Published: July 8, 2020

Track 24: Two Truths, One Lie

While the Bees' manager stood calmly behind his chair, the Titans' paced back and forth, tense as a rubber band ready to snap. The two bands had been called together for an emergency meeting and were assembled in one of the hotel's conference rooms. Seeing as it didn't concern them, the roadies weren't present. Raven's anxious pacing reminded Gar of her reaction when their first single blew up. However, that was nothing compared to the current drama. He could hardly believe what was happening, even after witnessing Victor's panic attack that morning. Once the drummer calmed down, he gave Gar his phone and showed him one of the many articles that had been published overnight.

It didn't take a genius to figure out how the mess had come about. After Gar so carelessly dropped their names at the nightclub, the bouncer probably tipped off the local paparazzi. And as the rock stars partied with abandon, they would have been oblivious to the shutters and snaps of cameras. Gar felt personally responsible for the situation and said so multiple times before Victor stopped him. According to the panicking man, it was his own fault, not Gar's. What kind of a soon-to-be husband dances that intimately with another woman anyway? Though Gar couldn't deny this, he remembered how Victor had defended his equally stupid actions at the launch party. Gar was determined to repay his friend's loyalty by sticking up for him however he could.

"No one is to leave the building until it's time for the concert, " Raven announced. "No more partying at clubs, no more exploring the city on your own. All public outings must be pre-approved for the rest of the tour."

"Not even going out for pizza?" Manny asked.

"Or bowling?" his twin brother Marco added.

"Not even that," Raven said, shaking her head apologetically.

"Seriously? That's ridiculous! You can't tell us what to do," retorted Roy.

"As your managers, we absolutely can," Wally replied. "Everything is different now. Do you realize what this story has done? You guys were somewhat famous before, but now? There's no way you're flying under the radar anymore. The moment you step outside, the paps will be on you like flies on a dead body."

"Surely, you are exaggerating," Kory answered back.

"Right now, there is a swarm of photographers waiting across the street. Hotel security confirmed it with me this morning," replied Raven.

"You're kidding!" Dick exclaimed in disbelief.

Raven nodded and said, "From here on out, we can expect them to tail us wherever we go. And considering how we don't have our own security team, it's up to all of us to be responsible and take this seriously."

"Man, this sucks. I wanted to get famous, but not this famous," said Garth.

Gar silently agreed, but only to a certain extent. He wasn't too keen on having his everyday freedoms taken away from him. And obviously, he didn't envy Victor's current position, considering the potential fallout with Sarah. But Gar would be lying if he said that he hadn't felt a little thrill at the mention of paparazzi. Just the idea of having his photo taken and being published was exciting. All of that, in addition to being followed by a horde of adoring fans... It would be a dream come true. His inner thoughts sparked something inside of him, a hunger for more.

"Unfortunately, that's not how fame works," said Wally in response to Garth's protest, "and to add onto what Ms. Roth explained, there will be no interaction with the media unless we say so. If someone comes at you with a camera or microphone, the only appropriate answer is to ignore them completely."

"Now, I think it's time for us to talk about damage control. Everyone can leave, except for Victor and Ms. Beecher," Raven said.

"Please, call me Karen," she answered.

The two women exchanged small smiles while Victor sat listlessly in his chair. The others got up and moved towards the door. The only exception was Gar, who remained planted in his seat. "Hold up," he interrupted. "Why can't we stay for the rest of the conversation? I thought we were supposed to deal with these things together?"

"Sorry, Gar. This is more of a private matter," Raven replied firmly, but politely.

"Bullshit! There's no reason Vic should have to go through this alone! We're a team, remember?"

"I will repeat myself; this is private. It does not concern you."

"Like hell it doesn't. I'm staying."

"Please leave. Now."

"You can't make me."

"I can and I will."

With every exchange, their voices got louder. The pair was caught in a stand-off, neither person willing to budge. Although Raven's face held a cool expression, Gar could see fire burning in her eyes. He absolutely did not agree with how this was being handled, however, his only options were to start a bigger fight or back down. He decided on the latter, but as he walked out the door, Gar couldn't help but add one last retort. "Fine, I'm leaving. No need to be so bossy."

