Disclaimer: I don't own.
:}
Despite the bad feelings she was getting from the looming middle eastern leg of their tour, Jade managed to enjoy the days of travel from one island to the next, watching her employer performing, and making sure the starlet was well protected as she went out to see her fans. 'After all, we have all of Europe to go before we get there.' The bodyguard reasoned. 'Besides, we have to focus on helping Tori get stronger, cause I know Beck, and I suspect he's not done yet. He's charming, and he knows it.'
Andre moved in as the coordinator of the security force, making sure that everyone was communicating, while acting as an extra pair of eyes, and in general being the layer between Jade and Trina. He was taking an interest in the young woman, watching her as she spoke to the various people when she had to, usually to get them to back of of Tori so the singer could give everyone their time.
'She adapts well enough.' He thought. 'And she's gotten a few concessions out of Tori too. Like how she has Bill right there to pull Tori away any time she tries to exceed the time limit we put on her, how long she can interact with her fans. And Jade's managed to convincing Tori to let her check people out a bit before letting them into touching range. Overall, I'd say they have an interesting relationship. Lets see where that goes.' A smile formed on his lips before he turned his attention t the line of people, watching for anything that might be a threat.
By the time they finished mini tour of the Caribbean and headed back to Bermuda to relax, the damage Beck had inflicted on Tori was already healing. The bruises were receding, and Tori was moving about much more freely. That was good, giving the crew a feeling that everything was going to be all right. Now, in paradise, it was time for the vacation part of the tour. However, there was talk of adding another show on the island. "I thought she was taking time to relax?" Jade griped to Andre, while Trina sat, just out of reach, refusing to speak to the bodyguard except through channels.
"And she will relax." Andre assured the raven haired girl. "She claims it's so she can give more to her fans, But I think she wants to do something so she won't be thinking of Beck the entire time she's here."
"She'd be better off just kicking him outta the resort and maybe making a dart board of his picture." Jade said, looking out the window of the plane. They were en-rout to the island, and their promised break.
"They're presenting this as an amicable breakup." Trina said, surprising everyone. The older girl had worked hard to put up the barrier, mostly so Andre could be seen as the head of security. 'No one goes over his head, not with security matters.' Trina had vowed, once again, to herself.
"So he gets four fucking days to try and worm his way back into her life?" The female bodyguard growled.
"Now your problem." Trina assured her. "Other then weeping duty, which none of the others want, you're not Tori's bodyguard for the next four days. Don't worry, I'll keep you plenty busy."
"So no break for the wicked, huh?" The goth asked, smiling.
"You'll have your time off." The older girl said. "I don't have that much planned. Just, you know, enough. And, I'm trying to keep you away from Beck as much as possible. Let Andre handle the Tori stuff, cause he's her friend, and that way Beck won't blame you for the breakup. Besides, as Ryder can tell you, I'm loads of fun." Jade blushed, just a touch. "Oh god, he told you, didn't he?" The manager added quickly.
"Just a bit." Jade said. "Maybe more then I wanted."
"Look, whats between Ryder and me, that strictly personal. Not part of the job." Trina said.
"Not judging, just, you know, being a bit embarrassed." The blue eyed girl shook her head, clearing the image from her mind. "I knew what you meant, it's just, knowing what I know, and you being so much fun…."
"I don't sleep around." The manager said coldly. "I need trust to let go, enjoy myself. I just sometimes need the release. And Ryders really good. You should have taken him up when he offered."
"I don't want to confuse our relationship." Jade said, and the older girl smiled.
"We'll continue this discussion later, we're almost there. Someone make sure Tori's belted down." Trina said, looking out the window. It would be another ten minutes before they got to Bermuda. "And jade, there isn't enough time to add another show. We'd need days, if not weeks, to set that kind ti thing up. No, we're just gonna relax."
