Karma.
Most characters borrowed from the television series Nashville.
This flies off on a tangent from the series but I had the idea and an urge to write it.
Juliette is pregnant with Avery's child and wants to terminate. Their relationship has collapsed.
Warning: This is a tragedy. If you don't like 'dark' avoid it.
"Avery," she said in response to his name on the phone screen. "Just drop it will you. I'm sick of you annoying me. I told you its over."
"Yeah well," he said. "It never made sense to me at the time. How on one day you were so excited for the progress we had made rebuilding our relationship with plans for the future and the next day you were so hurtful breaking off everything. Now I know what's behind it. I'm on my way to your place. We need to talk. I'll see you in five minutes."
Five minutes later he was at her front door. "May I come in?"
"No, I don't think so."
"You want to discuss this where it can be overheard? I told you, I know what's behind your sudden change of behavior."
"OK come in."
"How far along are you?"
"How far along am I what?" Hopefully he was bluffing, he didn't really know.
"How far into your pregnancy are you?" He sounded a little exasperated.
"How did you find out?"
"Juliette, you've been on a two week tour. Don't you think other women know what morning sickness is?"
"OK, well you do know. About eight weeks."
"Why did you change your attitude to us so quickly? Did you think I would not want the child or only come back to you because of it? I have told you many times, I love you. I see the child as a blessing for us. We will only love each other more."
"No. and don't try to get romantic. I don't want anyone's kid."
"You don't want it? Is it mine? Do you know who the father is?"
"It doesn't matter, I'm not keeping it."
"What? You've done everything you can to throw away the best things in your life. Now you want to get rid of this as well?"
"It's going to get in the way."
"Don't you think we should at least establish who the father is? If it's mine I want to know."
"It's better if you don't."
"I'll decide that for myself. I'm entitled to know and I won't take no for an answer.
"We can find out if you want, but it will not make any difference. I'm getting rid of it. I'm not going to be saddled with a kid."
Her doctor had recommended a clinic to Juliette when she first found she was pregnant.
"We should have the results in three days," the clinic doctor told them.
They returned to Juliette's house. "What if it's ours," Avery said. "Don't you think we should make some plans?"
"What, like getting back together?"
"Well, yes. You seemed to like that prospect a few days ago."
"Well, I don't now. I thought about what it would be like long term with you and it just isn't going to work. I'm worth over fifty million you have about fifty bucks. How is that ever going to be an equal relationship? You could never give me what I need or want.
"You just can't base everything on a monetary value. You weren't too worried about that a few days ago. You wanted to be together again. Now we might have a baby. I really like the idea of being a father. I think we could be a great family. I love the idea. I thought love is what you would want most. Anyway, I'm going to be fine moneywise, after what I did with that company restructure Rayna wants me to use my business degree and be the CEO at Highway 65. That should give us a pretty good lifestyle."
"That's just chicken feed. I want someone with real money, power and influence," Juliette sounded contemptible of any suggestion he made. "I want someone who deserves a wife who is a star and who knows how to treat her. Charlie Wentworth's divorce is final. He called me and offered me a choice, the roadie with nothing or him. He wants me and he loves me, he'll give me what you never can. I chose him."
"Charlie Wentworth? Listen to what you are saying. You've had a hundred guys like him. You said it yourself, they are liars and users. You could never be happy with him. He'll want you to play kinky games and as soon as you marry him he'll be off looking for his next conquest and you'll be on the rubbish heap."
"He won't throw me away. I know how to keep him happy and besides I can do kinky if that's what he wants. It should be a new experience."
"Think Juliette," Avery begged. "Don't do this, it's heartless. With me you will have a beautiful, loving life. Wentworth will have thrown you away within twelve months. Also he'll be a mile ahead of you in everything. You are putting yourself in a really bad situation here. This is another one of those stupid mistakes you make."
"I don't care. You can't change my mind. The baby will interfere with my plans and Charlie does not want it. I'm getting rid of it."
"Juliette, you need to know and understand this. A guy like Charlie Wentworth will devour you and spit out the pips. You have no idea what these kind of people are like, what they can do. I do, my father and I have been dealing with them for years. Don't do this Juliette, he'll finish up destroying you. Most of what he's got he has stolen, connived or swindled someone out of. If you have something he wants he'll find a way to get it and you won't even know what's going on until it's too late.
She turned and confronted him, "I don't believe you."
