Chapter Three -- Getting What You Deserve

A/N: This one's for Erin-aka-Pip! (I loved the chapter. First shock-me-story I've read in a LONG time. Thanks. Keep up the great work! Hope you like this one. 3)

Tom pulled away suddenly, letting out a primal cry. "Jude, we can't do this!" He strode to the other side of the room, running his hands through his hair nervously.

"Tommy," she stepped closer to him, resting a hand on his arm. He tensed under her touch and she recoiled slightly.

He faced her, complexion completely stoic. "This is dangerous, Jude. We would both lose our jobs, not to mention that I would go to jail."

"Tommy, I can't do this again. I'm losing you bit by bit. Soon, you're not even gonna need me anymore and I can't handle that. Tommy, I can't lose you."

"You're not gonna lose me, Jude. But we can't do this. It's too risky." Tom groaned, leaning against the wall for support.

"Am I not worth the risk?" Jude pouted quietly as he turned away from her.

"Jude, it is not about you. It's just too hard right now," Tom's voice was getting weaker and weaker. "If you were older, this wouldn't even be an issue."

"Don't play the 'if you were older' card. That's not fair." An awkward silence settled between them.

"Jude Harrison to Darius' office immediately. Jude to Darius' office," a deep voice boomed through the P.A. system.

"Guess you better get going," Tom said, not facing her. She let out a cruel laugh and stormed out of the studio, heading to Darius' office.

"I'm telling you, Jude is going somewhere. She just needs direction," Darius said. Jude stepped in, slightly red in the face.

"You were looking for me?" Catching her breath, Jude glanced around, noticing three men in Darius' office--Darius, Liam, and a younger stranger.

"Yes, Jude. I have some wonderful news. Sit." Darius motioned to an empty seat.

"I'm fine, Darius. What's the news?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her boss.

"Jude, I'd like you to meet your new producer. Jude Harrison, this is Mitchem Anderson. Mitchem, this is Jude."

He held out his hand. "Hey, Jude," he said, smiling at his own joke. She gave him half a smirk and looked to Darius for more instruction.

"Mitchem is an up-and-coming producer and he's very excited to work with you, Jude. I'm sure you guys can be just as good as Tommy and you were. Right?" Jude forced a smile.

"I'm sure we'll do just fine, D." Mitchem was in his early-twenties and dressed in a pressed grey suit. His dirty-blonde hair was slicked back to his head and his eyes were a dull grey. His smile was as fake as Jude's hair color. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson."

Mitchem turned to Darius. "Is there anywhere we can go to get to know each other?" He threw Jude a grin.

"Why don't you two head over to Studio 1."

"Actually, Darius...Tom and Kwest are working with Mason in Studio 1." Jude didn't want to be anywhere near Tom right now.

"You can share, right, Jude?" Darius smirked at her.

Nodding, Jude headed out of her boss' office. "It's right this way," she muttered to Mitchem who was following her. The two arrived at the door and Jude knocked quietly.

"We're working in here," Tom's voice came from behind the door. She choked up a bit, hearing his voice. Jude cracked the door open just a sliver and popped her head in.

"We're work---Jude! What are you doing here?" Tom asked, surprised she was here after their recent uncomfortable moment.

Stepping inside, she motioned to the young man behind her. "Tommy, Kwest...This is Mitchem Anderson...my new producer." Tom raised his eyebrows at her, a frown on his face.

"Nice to meet you, Mitchem," Kwest said politely.

"Actually, it's Mr. Anderson in the studio," he smiled, straightening his tie.

Jude looked distraught and Tom motioned for her to come over. Grabbing her guitar from the wall as a distraction, she leaned over and whispered, "If my songwriter is this corporate, I'll be the worst singer in history."

Tom put a hand on her shoulder. When he finally spoke, his voice was a mere whisper, "Jude, no one can take away your voice. Remember that. You might sing corporate songs and dress in corporate clothes, and even have corporate hair..." He drifted off, stroking her hair gently, "...but you'll always have your voice. Blow him away, Harrison. He won't want to change you when he hears that voice, okay?"

She nods, tears glistening in her eyes. Mitchem's voice took her away from Tom, "Anything I need to know before we begin, Jude?"