The flight landed on time, and everyone filed out to the charter bus they had waiting for them. Trina stood at the head of the bus once it was full, with a microphone in hand, linking her to the buses speaker system. "Okay, everyone, it's like this. You wanna see the island, maybe sample some of the local color, we'll have tours set up for you to go out and do that. But I'm not going to have you wandering around unsupervised, not with the level of prudes these people are. But the beach, the one next to the resort, it's ours, and while you still can't be nude, or show too much skin, enjoy that beach, and the other amenities of the resort. Jade, I'll be heading into town a couple of times while were here, and I'll need you to come with. That cool?"
"Yes ma'am." Jade barked.
"Okay, lets have some fun, and for the love of god, relax. This is the scheduled break." Trina said to everyone, but was focusing on the blue eyed girl.
Beck was waiting for them, and made his move almost as soon as they got back tot he resort. He had flowers, and his best sad face. "TORI! TORI!" He called out to her, swimming against the stream of dancers and crew who were pushing out from the bus.
"Beck." Tori called back, loud but not shouting. The met, and he gave her the flowers, a bouquet of local flowers that looked just tropical enough. She smiled back at him, not surer what to say as he looked deep into her eyes.
"Tori, I know we've had our problems, but say it isn't so." He said, begging with his eyes. "Tell me you haven't grown apart from me, that you're gonna be there for me."
'Damn, he''s casting himself as the victim.' Jade, and Trina, realized at the same time.
"Beck, a word." Trina called out to him.
"Look, I can change, make more time for you. Just, give me another chance." He continued.
It looked like Tori was eating it up, wavering in her resolve to let Beck go. "Beck..." She tried. The girl just didn't have any words.
"Beck, it's over." Andre said in a low tone. "She may forgive you, maybe today, but trust me, I can convince her to let go."
"So your the one trying to take her away from me?" Beck growled back, keeping his voice low. The thing about such low talk was that either person could deny they ever said anything, so it would be one persons word against the others. Beck loved those moments, used them all the time to hurt people he didn't like. But Andre, the man was a stand up guy, and Beck sorta respected him. Also, there were enough others to confirm or confuse whatever Andre said. He'd wait, and if the bodyguard would up too close to Tori, he'd accuse her of having an affair.
"My mother was abused, and I've been downloading pictures for Tori to review." The head bodyguard warned. "Trust me, I can make her understand just how fucked up you've allowed yourself to become. You're famous, have a great career. Go date someone lower on the food chain then you are. It'll help you regain your sanity."
Beck was about to reply, say just about anything, when he was yanked back away from Tori and dragged to where Trina was setting up shop. Jade had decided to make it as innocuous as possible, wrapping an arm around him even as she grabbed something, some piece of flesh she could twist to get her way. In case there was a camera near by, watching them, it would look like and overly friendly girl had snagged him and was escorting him to Trina. Only those involved knew how much it would hurt the actor if Beck decided not to cooperate.
However, once inside the sun screen, and out of view of whatever camera he'd set up, she tossed him into the chair Trina had had waiting for him. "Consider yourself lucky I'm not allowed to take souvenirs." Jade growled.
Beck spoke to Trina. "Okay, I'm here, call your dog off."
"We'd agreed on a mutual breakup." The manager said, looking pissed.
"I hadn't agreed to anything." Beck spat. "You think I'm just gonna give up on Tori, cause you think dating me is holding her back?"
"Keep this up, and I'll spend the money to find out where you learned how to use a whip." The olde girl warned.
"You don't scare me." He proclaimed as he stood up. Jade's hand was on his shoulder, pushing him down again. "Okay, she kinda scares me, but not you." He added. "Jade, what the chiz happened to you? You were violent, but never like this. I remember a time when you..."
"When I'd do anything for you?" Jade asked. "I've had ten chizzing years to process what happened. Ten years to think about how easily you jettisoned me from your life. Face it, Beck, I don't owe you crap."
"Is she what turned you against me?" Beck asked Trina. "Or maybe she got to Tori, been feeding her lies."
