CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I had several battles with different people or companies over my years in the entertainment industry but when you decide to go in for the kill and take someone's career away from them, well then, that's war. This is the story of what really happened in what US Weekly called the feud of '08.

After the infamous music video hit broadcast, there were many entertainment news factions that speculated as to why I would attack Tanya Denali. Some painted me in an ugly light and that was fine with me because I knew the moment I sent the video, it could very well be the end of my career and I didn't care. I would risk my future in the industry to take out another.

She wronged me.

I did drink quite a bit the night in Vegas and it would be the last night of my life that I would ever get drunk again. Even though what happened wasn't a result of my four or five drinks; I couldn't bear to ever feel the way I felt that night.

"Daddy."

"No Bella, he's not here. Look at me. It's not real." Edward was shaking me and looking at me straight into my eyes but I could still see him. Off to my left standing by the window was my father, plain as day. Almost as if he was beckoning me to come to him.

It was a rough night for Edward. He doesn't blame me for it but I blame myself because if I hadn't made that wager with Tanya Denali then she would have never drugged me. I have flashes of that night every once in a while. Screaming, shaking, Edward's arms wrapped tight around me to keep me from hurting myself. It was a very rough night.

The hotel doctor came to our suite and stated that the drugs needed to make their way through my system. He suggested an IV but Edward was worried that it would do more harm to my psyche so he just held me while the disgusting invasion worked its way through.

I was in horrible shape the next day. I didn't feel well at all and of course Edward wanted someone's head on a stick. At the time we didn't know who had drugged me. Jacob stayed with me while I lay in bed with a tremendous headache and unsettled stomach. Embry and Edward were with security to go over the footage from the House of Blues last night.

Eventually they came back and Edward briefly checked in on me before taking his cell into the next room. I couldn't hear what he was saying. It was all muffled but I could tell he was yelling something fierce.

"What happened?" I managed.

"Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep." Jacob replied stroking my head. I was in such a horrible shape that I couldn't find it in me to fight with him.

Edward thought it would be best if we went home so with the help of my family, they loaded me into the car and back to the plane. This was one of the first times I ever had to use the barf bag while flying. There was a couple of times when I eventually did get pregnant that I had to rely on the white sealed baggies during my morning sickness phase but we'll get to that.

It took a couple of days for me to feel right again and when I finally did, my first order of business was to find out what Edward knew.

"Out with it already." I was laying on Edward's hard smooth warm chest while he ran his fingers up and down my back.

"Out with what, my love?" he replied softly.

"You know what happened. Tell me."

"Bella, just rest."

"No. Tell me. I'm better now. Don't treat me like a child. Tell me." I demanded.

He sighed and I could feel him shake his head.

"The security cameras…we traced back to the bar tender. He drugged you. It was a hallucinogen. He didn't know what it was but he was paid handsomely for it. He of course apologized and well I don't give a shit what his pathetic excuse was."

Edward spoke it such a tone I had never heard before. It was cold and it frightened me.

"Who paid him?" I asked scared of what the answer would be.

"Honey, let me worry about this. I don't want you involved." He replied short.

"You have no choice. I'm already me." I sat up and demanded my answers. "I was the one drugged. I deserve to know dammit."

He stared at me for a couple of moments but I wouldn't flinch or back down.

"Tanya did it. I've already spoken to Stefan and I will take this to court and see that criminal action is brought against her for what she did."

I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that someone would be capable of such a sickening plot. My breathes became labored as I comprehended how personally affronted I felt. My sister died because of drug use and now some asshole really believed to punish me with the poison of my beloved sister's demise.

"Bella, I am going to fix this. She will not get away with this." Edward vowed.

No she wouldn't.

Any pity I felt for her, was gone. Any guilt that I may have felt, was gone.

"Leave me to fix her." I said.

"No. I'm going to see that criminal action is taken." Edward declared.

"I was wronged and I will decide what action is taken. You give her up to the cops and what will happen? A media circus that could ultimately revive her career. In what world do you really believe that Tanya Denali, superstar, is going to be served justice. The judicial system is a joke and an even bigger one when it comes to celebrities. She will walk with community service and a half-assed apology. I was wronged and I deserve to have an opportunity to fix this."

Edward sat there shaking his head. "I don't like this, Bella. I don't think she will get what she deserves."

