Chapter 14
Party Time
Jonathon stands the living room of his newly finished home in Grandville South. The doorbell chimes and he answers it. The sight he is met with takes his breath, the cocktail dress Gloria wore looked stunning on her frame. "Well happy birthday to me. May I un-wrap you now?" She smiles and asks him is he ready? "Aye my girl said to come to The Davenport you still neglected to answer my question." She runs her hand up his arm and whispers seductively later. The grin on his face was infectious as they get in the limo. Angel had ordered the limo saying she didn't want him trying to drive all the way back to Dallas drunk. He'd almost given away his surprise that he now lived here in Grandville. "I hope Angela will like the fact that I have moved here in town. Now that the house is done it looks nothing like what she will remember. I hope I have not gone about this the wrong way."
Gloria was sure Angel would be thrilled her father lived closer. "From what you've told me I think change is just what that house needed. I also think she will be thrilled that you are so close." Gloria looks away from him out the window and says "What I worry about is that she will not like the fact that there is another female in your life. We have been very careful in public and around your family." She turns back around and sees the worry in his features that mirrors her own. "I'm not sure that we should let on that there is anything going on." He says he had not hid their relationship. "That's true but you have not said anything to her either. She sees me as just your business partner and tagalong. When I accompany you places outside of work, I am asked how I like the states as if you are my tour guide. I will be returning to Ireland soon maybe you can speak to her when I am not around."
"The time line for your return has been pushed back, to at the very least January. I didn't see all this coming with the new building and removing old structures that is on the land currently. I will still need you to train and hire audio /visual engineers more floors mean more of them. I have seen you're listing for a receptionist for units A-J you will still have to train them." She asks was this his way of saying he wanted her to stay longer. "I have not felt like this" he takes her hands in his and kisses the back of hers "In a very long time. You make it very easy to fall in love with you. I think of it as an added bonus to having you by my side not only as my very intelligent business partner, but as much more than that." For someone that never saw themselves in another relationship Jonathon was happy to give this, his all. They arrive and get out of the limo. He does something he had not done before he takes her arm as they enter The Davenport.
Gloria walks with him instead of just behind him or just in front of him. "John, are you sure about this?" He says no but he would not lose her or have her thinking he wanted to keep her a secret. "You wouldn't lose me I understand. I hope I have not made it seem otherwise." As they enter the private room everyone stops and stares at them. Angel runs over and hugs him and shakes Gloria's hand saying that their seats were up front.
The party moves along with no hitches until it is time to cut the cake. Everyone starts chanting speech. Jonathon stands up on the raised dais and says "I don't know if what I'm about to say is considered a speech. I for one want to thank my Angel for thinking of her da on his birthday. This was a very nice thing you did here. I have a surprise for you. I want to thank the people that have both kept my secret and helped with the work. Angela, I won't be leasing the condo in Dallas anymore." He watches the smile fall from her way too expressive face. She opens her mouth to say something then shuts it. When she turns to Joshua he points back up to Jonathon. "I have repurchased my family's home here in Grandville."
Angel couldn't believe it she looks at Joshua "You knew?" She accuses, Joshua says that he was sworn to secrecy and since it wasn't something that could blow up in anyone's face he felt it was safe to keep Jonathon's secret. "Did you know even when I saw it was sold?" He shakes his head saying he didn't know then but found out near her baby shower. Directing her gaze back to her father she says. "I know that place has created some not so great memories are you sure that's what you want to do?" He says he has had the house totally redid and he hopes she liked the remodel. "I can hardly wait to see it."
Jonathon looks back at Gloria "I have one more thing to say." Everyone stares at him as he turns partially to Gloria "Mere months ago if someone had of told me that I would be in a relationship other than business, I would have thought they had taken a fall onto their head. I told myself a lot of things. I told myself that I was too old. Too mean and set in my ways. I know I have introduced this lovely lady to my right as my business partner. She is so much more, I can't say enough about how much she has changed the way I view things professionally and personally. For a long time I didn't think I deserved a second chance. She loves me and all my peccadillos, or with or without my polish as she has put it." He lets go of her hand and asks her to have a seat in the seat he was sitting in. Jonathon walks off the platform and onto the stage picks one of the guitars. Vash walks behind him and waits for his cue. Candy gets up and runs on stage. Jonathon starts the recognizable guitar start to Love Song in the style of The Cure he sings and it is not forced. Before long he has the whole crowd singing along. As the song is coming to a close, Jonathon stops he walks back on the dais and gets on one knee looking up at Gloria who had been dancing and singing along. "I know this is one of your favorite songs. Gloria, you have truly captured my heart. I was once told that there is someone out there for everyone, back then I did not believe it now I do. I love you. Will you marry meh?"
Gloria looks around at his family standing under the dais. He guides her gaze back to his with a finger under her chin. She could see his smooth casual polish cracking behind his lightly tinted glasses. His bottom lip was now being tortured by his top teeth. He'd always respected her because she spoke up for herself, she just hoped he would continue. "John, I can't." He gets up and stands before her. "You are here, and I am here for now, but I don't live here, and I wouldn't ask you to come back to Ireland considering you have fought so long to be around your kin. I can't and won't do such a long distance marriage, not even for you." The room went so quiet one could hear plants grow. She briskly walks off the dais away from the shocked expression on his face.
John stands on the dais watching her maneuver through his friends and kin. As he watches the room grow quiet and pretend not to stare up at him he puts the microphone up to his lips and with the last of his professional polish and a tight smile he says "Thank you all for coming." Taking off his glasses, at a more sedate pace he walks down the stairs and out of the private room towards the bar. Sitting at the bar he tells the bartender "Highballs keep them strong and keep them coming." Angel walks over and says maybe his partner would change her mind. He looks at his half empty glass. "I fucked it up. I moved too fast. I managed to drive away a woman that has had feelings for me even before I was aware of them. She has been right there ever since I started LEGNA. This was what I feared, where could a relationship like ours go? I was a damn fool. You would think I'm old enough to know this shit wouldn't work." Angel says he should go after her. "She was nervous about letting on that we were dating and I ruined even that." Angel points out that Gloria didn't say she didn't love him just that she couldn't do a long distance marriage.
Gloria caught a cab the driver asks her where to and then it hit her she's just told John she couldn't marry him. Where could she go she was staying between his condo and for the last almost two months she had been living with him in her fantasy in the Grandville house. "Take me to the South Grandville Hilton please." The driver peels away from curb and hits the highway. She looks back as The Davenport leaves her sight, tears replace her focused stare. She loves him but she can't do a long distance marriage. What was he thinking? She gets a text message thinking it is from John she opens it and is surprised that it is not.
Unknown: Thank you I was worried about you, but you did my job for me.
Scrolling down there is a picture of the proposal. Gloria rapidly texts to the unknown number
Gloria: Who is this? How did you get the number to my Mobile?
Unknown: His real lover the woman that really deserves him. Can't say it was hard I know you both.
Gloria says to the Driver "Please take me back to The Davenport" Many people had taken pictures someone in his party had posted a string of photos onto social media. The last one of him sitting along at the bar tore her apart. This was horrible. Her phone buzzes again.
Unknown: He was just practicing with you. You hurt him so stay away from my man or else.
Gloria: I love him and I will not be threatened.
Unknown: He fooled you didn't he? I'm his real woman.
Gloria: Look you delusional little twit whatever game you are playing it won't work.
Unknown: Game on Bitch.
Gloria looks around not knowing what the last message meant or where she is she enables her GPS. "Driver did you hear me? Sir I asked to be taken back to The Davenport." The cabbie stops on the side of the road turns around and says this was her destination. "No it can't be. I don't even know where this place is." Suddenly the driver reaches back and tries to grab her. She leans back out of his reach "What the fuck, look I don't know what you think is going to happen." The driver pulls a knife. Gloria pulls her pepper spray at the same time and rapidly sprays the foam in the man's face. He screams. She grabs the door pulls the lock up and opens the door trying to get away from the cab as he tries to wipe the foam out of his face, he steps on the gas as a last ditch effort to make her stay in the car. The car lurches forward sending her to the ground she scrambles out of the way and gets to her feet running for what she is worth. One more problem she still had no idea where she was. She had her phone out until it started raining she tucks her phone in her purse and runs for shelter.
The driver calls his boss "She stiffed me on the fare. I expect my fare plus what our agreement was. Call it health insurance you didn't say the bitch had anything on her. She sprayed me with some type of pepper spray. Watch your mouth bitch remember. I know who you are. More importantly I know how to get to you. Yeah, yeah how dare I threaten someone in your position? Look, if my account isn't updated with the money you owe me this is no threat I'll shut you down myself."
April Sharp had to pay someone for nothing. The driver was right he did know where she was. This blackmail would not go undealt with. She had fried bigger fish he just didn't know the trouble he was in yet no common criminal would get the better of her for long. Sophie had told her if she was angry at the producer for scaring her then she should go after him. Her man she had in the party had done a great job of taking photos unnoticed. The fact that the cab trick worked even partially told her what she needed to know. Now it was time to call Mr. Producer. She grabs the cell phone she'd stolen from a fellow GSSEC member. The woman had disappeared but if the driver was correct she knew what phone the woman carried it wasn't new and couldn't be certain networks. She calls her member and tells him what he is looking for and when he found the signal shut off the woman's phone. He replies quickly saying it was done and tells her the woman's name that was attached to the cell phone. So Ms. Shannon was another of Jonathon's weak spots. She asked could the phone be tracked to her location. He said he sent her a virus and she just answered it the phone would be toast by now. That was even better so her plan could drive the producer up the wall. She calls Jonathon's phone. He sounded drunk hmm pictures didn't lie. "Hello lover boy." he slurred something at her and told someone off in Irish. When he says hello again she speaks "I will get Angel in time but she is not ready yet you grandchild is like waiting for a cake to get ready." He threatens her "Your little woman Miss Gloria Shannon was a fighter I had to subdue her she got right into my cab trying to do what Sophia should have done when she first set eyes on you. Run she may be still alive now if she had." she had his attention and some of the burr was leaving his voice. No dear I didn't kill her meet me at this address and bring 5,000 dollars or I will have her killed goodbye lover"
A drunken sweaty Jonathon half lays half sits at the bar. His phone rings and he answers it he couldn't hear Angel was saying something and she wouldn't stop talking. Why the hell didn't she just leave him alone? The fuckin party was over when Gloria walked out and took a piece of him with her. He attempts to stick his finger in his ear and almost topples over. The woman in the phone was talking. Maybe she was Gloria. She said something about lover. "You Lefff meeeee herrrr loooover" he wanted to hear Gloria. Angel said one more thing and he blew his top. Yells at her in Irish "SHUT THE FUCK UP it's because of you that she won't marry meh" Angel runs off. It dawns on him as he tries to listen. It was April not his Gloria talking. His head hurt, his vision was double. "You touch her and I rip your fucking head from your body do you hear meh? You killed her? NO I'll pay you where are you? I'm on mi way don't hurt her." Jonathon closes his phone tries to get up from the bar and if it weren't for Joshua coming into the area he would have face planted the floor.