"Beck, I know the truth about you." Trina cut him off. "I can have that become common knowledge, easy as anything. But as I'm sure you've figured out, hurting you just hurts me. This is better. A mutual decision, where you realize what you had just isn't working out. Those pictures you no doubt had taken, just now, they'll work. Just the narrative needs to be different. It's you telling her that you love her, but this isn't working out. She'll be saying that as much as it hurts, she agrees, and is hoping for a face to face, later, where you can both talk things out. Now, if I were you, I'd take the deal. I don't know how much damage your reputation can take, but I'm willing to go dirty if I have to, just to protect Tori."
Beck glared at her, and opened his mouth, only for Trina to add "It wasn't Jade that got to Tori, it was Andre. You know his mother was abused, right? Guess there are some things he cannot forgive."
"I never asked her to do anything abusive." Beck protested. "I just thought it would spice things up."
"So Tori gets her turn with the whip?" Jade asked. The bodyguard gave an apologetic look at Trina, but the older girl just shrugged it off.
"Please, Jade, we both know it takes time to master using a whip and not leaving deep, lasting wounds." Beck said. "So maybe I'm not into pain, like being the master in my relationships. Tori went along, enjoyed it even."
"Except she didn't." Trina said, not giving Jade the chance. "She was mumbling, in her delirium, begging you not to hurt her any more. She just wanted you to tell her you loved her. Guess that only happens when the cameras are on you, or you think we're gonna take away your free ride."
"Okay, bitch, maybe we're over." Beck seethed. "But don't forget, I know your secrets. I can take you down."
"And I can take the blame, paint Tori as a victim of my good intentions and your bad ones." Trina shot back, her voice suddenly icy calm. "We lose, but you lose more. Think about it, I'd rather we do this friendly like, but I'm willing to tear us both down if it means saving her career."
Beck was fuming, but he seemed to understand the situation. "Tell me honestly, you never called Phillip, did you."
"Cat swears she called him, but he's just not interested." Trina assured him, the ice melting, just a touch. "I suggest you speak to your agent, arrange a casting video. Let them know you can do the action sequences. They'll appreciate it, and you'll have a better shot at the big money."
Beck hesitated for a moment, giving Jade a strange feeling that this breakup, the end to the constant contest for control he'd been having with Trina, was as big a deal to him as losing his girl. He hesitated long enough to say "I did love her, once." Before stomping off.
The girls were left standing under the sun shade, watching hm go. "I don't trust him." Jade said, never taking her eyes off of his retreating form.
"He's motivated by self interests." Trina assured her. "He's going to play nice, just to avoid making an enemy with heavy contacts. But, thanks for helping out with this, it couldn't have been easy for you."
"Would you believe, if we'd have met on the streets, I might have given in to his charms." Jade said. She didn't look back to see Trina nodding, just adding "Nah, me neither."
Trina started a phone call, letting Jade go. "Have some fun, but be there if my sister needs you, okay?" The manager said.
Beck didn't leave for two days, putting on a show of trying to work things out, but slowly losing ground. Of course, it helped that every member of the starlets security team was in on the breakup plan, and was there to support Tori in her part of it. But after two days, The press releases came out, both claiming that the breakup was a mutual decision. Beck was good at protecting himself, so he played the disillusioned boyfriend who tried, really tried, but couldn't overcome them growing apart over the last decade.
Just before he was set to go, Trina called Jade. "I've been monitoring everything you've been doing, so I know this wasn't you." The manager said, showing a picture blended two others, one of of Beck, and another of Jade, face distorted, seemingly merged together in a bad photoshop. The message was obvious, thar they'd once known one another, not that they'd been in the same place at the same time. Still, while the picture could be with a wide variety of stories, that type of photo tended to be attached to stories involving illicit affairs or similar tantalizing bits.
"You didn't trust me?" Jade asked, taking the moment to read the headline.
"See what Beck Oliver was up to just before Tori Vega broke up with him." The teaser read. Following the link, she found herself on Robarazzi, watching his short special report on the breakup.
