Well into the next morning, Jude departed from Darius' office after a lengthy conversation regarding her new scheduling, explaining that while she appreciated the opportunity, she requests that Tommy be given his old routine back. She hoped Tommy wouldn't find offence in this gesture like he did the last time she took his artist assignments into her own hands, but figured that even if he did, he'll thank her for it eventually.

"Someone had a good time last night." Brendon commented as Jude crossed his path, eyeing the happiness evident in her features with a hint of bitterness

Jude turned toward him with a furrowed brow, "What?"

Brendon rolled his eyes, "You know what," He smiled, "So you and the boyfriend got down and dirty last night, huh?"

Taken a bit back by his forwardness, Jude blinked surprise and stuttered out a response, "Uh, no - not that it's any of your business."

Brendon grinned arrogantly, calling her bluff with an explanation, "It's written all over your face, doll."

Jude denied his words with a shake of her head, "I'm just happy."

"And satisfied." Brendon mumbled into his coffee as he lifted his mug for a gulp of the burning liquid just soft enough for Jude to miss

Jude inhaled the scent of coffee with an inward envious groan, feeling the exhaustion that was usually cured by a cup or two...or three.

"Want some?" Brendon asked, following her gaze to his steaming mug

"No." Jude said quickly and rounded the hospitality counter to grab a bottle of water from the mini fridge

"Since when?"

"You know, coffee's really not good for you." Jude said, intercepting the question

Brendon scoffed, muttering a tease of, "Health nut" before directing his attention to the approaching figure of Jude's sister, quietly appraising her figure before offering a smile, "Jude's sister." He greeted with wandering eyes that made Sadie uncomfortable

"Hey." Sadie responded flatly, "I need to borrow Jude for a minute." She paired the urgency of her tone with a grip on Jude's arm, pulling her toward the nearest empty studio

"Geez, Sadie!" Jude complained, "What's your damage?"

Sadie paused with a huff, remembering Brendon's greeting, "There was a time when all you were was my sister." She griped

"Yeah, in high school."

"Whatever," Sadie dismissed and held up a magazine cover, "Have you seen this."

Jude examined the tabloid for a moment, than groaned at the picture of her and Brendon seemingly cuddled up closed together on a couch in the club Sadie dragged her to the other night. Brendon's hand was rested high up on her thigh just below the hem of her ridden-up tight dress, making it look like he was the one who'd pushed it up, "No." Jude answered Sadie's question with a sigh, taking the headlines surrounding the picture, claiming an affair, "Has Tommy seen it?"

"I don't know, he's not in yet." Sadie paused to shake her head disapprovingly at Jude, "How could you let something like this happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"I keep telling you to keep away from Brendon in public - and why are you letting him touch you like that?"

"I didn't let him do anything!" Jude defended herself, "He put his hand there, I shoved it away."

"Not quick enough apparently." Sadie muttered before turning the page to another picture of Jude and Brendon in nearly the exact same position, just with Brendon's mouth hovering at Jude's ear and smiling in response to whatever he was whispering, "And this?"

Jude yanked the tabloid from Sadie's hands, "Whatever! It's not true, you know that."

"We know that, but the country doesn't. We have to do major damage control before this gets out of hand."

Jude gritted her teeth, really, really, wanting coffee right now, "What's Darius saying about this?"

"Nothing, it just came out. I wanted to get it to you first so you weren't blindsided."

Jude nodded, "Okay," She breathed, "Let me explain to Tommy before you tell Darius."

"Do it quick." Sadie urged Jude out the open doorway, "And keep him away from Brendon, we don't need a homicide in tomorrow's tabloid."

Sadie must have seen Tommy coming because less then a second of standing the hallway, Tommy turned the corner and greeted Jude with his famous smile and a look that belonged only to her. She exhaled a bit shakily as he approached and pecked her once softly on the lips, "Hey." She smiled

"Uh-huh." The sarcastic voice of Brendon filled Jude's ear as he passed the couple, she turned to glare at him.

"What was that about?" Tommy asked casually

"Nothing," Jude mumbled, than offered her best smile of innocence, "I need to talk to you."

Knowing the look all to well, Tommy sighed, "What'd you do?"

"Nothing on purpose." She answered vaguely, then led them to the confines of studio C, where she seated Tommy and handed him the tabloid, "It's not what it looks like." She said

Tommy's happy face from moments before was completely diminished now, glaring at the picture, "What the hell are you wearing?"

"A dress Sadie talked me into...and Brendon, he just came up next to me and we talked for a minute, then I left."

For a split second, Tommy's angry eyes landed on Jude before returning to the article attached to the second picture, "That prick." He growled under his breath.

Jude waited hesitantly, watching the emotions cross over Tommy's face before he finally dropped the magazine to his lap, "Are you mad at me?"

Tommy propped his elbow up on the arm of the chair, his hand reaching up to cup his chin, "No." He decided, "I trust you; if you say it's nothing, than it's nothing."

"And it really is" Jude promised

"He likes you." Tommy told her seriously, "Too much." He added with a glare

"I know."

"I don't like this," Tommy admitted, "I don't like that you're so comfortable with him."

"I'm not."

"You are - and he's way too comfortable with you."

Jude took a deep breath, and offered a sympathetic shrug, "I guess that's bound to happen, I mean, we work together."

Tommy remained quiet for a moment, considering what he wanted to do against what he should do. Nothing would please him more then ramming his fist into Brendon's face for lying his hands on Jude, and using the time Tommy away to move in on her, but he restrained himself, knowing that while anger was his first impulse, it wasn't always the best course of action. "Just be careful." He finally said "He'll try anything to get you."

Jude smiled softly and perched herself on his lap, "He can't have me."

"That's not what he thinks."

"Who cares what he thinks?" Jude leaned down and pressed her lips to Tommy's, who stiffly returned the kiss, "I'm yours and that's all that matters."

His mind still fantasizing about wreaking Brendon and that face of his, Tommy's answering nod was slow and distracted.

Jude sighed and hastily changed the subject, trying to calm Tommy down fully before he went out and faced Brendon again, "I talked to Darius this morning."

Tommy's eyes rose to meet hers, "About what?"

"I fixed your schedule," Jude announced as optimistically as she could manage, "You have all your old artists back."

Successfully on a completely new train of thought, Tommy's brow furrowed with confusion, "Why? I told you I was fine."

"I know you, Tommy. You hated it. Besides, I don't want to take your job from you; you're way more passionate about it then I am." Jude told him honestly, "And better too."

"But what about the other artists?"

"I'm taking those over - we switched schedules, pretty much."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I did. You earned to be where you are, it wasn't fair for Darius to take it away from you...I think I have a few more dues to pay before I can be considered Gmajor royalty."

"I'm Gmajor royalty?"

"Mmhmm." Jude murmured, "You are the VP after all, so I guess it's back to plowing the fields with the other peasants for me."

Tommy grinned, amused, "Guess so." He reached up and stroked her hair, "Thank you."

"Anytime."