Chapter 1

Davies Record Company is home to hundreds of rising artist. It stands at a firm estimate of six-hundred feet. It's not the tallest building in Los Angeles but it definitely counts as one of them. This was my father's legacy. He built this from the ground up. After he passed away I was entitled to all his shares and his whole company. It's a stressful business, and I always loved making music for others to enjoy, not so much reaping in the profits. And I honestly believed that but after years in the business I've realized that the whole point to music is only the money. It's a very "dog eat dog" world and you're rather at the bottom of the food chain or the top. And quite frankly I'd rather be on the top no matter who I have to step on to get there and stay there. I've seen this business chew people up and spit them out, leaving them broken and still crawling back for more. As head of the company I handle the marketing of music recording and music videos. So basically I run everything . . . and lately I've been starting to really hate it. I've had momentary thoughts about walking away from all of this.

There was a sudden knock at the door, "Come in".

Jenifer my assistant pokes her head in, "Mrs. Davies your two o'clock meeting with Sherry has been cancelled."

"Cancelled?" This Sherry girl is either really gutsy or really stupid.

"Yes ma'am Sherry has been rushed to the hospital from a car crash earlier this morning."

"Oh that's terrible to hear, the girl has potential to make it big. Send her some flowers and a 'Get Well Soon' card, will ya."

"Yes Mrs. Davies."

"Oh and Jenifer I'm gonna head home for now, but if anything else important comes up just give me a call."

"Yes Mrs. Davies." Jennifer quietly closes my door.

As I'm putting my things in my bag another knock is heard at the door. "Come in".

"Hey Ash, just heard you were about to leave. I wanted to know if you wanted to get some lunch with me?"

"Maybe some other time Kyla, I need to see Spencer."

"Oh yeah how are things with the battle-axe?"

I just roll my eyes at her, little sisters what can you do? "She's not a battle-axe and it's my fault for the way things have been headed. I put business first and love second." Or at least I think that's why she's always hanging out with Aiden.

"Damn that sucks. You two have been together so long."

I just try to ignore her and put my things away, but I'm flooded with so many thoughts and emotions. "You know that's the thing. We've been married for what, like five years now. Ya know, we've known each other twice that time, and now we're beginning to have problems! I don't even know where to fucking begin. Fucking six months Ky. Six months I've been sleeping on the damn couch."

"You miss the sex, I getcha." She says, trying to be funny.

"It's not even about the sex, there's so much more to it than that. It's like one minute you're able to hug and kiss the person you love and happen to live with. Then BAM! Just like that . . . nothing. We haven't kissed, we haven't touched, hell we barely even look at each other! I feel like we're two strangers living in the same house that's being recorded and broadcasted on MTV!"

Kyla comes over to me and rubs my back. "Woo calm down. Just go home and talk to her. Tell her how you feel. How you're hurting inside because of this separation."

"Yeah, that's what I've wanted to do from the very beginning. But every time I try to say something she interrupts me or walks away like something just came up."

"Well grab her ass, tie her to a chair, and make her listen. No matter what the stupid excuse is, make her listen to you."

I rub my head trying to alleviate a growing migraine. "I know, I know, I need to get this taken care of. I'll call you later to let you know what happens."

"Ah thanks Ashley, you know how I love your drama."

I flip her off before grabbing my bags to leave. "Bye". On the way to the car I keep going over what I want to say. Should I begin with a firm "Spencer we need to talk", or say really gently, "Spencer I think it's about time we knock this shit off and figure out or problems". Maybe I can do both. I'm getting more nervous just thinking about it.

I get to my BMW and toss my things in the trunk. Before starting the car I check my face and decided to put on some make-up using the windshield mirror. Everything seems in order. I guess it'd be best to go. Ohh yeah I should stop by the flower shop and pick up some of Spencer's favorite white Tiger Lilys. That way when I start my speech it won't seem like I'm hinting towards divorce (even though she's brought it up once or twice). I start the car and drive off.

The drive home was relatively peaceful except for the fact that my heart was beating erratically. As I drove up the drive way I noticed truck parked up front, it belonged to someone I didn't like. Now my heart is beating really hard. I park in the garage. I'm not sure how but I'm able to peel my sweating hands off the steering wheel.