Joshua is pissed they were cleaning up while Angel was just trying to console her father. Jonathon needed to get the hell out. Angel didn't know he was going to propose to the woman he said he wanted to play a song and he did and the next thing everyone knew he changed the song he was going to sing and proposed to his business partner. Yeah it was rough being told no in public but blaming and yelling at Angel wasn't going to fix a damn thing. He marches out into the bar and is about to tell Jonathon he's cut off for the night when the big man gets up and almost falls on his face. Joshua would have let him hit the ground for what he said to Angel but he reacted faster than his mind would let the older man kiss the ground. Yup it was time to pour his boss into a limo before he made a bigger ass of himself. "Okay Jonathon you've had enough it's time to go. How many of those has he had?" the bartender holds up both hands and waves his fingers in a blink motion Fuck 10 drinks with the house Vodka yeah John wasn't feeling shit right now. Jonathon tells him to let him go. "Don't temp me, If I do you're going to meet the floor" Jonathon asks is that a threat. The big man wrenches away from him pushing him backwards. Joshua lands on his ass. Jonathon attempts to take a step, trips over his own feet crashing to the floor like a rag doll out cold. Joshua gets to his feet and says to the bartender. "Will you help me pour his drunken ass into his ride home please?"
Mark comes out after hearing what was said when he sees his uncle on the ground and Joshua standing there looking pissed he walks over and gets in the younger man's face. "Hey I know what he said wasn't cool, but you hit him again and I'll bury your ass."
"You know what Mark?" Mark steps closer and asks what. Joshua looks up meeting his gaze without lifting his head. "I didn't hit him. I was trying to get him out of here."
The bartender Larry an ex-marine jumps over the bar and in between the two as he faces Taker and says "Wait, Callaway, I haven't seen drinking like that in a long time. The old guy took 10 highballs made with house Vodka to the head one behind each other in 8oz glasses with no rocks. That's almost 80oz of Vodka not including the Imported Irish Ale he had at dinner. Davenport was trying to keep him upright the next thing I know they both on the ground. He pushed Davenport and passed the hell out. End of story. Now will you us help us get him into his ride or not?" Mark says he'll help. "Good now let's get him out of here." They half walk half carry Jonathon out into the rain to his limo and Mark says he was going to ride with his uncle to get in him in his house. Joshua just nods and walks back in the bar with his night bartender.
Gloria tried to call Jonathon but her phone must have gotten wet after all the screen wouldn't come on. She must have looked a complete fright a homeless man asked her did she want part of his newspaper. She powerwalks away from him and steps off the curb into a large puddle now her pumps were wet on the outside and the inside. The rain had matted her hair to her head and her dress was soaked and torn from hitting the ground to get away from the fucking cab. She looks at the sky line and remembered something Jonathon had told her about this area. She thought she saw a building it was tall and dark and it seemed to sit by itself in the flashes of lighting. She starts towards it and wonders if she was really going to follow a building. A car pulls up next to her she walks away from the curb. The woman inside says she looked lost No shit Gloria thought to herself as she smiled. "Is this the way to Grandville South?"
"This is Pyramid, I'd say you're a good 10 miles away." It dawns on Cassandra when the woman spoke who she is. The woman thanks her and starts walking again. "Hey I usually don't do this but do you need a ride? The woman looks around what the hell was she looking for? She looked like a wet rat. This was bound to get her points. A car pulls up behind her. Cass was about to drive off when the woman says she usually doesn't either but says yes please as she grabs the door handle. Cass pops the lock and the woman gets in. "So where are you headed in Grandville?" Cass says as she pulls out into traffic.
"I need to go to a pub called The Davenport. Don't I know you?" The girl looked familiar by the frown on her face makes Gloria think she has said something wrong. Then it hit her. "You were in interview with me. I never forget a face but I'm horrid with names. We have had a meal at my Partner's daughter's home." Cassandra reintroduces herself as she had in the interview. "Thank you so much Cassandra I have had a hell of a night." The girl asks what happened. "I don't even know where to start."
Cassandra in her best imitation of her mother says "try the beginning. Ms. Shannon" the woman asks her to please just call her Gloria. Cassandra says "sure Gloria so what has you out in the middle of a place with no transportation? Pyramid isn't a bad place it just has nothing in the way of transportation. You would have had a heck of a time crossing the highway back in to Grandville the way you were going about it." The woman tells her and even mentions the text messages. "Wow I thought you two were an item. He is a nice guy but if he can't commit enough to move with you back to your homeland then maybe he's not worth it. I hate to even think this, but maybe he wanted you to dump him because he didn't want to have to dump you later." The woman defends Jonathon. "I mean I really don't know him so I am probably all wrong. Please continue with your story." When the woman mentions the last message and the fact that at that time she was being taken for a ride to god knows where making a correlation between the text messages and the cab driver trying to hurt her Cassandra's blood runs cold. She had nothing to do with a cab. She just wanted to get in the older woman's head but something else was going on. "Have you fired anyone or anything like that? I mean you haven't been here in the states that long like almost 2 months correct?" the woman shivers Cassandra turns the heat on a burst of cool air comes out first and the woman's teeth chattered. "Sorry it takes a minute I usually don't run the heat much." The heat kicks in and the chattering stops. "Are you sure you want to go to an air-conditioned club at night in wet clothing?"
The woman had a point all of her clothing were soaked through to the bone air-conditioning sounded like pneumonia in a jar at this point. Her credit card had demagnetized she found that out when she ducked into a coffee shop and couldn't even swipe for a hot 5 dollar coffee so the Hilton was out. She would have to just bite the bullet and go back to Jonathon's home. He was sure to be angry at her but she really had nowhere to go. "You have a good point I hate to ask but can you take me to this address please?" Cassandra says sure minutes later they pull up in front of Jonathon's home. "If my card was working I would give you something in the way of money you have been very helpful and I will repay you. I promise, thank you so much." Cassandra tells her don't worry about it. "I'll get this straightened out and something extra will be coming your way." Gloria gets out and looks up at the second story she searches for her key. This was going to be awkward at best. She walks in to the living room and stops at the site of John laying on the floor fully clothed with the exception of his boots that were set to the side of the couch. She locks the front door and slides down the side. This night was a complete and utter disaster. What seemed like moments later, Gloria wakes to the sound of moaning? She had not even noticed she had went to sleep the moaning must have been her she walks over checking on John it looked like he had been on the couch but had fallen off. She dared not wake him, but put the cover over him that was on the couch. She was cold and the hard wood floor was as well. She takes his glasses out of his hand and sets them on the cocktail table. She then takes a hot shower and changes out of the wet dress into one of John's shirts. She then climbs into his nice warm bed with his scent surrounding her and falls back asleep.
Hours later Jonathon felt like shit. Opening his eyes he shuts them again his head hurt like someone was standing on it. "Shit that was bright boy-o" He wondered how the hell he got here. The last thing he remembered was proposing to Gloria and her turning him down. He looks at his phone it was 10 in the morning. He hits the visual voice mail and gets up his head felt like cement had incased it. He listens to the voice mail sent to him by April anger and fear made him search for his keys. She had Gloria and was threatening to hurt her if he didn't show soon. He looks at the time stamp and his blood runs cold that was over 6 hours ago. He'd caused this if he had of just not proposed she'd be fine. He should have stuck to the plan, play Sweet Child O Mine, and come home and unwrap her end of the night, but no he had to act like a fucking love sick child and fuck up his relationship. Now he'd put her in grave danger. The pain in his head had nothing on the one in his heart. He calls the number that was attached to the voicemail it went straight to voice mail but it wasn't April's voice. Though the thought of finding Gloria hurt or worse where he was supposed to meet April filled him with fear he had to find her. He grabs fistfuls of his hair looking around he hadn't drove last night so where were his keys? He rushes into his bedroom to look on his dresser. The sight that met his eyes sent a tremendous relief through him. He walks to the bed kisses her and watches her sleep for a time. He looks up to the ceiling and thanks a higher power for keeping his lover safe. Walking into the bathroom he picks up the torn still damp dress she'd worn. Had she been drunk too? He looks in the mirror oh yes he was in need of hot water, soap, and his da's hangover cure. After a hot shower he pads back in his bedroom where he discovers Gloria awake and getting out of bed. She meets his gaze before she can say anything he rushes to her and starts kissing her. "I'm sorry" they say when they both come up for air in unison. Jonathon leans his forehead on hers and says "Don't be sorry I rushed forward without thinking things through. I do love you that part needs no thought. I understand you were already nervous about us letting on that we're in a relationship. What I don't get is why you left." She tells him what was going through her head that he would be angry at her for saying no. "I'm glad you returned. I got a voicemail that someone had taken you. When I came in here looking for my keys and saw you in my bed you will never know the relief I felt at that moment. Where you the one that brought me home?"
Gloria shakes her head no and tells him what happened all of it from the cab, the weird text messages, and the driver pulling a knife on her and trying to drive with her half out of the car. "If it weren't for Cassandra I would be probably still trying to figure how to get across 10 lanes of highway traffic. My phone went out and my card demagnetized." What he said about a voice mail hit her like a ton of bricks. She sits on the edge of the bed hugging her self. "Oh my god it's one thing to think I'm being robbed, but someone really wanted to abduct me last night. If I had not of had my pepper spray I could have been someone's captive. I toyed with the idea of leaving it behind I'm glad the limo showed before I had time to take it out of my purse. Oh I think I'm going to be sick." She gets up and runs to the bathroom. He walks in holds her hair out of the way until dry heaves are all that are left.
Jonathon and Gloria are in the kitchen when there is a loud knock on the door. Jonathon points to her to stay seated. He had taken a large dose of his Da's hangover cure and it had seemed to do its job. That and having Gloria here with him had improved his mood immensely. He sees Mark before he even gets to the door he would have to remember to buy a curtain for the top of his door. He opens the door. Mark walks in sees Gloria waves and asks John outside for a minute. Jonathon invites him to go into the den. Mark shrugs and walks in the den. Jonathon walks in and asks "is this about last night?" Mark nods "maybe you will know this DO you know who brought me home I asked Gloria and it surly wasn't her."
