Thank you so much for those who have been waiting patiently for the this chapter. You will be please to know the next chapter is almost done...and I promise there is some interesting times ahead, so stay tuned!

Rayna tapped her fingers against her thigh as she listened intently to a rough cut of Markus' album. She had been away from the studio for a couple of days, needing to be at Highway 65 to take care of the rest of her business. Bucky was brilliant at managing the artists on their books, but she was after all her Daddy's daughter. She was surprised to discover that she had learned some valuable skills off her father. Managing the business side of her label was tiresome but she welcomed the break from constantly having to massage Markus' wavering confidence. She swung around at a noise behind her and saw Markus leaning against her office door smirking at her. Stifling down a sigh, she plastered a smile on her face. She watched as Markus swaggered into her office with a carefree attitude. She really didn't have time today to deal with any moody artists. She still had a million things she needed to get done before she could leave for the day.

Pulling the headphones off, she waiting till Markus was seated before raising her eyebrows questioning his appearance in her office. Giving her a cheeky grin, he reached over and grabbed a pen that he twirled nervously with his fingers.

"So have you missed me?"

Rolling her eyes at him, Rayna shook her head.

"Markus, what are you doing here. You are meant to be finishing up the final song for the album."

"Well, I couldn't focus without my producer extraordinaire there."

"Markus. We need to have that song finished. We can't push the release date." Her voice betrayed her exasperation at his laisse faire attitude.

She frowned at the smile on his face. She wanted nothing more than to reach over and wipe the smug smile from his face.

Markus' smile got larger as he took in the frustrated look on her face. She was so easily to tease when she was in business mode.

He whistled at her, before tossing a thumb drive onto her desk. Laughing at her confused look, he swung his legs up onto her desk, crossed his ankles and leaned back in the chair. Holding the thumb drive up at him, with a questioning look on her face Rayna wordlessly asked him what was on it.

"It's the finished song, as requested boss. So here's the plan. You and me sneak off to some bar, order a shitload of drinks and celebrate in style."

Her eyes widened at his presumption that she would ditch work for him. Rayna's mouth dropped open slightly as she took in his somewhat arrogant posture. The hands behind his head as he tipped back in the chair suggested that he assumed she would drop everything and take off with him. Rolling her eyes internally, well she had news for him.

Sighing silently, she put her best professional smile on as she contemplated how to turn him down without damaging his ego too much. It wasn't that she didn't like spending time with Markus, he was a lot of fun but he was also tiring. He seemed to have an abundance of energy and lately his intensity was focus a bit too much on her for her liking.

"Markus I can't. I have so much stuff to get done before l leave tonight, plus surely you would want to go out and celebrate with your friends."

Swinging his legs off her desk, he leaned forward and rested his head on his crossed arms. Looking up from beneath his dark lashes, his pale blue eyes pleading with her while he pouted at her.

"That doesn't work on me, you forget that I'm a mother of two! I really can't Markus, I have the budgets to go over before l leave, and then l am on mom taxi duty."

"Well that's ok, you can swing by after to take them where ever. It's not like l plan to be heading home early."

Frowning slightly, Rayna took a deep breath. She knew that he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Markus that's really sweet, but Deacon has a thing at The Beverley that he expects me at."

Markus looked at the frown on her face and the lack of enthusiasm as he considered her answer. She certainly didn't look like she wanted to go to the event at The Beverley.

"Oh come on Rayna, you know you don't want to go, why don't you blow it off and come hang out and celebrate with me."

Rolling her eyes at him and his unrelenting enthusiasm, Rayna smiled at him.

"Sounds good Markus but l really do have to go tonight. There are a couple of acts I need to catch."

"Well Rayna Jaymes, you owe me a raincheck."

Markus lent over the desk, invading her personal space and whispered,

"And l plan to cash it in!"

Slipping his sunglasses back on, he sauntered out of her office without a glance back.

Rayna, a shocked look on her face, watched his retreating back. She knew that Markus had a little crush on her, she was flattering by his attention but after that parting remark she was suddenly concerned that he had read more into her behaviour. Gnawing on her lip, she worried over his statement.

"Ray?"

The sound of Bucky's voice shook her out of her reverie.

"You okay?"

"Um, yeah Buck. Just lost in thought. What can l do for y'all?"

"I'm going to head off, did you want me to swing by and pick you up later?"

"Yeah, that would be great. I'm dropping the girls off at 7 so any time after that is good."

Bucky frowned as he took in her worried look. He knew something was worrying her, he didn't think she was worried about Highway 65. Things had started to pick up since they signed Markus and they had signed some young artists recently. He didn't think it was Deacon, she seemed too calm for that. He had certainly been through the ups and downs of her relationship with Deacon. He had always known that they would finally figure it out and end up back in each other lives. Even while she was engaged to Luke, Bucky had known that Rayna wasn't completely committed to Luke. She would have argued otherwise, but Bucky knew her capacity for love, he had seen her with Deacon and what she had with Luke paled in comparison. He had offered his strength to her as she struggled with the pressure of a high profiled relationship while appeasing Luke by pushing Deacon away. He was saddened to see her retreat on herself the further away Deacon got from her. He knew her well enough to know that she needed to figure out what made her happy herself. She would have denied everything if he had mentioned anything. Since her and Deacon had become a couple again, he had never seen her happier. Something was definitely worrying her, but he doubted it was anything to do with Deacon.

"Is everything okay Ray?"

Her frown deepened slightly as she contemplated his question.

"Yeah, just have a lot on my mind."

"Is everything okay with Deacon and the girls?"

Rayna smiled at her manager. He was loyal to a fault. Over the years he had been not only a brilliant manager for her career but he had also become a true friend to her. He might not have always agreed with her decisions but he was always in her corner.

"Ye Buck, they are all great. It's nothing to worry about, I'm just reading too much into something. I'm going to finish this off and head off to pick the girls up. I'll see you at the house at 7."

Bucky nodded and gave her a concerned smile before heading back to his office.

I promise the next chapter won't take so long to be posted