Raven's fiery irises flared again. "In case you forgot, I am your boss." With that, she closed the door in his face.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Raven turned around to rejoin Wally, Victor and Karen. She had been on edge for the past few hours and Garfield's insolence wasn't helping at all. The entire situation was a mess and she didn't want to get the others involved unnecessarily. "Sorry about that," she said while taking a seat closer to the other three.

"Are we in trouble?" Karen asked.

"No, but we need to strategize wisely," Wally answered reassuringly. "As you can imagine, the first twenty-four hours are critical when it comes to this kind of thing. Already, Ms. Roth and I have received several phone calls asking for official statements."

"We haven't said anything yet, which is what we need to discuss now," Raven continued his train of thought. "Firstly, have you been in contact with any of your friends or family members?"

"Not me," said Karen.

"I've been calling Sarah non-stop, but she hasn't picked up," Victor replied in a zombie-like tone. "I don't know if she's busy or just ignoring me."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Raven answered sympathetically. "I'd like to wait until we can get a hold of her, but we must move forward with a game plan. We're scheduled to be at the venue in a few hours, so we don't have much time."

"Which begs the question, what do you two want to say?" asked Wally.

"Obviously, we should deny it!" Victor exclaimed, his voice regaining a little bit of life.

"Well, here's the thing, Mr. Stone... Right now, you and my client are generating tons of buzz. Frankly, I couldn't have planned it better if I tried."

"What are you implying?" Karen questioned her manager.

"We don't have to confirm or deny anything," Wally answered, "let the public believe what they want to believe. The longer the two of you are romantically tied, the longer we can ride this media wave. Both the Bees and Titans are trending online. The music videos for 'For Real' and 'How Long Is Forever?' gained a million views each overnight. Streams and digital downloads are skyrocketing."

"Mr. West is right," agreed Raven, though her expression was regretful. "As trashy as they can be, dating rumours can have very beneficial outcomes. I think that it's in our best interests to stay silent."

"But it's not true," Victor said.

The room fell deadly quiet, making Raven feel even more unsure of herself. As awful as the situation was, she was inclined to agree with Wally's line of thinking. She was against feeding the rumour mill, but if they simply said nothing... Technically, they wouldn't be lying.

"I don't really care," Karen announced. "I'm not with anyone at the moment, so it doesn't affect me. On the other hand..." She stopped to look pointedly in Victor's direction. When the man didn't say anything, she continued in a wry tone, "Let's be real, though. If word gets out that he's already engaged, I'll be labelled as a home-wrecker."

"I won't let that happen," Raven said with determination. "Whatever we decide, I refuse to let it have any negative backlash on you personally."

"I appreciate the gesture, but how can you be so sure the media won't decide that on its own?" countered Karen.

"We'd put out an official statement saying that the two of you are just platonic colleagues. The press will be sceptical at first, but it should minimize the damage," Raven reasoned. "If anything, we're at an advantage that Victor and Sarah are engaged rather than just dating. Tabloids love anything wedding-related, so they'll probably latch onto that."

"Hold on. Even if we deny everything, Karen's reputation and Ms. Simms' privacy are still at risk," argued Wally. "Alternatively, we say nothing and let the whole thing blow over, while reaping the benefits of increased press. To me, the answer is obvious." Wally stopped to address Victor directly. There was a shrewd look in his eyes that Raven didn't like. "Mr. Stone, what if your fiancée gave her approval? If she was okay with us remaining silent, would that change your answer?"

Victor heaved a weary sigh. His eyes were pinched closed and his shoulders slumped over in defeat. Observing his depressed posture, Raven felt terrible. She was supposed to be the person looking out for him, but at the moment, she was at a loss of what to do. The financial gains were undeniable, but at what cost? Was all of the planning and scheming really worth it?

"I don't like it, even if Sarah agrees," Victor finally said. "It would be a lie of omission. And not everyone feels comfortable with lying about their relationship status."