"Juliette, I'm offering you a beautiful, loving life and if this baby is ours a loving family. Think…that is something you have never had and something that was a dream you wanted. I can give you that. All Wentworth will give you is pain. Please think very carefully about this."
"It doesn't matter what you say…you mean nothing to me and the baby even less. I'm taking Charlie's offer."
"Who is this woman, how can you suddenly be so callous? Nevertheless, you will not do anything until we find out who the father is."
"The baby will be gone before you find out if it's yours."
"No it won't Juliette. You will do as I ask, and I am asking nicely or you will suffer the consequences."
"You can't do anything, like I said you mean nothing"
"OK. Then when I leave here I am going straight to the media, Radio, Newspapers, Television the whole works. You will have an army of press on your front lawn inside an hour. Especially when I tell them you don't know who the father is and you are getting an abortion. You will think the sex tape, home wrecker and atheist sagas were a picnic. Wait till you have to tangle with the Right to Life crowd and all their friends, plus probably every religion in the country. They'll probably brand you as a witch. I'll make sure you don't sell another record for ten years and don't doubt me."
Panic suddenly crossed Juliette's face, "You wouldn't."
Avery just looked at her.
"I'll tell them it's yours."
"We'll find that out in any case but if it isn't mine then announcing to the world that you sleep around should stop sales for an extra two years." Then he said emphatically. "Understand this Juliette, you might belittle and hurt me but you are not going to kill my child. Not if you want any peace for the rest of your life. Do we have an agreement?"
She was raging almost beyond control. She could not tolerate losing…not being in charge…the one with the power. She hated Avery with intensity for beating her, breaking her, putting her in this position. She was so angry she could not speak.
He raised his voice, "Do we have an agreement?"
Defeated she just said, "I hate you. I hate every fiber of you…Yes."
"You think very carefully about what we said. I'll be back when we go to the clinic and get the verdict."
He was at her house as promised so they could both visit the clinic. The doctor opened the report, studied it for a few seconds and said, "The samples you both provided are compatible. You are both undoubtedly the parents of this child."
"Thank you doctor," Avery said and they left for Juliette's place. Juliette said nothing until she got home.
"Damn, of all the stinking, rotten luck. It's yours. I was hoping it was Fordham's. Now I suppose you will broadcast it everywhere if I terminate it. How would you know if I miss carry?"
"Because the only way you could do that yourself is with medication and I'll make sure they do a blood test."
"You are going to carry that baby to term. No arguments. The question is; what are you going to do about that?"
"You mean come back to you. You low bastard. That is the last thing I will do.
"OK so you do not want the baby. Here's the deal. You give birth and you can assign sole parentage to me. I will take the baby and raise it. That's the only option you have unless you keep it yourself."
"You would raise the child?"
"Yep, I would be there at the birth and take the baby before you even see it if that's what you want. Why don't you ring your new boyfriend and see if he will let you hide out in his big mansion until you give birth."
"He's not my boyfriend. He's my lover. He's already been here the last time you were here and the two nights after that."
She went and made the phone call. Wentworth agreed.
"Now," Avery said. "You let me know when you are due to give birth and I will be there. But I really want you to know one thing. I loved you more than anything or anyone including myself. Now, I do not know you…you have turned into some kind of callous, selfish, uncaring, evil, animal. If this how you respond to Wentworth's influence then God help you. But know this; in future God is the only one who will help you. After what I have seen here, turning your back on your child and the love I offered you and your deliberate and painful remarks. After Wentworth has finished with you and the centre has fallen out of your empty life and you realize you lost the best and most valuable parts of it. Know that I will not help you, you have lost me and if you have nothing then you will be back in that trailer park where you started."
"I don't know Rayna, first day as the new CEO and I'm a wreck. She's gone. God she hurt me, I never would have believed it if I didn't hear it myself. One day she is talking about us rebuilding our love and the next she was saying the cruelest things. She got an offer from that louse Wentworth and she took it," Avery fought to keep the tears back but the flood was too great. "To think he told me that it would happen. He said I would never hold on to her. In my arrogance I told him to move on. I believed the love we had was our strength. What a painful and hurtful way to find out I was wrong. She doesn't want love, she wants money, power and stardom. She was pregnant you know. She wanted to terminate the pregnancy because Wentworth did not want the baby. She couldn't even be bothered to find out who the father was. I made her do a paternity test. It is mine. She said I meant nothing to her and the baby even less. Anyway, I was successful in forcing her to carry to term. Fortunately she has this weakness for bad press, I threatened to expose her. She is giving birth and I will take and raise the child.