Mark points at himself "You're looking at him." Jonathon asked what happened. "You remember walking to the bar?" Jonathon says he knew he had a buzz going when he jumped up and proposed to Gloria she said no and from there it isn't all that clear. "You may need to sit down. Yeah I brought you home but before I could get you out of there. I almost cleaned Joshua's clock because I thought he'd knocked you out for what you said to Angel, but it turns out you knocked yourself out with a large amount of top shelf vodka. None of this is ringing any bells?" Jonathon says no and asks what he said to Angel. Mark tells him in Irish the same way he shouted it at Angel he continues by saying "Angel ran in tried to powerwalk pass Joshua when he stopped her forward motion is when she said what happened and burst into tears. Look Jonathon, I don't know if you meant it, or were just tired or what, but you said it and you need to straighten this shit out. All Angel did was try to throw her father a fucking party. You tried to turn it into something that didn't happen and that woman has not a damn thing to do with Angel. If you were going yell at someone try the person that made you look like a damn fool. Angel came out there trying to console you. She says you were out there having a fucking pity party, my words not hers. Angel says that woman called you and that's when you told her it was her fault."
Jonathon looks at the floor "Markus, I don't know what to say. I have fought so hard to prove to my girl that I love her, and that I want to be here. When I first told her that I was moving here to Texas and building LEGNA USA she asked me was I sure, and I told her I was. I don't remember getting a call from Gloria." He grabs his hair and then rubs a hand down his face "I surly don't remember going off on Angela. I didn't mean it I spent way too much time away from my girl as it is. I have to fix this, and soon. Is Angel at home right now?" Mark says yeah she hasn't left her bedroom since last night. "I'm going to talk her if she'll talk to me. If not I'll have to find a way" Mark walks out nods at Gloria and leaves the house. Jonathon walks out of the den. Gloria runs to him asking what all the yelling was about. "I fucked up in the most horrible way. I just hope I can fix it." Gloria asks if he wanted her to come with him. "I don't think that would fix anything. I blamed us" he points between them "on Angel to Angel in an explosive away in her bar. I have to go."
Angel sits in the window seat of Joshua's music room in her WrestleMania jersey and a pair of Taker pajama bottoms writing a song. Joshua knew where she was but he went to go get frustration off in the basement gym, which meant he was still pissed at her dad she wasn't pissed she was hurt and confused. Why did her dad say that? She wasn't holding him here, she wanted him here but he was a grown man if it meant that much he should go. She couldn't wait for this year to be over with. She'd be married and her baby boy would be born and in a few more months she'd go back on the road with a band that really likes her. She gets up and picks up her guitar and starts to play and sing a song she had not played in an awhile.
Jonathon walks in to the house and Paula tells him off. "I know you're right I have no idea where that came from. Is she awake?" Paula tells him she's at least put on clothing and went in the room they turned into Joshua's music room. Jonathon partly opens the door the song that he heard wasn't an original he'd heard it before the last words made him open the door and walk in. She did this cover when she was fighting with Braden. The song was called Smother by the group Daughter. The ending was the artist's wished that they had not been born. "I need to speak to you, I for one am thankful that you were born."
Angel turns around she'd been facing the window, sighing she says. "Dad, it's a song. What did you need to speak to me about?" He says he needed to speak to her about what he said last night. Putting down her guitar she gets to her feet and sits back on the window seat as she stares out the window she couldn't look at him. "I don't know what there is left to say. If you want to go back to Ireland, please just go." She closes her eyes blinking away tears. "I don't want this to happen like with mom and the name thing. I don't want to be who you blame if you and Gloria don't hook up." She runs her hands through her hair.
Jonathon heard her fear and sadness. He'd come expecting her to be angry at him this was worse she thought he would turn against her. "Angel I don't remember my outburst Markus and Paula told me what I said. I'm not going anywhere. I told you before, that I have spent already too much time away."
"Maybe large amounts of booze are your truth serum. I'm tired of every time I try to do something nice for some one that I love, I get hurt. I didn't even know you were dating Gloria. She called you and the look on your face as you told me to shut the fuck up and that I was why she didn't want to marry you."
"Angela, I had way too much to drink. It was no truth serum. I fucked up a nice party in my honor all by myself. I don't blame you for anything. I love you more than you will ever fully realize. I spent too much time as it is away from you."
"Dad, if she won't marry you as long as you are here and the only reason you're here is because of me then you or Gloria may see it as I am holding you back. I want you to be happy not wondering what if, because one day what if may turn back into it's my fault and I don't want that. I don't need you resenting me later for a decision you can fix right now. So think about it, you said yourself we aren't good at making snap decisions. Make whatever decision you make purely because it is what you want to do."
"I'm so sorry for what I said to you. I think if Gloria wants us to be closer she's going to be the one that has to make a decision. I ran back to Ireland with my tail between my legs almost 25 years ago with that action I did irreparable damage to your trust in my love for you. You know what I am to you but you still have no clue who I am. I have a question for you do you want me to stay?" She walks out of the room without saying anything.
Angel walks into the hall of course she didn't want him to go back to Ireland. She also didn't want to be his object of blame. Joshua comes up the stairs "dad is here" She points to the music room so he wouldn't say anything. Joshua walks towards the door to his music room. Angel steps in his way putting her hand on his chest and meeting his ice blue glare. "He says he doesn't remember anything after Gloria said no. Mark and Paula told him what he said he apologized to me. I told him to do whatever made him happy. He asked me did I want him to stay I didn't answer." Joshua asks her, does she want him to stay if that is how he feels?" Of course I want him to stay but I also don't want to have to go through that again." The guard at the front gate calls Angel she answers the phone. "Hello she is probably here to pick up my father yes let her in please." Sighing Angel walks back into the music room and almost walks into her father who was coming out. "Sorry, I guess your ride is here Gloria is on her way in." Jonathon says he asked her not to come. Angel shrugs and says "well she's here" Jonathon says he wants to get this out now while everyone is here then. "Dad, you don't have to do this right now."
"Angel It is not a hard decision. Now please come down stairs. Gloria was worried about your reaction to us dating." Angel tells him whatever makes him happy and won't have him snapping off on her is all she wants because she couldn't deal with that again. Joshua chimes in and says she shouldn't have to. They head downstairs as Gloria walks in the front door. Angel suggests they head into the den.
Gloria says "Hello Angela, your father asked me not to come but I couldn't let this be. Please don't take my words last night as a slam against you or anything like that. I know some of what you both have been through. I had no idea John was going to propose to me. We spoke and he had no idea he was going to do it either. Please don't be angry at me." Angel says she isn't angry she just didn't want to be blamed for the outcome of their relationship.
Jonathon says "Gloria If I left the US to be with you. I honestly think I would end up resenting that decision and maybe even you. My life is here with my daughter and my kin. The only thing I can say is if you want to break this off I just hope it won't affect our work relationship." Gloria says she never wanted to break up with him. She loves him she just can't see how a long distance marriage would work. "There is another way that we can be together. It is up to you. It may not be fair for me to even suggest this but if your only reason is distance. You could move here. That's the best I have." Angel asks him is he sure he wants to make that snap decision. "I hope one day you can forgive meh for what I said. Angel I'm not going back. This isn't me making a snap decision that I will regret later. I want to be in your life. I have spent so much time away from you and my kin. Though he looks like he wants to clobber me right about now I even want the son that I didn't know I wanted. The last time I was here Mark was a teen now he has a child of his own. What I haven't told anyone is that I put my Ireland home on market, and have been having my belongings shipped here the furnishings in my Grandville home are some of what has arrived. I want to not only be in your life. I want my grandson to know without a doubt who I am, time has flown by so quickly I know this is where I belong. That is why I can tell you with certainty that I don't blame you for anything.
Gloria had a question "What about LEGNA?" Gloria had thought she was supposed to go back and run the Ireland office. He says their marriage didn't have to be instantaneous if she was even willing to think about this he could make LEGNA USA the headquarters they could continue to run it. The LEGNA Ireland office could be managed by someone of their choosing. Gloria was shocked Jonathon would do all of that to be with her. "Would that work for you?" Angel asks Gloria would she be leaving behind her own kin. "No, I have kin back home but the ones that matter are no longer of this earth. " Her parents were in heaven and she had no children. Her sister didn't like the fact that she didn't stay in her first marriage. Her brother moved around a lot with the military and his new wife. These past few months had been hard on Gloria because yes she had work but without John she was lonely in her seldom taken free time. She'd started taking work home with her to have something to do until she left a file in her flat and fretted the entire day wondering what she had done with it. She feared she lost it on the transit all kinds things ran through her head that day none of them good. Her career took up lots of time in her day. Even before she was awarded partner she was Jonathon's executive assistant. A few of the girls that worked on other floors would invite her out sometimes but she really didn't have anything in common with them. She found that out when one team outing left her wondering if the girls were trying to move up in the company using her as a bridge between them and Jonathon. She didn't date performers. If truth be told after her first marriage she didn't trust men. Of course Jonathon was the exception she knew him without his professional polish in place. She is brought out of her reverie by Jonathon touching her shoulder. "I think it is a wonderful idea John you've already pushed back my return date as it is and I can't say that I was disappointed in the least. I guess we both will be applying for citizenship."
Jonathon grins at her "Gloria, I have finally found something you don't already know about meh. Though my parents were born in Ireland they moved here for a time and my sister Rosa and I were born in Houston so I am already a US citizen." She says if he was really willing to do this she'd be happy to marry him. They kiss and Gloria turns back to Angel and says she guessed they all would get what they wanted with this arrangement Angel says nothing. She meets Joshua's gaze he excuses himself and leaves the room. Angel excuses herself as well. Gloria says "Angela before you go I would love it if you would help me plan the wedding." The look Angel through over her shoulder wasn't one of yes in fact Gloria was about to say never mind until Angel started speaking.
Angel looks at her and says "Congratulations, I'm just glad this seems to be what both of you want. As for asking me to help prepare your wedding I'm going to have to say no." Angel turns back around to walk out of the room Jonathon asks will she ever forgive him for what he said last night. Angel turns back around with the door partly open. "Dad, I forgive you, from now on I will try not to speak to you while you are drunk. That part was my fault I should have left you alone. I don't know. All I know is I am not going through that again. Please don't drink at my wedding." Angel walks out into the hall Joshua was waiting on her.