Raven felt like she had been punched in the gut. At his last comment, Victor made brief eye contact with her. His penetrating, slightly critical gaze was brutal. After half an hour of debating, the four of them tentatively agreed to remain neutral for the time being. It left things open-ended with the opportunity to deny the claims later on. Other than the tour bus, Victor and Karen would no longer travel in the same vehicles. In public, they would physically distance themselves from one another, using the other band members as a buffer. The only thing left to do was for Victor to get in touch with Sarah and explain his side of the story.

Outside of the conference room, Gar waited with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Just because Raven told him to leave the room didn't mean that he had to leave the hallway. He wasn't necessarily angry with her; he was more frustrated that he had been left out of the conversation. To him, it didn't make sense that Victor was isolated from the rest of the group. In times of trouble, people need their friends the most. So why not let them deal with it together? The door opened with Wally and Karen walking out first. Moments later, a dejected Victor and a guilt-ridden Raven emerged. Gar moved towards them and asked, "And so? What did you guys discuss?"

"We decided that the best option is to say nothing," sighed Victor. "Looks like my new motto will be 'No comment' for the next few days."

"That doesn't make any sense! Why not just deny it?"

"Apparently, outright denial could cause more damage than fix things. And I still need to talk to Sarah," Victor said with his head hanging heavily.

"Shit. Is there anything I can do?" offered Gar.

Victor only shrugged back and the trio walked to the elevator in silence. Once they arrived on their floor, Victor took out his phone and called his fiancée for the hundredth time that day. Gar began to follow him into their shared room, but he was stopped by a tap on the shoulder.

"Gar, I'd like to speak with you," said Raven.

Victor gave them a nod of dismissal before closing the door behind him.

"Do you want to do this in your room, or...?" Gar asked quietly.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Considering recent events, it might look a little... Suspicious."

At the end of the corridor, there was a small alcove with a window facing the downtown Miami streets. Below the window were two plush armchairs. It wasn't the most private environment, but they didn't have many other options. The atmosphere between them was oddly chilly. Gar knew that they weren't about to have a full-blown argument, but his instincts told him that it would be a very serious discussion. Once they took their seats, Raven leaned forward in her chair and said, "We need to reassess our boundaries again." Gar nodded and braced himself. After pausing to give him a hard look, she continued, "The way you spoke to me in the conference room was unacceptable."

He should have known that she would bring that up first. "I don't like it when you boss me around," he answered honestly. "It makes me feel like I'm a little kid being scolded by my mother."

"I hear you and I'm sorry if you felt like I was being condescending. But your attitude was totally disrespectful. Like I said before, I am your boss. I warned you that our working relationship was going to be an obstacle."

"Fine, I get it. I'll be more obedient next time," he replied in an ever-so-slightly defensive tone.

"That's not the point. We were in the middle of a business meeting, not some social gathering for kicks and giggles. You have to understand that as your manager, I have certain responsibilities to uphold. And by talking back at me in front of the others, you totally undermined my authority."

"I didn't mean to disrespect you. I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "But Rae, you didn't even try to include us in the decision-making. I thought we were supposed to rely on each other!"

"I know, but it's my problem, my responsibility! As your manager, I-"

"-Remember what you said before our concert in New York?" Gar cut in. "You reminded us that we're never alone, that we always have each other. No matter how difficult things get!"

"But it doesn't concern y-"

"-The Titans are my family. Victor is my best friend. His problems are my problems too. Honestly, you're being kind of self-contradictory. What's going on?"

Gar meant exactly what he said. Raven wasn't acting like herself. He could tell that there was something else brewing beneath the surface. He had observed her behaviour in other high-stress situations before. Her initial reaction was to freak out, but eventually, she would regain her composure and lead the group with confidence. He always trusted her judgement calls, especially since he knew how much thought she put into her actions. Today, however, it seemed like Raven was floundering. She exhaled shakily and closed her eyes, reaching up to clutch both the lucky penny and ruby pendant around her neck. Re-opening her eyes, she looked at him and whispered, "The truth is, I don't know what to do. And that terrifies me."