"Avery, that is what I would expect from you. You are a very kind person with a wonderful heart. In my opinion Juliette has made a very poor choice and she will come to regret it. That baby will have a great father and every one here will help I'm sure. Now, let's get your mind off the sadness and onto work."
"OK," Avery nodded.
"I want you to fit the CEO position around your current jobs. I want you to keep producing and song writing. You are the best in Nashville at that. I also understand you, Deacon, Gunner and Scarlett have got a very good band together. Bucky and I really need a band for the label and we would like you guys to audition."
"Damn, I'm going to be a busy guy."
"Well, if you're going to be waiting for that baby you will need to keep your mind busy, you will be properly compensated of course. CEO salary, a good production deal, writer's stipend and royalties and that doesn't even count the band. You will need a truck to take it all to the bank. Now, here's the plan as I see it. Throw in your input anywhere you like. First up I would like us to have a one hour daily executive meeting at 8:00 every morning to keep up to date on what's going on. Then you can have your daily finance meeting at 9:00 each morning. After that you can be in the studio. How does that sound so far."
"Well, not bad but the CEO is going to need to be available all day. How is that going to work?" Avery asked.
"I'm going to hire you an assistant, with your approval of course. This lady I have in mind is very capable. She was the assistant to her husband who was a prominent lawyer. A short time ago he was killed by a drunk driver and their practice closed down. She's looking for work and is very switched on. I'd like you to talk to her. She'll be in your office area right now. Oh, and by the way, I should warn you, two years ago she was a finalist for Miss USA. She is very attractive, no that is an understatement, she's breathtakingly beautiful.
"Sure that sounds great especially if she's as good as you say. But don't get too carried away with her beauty if that was a hint for me. I'm right out of the romance market. After Juliette and this broken heart I think I have had enough of love to last me a lifetime."
"Avery, I know it hurts. But try not to get bitter, don't shut everyone out. You're too good a guy for that."
Out in the hallway Avery nearly bumped into Glenn Goodman. "Hi Glenn how's it all going?"
"About as good for me as it is for you I would expect."
"Juliette is keeping you as her manager?"
"Nope, seems Charlie Wentworth has that job now."
"Damn you say, when does she leave?"
"She's already done that. She went yesterday afternoon, but she was very kind to me though. Rang me on the phone from her plane to tell me I was out of work."
"Well, don't feel too bad Glenn. Her parting shots to me were a lot crueler than that I can assure you."
"I'm sorry for you Avery. I know how you felt about her. Damn, I know how she felt about you. I don't understand how she could change so quickly. She has made a terrible mistake and will live to regret it."
"So I assume you are looking at job offers?"
"I am," Glenn said, "but there aren't that many around in the Music Manager business."
"Well, I might be able to help you out there. Gunner, Deacon, Scarlett and I plus a couple of guys from the Bluebird have put a band together. "Hole in the Wall Gang" we call it." We have an audition for Rayna when we get it a bit tighter. But we are looking for a manager. You interested?"
"I like the name. "Hole in the Wall Gang" from Butch Cassidy the outlaw. Yes I am very interested."
"Great, we'll be in the studio at 4.00 this afternoon why don't you come by and see how we fit?"
Avery had to ask Rayna for directions to find his office. It was larger than he was expecting and furnished in a contemporary style with a spacious desk, a small meeting table and a larger table which seated twelve. His desktop was empty but all equipment folded out of sight when not in use.
Outside his office was a waiting room and a reception desk, for his assistant he assumed. Seated in the waiting room was the most stylishly beautiful woman he had ever seen in real life. Rayna was not kidding when she said this woman was breathtakingly beautiful. But if Rayna had ideas about setting him up, no matter how beautiful the prospect he was not interested. He would take a long time to mend from Juliette; he would never stick his neck out like that again. No, if she was suitable she would be an employee. He knew it was best to keep work associates on a hired help basis, safest as well.
Avery saw the file on his desk. Her name was printed on the front cover. "Ms Kristen Redmond I assume," he said addressing the woman. "Would you please come in." Indicating a chair at the small table he said, "Please take a seat."
"How do you prefer to be addressed? Ms Redmond, Kristen?"
"Kristen is fine but if it needs to be formal I would prefer Ms Redmond."
"That's good Kristen; I prefer to keep things casual around the office. I'm Avery, or Mr. Barkley in mixed company." He smiled politely and offered his hand.
"Oh yes Avery. I know who you are. You have a very envious reputation."
