I am only using characters from the Nashville Television Show. I have no ownership rights or claims whatsoever.
Please note: I have changed the baby's name from Jolene to Cadence to fit the show. I have also bought this in line with the show. The continuation will focus on Juliette's condition, behaviour and how these can be resolved.
And baby makes three.
Chapter 4. The Contrivance.
Juliette's expressions of relief from the previous evening at the prospect of his return were absent when he walked in the door. "You're not changing my mind," she attacked him before he even put his bag down. "I want to get my career back on track and I need Luke Wheeler and Jeff Fordham behind me to make that happen. I'm absolutely ready for this so you can get out now if you want to fight me."
"Fight you? I'm not going to even try to change your mind. If you think you need Wheeler and Fordham to make it happen I won't interfere, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. You know how I feel about Fordham so don't even mention him around me and never even think about bringing him into the house. I want as little to do with him as possible. Ok?"
"Yes."
"Good, that's sorted out then."
His attitude to Fordham she expected but his acceptance of her decision was unexpected. She was prepared for an extended argument. His response threw her a little. "You're going to let me do this?'
"Yes, I think it's best for you to follow through since it's your decision. Just keep Fordham and Wheeler away from me. I'm in complete support of you. In fact I want you to concentrate one hundred percent on your performances and recording. However, I still believe you're sick so in case you need help I'm here for you always. You're my wife and I love you but I think I need to take charge of the business end of things. You know, payrolls, accounts, finance all that kind of stuff. That way you'll be free to focus on what you're doing."
"Glenn used to look after all that stuff before. I was going to let Ford…I mean my manager do it."
"Glenn was ok before we got married but now everything we have is in joint names. I think it's better to keep all our assets and finances under our own control. There's too much involved and it's way too important to let someone else stick their nose in it don't you think?"
This discussion was not progressing in any way as Juliette expected. Avery's cooperation and business plan caught her unawares. She was confused, having difficulty processing these new directions so she just accepted his suggestion. "Ok, if you think it's best."
"Good. Now, have you signed a contract with either Wheeler or shit head?"
'No, neither. I'm supposed to sign with my manager tomorrow. Please don't call him that."
"What? Shit head do you mean? Sorry, no apologies, he'll never get any courtesies from me. Now, I think we should go over your contract. Perhaps you should ring him right now and ask to have it delivered here this afternoon. Just explain you'd like to go over it before you sign it. Might be better not to mention me"
"Avery please, I trust him."
"No! We just decided I'm in charge of business. Ask him for the contract so I can do my job. When Wheeler's contract is ready we need to do the same."
Juliette rang Fordham and he said it would be sent straight over.
"Now, I just realised something. No way am I going on tour with those turkeys. However you'll need someone to do your running around when you're on the road. I'll have a think about that and work something out."
"Now, how about you play that album for me?"
Avery could see Juliette was unsettled immediately he asked the question. "I don't have a copy here. Luke has it. They want to rush it out before the tour."
"Alright, I guess I'll have to wait until it's released."
"Right now though," Juliette said. "I need to get to rehearsal."
"Ok, how about I drive you there. I've been away for a couple of days and believe it or not, I've missed you. I need your company. You can call me when you're finished." He was not leaving her alone. Not after what the Doctor told him.
"You don't have to do that."
"Please, I want to be with you."
"You won't stay for rehearsal?"
"No, I'll just drop you off and pick you up later." She was certainly being secretive about what she was doing and it was so obvious to him she wasn't comfortable about something. Maybe she just thought there might be some strife between Avery and her new associates. No matter, the truth would come out soon enough.
'Ok."
When he returned home he rang Emily. He needed her to help him shut off some loose ends. He'd developed a general plan and even though he didn't have all the fine details worked out he firstly needed Juliette cared for. That's where Emily came in. He bought Emily up to date with his news from Doc Edwards.
"Avery, that's unbelievable. It's too horrible to even think about."
"Yes, and as bad as it is we have to face facts because this is the reality. We need to protect Juliette from herself. We also need to protect her from Fordham and Wheeler. I don't trust either of them and I doubt they'd be much help to her if anything went wrong."
"I'll do anything I can to help."
"Thank you Emily. You're the most important part of this and I need to rely on you completely. This won't work if you don't come on board. Now, currently you're Juliette's assistant. I'll need you to keep that going especially when she's on tour. I'll also need you to come here and keep an eye on her if I need to go somewhere so you'll be covering for me as well. We'll find some jobs here for you so we're not too obvious. Now something new, I need you to take over all the administrative jobs on the tour. That includes managing financials, payroll everything. If Fordham needs money for something he'll need to come to you and he gets nothing without a receipt."