His heart broke at the tortured expression on her face. Silly Raven. The stubborn woman didn't know when it was time to ask for help. Gar said his next words kindly, without any hint of accusation. "Yet another reason why you should have let the rest of us stay. We could have brainstormed a solution together. Why are you trying to bear this burden by yourself?"

"I'm not used to relying on others. For the longest time, the only person I could trust was myself. And now, I have so much more to lose."

"Are you talking about your company?"

"I'm talking about us, dummy," she said, giving him a tiny smile before frowning again. "Victor, Kory and Richard too. You're the most important people in my life. If I screw up, if I make one wrong move... It could ruin your careers. I know how much you all want this, how much you've sacrificed."

"Rae..." Gar reached out to hold her hand, but she moved it away and shook her head.

"That's another thing, we can't do this anymore. We agreed from the very beginning that we would be discreet, but lately, we've been far too careless. Stealing kisses in elevators, dancing in nightclubs... It's too risky."

"I keep telling you that I don't care if we get caught," said Gar.

"You aren't thinking things through. What if, instead of Karen and Victor, it had been us? Forget about a secret inter-band romance, we'd be accused of sexual misconduct! It doesn't matter that you and I have a mutual understanding. The media would see it as an abuse of power on my part and career climbing on yours. The moment those rumours begin, our reputations will be ruined."

"Like I said, I don't ca-"

"-Gar, listen to me. I'm not blind. I can see how much you enjoy being recognized by fans. You love performing, you thrive in the spotlight. Whether you're willing to admit it or not, you do care."

"But I care about you too!" he exclaimed. "Doesn't that count for anything?"

"I know you care about me and the feeling is mutual. I'm still willing to fight for this. All I'm saying is that we need to act more prudently," Raven answered gently.

"I guess this means no more hanging out in your room?"

She nodded and said, "That goes for dates too. At least until we get back home." Raven stood up from her chair and smoothed out her skirt with her palms. She offered her hand to help him out of his seat. He took it, but she released her grip the moment he stood up completely. After walking back to his room, the pair lingered just outside the door. Before parting ways, Gar wanted to kiss her as he always did, but he knew that was off limits. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair and released a heavy groan.

"This sucks. I just wanna be with you, Rae. Why does this have to be so complicated?"

"Fame makes life complicated. That's just how it works. The sooner you learn that lesson, the better."

For the rest of the day, Gar considered the pros and cons of being famous. Raven was right. Deep down, he did care. He wanted the recognition. The glory. The celebrity status and all of the privileges that came with it. But for the first time, he questioned his desires and took them with a grain of salt. He remembered that there was more to life than money and success. There was friendship. Family. Love. And if those things were being threatened, was fame really worth it?

Nothing could have prepared them for the chaos that waited outside. The time had finally come for them to head to the concert hall. As soon as the Titans and Bees exited the hotel, they were met with a mob of reporters, photographers and fans. Several camera flashes went off, temporarily blinding them from the gaze of the screaming crowd. Raven could barely hear the reporters' questions over the cacophony of noise.

"Mr. Stone! How long have you and Ms. Beecher been together?"

"Tell us about your relationship!"

"What's it like dating another musician, Honey? Do you have a preference for drummers?"

To Raven's relief, both Victor and Karen had the good sense not to say anything. Conner and Tim led the way through the mass of people, using their strong arms to create a barrier. Kory, Garfield, Roy and the twins all stopped to give autographs and take selfies with fans. Raven and Wally practically had to push them forward before the horde got even more intense. One by one, the band members entered the tour bus. The entire time, camera shutters clicked incessantly. Several reporters shoved their microphones in Raven's face.

"Ms. Roth, you're the Titans' manager and CEO of Nevermore Records, correct? How do you feel about the romance developing between your client and Ms. Beecher?"

"Did they start dating before or after the tour began?"

"Digital sales and streams for both bands are through the roof! Was the photo leak planned? What is your response to the rumours that this is all a publicity stunt?"

"No comment," Raven stated, echoing Wally who was fighting off his own set of reporters.