I grab the flowers, exit my car and take a deep breath before entering the house. I put down my bag and walk over to the bedroom. And to say my suspicions were confirmed is just depressing. I really hate when I'm right about these things. As if the visual in my head wasn't bad enough. The sight of them was even worse. Aiden's denim jeans were down at his ankles (lucky for me his underwear wasn't), and Spencer wrapped in a towel tossing his clothes to him.

Involuntarily I dropped my keys and the flowers from my hands. In that moment Spencer's eyes met with mine and the look of surprise was evident.

"I. . . I. . . Uh this isn't what it looks like." She stuttered. I just shook my head. That was all I could think of to do. I could feel the tears slipping past my eyelids and a scream building in my throat. But I firmly covered my mouth with my hand, I wasn't gonna give anyone the pleasure to see me in pain.

My hands dropped to my sides as I let out a deep breath. For me an uncharacteristic sigh of anguish. I didn't even wipe away the tears, I just pretended like they weren't there as I spoke to her in a calm voice, "well then, what is it? It looks to me like you had sex with Aiden and now you're helping him get dressed."

She looks sad. "That's not what happened."

"You know that divorce you keep talking about. I think I'm gonna. . . I think I'm gonna considered it." I picked my keys up off the floor, kicked the flowers out of my way and headed for my car.

"Ashley!" was all I heard as I slammed the bedroom door. I ran down the stairs to the garage. I hopped in my car and drove off in any direction. It didn't matter where as long as it was far away from her.

Surprisingly or not so surprisingly I'm at a gay bar pretty much drinking away my pathetic sorrows. My sister has been texting me to see what happened and I'm too embarrassed to admit to myself or anyone else about the events that occurred no more than an hour or two ago.

"Who would've fucking thought, Aiden! Aiden of all people! How could she do it with Aiden?" I'm not sure who I'm talking to or even if anyone's listening but it feels good to talk about my problems.

The cute bartender is just hand drying a mug with a towel smiling at me. "Who's Aiden?"

"Oh he's the fucking Devils lost son who happens to be my wife's assistant. He also went to the same high school my wife and I went to."

"Hahaha. So you all have a history together, huh."

"Oh yeah and donkey ass has wanted Spencer forever. He got all butt hurt feelings when I asked her out and she said "yes". Then when Spencer and I got married he left, I thought for good. But no the son of a bitch comes back into our lives no more than six months ago, which is why my wife and I started having problems."

The blonde bartender shakes her head, "Hmm well if he's the problem then get rid of him."

"It ain't that easy. Spencer keeps defending him and taking his side when I get upset about things he does. Then! Then, get this he kisses Spencer. He kisses my wife! This happened to lead to the biggest fight in our marriage. I get all pissed off and what does she do! She defends him, saying he didn't mean it, or whatever bullshit." I down another shot. "I fucking bet she liked it." All of a sudden the strain on my heart had tightened and I could no longer old back the tears that I've held since Aiden's arrival. "He's wanted her since high school. My heart feels. . . it feels" but I couldn't get the rest out. The bartender just pats my back.

"Its okay honey, everything will work out. Let me call you a taxi, maybe you should go home and talk to your wife or stay at a friend's house. Do something other than drink away your problems." I just shook my head I had no energy to argue with her for another shot of vodka.

"Hey Joe can you take over for a little I just need to help her out." She helped me from the bar stool to the taxi. "It'll be okay Ashley." She plopped me down on the seat and closed the door. I gave the driver directions to my house, and we were off. I called my sister to come pick up my car at the bar. Thankfully I was smart enough to give her a spare set of keys to the house and my car.

By the time the driver made it to my house it was already getting dark outside. I paid the man and got out. I noticed Aiden's truck was gone, part of me figured Spencer left with him. If that was the case I had the house to myself which gave me time to think, and sleep. I stumbled my way to the front door which was unlocked, thank God. I my bag made a loud banging sound as it dropped to the floor. I closed the door and was able to lock it. I fell against the cold white door and slid down to the floor. The house was a little dark and I had no intention of getting back up to turn on the lights.