"You are not going to blame yourself for giving a damn enough to go out there and try to cheer him up. Your father took a big dose of asshole an unleashed on you last night. I'm telling you now if he drinks at our wedding and goes asshole. I'm going ape shit and sending my brand new father-in-law overboard." Jonathon walks out of the den Angel puts her hand on Joshua's chest, her father surprised both of them when he says "Boy-o considering my suit will be dry clean only, and I don't want to take a swim it's a good thing I have no intention of drinking for a very long time. I haven't drank enough to completely black out since" he thinks about it "ever and it didn't solve a damn thing" Joshua says it usually doesn't. "All I got was a scare and I think someone hit me." Joshua tells him what happened.
A few days later Angel is getting ready for her bachelorette party she brushes out her hair Joshua comes in the bedroom. She is wearing a black and silver dress that complements her 30 weeks silhouette. She looked great but he knew he could be a little bias. She asked was the dress too much saying she had a pants suit also. "Wear what you will be comfortable in babe this is your show tonight. You look great." She says she's wearing the dress then. "So how are you girls getting to Paula's bar?" Angel shrugs and says that Sophie said she had it taken care of.
At 1:00pm that day at Ivey hotel they have the bridal shower so Janet could be a part of it. She would not be able to go to the bar tonight and Angel didn't want her to feel left out. They eat and play games and everything goes well. Later that night Angel gets up in the stretch Hummer. "No trying to tip over the pregnant chick." Candy says to Cassandra who had bumped into Angel and grabbed her before she did a header into the limo seat.
After everyone is seated in the limo the STOP team gives the driver the go ahead. Sophie speaks up over the chatter. "The first stop on our trip is one of Angel's favorite eateries and since I'd have to clobber Joshua if I didn't feel you I figured. We'd have dinner at Bardolino's Bistro." They go in and a table was already set up for the large group. The host an Italian male comes out and says since Angel had been like family to him it was only fitting that he provided her with a gift she would not soon forget. The stage lights up and onstage walks a few musicians and one of Angel's favorite artists Damien Rice walks on stage and asks her to come up. Angel looks at Paula she shakes her head and says it wasn't her. Angel goes up on stage and Damien sings Cheers Darlin and uses her as the star of the song. Angel sat at the prop table while he sat less than 2 feet away. She played her part but everyone that knew how much she likes his music could see the smirk every time she turned towards her friends. Damien sings one of his newest songs at the end he takes her hand and they bow pictures are taken, and the Bistro erupts in applause he helps her back down to her seat and congratulates her. She looks at Sophie, Sophie says this must have been the owner's idea because she was just expecting to eat and leave. Angel looks at Gloria and notices the smirk. Angel asks her was it her.
Gloria smiles and says "When the invite was hand delivered inviting me to come I figured I would give you a gift that you didn't already have. Your Da said Mr. Rice is one of your favorites." Angel thanks her "Your welcome Angela" Damien comes to Angel's table and gives her his newest CD wishing her a long and happy marriage. Angel beams from ear to ear.
Cassandra leans over and says to Tracy "I'm just wondering why she even came?" Tracy leans away from her and says evidently like all of them she was invited. Sally hears her daughter and asks what was wrong with Jonathon's assistant hanging with the girls, she had been on Jonathon's heels since she landed this would give the poor man a breather from playing tourist all the time when not working. "Mom Jonathon proposed to her and she said no, I just don't get why everyone is being nice to her especially Angel." Sally looked confused and then shrugs saying maybe this had more to do with business than family. She points out that the performer had taken pictures with Angel. Maybe there was some business deal in the works. Cassandra excuses herself and goes to the ladies room.
Agent Andrew Stark of the STOP team watches Angel he was the agent that had foolishly asked her for a date after having to save her via shooting the drummer that she had once dated. His timing was always off. Now he'd been watching out for her and her close friends and family, because of an underground adoption ring led by a woman named The Mother, which had threatened to kidnap Angel and take her unborn child. Andrew knew if he didn't move quickly she would be married soon, and he would have not even the slight chance in hell he had now to talk to her. He'd switched his coverage for tonight with a new team member so he could try to ask her out. His timing was flawless this time she wasn't in danger, with him and 12 other agents around so she should feel secure. There were perks to knowing where she was going ahead of time. Her sister announced that it was time to leave. He would have to catch up with her at the club. He'd tried to speak to her at this club last time, but she was still associating him with being one of the ones that shot her ex mere feet from her. He was almost assigned to her side when her fiancé was kidnapped but head Agent Hawk took up that post. This was his last shot. He was a STOP team member if he couldn't be the protective mate she craved than who? Her fiancé had put Angel and his self in danger, by getting himself captured. Stark was a head taller than the Davenport kid and stronger. If Angela Ivey wanted a lover that could also protect her Andrew was her man.
Cassandra calls Bradley he was the only one that understood her most of the time. He knew how she felt about a certain older Irishmen. She'd got scared that the text messages she had sent would come back on her when the bitch was almost attacked or whatever. Bradley had told her to never do that shit again. She was mad at the time, and had sent the first text to get in the woman's head, but someone else wanted to do something a lot more psychical than play head games with her. Cassandra only let the bitch into her car and took her to where she wanted to go because no one walked in Pyramid at night, and when she found out who the woman was she figured she would get brownie points with Jonathan. It also gave her plausible deniability because something way illegal was going on that night. Bradley answers the phone on the first ring. "You will not believe who had the nerve to show up?" Bradley asks in a bored tone who. "The Gloria lady, I guess she's trying to get on Angel's good side I don't get why Angel even let her in here after what she did to her father. Mom said it could have something to do with business which kind of makes sense, because Gloria had some singer come and sing to Angel he took her on stage and pictures were taken." Bradley tells her not to start anything just have fun and chill out. He tells her again how stupid it was for her to try to jump into the mix with her boss and her boss's boss. He informs her that he was on the LEGNA social media page, and it looked like the chick embarrassing Jonathon was what he needed. He's turning LEGNA USA into the Headquarters so the Gloria lady might be out of a job, when the building here is built. "Hey maybe I can apply to be his personal assistant" Bradley says she already had a job in the company not to push so fast. "Maybe you're right. Okay our party is leaving this location talk to you soon bro."
Back in the limo everyone waits on Cassandra to come from the restroom. Evie glances at Candy she wondered what Roman saw in the blond that had almost got him arrested. Evie knew that Roman had his intense moments, but hell he didn't rape her. She was just glad that the police believed him and the case was thrown out. Evie was a part of Roman's professional life and she didn't need him getting hit with some scandalous bullshit. Vince would fire them both. Roman texts her she answers the text his next message made her wish she had not told him that the little blonde was here. He still had the recording of her and Jyrki's drunken lovemaking and Evie believed Roman would use the sex recording to ruin her friendship with the 69 Eyes singer, by putting his extra martial affair all over the internet. She had to get that recording. For right now her hands were tied, if she didn't do what Roman said, he would possibly end Jyrki's marriage and that would surely end their friendship.
Candy catches Evie looking at her and turned away from her, trying to distract herself from being rude to the woman. Evie hadn't spoke about Roman but she knew that the raven haired woman was in a relationship with him, and there was no telling what he said about her. Candy had asked Angel if Evie had said anything about her, and Angel said Evie was under his spell and believed the story the cops did. Angel said there was no convincing Evie of anything once she got something in her head. The group finally is able to leave when Cass comes out.
They arrive at the bar Paula takes great pleasure in asking Angel to close her eyes when they get into the area near the stage. Angel does and Paula puts a blind fold on her, just as she had done to Paula. "Just don't lead me into any doors" Angel says with a smile trying to cover the nervousness that was building inside of her. Sophie comes on the other side of her and some of the nerves left. They sit Angel in a chair that Candy had made and added a cushion. The chair looked like a thrown, it was a mix of ceramic and wood, the back is a half of a heart with Celtic symbols surrounding it. Paula says she wanted to get Angel back for making her cry so this was her payback. She tells Angel the same rules she was given. If Angel could name the artist she could wittiness the performance in a more complete way. She says she wanted to do this first since a little birdie had told her that her surprise gift was freaking Angel out. A woman and a band walk on stage she says nothing as her band sets up. The woman cues her guitarist and Angel stands up. The female starts singing and Angel excitedly says "Oh my God, its Brandi Carlile the song is called The Story." Angel rips off the blindfold before Paula could even tell her she is correct. Brandi soon finishes the song that Personal Touch had used as their one cover for the new album. Brandi asks for Angel to come up and sing with her. The huge smile that was already on Angel's face couldn't get any bigger. She turns around and hugs Paula thanking her. She goes up on stage with one of her most loved artist. They end the act with the song Pride and Joy Brandi lets Angel sing the second verse and they harmonize the rest of the song.
Paula saw the payback she'd talked about, Angel had played this song so much but was afraid of doing the cover because of what was happening by the end of the song. Angel was getting choked up but kept going. If it weren't for the fact that Sophie had did her makeup Angel's eye makeup would have been sliding down her face by now. As the violinist and the rest of the band plays the song on pass the last few words Brandi and Angel hugs. They both cue the music to stop Brandi lifts Angel's hand and they take a bow, professional photographers take photos preserving this memory. Brandi says "I just have to say thanks for letting me come and rock your bar Paula." Paula nods with a huge smile on her face. Angel says to Brandi that the song Pride and Joy was the one that meant the most to her because it reminded her of her dad. Brandi says "I'm sure your story is a great one and I can't see why you wouldn't be his pride and joy. Stop crying girl you're going to make me cry." Everyone claps and chants one more song. "Do you have another song you'd like to sing?"
Angel says "let's Raise Hell" Brandi nods and cues the band they performed the song "Raise Hell" from Brandi's latest Album. Angel did something that Sophie never thought she'd see Angel do on stage. Angel was making eye contact not with the back of the room but with everyone. She was up there with Brandi clapping with the beat which leads the crowd to do the same. By the end of the song everyone was pumped. Brandi had to go but said she had a great time and congratulates Angel. Angel came off stage and sat back down. Paula says wow now she knew the secret to getting Angel to perform on her stage again. Angel hugs her and says "Thanks so much this is great and way worth it. Did Sophie tell you how much I like Brandi?"