"I can do that. Actually this is all a good idea, Juliette will be covered all the time."
"Yes, now this is asking a lot of you and I feel bad about that. I need to try and make this up to you in some small way."
"No you don't Avery, you and Juliette are my closest friends. Juliette is like my sister. I'm happy to help."
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, but nevertheless, whatever your salary was before, you can multiply it by three. That's your new salary. I really owe you a huge debt. Thank you Emily."
Just then the front door chime interrupted him. It was a courier delivering Juliette's contract. "Well, Juliette's contract from Fordham." Avery said to Emily. "I'll bet you right now, before I even open it, this will make interesting reading."
The contract surprisingly was not very long. It didn't need to be when Avery studied it's details. "That blood sucking parasite," he cursed. "I'll bet that bastard knows Juliette is sick. I mean she'd have to be to join him and he'd know that. I knew he'd try to rip her off."
"What's it say?" Emily asked.
"He wants this contract to remain in force for the rest of her life regardless of him being her manager or not. This also gives him complete management of her finances. Not just what she earns under him but everything she owns. He even wants registered Power of Attorney. That would give him control over everything and I know he'd fleece her if he got the chance. He's about to get a huge surprise. I bet he's not expecting to hear from me."
Avery rang Fordham. "Fordham he began the conversation, this is Avery Barkley."
"Barkley," Fordham sounded arrogant. "How are you enjoying single life? I heard your wife dumped you."
"No, your source seems to be wrong. We're still together. I expected she'd tell you though, aren't you at rehearsal with her?
"No, I've actually just finished a meeting with your boss. You did sign with Rayna James didn't you?"
"Yes I did. However I don't have time to exchange pleasantries with you. I want to get to the point of my call. I've read this contract and it's going to be changed. I knew you were bent but this shows what a hell of a leech you really are."
"I'm not changing anything. That's a perfectly legal document."
"I hate to spoil your party but it's not even close to legal. First mistake is the assets you want control of and the Power of Attorney you demand neither of those are going to happen. All our assets and affairs are in joint names so you need my signature as well and you can shove your head up your ass if you ever think you're getting that. Both those clauses come out. So, as they say, up yours."
"I see," Fordham mumbled. He knew, as much as it irked him, Avery was right, those clauses wouldn't work. "When did this reconciliation with Juliette happen anyway? She said you left her."
"That was just a misunderstanding. I only took my daughter to my parents. Juliette knows how important we are to each other. Now, keeping in with this contract, this clause where you expect it to remain effective for the remainder of her life. What sort of evil, sponging mongrel are you? That's just crap."
"There's nothing illegal about that. You're just going to have to suck it up."
"I'll suck up nothing. You'll change that clause to the contract taking effect the day she appointed you her manager, which was when? Three days ago. The end date will be the contract can be terminated at any time on forty eight hours notice by either party. Take it or leave it."
"I'm not doing that. I'd be crazy. This could be cancelled at any time."
"That's right, so for the contact to remain effective you'll need to do a good job. What a shocker! Someone actually expecting you to earn your keep"
"That's just bullshit, no way."
"I'll give you a choice. You change it or forget about making a cent off her."
"You can't do anything she asked for me. She'll flip out if you stop her."
"Well then, I'll stop her. You're right, it might cause some strife between us for a while but I can handle that. Then I'll get her a good manager, maybe someone like Howie V. There's no way you'll ever rip Juliette off, clear?"
"You're as bad as Rayna. You have me over a barrel, so you might as well put the boots in while you can.. I really have no option. But you'd better hope things never change because I'm going to love doing the same to you if they do."
"Good. I'm pleased we're understanding each other. Now, has she given you a credit card?"
:Yes."
"It's about to be cancelled. In future you'll go through Emily for anything you need and make sure you get receipts. Emily will be Juliette's business manager at home and on the road. That just about covers everything. So you'll send around the new contract tomorrow?"
"I'm just wasting my time with this," Fordham was whining.
"Do a good job and earn your pay. It's up to you. Besides you've written yourself one hell of a percentage so stop whinging, damned good wages by my reckoning. I'm going to let that stand and I'm not stopping Juliette from making you her manager if that's what she wants. But, you're not taking advantage of her just because she's sick. You got that?"
