All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.
This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.
The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.
AN: Here's the next chapter! Two updates in one day! Yay! That many reviews to look forward too! The song mentioned here that's 'written' by Lian Young is titled Somethin' 'Bout a Truck by Kip Moore. Look it up and you'll get an idea of what I believe Lian sounds like.
Gaby -this one's for you, darling! Thank you for being wonderfully patient!
Ses -four!
Lette, Chelsea, Gianna -I look forward to your reviews ahead of time!
Read, Review and Enjoy all the way through! Ahhh, my battery is dying!
Chapter Nine
First Week of September
New York City
"Okay, so here's the finished video."
Lian leaned back into the leather chair as he propped his booted foot on his knee, an elbow on the mahogany table as he watched the music video, his manager's words buzzing in the back of his head.
"The song's hitting big, Lian," Jerry pointed at his iPad, Lian pushing his hand away without saying anything, "This is going to be one of the most watched music videos by the end of the week–I tell you, it's going to be the song of the year –I can guarantee it."
He didn't say anything, just let out a sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair, the video halfway through, "The video's good."
"It's great," Jerry's excitement always got on Lian's nerves, especially in the last couple of months, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck is going to be the video of the year, guaranteed. It's been a while since you've popped out a top chart song like this…what the hell inspired you?"
"A little red dress," Lian muttered under his breath as the video came to an end, pushing the iPad back to Jerry, an eyebrow arching as his manager laughed.
"I see now," Jerry chuckled to himself as he tapped on the screen several times before blanking it, "Makes sense now, why the girl you picked looks a lot like –"
"She looks nothing like her," Lian looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the conference room, not seeing the New York skyline stretched out before them.
Jerry shook his head as he leaned back into the chair, stretching out his legs under the conference table, "So are the rumors on the tabloids true? Do you have a thing for her?"
"She's my cousin's ex-girlfriend," Lian said instead of answering the question, his head falling back onto the chair's headrest as he stared at the ceiling, "There's nothing more than that."
"Man, it must really stick in your craw, uh," Jerry shook his head with a chuckle as he linked his fingers over his flat stomach, giving Lian a cocky know-it-all smile, "Your cousin getting to her before you could…it must be eating you alive."
"Let me get something straight for you," Lian dropped his foot to the floor, leaning forward to give his manager a dark look, "She's nothing to me…she wouldn't even be here if it hadn't been for me giving her CD to Natalie."
"Why did you," Jerry ran his fingers through his hair before resting his hand on his stomach again, "I'm sure the moment you heard her, you knew she would become competition…not only that, but she's wrecking havoc on your playboy image, making you look like an asshole without even trying."
That's because I am an asshole, Lian thought to himself as he leaned back into the chair, "I have an obligation as an artist to others with talent…and no matter what I think or feel about her, she is talented."
Jerry snorted at that as he looked at his watch, crossing his ankles while studying Lian's profile, "Why did you even listen to the CD? You should have just tossed it."
"I did it as a favor for my cousin," Lian stared sightlessly out the window, the memory of the first time he had heard her voice filling his head and doing other interesting things to his body as a shiver ran down his back, "Because he's my cousin. He asked me for the favor because he was fucking her."
"And you wish you were the one to fuck her first, uh," Jerry's cocky smile disappeared as Lian turned his dark brown eyes towards him, the lack of expression on his face letting him know he was close to stepping over some invisible line.
"Why are we here, Jerry," he asked, the tone of his voice letting his manager know he was done with that line of conversation and it would be best for him to stay away from it in the future.
"Natalie called, wanted to meet with us here in…" he looked at his watch again before looking over his shoulder towards the closed door, "Thirty minutes. I had you come in earlier so you could check out the video –kill two birds with one stone, right?"
"Sure," Lian kept his eyes on the view outside the windows, having no interest in holding a conversation with Jerry when he was already on the verge of punching his smirky face.
Minutes crawled by in awkward silence before the door opened.
Tall and willowy with dark red hair, brilliant green eyes and porcelain skin, Natalie Dosher was the driving force behind the music label quickly gaining worldwide recognition.
Looking at her, one would think she had nothing in that pretty head of hers and wonder why she didn't make a living out of modeling.
What many didn't know was that modeling was the way she had gotten into this business, using her sharp brain to do what she did best –discover talent in others and make money off of them.
