Corrine tried to relax while waiting for the sound check to start, but her heart refused to settle down.  In one day the two things that she longed for were hers: being able to perform for true fans and gaining the love of the man that made that possible.  She went into her dressing room to attempt to rest for a few minutes.  When she opened the door she saw a vase on her vanity that contained a large bouquet of wildflowers.  A card was stuck in among them that read: "Good luck tonight and thank you for going after what you wanted.  Love, Winston".  She smiled and the anxiety that she was feeling melted away.

      Someone popped their head into her dressing room to let her know that they were ready for the sound check.  She got up and practically danced her way out the door.  She stood on the stage and her eyes adjusted to the light.  The band started to play and she saw Winston walk in though the back of the club.  She smiled at him as she started to sing.  When the crew was satisfied with the check, Corrine jumped off the stage tried not to run to Winston.  She waited for him to make any movements, not knowing how he wanted to handle their relationship...he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

      "Winston," she said smiling, "what about your image?"

      "I'm not in the office, darling, screw images."  He kissed her again and walked backstage with her.  "Are you nervous, love?"

      "Extremely."

      "You weren't any other time, especially the first night I saw you."

      "That was different...that was business.  These people are paying to see me perform, I hardly want to disappoint them."

      "I don't think you can, love."  He spoke more words of encouragement to her as she was getting ready for the show. 

      She was going to do quite a few covers this evening as well as her own material and singing someone else's songs made her feel a little queasy; she was always afraid of something thinking that she'd "screw them up."  Showtime grew near and Winston gave her one last kiss before leaving her.

      "You'll be amazing, I promise.  They'll love you."

      "I love you, Winston."

      He smiled.  "I love you too."

      Corrine could hear the crowd that was waiting for her.  She took a deep breath and walked out onto the stage.  Everyone there screamed when they saw her, adrenaline coursed through her body and her fears dissipated.  She sang her first few songs and was met with resounding applause.  She stopped after the third song to talk to her fans.

      "Hey guys!" she said cheerfully.  The crowd grew silent.  "I just want to thank all of you for being here tonight, I didn't realize there'd be so many of you.  This whole experience is just amazing and I want to stick around after the show and talk to you."  She had the makings of a superstar and Winston knew it.  The fans adored her and she loved them back.  She didn't want to be the kind of celebrity that shunned her fans as soon as the concert was over.  She wanted to meet them as much as they wanted to meet her.  "So, I hope we all have a good time here, O.K.?"  The crowd cheered once again and the first few bars of her next song began.   She was singing the single that hit the airwaves that very week, a cover of Breath's "Hands To Heaven."

      As she began to sing, she locked her eyes with Winston's.  "As I watch you move, across the moonlit room, there's so much tenderness in your loving.  Tomorrow I must leave; the dawn knows no reprieve.  God give me strength when I am leaving.  So raise your hands to heaven and pray that we'll be back together some day hey...Tonight I need your sweet caress hold me in the darkness.  Tonight you calm my restlessness; you relieve my sadness..."  As she sang, Winston could feel himself falling for her even more that he had that morning.

      Things were going flawlessly until she neared the end of the song.  When she neared the last few words, she collapsed onto the stage.  The band stopped and the audience fell silent aside from a few gasps and muffled questions.  Winston ran up onto the stage not having any idea of what was going on.  Corrine looked up at him, dazed.

      "Winston, my stomach hurts."  He looked at her abdomen that was covered by a sheer veil of material; blood was seeping through it.  He lifted it up to see a gunshot wound; between a silencer and the music, the shot was never heard.  He yelled for the paramedics that were stationed outside of the club.

      In a few short minutes, Corrine was on a stretcher headed for the hospital.  Winston was at her side holding her hand trying to keep his composure.

      While Corrine was in the emergency room, Winston's cell phone rang.  "What have you found out?" he asked thinking it was news of what had happened.

      "Winston, why so anxious?"  It was Claudia.

      "You!  Where are you, you spiteful hag?"

      "Now, Winston, you'd better be nice to me or next time I'll make sure they hit a vital organ."

      "Nothing like giving away what you did, Claudia."

      "Too bad I put so many links in the chain, Sammy, it will *never* be connected to me.  I will make a deal with you though," she said slyly.

      "A deal?  With you?  You're mad!"

      "You'd be mad to pass up this opportunity, Sammy, that is if you actually do care about that girl."

      "Corrine?  Don't you dare go near her," he said in a low voice.

      "Then meet me at Barringer's Restaurant tomorrow at noon.  Bye, Sammy."  Claudia hung up and Winston was furious. 

      "Mr. Newquay?"  It was the doctor that was with Corrine.

      Winston turned around.  "Yes?"

      "She's O.K.  There was some blood loss, but the bullet didn't damage any organs.  You can go in and see her now."

      "Thank you, doctor."  Winston walked into Corrine's room; she weakly smiled at him.  He made his way to her bedside and took her hand.

      "Well, I know I'll make the papers anyway."  She laughed quietly.

      "You get shot and you can joke about it?  You're too much, darling."  He kissed her hand.

      "Well, it'd be one thing if I didn't know what was going on, then I'd be scared.  But...I know exactly who did this, or at least who they were hired by."

      "You do?"

      "So do you I'm guessing.  I didn't want to tell you, Winston, but she had, um, paid me a visit a few days ago, telling me to leave you 'or else.'  Gotta love how original her threat was."

      "Why didn't you tell me?  God, none of this would've happened and..."

      "Winston, I love you.  I'm not going to give you up over someone's greed and jealously.  I'm not like that."

      "This is your life we're talking about though."

      "I know, Winston...You're worth any risks there might be along the way."  She reached her hand up to his face and caressed it."

      "I can't believe that you'd put yourself in danger over me," he said in an angry tone...it then softened.  "I'm going to make sure nothing ever happens to you again, I promise.  Claudia called me tonight.  She wants me to meet with her tomorrow..."

      "You're not going to are you?" Corrine asked with concern in her voice.

      "I'm taking her threat seriously, Corrine.  Look at what the bloody bitch has already done to you.  I can't let her hurt you again."

      "Are you going to change your mind about us, Winston?"

      Winston smiled at her.  "Never."