Paula shakes her head no and says "Janet was the one that gave me the idea. I figured if anyone knew you well enough to say who you liked it would be my big girl. She says you had "The Story" on repeat for a whole trip to the mall. I am just glad it made your day like you did for me. Janet said you kept trying to convince yourself not to play "Pride and Joy" on your next tour, girl you should." Angel shrugs and says she almost lost it up there. "Yeah, but only the ones of us that really know you know that. I think my payback was sufficient." Angel hugs her again and says it was and thanks her cousin again.
Sophie walks up onstage and says "Oh it's not over it is just starting. So sit back down Chica. Cassandra has a gift for you." Sophie had seen the video and Okayed it. Cass comes up on stage and says she hoped Angel and her baby brother were happy together for a very long time. She says she figured she'd do a video project as a gift Angel could take home with her.
Cass walks back to the booth and starts her video. "Angel and my little brother Joshua have a story of their own. Angel, Joshua came to the house in CO looking for pictures of him when he was younger than high school. I had them but well, didn't reveal that fact so here are the pictures and thanks Sophie for giving me some younger pics of Angel. They were bound to be together." Cass hits play and her mouth drops open. This wasn't her video. The Song Striptease by Hinder plays. A shot of Angel and Joshua on stage in Houston was the only picture that was on Cassandra's original video. The video moves on to footage of Angel falling through a stage. Then came leaked video of Vivian playing guitar with Joshua. "Oh Shit. Shit. Shit" Cassandra hits the stop button but nothing happens. She tries to speak into the microphone which had been working seconds ago, now her voice no longer covered the room. She looks down at the look on Angel's face as the video plays scene after scene of Angel either being pulled off stage by Braden Storm, or of her and Braden fighting in random places from backstage to out in the parking lot. During the middle of the song pictures of Angel being held by Glenn when she collapsed at this bar due to her miscarriage. The last video is Scott's footage of his handy work that was on the Scorned Angelic Impression site before it went down. Big blue words descend into the shot. This little Striptease spends a lot of time on her back LOL. Picture after picture of Angel in the hospital creates an A shape then the screen goes black when the song finishes. Booth power is restored Cassandra tries to speak to Angel but Angel had already left. Sophie was at the booth door looking pissed and beating on it demanding that Cassandra come out.
Angel gets up and runs out the bar before the video ends. Agent Andrew Stark takes off after her luckily at 7 and a half months pregnant, she wasn't moving fast as she could have otherwise. "Ms. Ivey I'll have to ask you to please come back inside.
Angel turns around, and notices who the agent that was speaking to her is. She didn't feel like staying the video dredged up shit she had not thought about for a time it embarrassed her made her mad and sad at the same time. "I have to get out of here. Can you take me home Andrew? I…I mean Agent Stark sorry."
Andrew thinks about it but looking at the look on her face he knew she was leaving anyway she could, might as well be safe about it. "Yeah, Ms. Ivey I can take you home. Let's go my car is over there." She thanks him and he lets her in and goes around getting in his seat. "Buckle up" He checks her belt and pulls out into traffic. "Ms. Ivey, I have been meaning to talk you. I know I had some really bad timing the last few times I asked you out. I had every intention of doing just that tonight." She says she is about to be married and to please don't ask her. "It hit me in there watching the video. I have had a crush on you since my sophomore year in high school. You've changed since then, I'm not your type I guess. You seem to like these of kind of guys that will end up breaking your heart." She stays quiet. When he pulls up at a red light he looks over and sees that she has put on her huge rock star shades and hugging herself. She was ignoring him. That pissed him off "So will you tell me one thing?" She turns her face toward the passenger window still ignoring him. "Why don't you like me? Is it because I don't make enough money to date you? What sets me apart from the winners on the video that seem to fill your eyes with hearts until they try to smash your fucking face in?"
When Cassandra opened the door to the booth she told Sophie that she had nothing to do with that video. Sophie pinned her up against the wall hitting her, Cassandra out weighted Sophie but really couldn't use that to her advantage. Someone had taught this girl more than rich girl gymnastics. The Gloria woman tells Sophie that Angel had left the bar all together, and no one knew where she was. Sophie stopped trying to put her through the wall, tells her to get the fuck out and walks away with her phone to her ear. Gloria walks over and asks Cass is she okay. Rubbing her jaw where Sophie had let her have it. She says "thankfully you got here before she could do any real damage I'm fine" when the woman asks her why she did it Cassandra says "Ms. Shannon I didn't do that. Number one this booth locked me out once I hit play. I tried to do a manual override and it seemed like nothing but that damn video had power. Someone fucking switched my disc and used me and now my brother is going to be major pissed at me, and that right now is the least of my worries when this shit gets back to Jonathon I won't have job that is, if he doesn't shoot my ass on sight." Cassandra gets an Idea and asks Gloria, an upper level record industry partner "You know how to work this equipment. Did you do this as payback for Jonathon firing you after LEGNA USA is built?"
Gloria had come up here to tell Sophie her sister was not here and to talk to Cassandra the A/V engineer now the cow was accusing her of switching the video. "Don't you dare, try to put this at my doorstep. The blending on that video is not in my league. Jonathon knows my skill level. Professionally as a talent Angela Ivey is making our company money hands over fist. I like her personally as well. If it is ever found out that you did this for whatever reason I will have you blackballed from the industry all together. I didn't make you, but if you are fucking with my talent I will break you." Gloria walks out of the booth.
Cassandra had to find out who had set her up and fast. She tries to think who knew she was going to give this as a gift. No one came to mind that would go this far. It wasn't Sophie she was pissed and that wasn't acting. Cassandra had run her video on two computers and her phone. She checks her phone and tries to pull up her video it played with no weird rock song in the back ground or no disturbing pictures flashing across the screen. Half the shit that was on the dummy disc she didn't even know about, she'd got her pictures and video clips from her collection in the Davenport family library and Sophie then uploaded it into the movie maker added the song One and Only. "Wait the disc" Cassandra turns off the booth from the main control and ejects the disc. Tapping it on her palm she puts it in her purse and walks out of the bar. Someone was in for a rude awakening because she would not go down for something she had no part in. She then remembers how they got here no one had their car because everyone but Angel and the Paula lady were drinking. Now she wondered how far Angel had got and how she was going to get home. Cassandra calls Bradley she knew her next stop had to be Joshua.
Andrew says "Look Angel I'm sorry for upsetting you. My issues with you is just that my issue not yours. I just don't get it you just shoot me down like its second nature." That must have pissed her of because she spoke to him.
Angel had tried to keep silent he was stepping all over her feelings that were raw as it was. "What part of I'm getting married in less than two weeks don't you get? It has nothing to do with that damn video." He suddenly jerks the car in and out of oncoming traffic over the solid yellow lines. She grab the oh shit handle "No please don't"
"I didn't do that." Andrew says tightlipped as he takes the hill he thinks better of it and turns away from Cherry Lake Hill, remembering that he had no backup. He'd saw the doctor's Hummer roll back down the hill and didn't want to chance it. He explains what he's thinking to Angel that's when he thinks about it no one had called her and it had been like 20 minutes since they'd left the bar. "Check your phone." She does and says the screen is black she tries to turn it back on nothing happens. He could see she was getting freaked out when she asked him where he was taking her. "Like I said if the same thing that happened to that Hummer is happening to my vehicle I'd rather not be on a hill. I know how to get to the back of Ivey Mansion I just can't drive on to the property. All I am trying to do right now is get you back within those walls. Take my phone see if you can contact your people. I don't need them leaving in droves if something is going down tonight." His car shudders he presses down on the gas the car lurches forward. The power dies and he doesn't press the brakes he just coast with the momentum of the speed he'd given the car before the power was killed. Angel holds up his phone to show it is working. She calls her sister and tells her who she is with, what is happening with her phone and the car. She ends the call and dials another number saying whose number she is calling from, she must have been speaking to the Davenport guy. She confirms it when she loses signal or something, because she says his name over and over. Andrew reaches over and takes the phone "it's dead."
Dr. Trent Shelly watches as the vehicle he watched Angel get in drive pass him. He aims his little device at the car the car jerks into oncoming traffic then corrects its path. He puts in another code and aims at the car. He'd wait until it tried to take the hill. "Where the hell are you going Agent? Ivey Mansion is up the hill." The car turns at a bend in the road that went away from the lake. Driving onto the dirt road he pushes the button and sees the back lights flicker on the Agent's car. He sees a light from a phone he'd shut her damn phone off himself. "Oh how nice of you to let her use your phone. Say goodbye." He calls his employer "Well she's in a powerless car on a dark side street since she knows me on sight it's your turn. Send the money to my account. Look bitch, I'm the only person on your payroll with any kind of medical training. Fuck me, I would love to see how you plan to get the child out of her alive. Last time I checked these childless fuckers aren't going to pay you for a dead kid." Luke had been so impressed that his buddy Trent didn't want a part in the Sheldon network. Trent didn't need the network he did fine in the underground. His practice was a front but a few more underground jobs and he could afford to disappear. He calls back after checking his account and moving the money. "Thank you now was that so hard, I've set this all up all I am asking is for a face. I wait as long as I can if I don't see him I'm leaving?"
Sophie was so glad she'd finally got to talk to Angel. She'd been calling since Gloria had come up and told her that Angel wasn't there. Angel had called on an Agent's phone at least she was with one of the STOP team. The part about not being able to take the hill reminded her of Luke almost sliding back into Cherry Lake. Joshua calls her minutes after she's spoke to Angel. "Joshua I know, she's with an Agent from Bobby's team. Did you try to call her back? Okay look she said he took the road that leads to the backyard but that was like 10 minutes ago. Okay I'm going to start dropping people off then I'll be home. Call if you hear from her I'll do the same."
Joshua was at the Davenport in his office when Angel called him from the strange number she sounded like something else was up. When the call cut off Sophie called him. Ever since they found and fixed the secret passage way that road had not been used it didn't lead anywhere but to the back of the back gate. If the Agent was taking Angel back there to avoid the hill then Angel would be the only one that could get in. He didn't like this one bit. No one was at the house tonight she had her party and he'd planned on working while a band was using The Davenport. Mark had taken Janet and his nephew Ian to a movie. Her party wasn't due to end until like midnight he wondered why she left so early it was just going on 10pm. He sat and did the books and put in for a new instalment of Supervisor Interactive package, picking up her picture that never left his desk he asks the picture "babe what's going on?" someone knocks on his office door. "This is not the bathroom it's labeled Management" Joshua says as he gets to his feet he couldn't sit here and do nothing.