Then suddenly the lights flashed on in the entrance way. "What the hell?" I covered my face. "What are you doing up?"

She sniffled and wiped her blonde hair aside, "I waited for you."

"Well you didn't have to. It's not like I wanted to see you anyways. Where's your boyfriend?"

"Ugh will you please listen to me?" She walks over to me and pulls me up off the floor. She tries to hold me but I push my way past her and fall onto the living room couch.

I let out a loud burp, "Eh, do I have a choice?"

She began, "It wasn't what it looked like. He came over for work. When he was ready to leave I told him to just let himself out cause I was gonna take a shower. When I came out of the bathroom he took off his clothes."

I grunted, how stupid does she think I am. "That sounds outrageously stupid!"

"Damn it Ashley! I know we're having problems about him but I would never cheat on you!" Spencer falls to her knees and cries into my lap.

At this moment I don't even care anymore. I push her away from me, as she plops her butt on the floor. "You know what Spencer if it wasn't for fuck face we wouldn't be having problems right now. If you would just tell him to go away and never come back we'd be okay." I eye Spencer from the corner of my eye. "But what I really don't understand is why you choose to hold on to him, unless. Unless there was a really good reason behind it."

Spencer shook her head in disappointment. "Our problems are so much deeper than him. But if you were here most the time you would know that."

I put my hands up. "Wait, what? Ugh okay Spencer I'm confused. I would like for you to explain to me what this is really all about. And make it good, cause after this I'm not sure if we can make this marriage work. Or if it'll even be worth it."

Spencer remained seated on the floor as she thought for a few minutes on what she would say.

"In the beginning when you and Aiden were competing for me, It's not a lie that I fell for you first, but I. . . I'm starting to feel like I no longer fit in this picture. I mean, we started dating when I was sixteen and we were married in our early twenties. And everything was going so great, but then your dad died so unexpectedly, which is when you started pulling away." A tear unexpectedly slid down my cheek.

She continued, "Then your family business got passed on to you and I can tell that work has really taken a lot out of you. And I know you work so hard so that we have the things we need because my work hasn't been providing enough. But your work has really changed you. You're a completely different person. I don't know why but you've become so arrogant and mean, and every time we go out you make me feel like I'm invisible. And maybe because you've been holding the reins on your business and our whole marriage that you feel that I'm beneath you." Then she began to cry.

I wanted to comfort her but I couldn't think of nothing to say. So I just let her talk. "I don't know how you feel about me Ashley I really don't. I would like to think of possibilities to makes this work but when I think about everything, I realize that the person I married five years ago isn't you. I keep thinking that my feeling of wanting to start over will go away but every time I see you those feelings get stronger. And to be honest it helps that I rarely see you anymore, and having you gone almost 24/7 has given me time to really think, that, maybe we need to separate."

Wow, that was a real punch in the gut. "So basically you feel incomplete and my business has changed me and our marriage."

She sniffles and shakes her head up and down. "Pretty much."

Dear lord, that's annoying to hear. "So what's this thing with Aiden?"

"Aiden provides comfort." She said without hesitation.

I shake my head at her. "So you did sleep with him."

She quickly hops to her feet and gets in my face. "No I didn't! I know it looked bad but I'm not lying about what happened I swear to you."

I just roll my eyes as best I could. "Well you know what Spencer, it doesn't matter anymore. Now that I know how you feel, there's no way around it. You're gonna feel like this forever if we stay together. So maybe we should just file the divorce and go our separate ways."

Spencer looks down at her hands. I wonder if she feels like I let down. If she was expecting me to fight for a marriage that apparently has been falling apart from the very beginning. "Ashley, I don't mean any of this in a bad way. I just feel like I need to be on my own. I need to find myself. When I stand next to you, I want to feel like I'm standing next to you not behind you."

"Spencer if that's how you felt you should've told me sooner. If I had known any of this I would've changed." I stood up on wobbly feet and made my way to our room. Looking around, the only thing I could think was, I'm really gonna miss this place.