"I don't have much choice seeing as she's my only client now."
"Tough! You'll get a signed contract tomorrow if you do the right thing. That way you'll at least have one artist more than you deserve. Now, I'll give you fair warning, keep away from me. Juliette might want you but you turn my stomach. I don't want to see or hear from you unless it's a dire emergency. Also, don't try any of that shit with her you pulled at that BMI party or I'll kick your head in and have you dumped in the river. You understand?"
"Yes."
Avery ended the call but he was curious how come Fordham only managed Juliette. What's the story with Layla Grant? Obviously something's happened there. Rayna should be able to fill him in.
Avery rang Rayna. "I just wanted to let you know I'm back on deck and back with Juliette despite all the rumours. When can I see you? I've got some stuff you need to know."
"I know, Fordham's been bragging all around town he's now Juliette's manager and she's going to join Luke Wheeler."
"Yep, that's right. When can I see you?"
"You can come right now if it suits you."
"See you soon then."
He asked Emily to go and wait for Juliette to finish her rehearsal and bring her home.
"Rayna," he said. "I thought I'd better let you know what's happened. Juliette's a lot sicker than we thought. She might be difficult at the moment but she needs sympathy and understanding. Just the same it's not going to be easy getting her to come around." He then explained what Doc Edwards told him.
"Avery, that's terrible. It's unbelievable. I've never heard of anything like that. Eighty percent chance of suicidal behaviour? God, I'm so sorry for what I've done."
"You haven't done anything wrong but she'll need help and with Fordham and Wheeler she's not going to get any there. Emily is going to be a big help and the doctor told me we need to get her to understand she needs treatment. However, she's in complete denial so getting her to admit that isn't going to be easy. I know what I need to do but how to do it hasn't hit me yet. At least I got Fordham straightened out. You should have seen the crap contract he wanted her to sign."
"I think I know what you mean. Layla had signed a contract with him that was disgusting. We got a ruling on it and it was deemed exploitation and voided. She's not with him now, she's living with me and the girls. We got her signed with Glenn as well. We just need to get her music sorted out now which is still a problem. You were right though. Musically she needs help. Finding the right sort is the problem."
"Yes, her musicianship isn't good, that's for sure. But it's in there somewhere, you can hear it. She just needs some training."
"That would explain why she's written a heap of lyrics but can't put music to them. That's probably why, no training."
Avery suddenly became distant. He had an idea and was working something out. "I just wonder," he was thinking out loud. "I might have an idea. I wonder just how good Juliette's thirty six hour album really is. She's deliberately avoided playing it for me and that's really fishy. Usually she can't wait to let me hear her. Let me make a phone call."
He rang Emily. "Emily, are you still at Juliette's rehearsal?"
"Yes I am."
"Do you reckon she has long to go?"
"I don't know Avery but there's something really strange going on here."
"Strange? What do you mean?"
"Avery I'm no expert but I've been around you and Juliette for long enough to know what's good and what isn't. Avery, Juliette has done five songs since I've been here and I've never heard any of them before. I don't know when she wrote them but they don't sound very good to me. You listen to this. Hold on, I'll get so they can't see me and I'll move the phone."
Avery listened to a segment. "Damn," was his only remark.
"Can you hear this?" Emily asked.
"I sure can. What the hell is this? Just keep the phone there." He switched over to his phone's speaker.
"Listen to this," he said to Rayna.
"Rayna only listened to a short segment. "So, that's how she made that album in thirty six hours."
"What do you mean?"
"When you two were going through your little bust up she wrote some songs and gave them to me. I rejected them. Really Avery, they were pretty poor. That's when she went through that episode complaining you hated her and weren't helping her. That's one of those songs. I'll bet she's used them all or most of them. Avery, if these get released it'll be embarrassing for her."
He told Emily they'd heard enough. "Wheeler said this was career defining. Great judge he is. Obviously he's no song writer."
"Avery, you have to stop this. This could be devastating for her."
"I know where you're coming from but I'm just thinking about what Doc Edwards told me. He said I need to get her in an environment where she feels lost and I'm the only one she can turn to. Then I can get her to see what she's done to herself. Maybe we should let her go through with this. Maybe that might create the situation Doc Edwards wanted. Then maybe, we should show her just how much better an outfit we are. Where's Layla?"
"Avery, don't tell me you're going to come to the party with her? God! That would solve most of my problems in one hit. I'll get her here right now and Glenn as well."