Cassandra opened his door. "Hey bro" he asked did she know what was going on with Angel. "Look as far as the video I didn't do this. I have proof" he walks over and closed the door behind her and asked her what she was talking about. "You don't know oh great this just keeps getting better and better" He looks pissed she quickly explains about the video she had intended to show and the one that was now in her purse. He put out his hand "Joshua I didn't do this. People will say I did but you have to believe me I didn't." He says he was only going to ask one more time for the disc then all bets were off. Not wanting to know what that meant since he looked half crazy when he said it she pulls the disc out of her purse and hands it to him. He put it in his computer and that damn rock song flooded his office. He watched the video looking like at any minute he would go ape shit. Once the song stopped he ejected the disc. He asked her did she have the original of what she was going to show. He looked so angry and something else she couldn't put her finger on. "Yeah look it is on my phone and there is the link to my Picture-Moves account. Their premium package isn't cheap so I can assure you I don't have two accounts. Joshua you know me the new and the old there would be no win in this for me. Why piss you off, we've been getting along, why end my career before the building even opens. See for me no win at all." She hands him her phone and he watches the video she had done.
"I wish she had of saw that one. It's nice. Who did you tell you were going to do a video?" She says the only one she showed the original to was Sophie but she knew that Sophie didn't do it considering she'd went up side her head when the booth unlocked. "I have a one more question how did you get here, I thought all of you girls rode in the limo?" She says Brad was outside at the bar. Sighing he says he has to leave because this smells like a set up in a lot of different ways. Cass says she coming with. He says he didn't care. They move out into the main room and Bradley gets up and follows them outside.
The car comes to a complete stop. Angel looks around this was still a good 150 yards away from the gate to the back entrance. Andrew hit the steering wheel with his fist making her jump. "Angel we can't sit here all night. We have to get either back to the main street and hit the hill on foot or walk up the road and since I didn't run out of gas or nothing I am pretty sure someone is watching us. What I need you to do is tell me which do you think you can do?" She says the shortest distance is taking this road to the gate." This wall on the other side isn't it your yard? We could climb it." She says she wasn't that great at climbing at the age of 12 and she surly wouldn't be at almost 30 and pregnant. "I was afraid you'd say that. Come on" she reaches for the door handle he grabs her hand. "Not yet, I'm going to get out, come to your side, and open your door you are going to do what I say. If at any minute after I leave this vehicle, if something goes down before I get to your door lock the door and remain in the vehicle." She swallows hard and nods. Andrew gets out and walks to her side of the car. A vehicle comes up the dead end street Andrew yells for her to get down. He stands in front of her window gun trained on the vehicle until recognition dawns. It's his field commander. He lowers his weapon when the large vehicle stops almost directly in front of him.
Bobby gets out of his Hummer and slams the door getting in Andrew Stark's face. "What the hell is your problem? I checked the sheet you're not even supposed to be on tonight because you have been online for more than 26 hours. I get a call from Sophie that "you" and Angel are back here in the fuckin woods on a deserted dark street behind the house. I'm going to need you to follow my orders, and be where I put you, or you can be replaced. Where the hell is Angel?" Agent Stark steps aside saying he had this covered. "Great cover so if I was a un-sub and I had just run your ass over I would have the target by now huh?" Andrew says he would have opened fire if he did not recognize the driver. "Wrong because I was doing about 10 miles per hour and it took you 5 seconds to react. If I was speeding your ass would be under my tire by now."
Angel gets out of the car. She didn't know exactly what he wanted to be called so she went with his first name. "It's not his fault Robert, I wanted out of there and I asked him to bring me home." he asks her to please get in his vehicle. Not wanting to fight with him she walks around and gets in the front passenger seat.
Bobby sees the door close he then turns back to his agent. "I was told why you traded places. If you thought he was going to keep your little obsession a secret you were wrong and you should be glad he told me." Andrew asks why. "Why? Because it has come to my attention that we may have a turncoat among us. Look the relationship between agent and target sometimes gets blurred. I'm your pair of glasses for this one If you try this shit again I'll make sure that for the rest of your life in law enforcement you'll be a meter maid." Andrew says Angel has made it pretty clear he has not a shot in hell. "Goodnight agent your car has been rebooted we found on the doctor's hummer what the device controls. On cars made after a certain year the alarm system can kill the car's power if the right pulse is sent. Our cars are like targets because we have more systems running than the usual vehicle. The doctor has a satellite system. Pull out the key replace it with your master key that is inside the console, wait 10 seconds, then turn the key it should start right up. In the event you are in a situation like Dr. Sheldon pull the emergency brake on. You're offline for 36 hours." Andrew says that's harsh "Harsh? No Harsh is me shooting your ass if I see near the target again and you're not scheduled to be. You want to try for 96 unpaid? I didn't think so goodnight Agent Stark." He watches as Stark gets in and drives off. Sighing he gets in to his vehicle. Angel hadn't really said anything to him since he stopped her from running towards the car the night Joshua was returned to the house. They really didn't talk to each other all that much anyway but it seemed like there was an extra wall after that incident. She sat quietly her gaze darting to his face then away. He starts the car and drives her to the gate she hands him her access key and they drive onto the property. Bobby was coming down off of a rage that ate at him and the relief that she was okay all in one. When the blood stopped pounding in his ears he says "Angel I can't protect you if I don't know where you are?" That was what scared him he knew what was at stake. Yes protecting her was his job but she was his family no matter that there was no blood between them. She tells him that she understood that but she couldn't stay not after the video. "You let someone drive you out in the open with a blooper reel" he saw the unshed tears in her eyes but she didn't let them fall when she told him he didn't understand but she would try her best to stay where she was supposed to be she then went up the back stairs. Joshua and his siblings came through the front door. "If you're looking for Angel she's upset at me but safe upstairs. I still can't believe it she got embarrassed, over a blooper reel." Joshua tells him it was no blooper reel. "Well she said it was because of a video." Joshua tells his sister to give the video to Bobby. The lady hands him a disc and tells him to play it and see if he still found it to be just the equivalent of Angel forgetting a line in a song or something. Joshua excuses himself saying once was more than enough for him to see it.
Joshua didn't have to guess where Angel was he walks into their bedroom and there sat Angel in one of the stuffed chairs facing the balcony she'd changed clothes and was now in her favorite hoodie and jeans. As she tries to get up he walks over and sits beside her. Angel leans on his shoulder as she looked out across Grandville South she speaks "Bobby thinks it was just because I was embarrassed. I thought I would be doing the smart thing by at the very least going with one of the people that had been there to protect me. I get no points for not trying to walk home I've done it before. If Andrew had said no I would have called you. Bobby said not to get in the car with his agents anymore. I don't know why Cassandra would do this? I haven't done anything to her." Joshua says Cass showed him both videos and for once he believed Cassandra didn't do it. "You're entitled to your belief." Angel hissed running her hands through her hair. He says he thinks someone switched the discs. Angel gets up and paces in front of him. "For almost 4 minutes, when she realized it was the wrong disc why the hell did she just let it play. She was in the booth and she looked down watching me. I know everyone's not a fan but fucking playing "Striptease" by Hinder, and highlighting the words at the bottom of the screen like a sing along, that my dad owns the company I work for saying I'd had no career otherwise. This is the shit I was worried about. All the photos, all the videos, it felt like everything I have been working to forget or dealing with in therapy came back and slapped me in the face tonight." Joshua gets up and says she can ask Cassandra herself she's down stairs. "She's here? How could you bring her here? Never mind don't answer that."
"It's up to you" He didn't want to fight with her. He knew she was still raw from the video. When he'd watched it, it made him feel helpless. It was shit he couldn't protect her from most of it happened while they were miles away from each other. The fights with her ex the man was dead but just seeing his fucking face made Joshua want to break shit. He'd dealt with Scott himself but seeing the footage of her hurt ripped him up just as it had when he'd found her on the fucking floor. By the end of the video he wanted to throw the computer across the room. The song and putting the words at the bottom of the screen he hadn't thought about the way she had took it. She'd been so nervous about joining LEGNA. Their album was doing great in the charts and it had nothing to do with Jonathon owning the company. If anything, they worked harder than his other American bands, because of the fact that Angel is his daughter. Knowing Braden was a part of the first plan to take a child from her made him sick and mad all over again. That thought sparked another someone wanted to make her angry enough or hurt enough to leave her party and Bobby had no clue where she was for almost 20 minutes. Angel stood by the door and asks is he coming. "Yeah" He gets up and walks with her down the stairs. He watched Cass's expression no triumph or cockiness she looked nervous.
Cassandra watched as Angel walked down the stairs with Joshua. She spoke quickly "Bobby took the video saying he wanted to see if he could pull data from where it was created. I didn't think of that every piece of video and audio has a data stream that can be extracted to tell you where it came from. Angel, I didn't make what you saw tonight, and since no one has used my computer when Bobby sends it through his way more advanced system he will be able to prove it." Angel asks her if she didn't make that video did she have the same song or something. "No I didn't use a rock song at all. It was totally a look at us then, now look how far we've come type of thing." Angel asks her why she didn't stop it then. "I couldn't it…"
"Was it like some dark fascination for you? I saw you watching me." Joshua opens his mouth to say something. "You said she was innocent and that we could talk we're talking."
Cassandra didn't like that Angel was being bitchy to Joshua. "Don't talk to him like that, you're pissed at me I get that but going off on him isn't even an option because he had nothing to do with it." The shock on both of their faces was priceless. "I got caught up in this shit for some reason. I didn't stop the damn vid because I couldn't. It locked me out of booth control. So if you're going to be pissed at me fine, but I'm telling you I didn't do it. Think about this, why the hell would I do something like that I don't even know you and it could negatively affect my relationship with my brother, and my employment. Most of the footage had to come from somewhere but it didn't come from any of my data devices. I would have had to download it on to something."
Angel was tired and just plain done with this day she closes her eyes takes a breath and says "Look I'm tired, and I can't prove whether you did or not. I don't want to fight over this shit anymore. I just want what I have wanted since seeing that shit and that is to come home, go in my room and try to go to sleep so the last part of this day can be behind me." She turns to Joshua. "I'm sorry for snapping at you." She excuses herself and goes to bed. Sleep claimed her but what seemed like moments later a nightmare woke her. She was soaked in sweat and Joshua was wrapped around her. She'd been sleeping fine these last few weeks. That damn video but none of the usual players were present. Joshua mumbles something about her being safe in his half sleep voice. She didn't want to wake him she had no idea when he'd came to bed last night. She slid out of bed picking up her phone it had power she wondered how it happened, she checks the time. It was 4 in the morning the flashes of memory from her dream made her not want to close her eyes. She got a text from Bobby opening it she read his apology for seeming to come down hard on her and not understanding the power of the video. Angel texts back that he was just doing his job. His reply was instant.