Bart and Cassie helped them up the tour bus steps and swiftly closed the door behind them. Tim was already in the driver's seat, waiting for the go ahead. He pulled into the street, taking care that he wasn't inadvertently running over anyone in the crowd. Raven saw press workers scramble into their own vehicles to follow them. She had no doubt that things would be just as bad, if not worse, when they reached the venue. All fifteen passengers were quiet as they processed the insanity that they had experienced only moments ago. In the meantime, Wally called ahead and requested extra security. It was wise of him to do so, for when they arrived, it was more of the same. After fighting through an even bigger crowd for a second time, they huddled together in the green room.

"Obviously, we won't be staying after the concert," instructed Wally. "If things get really bad, we'll have to smuggle you out in separate taxis. Tim will drive the empty tour bus back to the hotel to throw off the press. This is the worst case scenario, but I want you to be prepared if it comes to that."

Since the Titans opened at the last concert, it was the Bees' turn to go first. The sold out venue was packed to the brim with fans. The two bands' notoriety had risen to the point where scalpers took advantage of their popularity, selling last-minute tickets at triple the price. Despite the chaos that preceded them, both teams played excellently. The audience was extremely enthusiastic, shouting cries of adoration between every song. At the end of the Titans' performance, the crowd demanded an encore. They had initially planned another collaborative piece, but Wally and Raven agreed to nix it. The two managers knew that it would only add fuel to the flames if Karen and Victor were seen on stage at the same time. The Bees came out first to perform a slower version of "For Real". Shortly after, they conceded their places to the Titans. As they rearranged themselves for their encore, Raven was taken aback when she saw Victor approach the front of the stage. Richard passed over his microphone and stepped away, giving the drummer a chance to speak to the crowd directly.

"How's it going, Miami? Did y'all have a good time?!" shouted Victor.

Amongst the cheers, a single person hollered, "You and Honey are my OTP! We love you!"

Victor chuckled and said, "We love you too, buddy. But you know what? I actually wanted to address the rumours. Honey and I are not dating."

The crowd gasped and groaned with disappointment. Raven gasped and groaned with horror. She loved Victor dearly, but she was going to kill him as soon as he stepped off stage.

"I know, I know. She's an amazing musician and an even better dancer!" Victor exclaimed into the mic. "But there's someone else who has my heart and I want to send her a message. Can you help me out and record our last song?"

The audience cheered back with a resounding "yes". The floor lit up with thousands of camera flashes and phone screens. Victor gave them a thumbs up and responded by saying, "Thank you so much! My girl back home needs to know how much I love her. Titans, you ready?"

Victor returned the microphone to Richard on the way back to his drum kit. Just before he began to sing, Richard announced, "This one goes out to Sarah, Vic's lovely fiancée."

The room filled with gasps once again as Garfield played the first few notes on his acoustic guitar. The concert goers joined in as soon as they recognized the song.

Golden hair and baby blues / I don't know what I would do

Without her / My girl, Sarah

Rosy cheeks and pearly smile / I would run ten thousand miles

To see her / My girl, Sarah

Though it was one of the cheesiest things she had ever heard, Raven couldn't help but smile at the romantic ballad. As a manager, she was absolutely furious that her client had gone behind her back. But as a friend, she couldn't be prouder. It was clear to her now that telling the truth was the right thing to do.

All my love is yours forever / All I know is that I'm better

With you / My girl, Sarah

At the end of the song, Victor jumped out of his seat and took Richard's microphone once again. "I love you, Sarah Simms!" he hollered into the void before addressing the crowd. "Please help me out and share that video as soon as possible. Sarah needs to see it right away, okay? Thank you so much, Miami! Good night!"

Backstage was a rowdy celebration full of hollering and laughter. The Titans and Bees collided into an enormous group hug. Raven lingered by herself on the side, still absorbing Victor's unexpected declaration. Once the excitement died down, he approached her with a remorseful look and pulled her to the corner of the room. "Can we talk for a sec?" he asked. "I think I owe you an apology."