"Yes. She will. I'm going to take the one thing away from her that she loves most of all." I replied.

"Her daughter?" Edward asked skeptically.

"No. Her career."

Edward agreed to give me a week to come up with something before he moved on to the courts. I had no idea where to start but it was weighing heavily on me because the more I thought about it, the more I felt violated in every single way.

Her drugs made me believe that my father was alive and in the room with me. Her drugs put me and Edward and my family through hell.

My week was almost up and I still hadn't come up with proper punishment for Tanya Denali. Call it Serendipity or luck but the winds changed direction in my favor.

I don't know if you remember Levi Grimes. He was the music producer who helped me immensely with my first albums when I was hiding out at Embry's house last year after Edward's and my "fight." He is also the man who gave me my break in the Tanya situation.

"Oh my god. Levi fucking Grimes." I announced as I went in for a hug.

"Still one fucking filthy mouth you got on you." He laughed.

"Oh yes and I do kiss my mother with it." I teased.

"Levi stopped in while he was in town. Thought it had been long enough." Embry explained.

"Awesome. Welcome." I stated.

"Thank you. I was just telling Embry how you need to get a studio in this house like the one he had back in New York."

"Yeah, yeah." I dismissed.

"Hey, I heard…Embry told me and I'm really sorry. That Tanya is one horrendous bitch." Levi said serious.

I breathed out slowly and gave a small sound of agreement.

"Kind of why I'm in town." Levi plopped himself back down in our leather chair.

I gave Embry a perplexed look.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Before she went to rehab a couple of months back, I wrote that song, I Can Take It and she never paid me for it. She literally just took it. I've had my people contact her and her management a thousand times and told them I will sue her if she doesn't pay me for it. It's a big mess but I will get what's due to me."

I Can Take IT did so so on the charts and Levi stated it did so poorly because she auto tuned the shit out of it and it completely changed the integrity of the song.

"Normally I wouldn't want to be attached to something like that. It's a little embarrassing but it's the principle of the matter and I refuse to let her think she can use and abuse me. You know Warner Bros. is already selling it on iTunes and is producing a CD with Tanya's greatest hits and featuring that song as a bonus track?"

"That fucking blows." Embry commented.

"Word has it; in order for them to agree to bring her on to their label at WMG she had to put up fifty percent of the finances for that Greatest Hits crap."

For a second I had a glimpse. I tried to drown out their voices as the gears started to turn in my head.

"Crap CD coming out in a couple weeks…got a meeting with Warner tomorrow and I swear…"

"Let me buy it!" I hollered out of nowhere and startled our company completely interrupting Levi.

"What?" Levi looked completely confused.

"Let me buy the rights to your song." I asked desperately.

"Why the hell would you want it?"

"I have an idea." I stated.

"Bella…" Embry warned.

"Just hear me out." I got up and started to pace. "You let me buy the rights to that song and I will fight the battle for you. WMG will need to buy the rights back from me in order for them to release their CD in a couple of weeks. Since Tanya had to put up fifty percent…it will be a mighty blow because I won't release the rights and in fact I will re-record the song and make it better, the way you had envisioned it. This will hurt her credibility with WMG and her career. The greatest hits CD is a tester that WMG is putting out there to make sure that their investment in Tanya Denali is worth it before they green light her new album. They don't want to put a lot of money, time and resources if her fan base has truly waned so they agree to bring her on the label under the condition that her CD is a hit and probably want a little good will from her so they make her put up the finances for it."

"Bella, do you really want to go up against your own label. You hold out on the rights, WMG will lose the fifty percent that they put up. They are not going to be happy with you." Embry replied.

"I will make it up to WMG. I will make sure they make their money back and then some." I turned back to Levi and desperately pleaded my case with my eyes.

"So…will you sell me the rights?" I asked.

Levi sat in the chair pondering for a moment before he sighed. "I like you, Bella. I hate to see this blow up in your face. I don't want to be even a little responsible for your falling out with your label."

"You won't! Look, what Tanya Denali did to me was despicable. I want justice. Hollywood justice. I promise that none of this will come back on you."

I remember a while back when Edward explained to me Hollywood Justice and how Tyler Crowley would monetarily pay for his wife Lauren Mallory's mistakes.

"I don't give a rat's ass's two shits. This wont effect my career." Levi responded a tad offended. "You can have the song."