Bobby Ivey: Angel it's more than a job. I don't know how you view me considering for a long time you didn't know about my existence. I think of you as my younger sister. When I didn't know where you were, then finding out the reason my agent switched shifts was to get near you, pissed me off and scared the shit out of me. I thought he was playing for the other side. When I drove down that street my heart was in my throat. I thought I let down not only Sophie but Chase. What are you doing up are you okay?
Angel: I hope I didn't wake you. As far as am I okay yeah. Bobby, I thought what I was doing was just better than striking out walking since that didn't work so well last time. That vid pushed a lot of my triggers at once and I just couldn't deal. I do try more to keep a lid on my triggers. I view you as Chase's son which makes you my brother.
Bobby Ivey: You didn't wake me. I'm setting a list for Joshua's party.
Angel reads his response she hoped Joshua had fun he'd proven to her over and over that he wasn't going to cheat on her. She trusted him with all of her as he did her. Candy as a groom's woman was a great choice she knew him and knew how far to push before he shut down or got pissed off. Angel checked her text app Sophie had texted her she returns the message and they talk for a while.
Earlier in the night, the girls drop Evie off at home. She was a little tipsy she'd had drinks at both the Bistro and the bar. She sticks her key in the lock and pushed the door open. She waves at the limo as it leaves. "Did you have a good time?" Evie froze then smiled as she saw Roman standing in the buff in her living room, her dark lover what a way to end a night. She tells him what happened. "You didn't do as I asked. Is she at the very least home?" She tells him that he knew he fried her when he was naked. He walks to her grabs her long inky hair, pulling her head back she meets his gaze. "Your lust, is one of your better qualities." he growls. He could sense her intoxication the fact that she didn't resist when held her like this, like he missed holding another made his breath come a little quicker. She was to lure his Candy Bar into the stock room lock her in and call him. Her voice broke the spell and pissed him off when she said she didn't have time to get the girl drunk enough to follow her. "Do you remember what's at stake?" Her gaze darkens as she puts her hand on his bare chest to push him away. He rips her dress down the middle tying her hands behind her back with the scraps of expensive cloth. The black and red Body-Con dress looked better as a restraint. She starts asking him what he is going to do. "You have a choice this time, you can deal with the backlash of your failure and the tape that would surly put you front and center in the tabloids." She shakes her head no and starts pleading. "One more word and I'll shut you up my way." She falls silent but her body trembles as she pleads with her eyes. "Your other choice is to play a game with me right now no safe word needed this will be punishment for your failure. It is purely for my pleasure this time. You may say one or two."
She looks down not meeting his eyes and says two. He softly runs a finger across her parted panting lips. He tips her chin meeting her gaze again. "You would give yourself over to me to preserve the friendship you hold with another?" She nods after a beat. He walks her over to the couch bends her over the back of it and unties her hands letting the dress fall to the floor. She tries to rise he pushes her back down. "I don't have to restrain you, if you give me resistance your punishment will be more everything." He cups her sex and instructs her not to scream or tense, in minutes he is inside of her taking her roughly she puts her head back and let loose a scream. Her pain was his pleasure, he pulls out of her and retrieves one of their toys. He grabs her by the hair and pulls her head back as he puts the gag in her mouth. "I told you no screaming. Your blatant disobedience will only cost you more punishment. He watches as tears streamed down her face. He takes her again until her knees buckle, and she collapses backwards he picks her up and carries her to the dining room table lays her across it, she looked at him weakly as he made short work tying her spread-eagle across the table. He removes the gag. "You're dehydrated this is punishment, not torture, drink." She looks at the colored drink with fear. "If I wanted you dead don't you think it would be a little stupid to leave all the traces of me on and inside you? Now drink." She drinks the spiked Gatorade he prepared while he lifted her head so she wouldn't choke. She smiles he kisses her. After having his way with her on the table. He puts her in their bed. He watches her slowly drift off to sleep and took her again much rougher than when she was conscious. He wanted Candy back. He hadn't thought she would ever call the cops on him. As he rubbed Evie's wrist where he may have been too rough he felt something he never thought he would, he felt guilt. He hated that because if he was guilty that meant he was doing something wrong. He told the story how he'd told the cops so much that he almost believed that the only reason Candy told on him was to preserve her relationship. He lays down with Evie and goes to sleep.
A few days go by Joshua's bachelor party is tonight. Angel had been sent a message from Bobby that Cassandra could not have made the disc. He'd checked the program and Cassandra or the previous company she worked for had not ever had an account with the company that placed the data on the disc. It was professionally edited, which meant that the person that bought it did not have the skill level to do it themselves. She says "you were right about Cassandra" She shows Joshua the message on her phone as he dresses. Joshua says he had started doubting it himself and was glad Cass was telling the truth. "I am too, I just don't know who could have got close enough to switch the disc." He turns away from the mirror asking her did she want him to stay home with her tonight. "No, babe, please go have fun. Candy has pulled some really good stuff together for you guys to do tonight." He asks her what Candy had planned "She didn't tell me but I've heard rumors that you're going to love every minute of It." they kiss and walk downstairs to wait for Candy.
Luke was coming back from a trip he had to make to one of his hospitals in Florida. Sophie had surprised him when she called and told him to go to the airport. He'd been worried about missing Joshua's Party the guy didn't have many friends. Luke understood that all too well because of whom he is, and what he is, other than Trent Shelly, Luke really didn't trust a lot of people. His social life was filled with just work he dated but nothing would stick because he was socially awkward, most of the women he dated ended up leaving or he'd get tired of them trying to get him for a position or money. He knew Sophie was different when the other girls left him, it would sting then he would throw himself deeper into his work, and the sting would go away quickly. When he thought he'd lost Sophie, it wasn't a sting. It felt like someone was standing on his chest he couldn't go in his office and work her out of his system. He knew Sophie was in Washington D.C. dealing with a case right now that had hit her desk and was driving her nuts. She threatened to dump the account altogether a few times, Luke knew better. Ivey Enterprises saved companies Chase did it and Sophie was just as good at it as her father. They had not seen each in three days he missed her terribly. He boarded Chase's private jet and was surprised again, Sophie stood just inside the door in a fitted but professional dress. He walks to her and hugs her "How did it go?" She smiles saying like taking candy from a baby, and holds up a piece of imported chocolate candy. He smirks "Congratulations dear, but I think those men in that company where much older than babies."
They take their seats and prepare for lift off they can here the pilot speaking to air traffic control. Once they are safely in route Sophie gets up and says she is going to go take a nap. He asks is she not feeling well. She turns back and smirks saying she wonders can she get a checkup. He says the doctor is in. She says not yet. He follows her to the bathroom. Upon closing the door he notices that it's not a bathroom, it's a cabin style bedroom done in neutral colors. He places his hand on her ass with a smirk and says her temperature reads smoking hot. She calls him a goof ball and laughs, the smile is replaced by a lustful gaze when he pulls her closer and runs his other hand up her front under her dress saying he missed and loves her. She tells him he has on too many clothes and reaches for his belt. He reaches behind her and unzips her dress she drops her hands to her sides briefly to let it fall to the floor. She succeeds in getting his pants off while he takes off his shirt. Before she knows it he has her over his shoulder and on the bed. He glides up the bed next to her and tells her to close her eyes.
She does she can smell his cologne it makes her want him just that much more she'd missed him. When she suddenly feels him get off the bed, she is about to open her eyes a tingle of mistrust nags at her was he going to try to take pictures what the hell was he doing? She then feels him at her center her eyes pop open and close in pleasure as a smile claims her face. The sight that met her eyes matches what she felt. He slowly and methodically pleases her with his mouth. She was coming undone she wanted him to explode with her. Moaning, she pulls his hair and he kisses up her flat torso his every touch building a pressure inside of her after what seemed like hours of pleasure when she thought she could no longer have anything left, he straddles her and eases inside using long controlled strokes. Her hands clawed at the sheets she had sworn she had nothing left that he had taken all of her, but she was wrong. When climax takes them both she screams his name, he growls hers and kisses her. He changes position so that she is laying on him so he wouldn't crush her. She kisses his tattoo over his heart. "I love you too."
Candy meets Joshua at the front door of Ivey Mansion "So are you ready to cut loose but still be welcomed into your home the next day?" He says he better be welcomed in his home the next day or a certain blond is going to have a very angry Joshuazillia on her hands. "Well there goes my brothel idea." Joshua steps back in the house Candy cracks up laughing "I'm kidding bro"
They walk outside "You had better be kidding we'll both be on the news pregnant bride shoots groom's woman and groom news at 11" Joshua looks up at the luxury party bus parked in the cul-de-sac. "Um Candy, you didn't have to do this that's got to cost you a fortune."
"Joshua, shut up and enjoy yourself. I'm only telling you this because you're giving me the guilty older brother look. Relax let's just say I had some help okay." He nods "great now comes the fun part. Close your eyes and don't swing on anyone." Candy waves Luke off the bus he blindfolds Joshua and they help him up into the bus. "You can take off the blindfold now. Joshua snatches the cloth off his face and the look of surprise was worth it.
Joshua hated not being able to know what was going on but he trusted Candy when she tells him to remove the blindfold the first people that met his eyes were Michael and Bradley. He looks around Deon, Mark, Jonathon, Luke, Vash, Chase, Logan, and Bobby, all sit around him. He points at Michael and Jonathon and says "no booze." Michael says he doesn't think that would be a good idea for two reasons one his medication and two his wife would kill hm. Joshua had toyed with the idea of inviting his dad but didn't know if he would be well enough to come out this was turning out to be a great night already.
They start moving, Joshua watches as Ivey Mansion leaves his view. "So Candy, where are we going?" She tells him each stop will be a surprise. It was only 4 in the afternoon so he wondered why she had started so early. The blindfold is put back on him when he takes it off the second time he is standing in an amusement park. He'd wanted to ride the newest ride but had no time to arrange a trip with how hectic their schedule was they are fast passed to the front of the line. Bradley teases him saying he couldn't handle it. "I can handle Power Dive but can you?" Bradley smirks and tells him he's on. They climb in Candy sits in the middle of them Michael and Chase says no thank you. Jonathon and Bobby, and Logan sit in the row behind them. Luke sits near the front of the ride Vash and Deon sits in Luke's row. Mark climbs in the back row they all tease him until two really hot chicks just happen to sit beside him. Candy rolls her eyes but says nothing. The ride takes off by the end Bradley is screaming the loudest. Jonathon had cursed in English and Irish the whole ride. Joshua felt like he was flying the speed and the almost vertical launch were great. "I'd say let's do it again but Bradley might have a heart attack. I think at one point you screamed louder than Candy" Candy punches him in the arm. "Ouch, hey, no damaging the merchandise please." Deon picks Candy up to get her away from him when she asks him did he want another. He pokes her in the ribs and she screams in laughter.