"On the contrary, I should be the one apologizing to you," Raven replied.

"Really? What for?"

"I wasn't in your corner during the meeting. I should have backed you up, but I hesitated. To be honest, I didn't know what the right decision was at the time. I'm sorry, Victor. You asked me to help you keep sight of who you are and I failed you in that moment."

The large man stepped forward to wrap her in a bear hug. His grip was tight and comforting, filling her with warmth. "Don't worry about it, little sis. I know you're doing your best with this whole manager gig. All is forgiven."

"Now that we've cleared things up," Raven murmured, "what on earth possessed you to do that?"

He chuckled and said, "I can't take all the credit. It was Gar who talked me into it. Dick and Kory caught wind and they agreed wholeheartedly."

When Raven realized that she was the last person to know, she felt a pang of hurt. She didn't like being excluded from the group. Her attempt to deal with things by herself had truly backfired in that regard. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, trying her best to keep her tone neutral.

"Honestly, it was super last-minute. I changed my mind a million times. The team left the final decision to me, so they only knew it was really happening when I announced it live."

"Then what convinced you to go for it in the end?"

"Setting aside my doubts and fears, I finally remembered the truth: Sarah is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I really don't know what I'd do without her. There is nothing in this world that is worth losing her for, she's my number one priority. I don't give a damn about my career or what people think, I love her."

"Wow, Victor. You should have recorded that instead," Raven said.

"No worries, she heard it all."

Behind them stood Garfield with his phone in hand. A video call was active and there on the screen, was Sarah. "Do you really mean that, Vic?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course I do!" Victor took the device and walked away to continue the conversation somewhere more private. Raven smiled as she saw both halves of the couple well up with tears of joy and relief.

"No funny business, you two! I don't want any slobber on my phone, ya hear?!" Garfield hollered after him.

Raven connected eyes with Garfield and they shared beaming grins. Soon after, they were pulled into yet another hug with the rest of the group. The manager had no idea what the future would bring after this. There were a multitude of ways the public could react. She could stress over all the potential outcomes, but that would be wasted time. At the end of the day, Raven was absolutely sure that no matter what happened, she wouldn't have to face it alone.

Titans' Drummer Rings in the Wedding Bells

Victor Stone, drummer of the Titans, has officially announced that he is engaged. The lucky bride-to-be is Sarah Simms, a school teacher in their hometown of Jump City, California. Last night, he expressed his love to her in a beautiful serenade at their latest concert held in Miami (see video below). This disproves the rumours that he is romantically involved with Karen Beecher, lead singer of Honey and the Bees.

"I am so excited for him and his fiancée," stated Beecher in an exclusive interview. "Victor is a great guy and he deserves all of the happiness in the world."

The Titans, along with Honey and the Bees, will continue their joint tour over the next several days. Their remaining shows in Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis and Chicago are currently sold out. Both bands will also perform during the SXSW festival in Austin this upcoming weekend. Tickets are equally sold out for the Titans' solo concerts in Seattle and Jump City. A representative of the Titans' record label, Nevermore Records, released an official statement via Twitter this morning: "The happy couple plan to get married in the next year or so. We would like to thank the fans in advance for their well wishes."

Responses to the Tweet were overwhelmingly positive. Thousands of commenters voiced their support and congratulations for the engagement.

Across the country, a man dressed in an impeccably tailored suit sat by himself in his office. He dropped the tablet onto the desk in front of him, clicking his tongue with disgust. He couldn't stand stories such as the one he just read. The sappy, saccharine optimism made him sick. He remembered the Titans. They were a very different band from when he first stumbled upon them three years ago. At the time, they were sloppy and unpolished. There was only one person worth investing in, so he snatched her up immediately. But now, the Titans were making a killing. When the rumours between Karen Beecher and Victor Stone first started, he noticed a spike in their digital sales. In a matter of hours, two of his biggest clients were overtaken in the charts. And with the most recent developments, the indie bands only solidified their positions at the top.