"No. I need to buy it from you. Contract and all." I replied.

"Don't insult me." Levi sounded like a grumpy old man.

"I need this to be legit." I replied strongly.

"Fine have your lawyer draw up the papers and pay me a dollar." He paused, "Silly old plan." He grumbled.

"Thank you, Levi." I replied sweet as pie.

"Hey, but I want to be there when you give the news to old Tanya." He started to laugh.

"Well, I don't think I can give you that." I folded my arms across my chest and mused. "I'm not sure where Tanya will be at that moment because for what I have planned she will find out, when the rest of the world does."

With my plot in place, I was readying myself for battle. I had a little over two weeks to pull off what I had planned because I needed to get it done before the Tanya Denali Greatest Hits CD hit stores. Edward didn't know how he felt as I explained to him what was going to happen but I told him I just needed him to have a little faith in me and I needed his support.

"Emma, I need you to call up a few people and see if they will meet with me for a meeting at nine a.m. tomorrow morning. I'm going to email you the list and please make those calls ASAP. It's very important."

"Damn, look at you hollering orders." Embry remarked but I waved him off so I could get through with my phone call. I hadn't told anyone just what exactly the music video was going to entail, I figured I would wait to get everyone in one room first so I wouldn't have to go over it multiple times.

Edward was dying with curiosity but I was focus and driven. I was lining up all my ducks in a row and I needed a film crew. My list was short but I was hoping to call in a few Tria Fata favors.

I ended my phone call and turned to Embry.

"You are a fireball when you get it in you to do somethin." He stated.

"I just have no time to screw around. I have to shoot and edit a video in sixteen days. I'm crazy aren't I?"

"No…I think whatever you have planned is…far more civil then how things are usually handled in the rap world."

I cringed thinking of what he might be referring to.

"So, are you ready to go and record this shit?" Embry smacked his hands together and started to rub them. Levi was meeting us over at my office to re-record the song the way he had envisioned it.

"Let's do this."

Step one.

I recorded the song the way it was meant to be. Levi since he had a vested interest demanded to be included in on the morning meeting. He wanted to know just as badly what was planning to go down. Embry who turned out to be the absolute worst gossip in the world couldn't help but share with some of our friends. Thankfully they were our friends and didn't betray us by letting the cat out of the bag but it didn't make it any easier for me as I was bombarded with phone calls and texts asking to help out.

Justin Martin, DNR, and even Michael Newton whom I previously told you had dated Tanya Denali for quite some time.

"Dude, what the hell? So what if I was with her. She deserves this. You're my friend and I will take it very personally if you allow other people to help but not me."

I rolled my eyes at Michael's tone. He always was a drama queen.

"Just stay out of this. You…you don't know what you're asking to get in on. You of all people need to stay far away from this. I told Justin that it could damage his career and he has hardly any professional relationship with Tanya other than presenting Best New Artist at an award show but you…it will look bad. For you."

"I'm coming to your top-secret meeting. You can't tell me what to do." And then he hung up on me.

"Ugh." I sighed shaking my head.

"What was all that about? I could practically hear him from across the room." Edward asked while tapping away on his laptop. I was lying in bed writing notes before that call came in. Even though we usually don't like to work in our bedroom, today we made an exception. Edward was going to be my producer.

"He doesn't understand how it will look if he is a part of a video slamming his ex-girlfriend. He just wants to Yippee Ki Yay his way in."

"Well, will it help or hurt your message that you want to send?" he asked closing up his laptop and walking over to join me in bed.

I groaned a little, "Help but I don't want to be responsible for jeopardizing people's careers. I think people just want to join in because this is the cool thing to do…"

"Bella, they want to join in because they believe in you and they love you. You were hurt and they just want to have your back. If you really believe that their help will be a hindrance to the message you are trying to send…they'll back off."

"It won't be a hindrance. In fact I came up with a really cool way to incorporate them. A pretty powerful way but I still can't help feeling guilty." I admitted.

"You need to focus on you right now. Everyone involved is old enough to know what's best for them. You can't mother them. Come on. You need to get some sleep." Edward started to pull back the covers and I snuggled down under them and placed my notebook on my side table.

"Oh…and by the by…honey…lover…my amazing husband…"

"What do you want, Bella?" Edward grumbled.

