A/N: Again, I just want to thank you guys for reading this story! It literally makes my day, whenever I check the traffic for this story and see that so many people across the globe is reading what I'm writing. Like always, please enjoy this chapter. :)
There will be something scandalous mentioned in this chapter, and it will get worse as the story progresses, but because the story takes place in the future, I think that the BTR characters will have to have matured, somewhat.
Disclaimer: All celebrity names and Big Time Rush characters and references do not belong to me.
"So, if I remember correctly, this is James' house." Katie said as she squinted at the address. 'House,' was putting it lightly, never one to be modest, James lived in a beautiful mansion among other Hollywood stars, including the likes of The Beckhams and The Cruises. She pulled up to the intercom at the front gate.
"Welcome to Master Diamond's abode, may I ask who is calling?" The three passengers in the car rolled their eyes; it was typical of James to hire an English butler. For years, after the Hawk incident, James continued to rave about Sebastian's services.
Kendall leaned over Katie to speak into the intercom. "Hey, Henry, can you tell master James that his best friends are here and that he better let us in before I christen the gates like I did with Gustavo's desk." Katie and Logan laughed, thinking back to the whole bad-boy incident at Rocque Records. A high-pitched yelp could be heard from the intercom, before a familiar upset voice rang through.
"Don't you even think about it, Knight."
"Then open the gates, quickly." Grumbling could be heard before the iron fence allowed the vehicle to enter. The three laughed as Katie drove up the driveway and pulled up to the front door. Katie put her car in park as Kendall and Logan got out and unloaded Logan's luggage.
"Okay, so I'll take your stuff to my place, now. Do you need me to come back and pick you up later or will you catch a ride?" Katie questioned as she looked up her brother.
The two guys looked at her questioningly. "Aren't you coming in?" Logan asked.
Before she could answer, a frustrated voice called out from the opening doors, distracting the three. "What is taking so long?" James sauntered slowly over to the car before being knocked over from a running force behind him.
"Katie!" The figure quickly pushed past Kendall and Logan to hop into the passenger seat.
Katie grinned as she exclaimed, "Carlos!" Promptly reaching around him to give him a hug, which he only returned willingly. "I can't believe this!" The two smiled goofily at each other, happy to be reunited.
Three voices being cleared behind Carlos, broke their moment. James, Kendall and Logan all stood there, with their arms crossed. Carlos smiled sheepishly at his best friends. "Oh, hey guys, great seeing you too." Katie smiled up at James and gave him little wave, which he returned with a smile of his own.
Katie laughed as Carlos opened the door to leave. "Hey Kendall, why don't you stay here tonight and catch up with the guys, I'll be back tomorrow morning. It's been a while since the four of you have been together."
"Are you sure, Katie?"
"Trust me, besides, it's probably for the best. I didn't get to finish reading a script, today."
"And this is why you are my favourite person, baby sister." Kendall gushed, leaning over and kissing her on her head before grabbing one of his bags.
"Don't you forget it. Why don't we all go out for breakfast, tomorrow?" Kendall, Logan and Carlos all nodded, before shuffling through the doors. Katie called out to them. "Last one to wake, has to pay!" All of them laughed at her attempt to ensure that they guys would wake up in time. James continued to stand by her car, with his hands in his pockets.
"Hey James, you need something?" Katie tilted her head at the handsome man. Like any hot-blooded female, Katie recognized the sexual appeal that James oozed from every pore, having harboured a teenaged crush on him for a couple of years. She had like him in the sense that James was good-looking celebrity and her older brother's friend; someone that was out of her reach. However, like her infatuation with Dak Zevon, Katie grew out of the celebrity-type crush that she had on James. As much as it pained her to acknowledge, James was now more of an acquaintance then friend. Everyone assumed that the two would remain closest, as they lived in the same city and worked in the entertainment industry; they never really had time to hang out as they did when they lived under the same roof.
James opened the door to her car and sat down beside her. He glanced at her, then looked at the windshield, taking a breath, before starting. "I think," he paused to collect his thoughts. His facially features becoming determined as he faced Katie again. "Have you heard?"
Katie looked at him in puzzlement. "Heard..."
"I may have, accidentally, slept with my manager's wife." James said slowly and forming a sheepish smile.
Katie widened her eyes in shock. It wasn't news that James was a heartbreaker in Hollywood, but she couldn't believe that he would be a home-wrecker too. Katie leaned back against her door. "Wow." She managed to muster, without revealing her disgust.
"I know, I know. It's probably the worst thing, I have ever done and I'm really, really sorry about it. I didn't know she was Larry's wife until after we, you know...," he trailed off. "It was a complete and honest mistake, but Larry thinks I did it on purpose, and now he hates my guts."
"Well, I don't blame him." Katie replied.
"The point is, he quit on me." Katie snorted, which James chose to ignore. "Now, I am in clear need of a new a manager." James then started to turn on his charming smile, with that hopeful look in his hazel eyes, whenever he needed something.
Katie's own brown eyes widened as she connected the dots. "Oh no−"
"Come on, Katie. You know me, we'd be a great team together."
"Aren't you with FMA? I'm sure that Fulton and his team would find you another manager in a heartbeat." Katie tried reasoning with James.
"Yeah, no. Larry is Paul's cousin-in-law, twice removed or something like that. He made sure that no one in the company would be willing to be my manager." James concluded.
"Oh." Katie sighed. "Well, you're a thirty year old pop-star with a bourgeoning movie career, I'm sure that there are dozens of agencies whom are willing to manage you."
"I'm only twenty-eight!" James yelled offendedly. "And why are you so reluctant to be my manager?"
"Because, because," Katie stuttered, racking her brain for an answer, "because I know nothing about the music industry. I wouldn't be an asset to your career." Truthfully, Katie didn't want to be James' manager because she was afraid of delving into his personal life. She knew that becoming his manager would either make her fall in love with him again or hate him. The man did not know how to keep his work life out of his personal life, his current dilemma as proof.
"Kelly will explain everything to you. It's really not all that hard. At least I don't think it is." James furrowed his eyebrows in concentration.
Katie sighed again. "Why do you want me to be your manager so bad, anyway?"
"Because you're Katie." James smiled charmingly, again.
Katie couldn't help her own lips from smiling back. She sighed dramatically, before agreeing. "Fine."
"Yes!" James pumped his arms in victory. "You are not going to regret this, Katie."
"I already am," she mumbled.
"What was that?" James questioned.
"Nothing," Katie smiled. "I'll bring a contract with me tomorrow so you can look it over with your lawyer and see if you want to make any changes."
"You really are the best, Katie." James said, leaning over and giving her a hug, and enveloping her with a heady, yet familiar 'Cuda musk. Katie awkwardly returned the hug, by patting him on the back.
"So I've heard. Now, get out of my car, you have friends that you need to entertain. Don't let them get too drunk; breakfast, remember?" Katie warned James as he stepped out of the car.
James laughed and saluted her, while she started the car. "I'll do my best, Lady Katie."
Katie grimaced at the awful nickname and shook her head, before smiling at him. "Good night, James."
"G'night, Katie." James said, before Katie pulled away from the house. She glanced back in her rearview mirror to see him still standing there, with his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, Katie, what are you getting yourself into?" She questioned out loud.
A/N: Surprise! Not only do we get James in this chapter, but Carlos as well. Like always, please leave a review, I love reading your comments! -D