He also remembered Raven Roth. It didn't take him long to find out that she was both their management and record label. The young woman had interned at his company not long ago. He liked her, as much as he could "like" one of his employees. She had been efficient and obedient. She also had a natural intuition for picking out chart-topping songs. At the end of her internship, he had offered her a position as his personal assistant. It had included a hefty starting salary, with health benefits and a parking space, but the fool had refused. Slade Wilson didn't like being refused. "This simply won't do," he muttered to himself. "No, it won't do at all."

The CEO of Wilson Entertainment firmly believed that the best kind of defense was a strong offense. He would sooner die before he let some puny independent label undermine his company's profits. He picked up the phone from its receiver and punched in a number. As he waited for the recipient to pick up, he drummed his fingers impatiently on his desk.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice answered.

"How are you finding Japan?"

"It's alright, I guess. The food is good, although the crowd is a little too fanatic for my taste."

"Careful, dear. It almost sounds like you're ungrateful. You'd be nowhere without your fans. Or me, for that matter."

"Why are you calling? It's two in the morning over here."

"I need you to make it back to the U.S. as soon as possible. I'll have my assistant book you a direct flight from Tokyo immediately."

"What? Why?!" the voice exclaimed with defiance. "You said that I'd get to travel by myself as soon as the tour is over. I've been working non-stop for three months! After tomorrow's performance, I'm done."

"Too bad, I need you here."

"But why?"

"The real question is: why are you complaining like a petulant child? You're flying back immediately after your last show and that's final."

"You can't force me to get on that plane."

"I can and I will." The line went quiet. The man knew that his client was barely containing her rage. He decided to put her in her place. "If you dare disobey me... Well, let's just say that I highly doubt your career can survive another scandal."

"You've already leaked the nudes, what more possibly can you do?" she scoffed back.

"The world will find out that not-so-innocent little Tara Markov slept with her manager to work her way up the ranks."

"That's a lie," she muttered, her voice dripping with hatred.

"Who do you think the public will believe? You've already proven yourself to be sexually loose with the photos. Really, it's not that big of a stretch."

"Screw you, Slade."

"See you soon, dear. Do me a favour and bring me back a souvenir, won't you?" He hung up before Tara could protest any further. Rolling his eyes at his client's rebellious tone, Slade pulled a drawer open and took out a blank pad of paper. He picked up a pen and wrote down five names. Richard Grayson. Kory Anders. Victor Stone. Garfield Logan. Raven Roth. It was time to do some research.

A/N: Man, Slade is such a sneaky bastard. Only six chapters left to go, so it's time to amp up the plot! I know there wasn't much interaction between Gar and Raven in this chapter, but I wanted to resolve Victor's storyline before doubling-down on BBRae. He deserves his own happy ending as much as the next guy, you know? I have nothing against CyBee or CyJinx, but in this case, CySarah made the most sense to me.

Final thing, my friend Kid Walker recently published a BBRae fanfic called "Harmony". It was originally written in Spanish, but the English translation is now available! If you like a music-themed AU setting, I highly recommend that you check it out. Disclaimer: I'm very biased because I beta'd and I've already read the whole thing from start to finish, lol.

Till next time, Lily Timbers

Replies to Guest Reviews

Guest #1: I totally hear you about movie adaptations of books! I'm that annoying person in the theatre that complains under her breath when the details aren't right, haha.

Guest #2 (reviews for Ch. 22 and 23): Yay! I'm so glad you were able to find the time to read and relax. I always look forward to hearing your thoughts. Vic and Gar's dynamic is so much fun to write. I hope I've converted you to musicals! All the ones I've mentioned so far are the best of the best in my opinion. My goodness, your reviews are always so detailed and thoughtful (I feel like I've said this 5 times already, haha). Reading your feedback makes all of the effort of writing that much more worthwhile for me! My family is safe and healthy, I hope the same is true for you and yours as well. Take care!

red ruby: The story isn't over just yet! I hope you continue reading till the end :)

Guest #3 (review for Ch. 11): "All Star" by Smash Mouth is iconic. I had to give that song a nod somehow, haha. Thanks for reading and leaving a review!