Robbie stood there, in his virtual world, surrounded by flashing graphics meant to make his green screened world look like the inside of a computer. "Hi, welcome to Robarazzi, starring Robbie Shapiro. Today on Robbarazzi, starring Robbie Shapiro, we'll be looking at what went down over in Bermuda, just before Pop sensation and triple threat Tori Vega called it splitsville from her long time paramour, heartthrob Beck Oliver. Here on Robbarazzi, starring Robbie Shapiro."
The boy was now standing in front of the graphic Trina had original shown her. "According to our sources, Beck met up with an old flame, now currently working as an assistant to Tori Vega, trying to renew old acquaintances. But our sources at the retreat say that this old flame knew Beck well, and refused to let him enter her room, claiming she wouldn't betray her employer. Says good things for Tori's hiring people, and bad things about Beck, who we suspect wanted more then just to catch up. Why else would he want entrance to her room? Hmm?"
The background shifted, now showing people moving across a busy Hollywood lot. "Funny, even thought they claimed to have just grown apart, it was only days after this encounter between old lovers that Miss Vega and her beard of ten years, Beck Oliver, called it quits. Coincidence? I think not. Also, this fierce loyalty held by mega pop sensation Tori Vega's people helps explain how she's been successfully in the closet for years without anyone finding out about her true romantic intentions. So was she using Beck, or the other way around? This reporter, Robbie Shapiro, host of Robarazzi, starring Robbie Shapiro, thinks it's a mix. Tori, being the sweet girl I once knew, was just done deluding herself into thinking a man as effeminate as Beck Oliver could satisfy her needs, and so when she discovered he was trying to step out on her, she ended things as nicely as she could. Let me tell you, Beck Oliver, you got off easy, cause now I know you're the cheating scumbag I've always suspected you were."
Robbie was now looking straight at the camera. "Tori Vega, I, Robbie Shapiro, host of Robarazzi, am inviting you to come on my show and admit, openly, to your sexuality. Are you gay, or Bi? No one here will judge, and you'll feel so much better afterward. You have my word, as a journalist, as a friend, and as a frequent guest on the PFLAG float in the West Hollywood gay pride parade. You know you can trust me." Then stepping back, he added "This is Robbie Shapiro, host of Robarazi, starring Robbie Shapiro, saying Beck Oliver is a tool. Good night, and look for more at our regularly scheduled podcast, or on E, in our regular show, starring Robbie Shapiro."
Jade stammered. "I-I never..."
"I know, I was having you watched, remember?" Trina assured her. "Jade, this is bad. We promised Beck we'd be friendly, and Shapiro wound up with the story. We'll, part of the story. I need you here, cause I've sent Ryder to get Beck before he leaves, so we can go over a strategy to protect everyone. I'm still commuted to keeping things friendly."
"He doesn't deserve it." Jade muttered.
"Just a smart way of doing business, I assure you." Trina said. "We're protecting the brand."
Beck showed up, trailing the taller Ryder. "So, changed your mind?" He asked smugly.
"Wait for Andre." Trina told Beck. "Once he's here, we'll get this going."
The last member of the meeting sauntered up, looking happy to be in this paradise. "Yo, Trina, whats shaken, bacon."
"We have a leak." The manager said sternly. "And it wasn't Jade here. I was so sure that if someone was gonna sabotage our understanding with mister Oliver here, it would be her."
"I'm more of a drown him in the pool and take him out to sea kind of gal." Jade said, giving her ex an evil smile.
"Wow, when did you go all psychotic?" Beck asked. "Wait, I keep forgetting who you were. This is kinda an improvement for you."