"Really? Envious? I would have thought perhaps notorious, but envious?" he said with a smile. "However Kristen, it is a little early to try flattery. I'm not saying don't do it mind, I'm just saying it is a little early." He gave her a broad smile. He liked her personality, on the face of it, the right type.
"Oh no, I don't intend to flatter. I mean it most sincerely. We had a number of clients in my husband's business who were your opposition. Without exception they all respected you greatly and were envious of your skills. I can assure you, your reputation goes before you."
"Yes, I heard about your misfortune. It's tragic to lose a loved one in that manner. My condolences."
"It's been over 6 months now and I still haven't got used to it. You know sometimes I just expect to see him in his favorite chair, or coming in from the garage after work. Its tragic Jim never got to meet his daughter. I will always regret that for him. It was wrong he was taken so soon and for no reason." Avery could see the tears building in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Kristen I should not have bought that up. Let's get onto the interview. Tell me what experience do you have and what functions did you perform in your earlier position?
Early in the interview process it became obvious that Rayna's opinion was correct. This woman would be an ideal assistant.
"So Kristen what arrangements have made so your daughter is cared for while you are at work?"
"My daughter is only three months old so my mother will look after her. She lives only ten minutes from me."
"Excellent now the position is subject to a three month probationary period. The starting salary is seventy thousand per year. There will be a fifteen percent salary increase after the satisfactory completion of your probation. How does that sound?"
"That is excellent, thank you."
"The only question we need to resolve, when can you start?"
"Tomorrow," she said with a huge smile.
"OK. I like your enthusiasm. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thank you so much Avery." She impulsively stepped forward and hugged him. Suddenly thinking that may be inappropriate she stepped back fumbling an apology.
"That's alright Kristen," Avery laughed at her awkwardness. "It's nice to see you are appreciative of the job."
"The rest of the day was spent with the IT guys getting set up with computer accesses, passwords and familiarization with the systems. Rayna gave him a tour of the company and he asked Mick to update him with the financial systems.
All in all, a typical first day.
At 4.00 that afternoon he was in the studio. The band had just finished setting up the gear. Glenn Goodman was waiting off to the side.
"Guys," Avery said, halting the activities. 'We were talking about getting a manager. I was talking to Glenn here, he was Juliette Barnes manager and I thought he would be great for us. How would y'all feel about that?" There were nods and comments of confirmation. "There you are Glenn, you've got the job."
"Thanks guys, I won't let you down."
Just then Rayna and Bucky came into the studio. "You guys ready for that audition?" Rayna asked.
The band members looked at each other in bewilderment. "Hold on there Rayna," Avery said, "We haven't got anything down yet. We're still getting tight."
"That's not what I heard. You guys have played three venue gigs including the Bluebird, that's right isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Well the reports that came back to me from each of those places were that you guys were tight as catgut. So let's hear something."
The band members looked at each other. "Deacon you want to do Mind Tricks?" Avery asked.
After, "Gunner you want to let Rayna hear "Another Restless Night?"
"I've heard enough," Rayna said. "Bucky organize these guys and girls a contract." I think we might get a single out pretty quick. I like that Mind Tricks, it's a bit different. With this group it shouldn't be much time before we have enough material for an album."
From the start of Avery's employment the Highway 65 label went from success to success. The system he had with Kristen had reached a level of mutual confidence and understanding. She knew his likely opinions or reactions to certain situations and consequently cut the times he needed to be interrupted to a minimum. This gave him as much time in the studio as he wanted and he used it to produce several albums, all of which were successful. Her absolute favorite time at work was when Avery decided to compose. Usually he did that after hours and often she stayed about 30 minutes past time just to hear him. Just long enough so she wouldn't appear obvious. Sometimes though, usually if he was depressed, or had a problem on his mind he would write during normal hours. She never asked him if he was alright, he never gave her reason to think he would want her to know. He was just absorbed in his own thoughts and allowed such emotion to flow from his mind and fingers. The feelings he could find in that guitar astounded her…obviously he'd had many life experiences of an intense nature. She was fascinated hearing him build a song. Lyrics, chords melody, she marveled how he did something so complex so easily. She could listen to him play guitar for hours and his ability with a piano would easily grace any stage.
The work environment he cultivated was one of politeness, respect and courtesy. 'Please' followed every request and he never failed to acknowledge her. She gave thanks to whatever fortune granted her this position.