"Wow, I call you all these names of affection and I get Bella groaned at me?"

"My apologies my little love muffin." He replied sarcastically sweet.

"That's better. So…I've been thinking…I was wondering if since we are married now and I… you… know…"

"Spit it out." He cut off my stalling.

"Am I able to utilize Tria Fata resources?" I quickly spit out.

"You? You want to use Tria Fata? I thought you believed it to be a barbaric organization." He sang.

"I never said barbaric. Can I use it or not?"

"Even though you shun it…of course you can. What do you need?"

"Thank you. I'm going to need a lot of help. I need filming permits signed off by Friday. You guys can make things happen and fast. I don't have the same resources as you do. I need your hook ups. I want to keep this project on the down low and I will need filming space and the pool at the Mondrian Hotel."

Tanya was famous for going to the Mondrian hotel and her extra-curricular activities in the pool there.

"Okay. You know you could just tell me what you are planning. Maybe I can help. I am your producer you know."

"You will help. You already are. I promise, tomorrow. You will know everything."

It was standing room only when I walked into our conference room at Edward and my offices the next morning. The very same offices I will remind you that WMG gifted us with but I tried to tell myself that I would make this up to them.

I was a little taken aback by the crowd that had gathered and wondered how word could spread so quickly and it made me nervous because I was afraid WMG would get wind of my plan and try to shut us down. Of course Tria Fata members had shown up at Edward's request. As well as my friends and fellow music colleagues.

"There are about fifteen more people here then there should be." I announced.

They all looked around but no one would speak up.

"I don't know what you have heard. I think that some of you are here because you want to be on the bandwagon and haven't really thought things through. I advise you to think for just a moment what your agents would say to you if they knew you were here. What your managers would say. I know what they would say. They would tell you to stay as far away from this as possible. I am willing to give up my career if needs be for this but I'm not willing to damage yours in the process."

"Bells, I think we are all here because we want to be. We don't need our managers or agents telling us what to do. We are all fully capable intelligent adults who just want to support you." Jacob replied.

"What Tanya did was inexcusable. As voices in this industry, we don't want her to get away with this." Levi added.

"I'm going to stand with you." Darren stated.

"Nobody's leaving right?" Jacob asked.

There were a few shakes of the head but just silence.

"For the film professionals in this room who haven't heard what has happened or have no idea what is going to happen I will just say briefly that there is a peer who has…violated me and I plan to do something about it. This may hurt you or your career just by association as I have no idea how this will unfold. If you are have even just a shadow of a doubt that you shouldn't be here then please I will you wish you well, you can leave and I will not think anything less of you."

I waited for a moment and the proceeded.

I walked to the wipe off board and picked up the black dry erase pen.

"All right then, let's get started."

Step Two.

I pulled the cap off and began to write Scene one on the wipe off-board and turned back to address the room.

"Tanya Denali has corrupted our music and entertainment industry for too long. She has not only been a poor role model, she has been rude, unkind and her behavior is unforgivable. Not just to me but countless others. The video that I have in mind will shed light on her past behaviors and essentially be a parody of her life. The song that will be used is one that she put out a couple of weeks ago and as happenstance has it, I recently was able to procure the rights so…we will be using I Can Take It for the video. For many of you, I only need maybe twenty minutes of your time. Darren, Justin, Mike and Embry, your roles will be brief but very important."

I turned to Marcus and Richard.

"I need you both to transform me into Tanya Denali. This is really important for me to essentially become her doppelgänger. I will be playing Tanya as she goes about her routines. There are three scenarios I want to highlight. Tanya is famous for going to Starbucks. She is famous for having a different purse dog practically every single week. For the first scenario I want scene after scene of her with a different drink in one hand and a different dog in the other which means lots of costume changes. So tell me what kind of budget you need and I will make it happen."

Marcus and Richard nodded. With Marcus I knew he could handle high-end trashy looks. He may give me hell when he realizes the combinations he would need to put together but it would be a great foray into costume design.

I picked Richard because I knew that he was a very talented person with the proper connections and would be extremely loyal.

"I also need to make sure that if anyone here has to hire a team that you please make sure the people are loyal and trustworthy." I added.