"The point is, we had our story, all nice and clear, and someone went and leaked another version." Trina said as she handed her tablet to Beck, allowing him to look at the teaser link. He pushed the link, so he and the others who hadn't seen it yet could watch the video. Trina allowed the short video to run, giving the boys the chance to see just what Robbie was selling, before continuing. "I know your thinking we had something to do about this, but I swear, we don't like playing dirty. Doing this hurts us as much as it hurts you. The only reason Robbie didn't lean into Tori more was he's got his own agenda for her, and it involves being the one to break the 'Tori's gay' story. Anyways, I'm concerned, cause that video just shows that there was a spy somewhere around us. It's possible the spys among the resort staff, but there are other possibilities, and I don't travel with spies. I trust my whole crew. Some of them have been with me for years…."
"If this were anywhere else, I'd call you a lying cunt to your face." Beck started. "Hell, I probably should anyways. But this is Robarazzi, and I know if you were to stoop to talking to that guy, given how much he seemed to hate me, you'd have told him about the S&M games, giving your own spin on things. No, I believe you. I was able to pay one of the cleaning staff to be my photographer back when I tried to win Tori back. I have no faith that the contractors they have here wouldn't have turned on me, you or even Tori. Worse, one of her fans could easily have sent this in. No, I don't blame you, and you did realize that you had to fill me in as quickly as possible. But this doesn't mean I like you. I just know you have more, and I'm not the kind of guy to go and break a deal over some chiz someone else did."
"Okay, Beck, here's how were gonna play it. Jade, you came out of this looking loyal as hell, and I like that, so we're not gonna fight it. We'll just put our own spin on the narrative. Beck, we let the world think that you just wanted to talk to somebody about your failing relationship, needed a friend, and Jade happened to be here. You weren't expecting to see her, haven't seen her in years, but you used to be close, like sibling. Remember that line, siblings. Not lovers, not dating, but siblings. You may have dated before, but now you're close friends who lost track of one another." Trina's hand was moving, pointing to each person as their part came up.
"Wait, ten years is too much. Lets split the difference, say you lost track of one another five years ago. Makes it seem less like Beck left you for Tori. Then, we go with the truth, only without the Beck being a cheating scumbag part." The boy didn't even react as Trina continued. "Jade here felt it would be wrong to have that conversation in her room, and someone caught the pre-conversation where she was letting you know that wouldn't be appropriate. Both knew it was about needing a shoulder to cry on as you, Beck, could see the distance growing in the relationship. Okay, this is good. Now Beck, not yet realizing the spark had died a while ago, and both you and Tori being such loyal, passionate people, had tried to hold on when it just wasn't working any more. Yea, I think that will work." Trina finished, her eyes scanning the room. "Everyone good?"
There was a round of affirmations, including Beck agreeing to the plan. Only Jade stood in awe of the process. "So you just make things up?" She asked Andre quietly. They'd started walking the actor out of the building, talking as they went.
"You remember Tori, early on American Voice? How the judges always made a point of mentioning how bad her sister was?" The dark skinned boy asked.
"I really didn't like watching the show after Beck and I..." The blue eyed girl said, acknowledging her dislike for that memory.
"We'll Trina had tried out the year before, and her audition was one of the worst." He filled her in. "So when Tori was on the show, they'd show Trina's audition, almost every time, to establish she wasn't her sister. Then, afterwords, Trina would be shown supporting her sister, giving praise or advice or whatever. Thing is, Trina became a part of the tour, and it was all so she could managed the image people were presented of her sister. Tori's talent stood out more cause of how untalented her sister was, but then they showed her getting nothing but support from her family. Later, when Beck came into the picture, it looked like Trina stepped back so Beck could be there for Tori. But in the end, and lord knows I had no idea at the time, it was really just Trina managing things from the side lines. She knew that the draw of waiting for the big sister fight would get old, so she gave them a romance instead. Trina's good at managing Tori's image."
"You realize, I was auditioned to be Tori's boyfriend." Beck chimed in. "Yep, Trina manged that too. Didn't help me that much on American Voice. I wasn't even in the top eight. But it sure as hell helped her bore of a sister." He ignored the glare Trina was sending his way, then he smirking as he took a half step towards his car, alerting Jade that the manager had followed them out. He stopped then to regard his other ex. "So Jade, just a warning, I'm leaving that bore in your hands. Try and show her some kind of fun." His smirk turned into an evil smile. "I remember what you used to consider fun..." With that, he turned back to the waiting car and made his way out of the compound.