"Glad you two are here," Natalie smiled at them as she set her portfolio at the head of the table, the high-waist pencil skirt she wore hugging a small waist, the black fabric smooth over round hips and long shapely legs, which she crossed as soon as she sat down, the four inch black stiletto heels she wore making her legs look even better.
"What's going on, Natalie," Lian looked at her, never liking it when she had the gleam in her eyes –it usually meant she had an idea he was not going to like.
"Our party's not yet complete," she said in that cultured voice of hers –thanks to the many speech classes she took, no one would guess she was a Brooklyn girl from her voice alone –her full lips, the soft color of a peach, lifted into a small smile as she blinked at him, the smoky gray eye-shadow and black eyeliner she had applied with an expert hand making her green eyes pop, "Once the rest of the guests arrive, I'll get right to the point."
Lian stared at her, having already decided he was definitely not going to like whatever Natalie had percolating in that brilliant head of hers.
The minutes trickled by in silence, the tension slowly building until it literally crackled but Lian wasn't one to break under pressure so he kept eye contact with her, his face showing no reaction to the small smile that graced her face.
"After you, darlin'."
"Thank you, Marley."
At the sound of that smooth low voice, he looked away from his boss –it may be his voice, his music, his talent but as CEO of the label, Natalie was his boss –dark brown eyes locking onto purple ones as July Star froze several feet into the conference room, forcing her manager, short and balding with a bit of a beer gut, to move around her.
"Take a seat, Julie," Natalie swept a graceful hand towards the chairs at the other side of the table, watching with interest as Lian and July kept staring at each other, letting out a sigh when she realized neither was willing to look away first, "Julie…please sit down."
She finally broke the connection, not noticing as he watched her walk behind Natalie's chair to sit next to her manager, his eyes moving down her body before they settled back on her face again.
She was wearing tight blue jeans with black mid-calf boots made of suede, a matching jacket over a powder blue corset style top, her long hair falling down her back and shoulders in curls and braids, a black and blue rosette clip holding the sides of her hair at the base of her neck.
Sometimes he wished she wasn't so damn beautiful –then, maybe, the only hold she had over him would be her voice.
"I've asked you to meet me here to discuss the Jay Leno interview," Natalie opened her portfolio, pulling out a sleek steel pen before she rested her elbows on the table, "I'm not pointing any fingers because, quite frankly, I think both of you are at fault."
"What," July turned to look at Natalie, surprise evident in her purple eyes as she pointed a finger at Lian, "He –"
"Yes, I know," Natalie interrupted her, holding up a long fingered hand to stop the words, "Lian has a mouth big enough to shove both his feet into it and then some. However, that does not give you the right to lose your temper the way you did, Julie –especially not on live television."
He watched as she lowered her hand to her lap, leaning back into the leather chair as she crossed her long legs –God, he was a sucker for long legs –her eyes trained on Natalie, a slight tick at the side of her jaw the only outward sign of temper that he could see.
Lian moved his hand from his chin to cover his mouth, hiding the amused smile spreading across his face as he kept his eyes on her –he definitely preferred her angry…especially when the only other alternative seemed to be that damn sorrow that followed her wherever she went.
"One of the reasons my label is doing so well is due to my intolerance for mudslinging between musicians," Natalie let out a sigh as she looked down at her notepad for a few seconds before looking towards Lian, "Especially those I represent. I haven't said anything because, honestly, I thought this was the result of some love affair gone wrong –I was hoping you two would be adults about it and find an amicable solution.
"But after Leno's show, I can't figure out where you come off saying things about Julie when you've never even met her before then."
"He's got actual reason to –"
"Shut up, Jerry," Lian stopped his manager's defense, leaning forward as he looked at his producer, "What do you want me to do, Natalie? Retract all I've said? Apologize?"
"I want you to stop," Natalie pointed her pen at him, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow, "Nothing negative about Julie is to ever come out of your mouth and end up in the public ear ever again."
"Fine," Lian leaned back into his chair, lifting his shoulder as if it weren't that big of a deal to him, "Consider it done."
"Good," Natalie pulled out several sheets of paper from the side pocket of her portfolio, "I've been thinking about damage control and I think I've come up with a solution. I'm sure if you both experienced firsthand how hard the other one works, it might put you on friendlier terms. If not, this group project should at least have you learn to tolerate each other."
