swoops in and take it out of his hand.

Another time, Mila wants a full on make out session knowing the camera is on them and I swoop in to pull Nate away to chat.

"Gotta hit the loo." Nate heads out but then five minutes later Mila also needs to use the restroom. They are gone for a while. Too long. Long enough to make me think she had something up her sleeve. Eventually I get up to go look for them but tell Paul to stay put. I almost bump right into Nate as he comes out of the Men's room. 

"Where the hell did you run off to?"  I question and then see Mila come out of the Men's room as well. He's kidding me right? Did he fuck her in the bathroom? He better have worn a condom. Those Hollan sperm are strong swimmers. "Seriously Nate?"

"We didn't do anything." Nate looks at Mila who gives me a disappointed look.

"Ha detto di no" She huffs but then smiles up at Nate and gazes, back into character.  She said "He said No." In Italian. 

"Good boy." I smirk and walk them  back to our table to grab our stuff.

"Now afterparty?" Mila asks, seeing the event is about to end. This is the part I know Nate is dreading. The after party.

"We can just make an appearance and head out, ok? I'll go get everything."

For the after party you wear a separate outfit so Ren and Paul help me with our shit. I have no idea what Mila will change into but the outfit picked for Nate is red dress pants and a black button down shirt that will remain unbuttoned halfway down his  chest. He doesn't pick these clothes out, the stylist does. But it looks perfect for tonight. I change as well into a short black spaghetti strap dress that hugs my body with strappy heels.

Mila comes out in an extremely short, skin tight provocative fire engine red dress that is strappy all down her back like a corset or something, with very high stilettos. She wears black thigh highs that are purposely shown off and below the hem of the dress with  a garter belt. Right up Nate's alley.

"Shit, Playboy." I mumble to Nate and then elbow Paul who is drooling over Mila right now.

Mila links her arm in Nate's and proudly walks out to the limo. As always, camera's everywhere taking pictures. Mila catches everyone's attention and the fact they actually match, unplanned, really makes them stand out as a couple.

****

"You ok?" I ask. Nate's on edge. The rooftop afterparty is just what we anticipated . Not a great place for a raging alcoholic trying to stay sober. And all the songs are Nate Hollan songs.

"Can they play something else? Anything else?" He sits back on the couch in a grumpy mood. I swear everyone but Nate, Paul and myself are plastered.

"I have them change." Mila tries to say and walks to the live DJ.

"Staying away from the poison, son?" Richard waltzes over and sloppily sits down next to Nate, almost spilling his drink.

"Staying away from the poison, boss." 

"Sir." Paul is already standing up, keeping eyes on me, Nate and Mila all night. He looks down at Richard and ticks his chin to the whiskey the producer is flaunting in front of Nate's face.

"Right." Richard puts the drink down on the table in front of them and Paul is now on edge.

"So, I'm gonna need more out of you, Nate. With Mila." He leans in and whispers. "You need to turn it up a notch tonight. Dance. Celebrate. Look like a fucking match made in heaven. I've already talked to Giovanni. Get it done." And with that, Richard is gone, leaving his drink behind that Paul immediately dumps into the potted plant.

 Mila catwalks herself over and sits right on Nate's lap, her long legs crossed and arms around his neck. I look at him with a face like- do what the man says, he's watching you.-

And Nate performs. He makes out with Mila just the way Richard wants. But then at one point, Nate looks over to me. I squint and then see she fucking dropped her hand to feel his crotch!

"Mila, lets go get another drink!" I whisk her away and Paul follows me. There's no point in even trying to reprimand her. She won't listen.

This needs to end soon. Real soon.

*****