Jade looked nervously at the others in their small group, almost feeling like she'd been let into a secret the others had known by virtue of being here when the argument took place. But Andre was giving her sympathetic eyes, and Ryder looked floored by the whole revelations. "Okay.." Trina said slowly, taking her time to think as her eyes scanned around them. No one else was allowed to be close enough to know what they were talking about. By now they were under a sun shade, the one Trina used when she was outside while doing work. "Jade, what Beck just said, I could deny it, but I think it's time the security staff knew that. I haven't shared that secret with anyone. Now, before we go on, he implied something…?"
Jade opened her mouth, but no words were coming. Taking another deep breath, she started. "I was a messed up kid. Martial arts were supposed to deal with my anger issues. Dad didn't believe in therapy, so sprang for my martial arts instead. Thing is, that wasn't enough. I was a scrappy little brat. I used to look for trouble when I was young, like fourteen. I got into more then one fight, and if I'm honest, my friends were the only reason I didn't get seriously hurt, raped, or worse. But now, I'm not the wild child I was, I swear..."
"I don't need the details." Trina cut her off. "Not unless I decide I need to know. But for now, I don't doubt you had a rough past. I don't care. You do a good job, and I want you around. So, why don't you go see how Tori's doing, and let her know Beck's gone now. She may need a shoulder to cry on. I'll send Andre once we've spoken about Europe."
Jade nodded, and rushed off to find the pop star. Andre watched her go, his eyes lingering on her ass. "Girls a looker." He said, then he glanced over at Ryder. "I need a moment..."
"I'll make sure security's doing their job, maybe sweep for cameras. There's a leak somewhere, and I wanna catch that jackass before we leave." Ryder said as he walked off.
"Okay, what about Europe?" Dre asked.
"Have you had a chance to go over the security protocols were gonna be using?" Trina asked.
"I helped write them." He replied. "So yea. I think we'll have much the same problems there as we would in the states. Not many places on earth where the local don't have a lot of violence in their systems right now. But I suspect things will be real safe now. We just gotta keep our eyes open for whomever was behind the abduction attempt."
"I concur." The manger said. "But whats been worrying me was they didn't make another attempt while you were out. New security person, thats when I make a try."
"But Jade's a pro." Dre replied. "They knew the moment she was out there that she wouldn't let Ryder be drawn off, or have someone get their hands on Tori without major repercussions. No, Jade represents a different threat."
"Oh?" Trina wondered aloud. "Do tell."
"Maybe that Shapiro guy was right about Tori." The dark skinned man hesitated, waiting for Trina to prompt him with her eyes. "Tori kinda undressed Jade with her eyes, back at the pool party, the first night here. I wanted to just let it go, but a part of me thinks they have more then the usual bodyguard client trust issues going on."
"Tori just got out of a relationship." The Latina started, looking down at her laptop. "Even if it was fake for Beck, and me, it was very real for her. I think she needs time to process whats going on. Make sure she has it."
"Got it." Andre agreed.
"Then.." She added before he could possibly leave. "Then, if there is a spark, and I mean from both ends, let me know how things go. I need to ream Phillip as is, but if things do change, he'd better come through for me..."
"Okay.." Andre said, starting to back off.
"But if things do progress naturally, and they'd better be natural, then nothing happens on the tour, got it?" Trina instructed him. "We're protecting Tori's image. Now go, I've got a lot to think about."
:}
Ever have one of those breakups? Beck didn't go quietly, not without a threat. But in the end, he left, once he saw that Trina was willing to fight him for Tori.
Whats your thoughts on Robbie? I kinda borrowed some of his spiel from the Robbarazzi episode. I think I liked his ending tag line.
So thoughts, reviews, whatever, let me know. You know what to do.