"Group project," July and Lian spoke up in unison, their harmonized voices mutually displeased at the idea.
"Yes," Natalie looked at Lian before turning her green eyes towards Julie, "The song you gave me last year –you asked me to find a male vocalist interested in buying it. I've been sitting on it because I felt the best voice for it would be Lian's but I wasn't sure how to propose that to you. Not only that, but the more I've thought of it, the more I've realized it would sound even better if it were a duet with a female –"
"No," July shook her head, leaning forward to take the sheets from Natalie's hand, the redhead letting them go with ease, "I know what song you're referring too –if you want him to have it, fine. He's more than welcomed to it, but I'm not singing it with him."
"Julie," Natalie looked straight into her eyes to get her point across, "I'm not giving you a choice."
"Duets are difficult to split the proceeds and ownership," Marley spoke up, leaning forward to get Natalie's attention, "Whose CD is it going to be debuted on? How are the –"
"He can have it," July tossed the sheets onto the middle of the table, leaning back into her chair, eyes staring at the opposite wall.
"What," Marley turned to look at her, his eyes bugging out of his pudgy face, "This song is gold, Julie! You can't just –"
"I have no desire to have this song tied to me," she turned to glare at her manager, knuckles white with anger as she held her fisted hands on her lap, "I wasn't even planning on showing it to anyone but what with your inability to keep your greedy hands off my journals, neither you or Natalie gave me much choice."
Jerry reached out to take the sheets, carefully reading the lyrics and notes, his eyebrows rising with each passing second before he handed them to Lian, not saying anything as Marley kept trying to make July understand.
"We're talking about a lot of money, Jul –"
"Stop," rubbing her forehead for a few seconds, lips thinned in anger as she looked at him again, "I don't care."
Marley rubbed both hands over his face but didn't say anything more –Lian was sure it must be frustrating working with a talented musician that didn't care about making money.
"I like knowing the background of songs I buy," Lian stated as he set the music sheets down, ignoring his manager's surprise –normally, Lian didn't care as long as it was a song the fit his style, such as this one –as he stared across the table at July, watching a shadow cross her face before she blinked, her eyes curiously empty as she looked right back at him.
"It was inspired by a drunken night with a guy I had shared something special with," her long fingers drummed against the surface of the table, her voice flat as she continued, "At least I thought it had been special but after four bottles of tequila, he let me know all I had been good for was to pass the time until he found the one he could truly love –which he had."
The silence that followed her words was palpably tense as they stared at each other.
Taking a deep breath, he looked away from those empty eyes, staring at the music in his hand as he worked hard to control his rage but he knew the only way that was going to happen at this moment was if Seth were standing right in front of him –God, what he would give to bury his fist into his cousin's face!
Natalie cleared her throat before resting her arms on the table and leaning forward, "Studio 'E' will be at your disposal starting the third Monday of this month until Julie leaves for her concert in London, which is the twenty-ninth. I'm hoping you'll be able to put aside your personal differences and work together to find a way to mesh your talents."
No one said anything as she closed her portfolio and pushed her chair back, rising gracefully to her feet.
Looking at Julie, then Lian, she let out a soft sigh, "I admire you both. One thing you have in common is your expectation for perfection from yourself and those who work with you. You're both amazingly talented with a work ethic I can never complain about so I know you'll give me a Grammy-worthy song."
Giving them both one last look, she walked out of the room, the door closing silently behind her.
The tense silence lasted for a couple of minutes before Marley cleared his throat, "Julie, I advise you to double the –"
"No," July pushed her chair away from the table, obviously wanting to leave, "I said he can have it and I meant it. Hell, he can tell the whole world he wrote it for all I care."
"Wha –" Marley's mouth fell open as he sputtered, reminding Lian of a bass fish he had once caught during a fishing trip with Seth and Uncle Harry, "But Julie –"
"If you gentlemen will please excuse us," Lian interrupted what was sure to be a string of pointless attempts to change her mind, "I'd like to speak with Miss Star alone."
The silence that followed pulsated –it was practically another living, breathing thing in the room with them –before Marley stood up, walking out of the conference room without looking at or asking July if she was okay with the request of leaving her alone with Lian.