"Scenario two will be definitely be hitting below the belt. We know that Tanya has a daughter who is around two years old but she spends most of her time running around trying to find the next baby daddy then she spends with her child. For this scene I want to show me as I rip the child seat out of my convertible and load the car up with men. I will drive to the Mondrian hotel as we all know is one of Tanya's haunts and take them to the pool on the roof where I will line the men up and take turns having my way with them in the pool."

I couldn't even look at Edward for this part. Oh god. Please know that this is merely for professional reasons. I hoped I wasn't cringing. I mean I wouldn't really be making out with them. It's all just smoke and mirrors.

"And finally the third scene is really a finger shaking at not only Tanya but many other young women in the entertainment industry who recently have felt that the need not wear underwear and climb out of cars is new "cool" thing to do. I of course will do it over the top and the scene will be me driving up to a place swarming with paparazzi and I will make sure they can get me from every angle. It will be over the top but don't worry, I won't actually be naked."

I could look at Edward for this and see him breathe a small sigh of relief.

"And…uh…the making out scene…you won't actually be making out…" Jacob mumbled and some people laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "Can we continue?"

"So where do I come in?" Embry shouted out.

"The end. Like I said your part will be small but meaningful. Look, I know you are all here because you want to help and be a part of this but the fact of the matter is I may not have anything for some of you to do. Please just help me. I need this video to be significant and for some of you the best support you can give me is just letting me know I have your support."

I looked back to my board and it started to dawn on me just how much work I had ahead of me.

"For now I would like to adjourn this meeting and meet with only certain groups of you. If you are a music artist then let's have a dinner meeting at my house at 7:30. I want all technical to stay here which includes; hair, makeup, camera, producers, script supervisors. Anyone who has a technical position please stay. For everyone else I will get in touch with you if I need something. Thank you."

I could hear mumbles as people started to stand to leave. I was left with a smaller group which would help to get through business faster.

"Emmett?" I questioned.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Uh…" I didn't know what to say. He was Tria Fata which was reason for him to be here but I hadn't asked him for anything further.

"Oh…you thought you were just going to direct this little music video all on your own?" He mocked.

"Well, I have…done it….before." I mocked right back.

"No. You need me. I'm available so just accept my expertise." He folded his massive arms across his chest and I shook my head.

"Whatever."

My eyes landed next on Jacob.

"And…what did you plan on bringing to the table, technically." I asked.

"I can help…whatever you need." Jacob insisted.

"Thank you, Jacob but I really don't think I will need you for this." I replied sincerely.

He got up out of his chair and came closer to me.

"I want to help, Bella. I was there. I deserve this too." He stated harshly and undeterred.

I looked over to Edward and he gave me that look with his eyes and I could grasp his silent communique to me. I could hear his words in my head from the previous night. I took Jacob by the arm and pulled him from the room.

I waited for the door to close to give us some privacy before beginning. "Jacob, I know you want to help but the truth is, I don't have anything for you to do. I need my fellow musicians because this involves the music industry. Please, if you really want to help me, I need you to just support me. I need to know that you have my back."

Jacob huffed and stepped back upset. I could tell that he was trying to reign in his frustration and anger.

"Please. Please do this for me." I pleaded.

I could see him sigh and finally he looked me in the eye.

"After this…I may not have many friends or business connections. Can I count on you to not abandon me?" I asked quietly.

"Why would you think that? Your career….friends…family…everything is going to work out. You keep saying over and over how this could ruin your career or other people's career. You're being over dramatic."

"I know how fickle the industry can be. Right now I could be on top of the world…Tanya was on top of the world just a few short years ago and any second I could have someone pull the rug out from under me…I don't know how long loyalties last when you're at the bottom." I confided.

"Then you really don't know us." He paused. "Fine. I'll go. I will stand on the sidelines…waiting for when you need me." Jacob started to walk away.

"Hey, I was being serious." I called after him and he turned to me one last time. "My career could take a real hit…maybe you can throw me a life-preserver?" I bit my lip and offered up a small smile. Jacob rolled his eyes, shook his head and continued to leave.

Jacob did find me a life-preserver. A life-preserver that would change his and my whole life. It is true that Jacob was ultimately responsible for my first real big break in the film world and at the same time a project that would almost get him killed.

AN: Thank you for taking the time to read and review. I will apologize in advance for anyone who is reading Mistakes From My Past as I was sick this weekend and unable to even begin this week's chapter. I am hoping to be able to post it by Friday. Thank you again!