As was her habit she always arrived at the office 30 minutes early. This particular morning she was surprised to see Avery was not in the executive meeting but in his office. At first glance she knew he was deeply disturbed. He was leaning forward with his hands on either side of a newspaper on his desk. He was just staring at the page and she could see tears in his eyes. He looked up and saw her. Fighting back the tears he said, "Good morning Kristen, I hope you had a good night."
"Could you please let Mick know we won't be having our Finance Committee meeting today? Anything urgent will have to wait until tomorrow. I'll be going out for a while."
She had an almost uncontrollable urge to comfort him. He was so clearly in pain. As he walked past her she just reached across and touched his arm. He turned his head, smiled an acknowledgement and walked out of the office. This was the first time since she had been working there that he did not let her know how to reach him.
She went into his office and looked at the copy of The Washington Post that was still on his desk. On the front page was a photograph of Mr. Charles Wentworth with his new fiancé country music star Juliette Barnes who was clearly pregnant attending some civic function. Into to her third trimester Kristen guessed. She wondered why this would distress Avery. She took the paper to see Rayna.
"Rayna," she said. "I'm very worried about Avery. Something has happened and I don't understand. He has left the office and has left no word when he will return. He was clearly very upset over this photograph in the Washington Post." She handed the paper to Rayna. "I know it might be none of my business and if that's the case please say so but I've never seen him quite like this."
"You say 'quite like this' you have obviously noticed he often has these dark moods. Where he becomes withdrawn, quiet and usually he just writes music."
"I must admit, I really enjoy listening to him doing that. It's amazing how he does it and the feeling he gets into it."
"Yes, well, you should know about your boss so I'll tell you because he won't. I owe Avery a debt I doubt I could honestly repay. If it wasn't for him my kids and I would be living on the street now. Not only has he saved this company, in the time he has been here, he has made it more successful than I could have ever dreamed."
"You are not the only one who owes him a debt like that," Kristen said. "Jim was pretty stretched financially when he died. We were in bad shape. Tiffany and I were on the verge of losing our house when Avery gave me this job. I owe him a similar debt."
Rayna continued, "Avery is a kind, considerate and empathic person, one of God's real gifts. He's also a unique talent, really a musical freak. There are very few like him, anywhere. But unfortunately he's a case of where 'still waters run deep.' The emotions Avery gets into his music come from somewhere and I think it's his soul. Avery feels and forms associations far deeper than most of us. He becomes committed at a deeper level. He has emotional experiences and depths we don't even recognize. This is fine when his trust is returned. He becomes the most loyal and loving partner. But when something goes wrong he suffers far worse than I think we can appreciate. That's what happened here. Five months ago Avery had the closest and sincerest of relationships with the woman in this photograph. They had just resolved some difficulties they had and were rebuilding their relationship. Everything was going great; however, one day Juliette was in love and talking about their future and the next, without any warning, she was breaking up their relationship and being very cruel about it as well. It seems the man in that photograph, a multi billionaire, Charles Wentworth, lured Juliette away with the promise of fame, riches and power. Then Avery found out Juliette was pregnant with his child. Wentworth did not want the child, neither did Juliette. She planned to terminate the pregnancy. Avery however would not allow her to kill his child. He forced her, using threats that he was prepared to instigate, that she carry the baby full term after which he would take sole parentage. That baby she is carrying is actually Avery's child. But the experience has had a severe effect on Avery. It tore out his heart. It's been over five months but I'm sure he is still in love with her and knowing him I have no idea how long it will take him to get over this."
Both Rayna and Kristen said in unison, "That girl is a fool."
"Yes well," Rayna said. "That leads to the next of Avery's problems. His best friends, Gunner, Scarlett, Deacon and I are all involved in relationships and although we try to help him as much as we can, we are still limited in the time we can give him, so he feels a bit like a third wheel on a bicycle."
"Rayna," Kristen said. "Could you hold the fort here for a while? I'd like to go and try to find him. He might tell me to go away but I would like to try and help him if he will let me. If having a friend will help him, I could do that. I have no commitments other than Tiffany."
"Well I'm not sure if he will have much to do with you in that manner. He is pretty strict with associations between workmates."
"Well, I'd like to at least try. I'm not trying to start some heavy relationship here, just give him a friend he can call on when he feels the need. I'd feel better if I did that. Besides if his hurt is bad enough he might bypass his rules on workmates. Do you have any idea where he might be?"
"Until the bars open he'll probably be in that park up the street."
"OK, thanks."
"Oh! Kristen. Take some bread with you. Feed the ducks, it might help to break the ice."