Without saying anything, Jerry picked up his iPad, giving July a nod as he stood up, silently following behind Marley.
As soon as the door closed, Lian turned to look at her, watching in silence as she stared at the table, her long fingers drawing patterns on the polished surface, he thought back to the first time he had seen her play a guitar –those fingers could make magic thrum from the steel strings…could they do the same to his body?
Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he looked up at her face as he flicked the corners of the papers sitting on the table between his hands, "Your manager's right…this song is worth its weight in gold."
"I don't care," the words came out through clenched teeth as she finally looked up at him, purple eyes bright as she grudgingly explained, "Writing music is the way I get rid of emotions too strong to keep inside. That song was going to end up in the trash if Marley hadn't been so damn nosy…if you notice, I didn't even write my name on it."
He looked down to see that fact before looking into her eyes, noticing how they tipped up at the ends, "You keep using blood to write music, you're going to run dry."
July gave him an angry scowl as she curled her fingers into her palm, fist resting on the table, "Why do you care?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly, seeing the way her eyes opened wide before he stood up, taking the sheets of paper and folding them before he slipped them into the inside pocket of his tan jacket, "Do you want to use your band or mine?"
July tapped a finger against the table several times before getting to her feet, "Why don't we just have both bands there and figure it out as we go?"
"Fine," Lian got to the door before she did, reaching out to stop her from opening it, "About what I said at Leno's interview –"
"Forget it," July's jaw clenched as she stared at him, purple eyes flashing in anger and a bit of hurt, "I don't know where you get thinking you know me –"
"I know you more than you think," Lian's words were soft as he leaned in closer to her, "I know you're willing to risk it all in hopes of finding something real –something lasting. I know you feel out of place…like you don't belong in this world…I know you give yourself completely…blindingly…stupidly.
"That's the problem when you let your heart write out its thoughts and then share it with everyone else. You have no secrets, July…you may think you're hiding all that pain and disillusionment behind that sad little smile but you're not."
Julie stared up at him, her breathing coming in harsh gasps as she tried to negate everything he said but she couldn't –his words bounced around her head, the echo growing louder in her heart as it sank with the weight of the truth in them.
There it was –that damn sad look that pissed him off because he knew the reason behind it and he hated it.
He'd rather have her mad than drowning in sadness and asshole that he was, he knew just how to accomplish that.
"Now do you understand my opinion of you," the venom in his words burned a path up his throat and out of his mouth, but it was less painful to say things he didn't believe than to handle the dark pain he saw in her eyes, "You give the best of yourself to every person that comes along with hopes of finding yourself…very much like a woman that makes a living on her bac –"
The pain exploded against his left cheek, his neck protesting as his head snapped to the side.
Slowly turning to look into her angry eyes, he couldn't see any of the pain she normally carried with her –it was all anger –at him.
He had succeeded –at what price, he wasn't sure but it was well worth it if she wasn't sinking in self-pity.
"Feel better," he asked softly, watching the anger turn to caution and he knew she was remembering what he had told her last time she had slapped him as she slowly nodded.
"Good."
He moved so fast Julie didn't get the chance to step back.
One hand on the small of her back, the other tangling in her hair, he pulled her into him, his mouth closing over hers.
She reached up to push him away, unable to keep gasping in surprise which served to give him access to her mouth as he slid his tongue over hers, the bitter taste of anger coating it.
Fisting her hands into his shirt, the world spun as he turned them, pushing her up against the wall, pressing his body against hers.
Just as she was about to knee him in the groin, something strange happened.
Her body disconnected itself from her brain, leaving it screaming to push him away as her rage morphed into desire.
Pushing her body against him, she tilted her head back, the anger in the kiss slowly dissipating as he picked up on her eager response.
A small moan of protest escaped her throat as he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes before moving his lips over hers, their tongues slowly exploring together as he moved his hands down to her narrow waist, pulling her closer at the same time she pulled at his shirt, her head falling further back for a tighter fit.
Seconds trickled into minutes as the kiss slowly changed with every breath –the anger had melted into desire, surprise leading to exploration and now, tender passion budded, slowly blooming between them as their breathing sped up.
As he pulled away, he gave her bottom lip a gentle tug, his teeth scraping over the delicate curve before he stepped back, his fingers brushing the soft skin exposed between her jeans and top as he dropped them to his sides.