They ride a few more rides the last one was tame enough that everyone got on, it was a tour around the grounds. Suddenly hands are over his eyes the sudden urge to push them away dies when the woman speaks. It couldn't be, but he smelled vanilla she always wore it. "Kathy?" the hands fall away he turns around and there she sat her small frame and light brown hair with blonde streaks was her trademark. She'd been his first sexual encounter but he could never bring himself in the 2 years they dated to sleep in her house or have her sleep at his. She pushed him to let her stay the night and he had closed down on her and pushed her away. He looks around and everyone was staring or glaring at him. "Everyone I want you all to meet Katharine Cole she's an old friend of mine." She jokingly says he was older than her. He introduces everyone to her.
Katharine looks at the blond as she speaks "It's nice to meet all of you I think I remember you so are you the lucky wife to be that is taking him off the market?" The one that was introduced as Deon answers for Candy with a short No as he pulls Candy against him. They were entering the last tunnel "Oh my bad okay well Josh it was great seeing you. Congratulations" He'd been pleasantly surprised to see her. The train ride ends and she climbs off and walks away with a smile.
Joshua and the party leave the park. He is blindfolded again and taken to an exclusive club that he'd tried to get in when he was younger, but the guest list was a mile long. He is whisked to the VIP section with his party. They have a large meal and Michael says he hated to cut things short but he had to go home. Chase had a meeting with a corporation that wanted to build some new housing in Grandville North at 7 in the morning so he would retire for the night as well. "Thanks guys for coming I really enjoyed your company." Ivey transit comes to pick them up. Bobby made sure his teams were where they were supposed to be frequently during the night. Logan gets a call and says he's going to leave. Bobby says since the bus is staying here he would take Logan home.
After thanking Bobby and Logan for coming as well, Joshua, Candy and the remaining guys hit the dance floor. A live band plays random songs. They were really good Jonathon walks up on stage and gets everyone's attention. The club owner gives him a mic "This is for my son to be Joshua, a gift I hope you will enjoy." M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold and Joshua's favorite guitarist, Slash known from his work with Guns-N-Roses walks out and preforms their collaborative piece from 2010 "Nothing To Say". The crowd goes nuts for the entire almost 6 minutes. Joshua and Candy looked like they were slam dancing, they'd had a few drinks with dinner. He was glad his son and his talent were having a good time. Bradley walks over to Jonathon and says this was like the best gift anyone could give his little brother besides his daughter of course. "I helped set up his music room I know he liked them a lot. I am sure he is happy that you have come as well." Bradley says he was kind of surprised to get the invite but was glad he came. "You'll be at the wedding?" Bradley shrugs saying he didn't think he could. He'd only started to make enough money to pay back his dad and other people that he fucked over while he was using drugs, he was just glad to see his little brother happy for once. "I understand that. Bradley I had been meaning to speak with you." Bradley says he's going to grab another drink. "Don't you think it would be in your best interest to not do anything that could later be a bridge to your former addiction?"
Bradley bristled and says "I'm a, was a druggie not a drunk that seems to be your department. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to..." Jonathon steps in his path and says watch his tone. He meets the larger man's gaze. "Look pal you play that shit with Boy, I mean Joshua, not with me I'm not trying to marry your daughter so you getting in my face could land you on your ass." The older man tells him making him an enemy could be detrimental to his health.
Bradley pushes Jonathon out of his way. Jonathon puts the young man on his back. In seconds he has his boot on the younger man's neck. "You touch me ever again and I'll snap your fucking neck boy-o." Mark grabs Jonathon and pulls him off the kid, he had pinned under his boot. He has to block visual because Jonathon was highly pissed and not drunk, his uncle could be more deadly sober. He asks what the fuck is going on. "This little piss ant fucking put his hands on meh." Mark turns on the guy.
The song was over and Slash had handed Joshua a guitar signed by him and M Shadows. Joshua heard yelling and looks over to see Bradley push Jonathon backwards before he could run over Jonathon grabs Bradley and flips him in the air slamming him to the floor on his ass. Joshua starts moving again when Jonathon put his foot on Bradley's neck. He'd guessed the party was over until Mark steps in pulling Jonathon off his brother, and staying in between them talking to Jonathon. Joshua walks over and helps Brad to his feet asking "What's going on Bradley" Bradley says he was just talking to the guy the next thing he knew shit got out of pocket real quick. "I saw you push him, my advice keep your hands to yourself." Bradley says he didn't expect him to take his side. "Whatever, Brad if you want to turn this into to something can it wait, I'm having a good time. You don't need to be fighting it will land you in one or two places, and neither of them I think you want jail or hell. Don't make my decision to invite you the wrong one." They stand there glaring at each ready for any sign of a sucker punch. Bradley put his hands up and says Joshua was right and he couldn't be mad. At least Joshua did come over to see what was up. He apologizes to Jonathon saying he didn't like the fact that it seemed like he was putting him down or telling him what to do because of his past. Jonathon tells him he is forgiven but his words were true about making the mistake of touching him in violence ever again. Bradley says that's understandable. On stage Slash starts his famous Godfather Solo. From the first string played Joshua turns around like he was in a trance. Candy and the guys watch as a giant smirk plays of Joshua's face.
"So bro you having a good time I see." Joshua looks down at her and hugs her thanking her. He gets a devilish grin on his face asking her does she remember a bet they had about if they ever met Slash. "Joshua, I'm not singing that. I don't sing I play keyboard." He walks back and says something to Jonathon. Candy hears what he says to Jonathon "No, he's kidding Jonathon, it was a silly bet and he's trying to embarrass me in front of a major crush of mine."
Deon says "a crush Huh." He knew if she sang it would be hard for her because though she had some skills. That was during karaoke not live without a screen and not standing next to the guy. She says yes a crush but not her lover. "Good save babe but I want to see this it Joshua's last night as a free man."
"Wow you act like he's being sent to prison instead of getting married. Fine Jonathon please don't let this reflect on how you judge my talent." Jonathon says he know she is a very talented keyboardist. She turns to Deon. "If Slash feels like playing it I'll sing it and dedicate to you fair enough?" Deon says he had to hear this. Joshua tells her she'd sang it before. Candy mock pouts at her best friend and says "Yes and you called me pitchy. I've had more, not less to drink tonight." Joshua says she'll do fine and if she backs out now he'd win the bet and hold it over her head. "Oh you're mean. I don't see you up there." He says it's his party and he had more to drink than she has. "Cop out king"
Jonathon walks away as the Godfather solo comes to an end he soon appears out on stage with a microphone in hand. "It has come to my attention that the guest of honor my son and his groom's woman has a bet involving you Mr. Slash." Slash waves Jonathon over and they speak Jonathon smirks and points at them waving them up. Joshua takes off like a shot towards the stage Candy walks at a more sedate pace looking worried swearing she would never make a bet while drunk with Joshua ever again. Slash asks Joshua can he play bass he nods when he hands Candy the microphone she thanks him. Slash starts the intro to "Sweet Child O Mine" Candy looks terrified until she looks down at Deon who gives her the thumbs up. She sings the song without being pitchy. She was standing onstage singing with her best friend and her Rock and Roll crush as the song ends Slash winks at her. She couldn't hide the goofy grin that took over her face. When she looks over at Joshua the smile on his face just makes it just that much more special. She'd thought she was going to have to put Bradley out there for minute before Jonathon or Mark killed him, or he ruined Joshua's party. Jonathon had really come through with inviting Slash.
After the club Candy had one more surprise for her buddy. They all go to the presidential suite at the top of Ivey Suites, and play the newest fighter game that wasn't even released to the public yet. Chase had heard Joshua talking about getting it when it came out and spoke to Sophie to secure him a copy, Sophie had it delivered to the room before they got there. The game has all of the required extras that Joshua would have had to purchase along with the game to advance. Bradley sits on the floor drinking and watching "I got winners" he was beating the hell out of Luke. The screen shows Joshua as the winner. Brad sees the brief but there uncomfortable look Joshua tries to cover. "Well I guess I'm going to have to show you a few new ways to get knocked out bro." Joshua says he's played and beat every game in this series. Bradley says "That's because I wasn't fighting you." Luke hands Bradley the controller and ten minutes later Joshua gets beaten. Bradley snatches the remote out of Joshua's hand and passes it to Candy. "Boy face it, you will never beat me. Now come on sweet cakes and get served some of this old school beat down. "
She watched the look that crossed Joshua's face when Bradley called him Boy. She would like nothing more than to see Joshua beat Bradley in the game. Joshua told her that he'd spoke to Bradley about it and that Bradley admitted he really didn't notice he was doing it. If Bradley wanted any kind of relationship with Joshua he was going to have to work on the Boy shit. Candy passes the controller back to Joshua. "Don't call me Sweet cakes, and don't call him Boy. Joshua, my gift to you now beat his ass."
The brothers play again with Candy, Luke, and Vash yelling different combos for Joshua to use. "You can't be this good you sure you're not cheating coding me Joshua?" Joshua reminds him if he cheats the stats would show it. Bradley loses. Joshua had been anxious about playing a fighting game with him in the first place. Somehow Bradley didn't think it was because of his legendry gaming skills. He'd fucked up again and called him Boy he really hadn't meant to do it. As the screen fades in announcing the winner the tension coming off Joshua in waves spoke volumes. They all seemed to be waiting on him to say or do something so he says. "Bro that was sick, how the hell did you do that combo?" He watches as his little brother shrugs and says he didn't know if the game makers were going to keep the finishing move or not and just tried it anyway, since he was losing. "I have to learn that move before this game hits the shelves. I still say you cheated somehow" Joshua swipes the screen up to the stats screen. "Josh relax I'm kidding. Good game bro. Who had winners?" Mark raised his hand Brad hands him the controller and the trash talking cocky Joshua was back. By the end of night Joshua had a 35 to 5 win lose count and had unlocked 10 new weapons.
Authors Note: Thanks for reading please feel free to review. I want to continue to thank my beta readers and my Muses: Enid Note