Glenn and Layla arrived together, "Glenn," Avery said. "It's good to see you weren't out of work for long. You're too good to stay idle. So, Layla's your new client? We haven't met I believe Layla, I'm Avery Barkley."
"I know who you are Mr. Barkley. I'm very pleased to meet you."
'Now Layla," Avery said. "Rayna has asked me to produce and album with you. What do you think about that?"
"She thinks that's fantastic," Glenn interrupted.
"Yes," Layla agreed. "I think that's fantastic."
"Good, now we need to get started straight away. Now Layla, I believe you're staying with Rayna."
"Yes."
'Ok. We can get started tomorrow. I'll be there at nine in the morning. It would be a good idea if you bought any lyrics you've written. First up we're going to work on some aspects of your musical performances. That will be our main focus but to keep it interesting we might try and get some of your lyrics to music as well. We'll finish at about six at night. How does that sound?"
"That long?"
"Yes, that long. This is going to be professional so if you don't like the idea now's a good time to say so. Layla, we don't work to hours, we work until we do what needs to be done. The hours don't matter. You're either serious about this or you aren't because I am and I need you to be as well."
"Layla," Rayna said. "You'll be working with probably the best in the business. This is how the top people work. Are you in or out?"
"This is a bit of a shock to Layla's system," Glenn spoke up. "I should have warned her this was going to be completely different from what she was used to. She's in."
"Yes, I'm in," Layla said, "one hundred and ten percent."
"Excellent," Avery said, "I'll see you in the morning."
When Avery got home Emily and Juliette had not arrived. They came in about twenty minutes later.
"How'd the rehearsal go?" he asked.
"Great," Juliette said. "Luke thinks we have a sure fire winner with both the album and the tour."
"So," Avery asked. "When do you start the tour?"
"It'll be a couple of weeks before my album comes out so about a week after that I reckon."
"Ok. Emily is going to go with you. She'll keep doing her old job as your assistant. She'll also be doing a few things for me as well. I need her to take the pressure off you. What with everything else going on you need to focus on your performance. If you're leaving that soon perhaps she can come around here first thing tomorrow. She'll need to get familiar with some of the systems I've got."
"I can do that," Emily said. "About eight thirty sound ok?"
"That'll be perfect," he said. "Now it seems today has been a good day all around."
"How come?" Juliette asked.
"Rayna's offered me a job producing a new album."
"What, Rayna's making a new album?"
"No, not Rayna, one of her artists."
"Who?" Juliette certainly could not show the restraint she expected from Avery but he was fine with that. To put her on the defensive would be a good idea in his opinion even though he knew the initial reaction from her would be explosive."
"Layla Grant."
"What! That little bitch. No way. Forget it. You're not working with her. How can you expect me to go along with that?"
"You object?"
"You're damned right I object. I thought you would have more respect for me than to try that."
"Look, I'm out of work and this is my only job offer."
"You can find something else."
"What, like going back to the bluebird? I did have a job, remember, but you tossed me out on my ear. Fired by my own wife, that really stinks. Now you want to stop me working all together?"
"I don't want you going anywhere near her. I don't trust her. She'll try and get her hooks into you. She'll have you in bed."
"That will never happen. Rayna will be there all the time. I'll never sleep with her."
"I don't believe that."
"I can't believe you. You want me to stay away from her because you think something might happen even though I've only just met her. Listen to yourself. You expect me to accept Fordham. That's far worse. Explain to me, where I'm doing anything wrong. You're afraid of what might happen between me and Layla. It has happened between you and Fordham. How do I know it won't happen again. You'll certainly have plenty of chances and we both know he'll want you. That's the real problem, not me. Explain that to me. Why I should just accept that?"
The anger suddenly drained from Juliette's face. "You can trust me."
"Can I? I trusted you before and that didn't work out too well. Look we both know you'll get drunk and then you won't know what you're doing. That'll be the end of everything we have."
"I won't Avery, I promise I won't. Emily will be there. She'll make sure I only drink diet coke."
"Well, I won't do anything either. Rayna's paying me half a million for this plus commission. It's my only option for work. I've lost my job with my wife. You tell me, what choice have I got?"
"You haven't lost your job with me. You can do my next album."
"No I can't. I'm signed to Highway65, you're with Luke Wheeler. We can't work together now. I have to do this. What you've done has wrecked our working relationship. We're married but we can't work together."
"Avery, I really need this," she had tears on her cheeks.
"Well, I really need this so I guess we're even Ok?"
"Ok," she said resignedly.