Jude threw daggers at her new producer, "It's Ms. Harrison in the studio." Kwest snorted to himself and Tom grinned, mouthing 'That's my girl' to Jude. Grabbing a stool, she positioned herself in the corner. She plugged a pair of headphones into her guitar and began to strum to herself.

"Is she always like this?" Mitchem asked Kwest earnestly.

Tom scoffed and stood, placing himself in front of Mitchem, "Only when corporate idiots try to take away her voice and her wingman." He leaned dangerously close to Mitchem's face, before exiting the room in a huff.

"This place is a zoo," the blonde man commented, turning to Jude.

Kwest sighed, "Only lately."

"I think I'm gonna take her somewhere else, okay?" Kwest shrugged and went back to listening to Mason, who had been completely oblivious to what had been going on on the other side of the wall.

Tapping on Jude's shoulder, Mitchem waited for her to stop playing. When she didn't, he leaned over and unplugged her headphones.

Ripping them off her head, she screamed, "Hey! What do you think you're doing! I was working!"

"Come on, we're going somewhere else." He grabbed her upper arm, leading her into an empty studio down the hall. Once inside, she walked to the far wall and set her guitar on the rack. Mitchem shut the door behind them.

Jude glanced around and instantly recognized the room as the place her and Tom had been in earlier. I can't be here.

"Take a seat." Obeying, Jude fell into a chair by the door. "Jude---Ms. Harrison, I don't want this to be uncomfortable for us. I know this isn't exactly what you want. I know this was kind of placed on you. I understand all that, but we can make the best of it."

"I really like your music, Jude." Mitchem put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing gently with his thumb. "And I really like you. I think we can do some great things. We just need to get along. Maybe even...like each other, eh?" He smiled his fake smile and moved his hand closer to her neck.

Standing uncomfortably, Jude made her way to the other side of the room and picked up her guitar. "Mr. Anderson. I don't want to like you. Tommy...Tommy and I...we made some great music. We were amazing partners. Darius took that all away and gave me...you. So you see, I really can't like you. Alright?"

"Jude," he took a step closer to her, "I'm sure that I can change your mind."

"Jude?" Kwest's voice floated through the door. Cracking the door open, he saw Jude and Mitchem over in the corner. "Darius wants the two of you in the lobby. Stat."

"Sure, Kwest," Mitchem smiled. Kwest left, leaving the door open.

"Guess we'd better get out of here," Jude walked quickly into the hall, heading toward the lobby.

"Jude, Mitchem!" Darius' voice greeted them. "Can you two work in the lobby for right now? We need Studio 2. Shay is coming in this afternoon and I need it open for him."

"Shay?" Jude choked out.

"Yeah, he'll be here in a couple hours, so get ready for this place to rock!" Darius' voice was full of pride for his nephew.

"Shay," Jude whispered. This was the first time she'd see Shay in months. Glancing nervously around the lobby, she noticed Tom standing by the door to Studio 1. She walked over to him, smiling slightly. "We need to talk, Tommy."

"Jude, there's nothing to talk about," he muttered, trying to keep his voice down.

"Tommy, there's a lot to talk about. Let's start with that kiss that you planted on me just a few minutes ago. Or we can start with the kiss you planted on me almost a year ago at my Sweet Sixteen? Or we could start with the flirting and the leading on ever since we started working together? Hmmm...?"

"Jude, there is nothing to talk about," Tom insisted.

"Jude, let's work over here." Mitchem called from across the lobby. He was seated on a small loveseat in the corner.

"I have to work, Tommy. With my new producer," she spat, joining Mitchem on the other side of the room. Tom never took his eyes off her.

Sitting as close to the edge as possible, Jude settled next to him. Mitchem set a hand on her knee, smiling down at her. "I'm glad we're working together." Jude glanced over at her old producer. His eyes were seething and his face was twisted in anger.

"Me too," Jude returned her attention to Mitchem, smiling wide at him and setting her hand on top of his. "Me too."

A/N: Chapter Three is done! I hope you liked it! I had bunches of fun writing it. I'll be gone all weekend, but I'll try to get some writing done while I'm gone. I'd like to get a few more reviews, though. :pout: Please, click that review button! It makes me write faster, and I love to hear from you guys!

(Special Shout-Out: Thanks much to Erin-aka-Pip for her story and her great reviews. I love you! 3 heh-heh. Keep writing and reviewing!)

Love always,
Jude Q