Julie uncurled her fingers from his shirt, pressing her trembling hands against her quivering stomach as she stared at him, eyes wide and full of shock.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something –he wasn't quite sure what, but he stopped before anything came out.
A large part of him recognized the magic still pulsating between them, thick ribbons of desire weaving through the moment and he didn't want to ruin it with words so he simply reached up to touch his thumb to her bottom lip, his long fingers gently stroking her jaw before he turned and walked out of the room, the soft whoosh of the closing door following his retreating steps.
Several seconds passed before Julie let out a shuddering breath, her eyes looking out the window, seeing nothing as she tried to find her brain.
Her body was flushed, trembling –it felt like she had gotten hold of a live wire and now she was trying hard to get herself under control.
Her heart stuttering as she took a burning breath, the light bulb in her head she called a brain finally flickered back on.
What the hell happened?
Friday, Second Week of September
Forks Memorial Hospital
"He's so beautiful, Kimmy," Rose smiled in awe as she stroked a finger over a soft round cheek before lifting her camera, the flash going off several times as Kim laughed.
"You're going to blind him, Rose," she giggled at the enthusiasm on her friend's face, "Were you this excited with Leah's babies?"
"Of course," Rose set her camera to the side, briefly touching the peach colored rosebuds Jared had brought his wife before he left to pick up Nika and Ian from their grandfather's place, "Babies make wonderful subjects."
Kim laughed, looking down at her newborn son, his dark eyes blinking as he laid awake in her arms, "He's so quiet…I remember Monika and Ian either sleeping or crying but they never just stayed quiet while awake."
"According to Leah, all babies are different," Rose moved her camera bag off the chair to sit down, "With the amount of babies she's had, I'm taking her word for it."
Kim laughed, touching a finger to his tiny palm to watch in fascination as he wrapped his fingers around it, "The voice of experience. So when are you and Seth going to get started on having your own?"
"Oh," Rose blushed in surprise as she shifted in her seat, "Well, umm…we're not in a hurry to start having kids right now…I mean, I'm just twenty-two and he's twenty-five…and we have the twins."
"That's true," Kim shifted in the bed, grimacing in discomfort, "Although those two can pretty much raise themselves."
"That may be so but they're still children," Rose gave her friend a smile, her hazel eyes widening as she recalled, "I just remembered! Minerva sent me a manifest of the final sales of your pots along with a check."
Kim took the offered papers, her eyes going wide as she saw the number on the right-hand side of the check, "Oh my God! Are you serious?"
"She took the ten percent you both agreed on," Rose explained as she pulled out a business card from her wallet and handed it to her, "If you look at the manifest list, she sold everything. She asked me to give you this, told me that although she enjoyed doing this for you, it would be better to get someone that specializes in pottery. Minerva says this guy is the best in that area and you should give him a call."
"Oh my God," Kim couldn't stop staring at the check she held, her hand shaking slightly, "I can't…I can't believe my pots…I didn't think they'd go for this much!"
Rose laughed, reaching up to toss her long ponytail over her shoulder, "I told you they'd sell. You have an amazing talent that others will pay to own a piece of…don't hide it away."
"I won't," Kim shook her head, finally looking up from the check, "Do you realize this will cover Nika's first semester of college?"
"That's still some years away," Rose said with a chuckle as she crossed her legs, "But if you want her to get a degree then call that guy and set up a meeting. Minerva sent him a portfolio of your pieces and she says he's highly interested in working as your manager."
"I'll call him," Kim said with a nod, looking around the room for her cell phone, "I'll call him right now."
"Kimmy."
She looked up at Rose, Patrick Roy finally asleep.
"It's eight thirty five at night. Call him Monday morning."
"Right," Kim laughed as she set the check and manifest list on the side table, "Rose…Jared and I were wondering if you and Seth would agree to be Patrick's godparents."
"Really," Rose's face lit up as her smile blossomed, "We would love too!"
Kim laughed, relief washing over her as she smiled at Rose, "When you came into our lives, you didn't just change Seth's world –you've managed to change all of ours. Thanks to you, I…I just don't know how to thank you."
Rose smiled, blinking away tears before she stood up, reaching out to softly stroke Patrick's dark hair, "You already have."
