Chapter 5

Five minutes before the meeting was to start Johnny turned up at the office and he looked very smartly dressed and just like all busy managers his phone was to his ear as he talked loudly into it his voice carrying through the empty building. The two bands remained mingling together though there was a dark cloud hanging in the air it was most noticeable for Nicole and Mark; when Vickie didn't return and Lance did they all knew something wasn't right. Vickie, on the other hand kept well away from everyone she need to calm her anger after talking to Lance. Just the nerve of him to make it all seem like he wasn't doing anything wrong and she was constantly at fault. Now, she was just as determined to find out what he got up to she knew he wasn't as well-behaved as everyone is lead to think about him. It was almost time for the meeting to start Johnny informed her he wanted everyone in his office immediately she made her way back to the entertainment room the door was still closed but she could hear the loud chatter.

'Well here we go.' She pushed open the door seeing the two groups gathered together, they had removed some of the chairs to sit on and the conversations flowed pretty easily with the girls even joining in.

'Vick, come on join us.' Nicole said relieved to see her friend she was worried.

'Johnny's in his office and wants the meeting to start now.' Vickie replied.

'All right come on lets get this done,' Kian said he was the first to stand up shortly the others followed his lead and they all headed for the door, Vickie let them pass her without giving them a look then Jessica mouthed over to her if everything was all right though she simply shook her head. When Lance did he simply gave her a cold stare to which she returned with one of her own; and Chris in seeing this knew the troubles were more than he had thought. Vickie also caught Mark's concerned stare and again she had to shake her head it wasn't something he needed to know at least not yet for all she knew things could get much worse from now on.

'You going to be ok in the meeting?' Nicole asked.

'I don't know. I've not had to endear anything like this until now and honestly I had never given it much thought,' Vickie said.

'I hate to say it Vick but you may have to deal with it heaps more.' Nicole added.

'What do you mean?'

'Well I didn't want to try and read too much into it but from what I saw those guys were getting along really well like really well close friends almost,'

'Oh.' Vickie answered she looked ahead of them as some of the guys got into the lift still chatting and laughing away together. If they were all getting along that would be great considering the business that might be generated from it at least from a professional standpoint but on the personal level she was too involved with both sides and it may cause a conflict of interest.

'Vick?' Nicole asked.

'Nic to be honest I don't know the answer to any this right now. I have to get through this meeting first and what happens after it I will try and work it out as best I can,' Vickie answered. She and Nicole were the last two to walk into Johnny's big office and immediately they got directed to sit down so Nicole hadn't the chance to look at the office properly.

'First of all I will start by thanking all of you for coming, especially to our guests Westlife, as I'm aware you got in very late last night,' Johnny said the lads and Nicole nodded their heads.

'And to my group you know how I hate disrupting your break time—don't give me that look Justin.' He added causing them all to laugh.

'So the reason I have all of you here today is to discuss a few things the first has to do with MTV's request for the TV show.' He explained.

'Yeah what is the deal J? Like we haven't heard anything more about it they don't want to give us al the details and there is no script,' Chris said.

'Well what I can tell you is while it will be a relative TV show you will be given characters to play.' Johnny said.

'But that doesn't really make sense.' Cassandra (Joey's girlfriend) remarked.

'There is going to be a full story line and it is depicting the life of these created characters and their everyday lives. So we will try it with 1 season first, hence the reason why you're being given the year off for it.'

'However it is not just every day life it is targeting because your characters will also be given a similar line of work to your current jobs.' Johnny replied.

'Oh ok so I get it now.' JC said he leaned forwards his hands rubbed together.

'They want us to play these roles as just the normal type people that get some big massive break into the big time and then it'll follow the life and times of both sides or something to this effect.' He said seeing Johnny nod his head to confirm it.

'That sounds pretty cool I think, everyone always wants to know about what goes on in you guys' lives all the time this would give people that opportunity.' Kristen (Chris's girlfriend) said.

'Exactly right.'

'Well if that were the case then they could have just suggested doing like a behind-the-scenes type TV instead of this.' Justin said.

'Justin we are talking about a regular TV spot here aside from your own careers so think about it,' Johnny said pointedly.

'I do have one more surprise for you,' he added everyone looked with keen interest.

'The producer asked me if your girlfriends would be interested in being part of the show.'

'OH MY GOD!' Jessica, Kristen, Melanie (JC's girlfriend) and Cassandra exclaimed they looked at each other with wide eyes their boyfriends were also quite shocked Johnny was amused by the reaction he received.

'So what do you say girls are you keen?' he asked.

'Yes, yes! Absolutely yes!' the four girls cried hugging each other and squealing uncontrollably.

'Hey don't we get a say in this?' Justin said Jessica poked her tongue out at him.

'Nope!'

Johnny looked over to Vickie she just sat silently looking on with arms folded over her chest still with the scowl on her face.

'Westlife, I am more than happy to have you involved as I told your manager last week, so now you know some of the details discuss it over with him and get back to me. You are, regardless of your decision more than welcome to stay and watch the filming when it starts although I am still to clarify a date for it.' He replied.

'So can we go?' Chris asked he was getting tired of the girls' excitement.

'Yes you can however Vickie I'd like a word with you in private first.'

'Yeah sure,' she agreed, everyone else began to file out of the room with the *NSYNC girlfriends still talking of doing the TV show they just couldn't contain their excitement; the debate already starting to rage over their possible characters. Johnny and Vickie were left in the room alone she turned to look at him.

'Do you want to tell me why you are not so happy?' he asked she shrugged.

'Its just a TV thing Johnny not a big deal. I'll just do whatever it is they tell me I guess.' She answered.

'If you really aren't happy I can ask the producers to get a casting call.'

'No it's not necessary I can manage.'

'Well you are obviously not happy about something whether it has to do with work or personal I don't know but I can't have anyone under my care being un-happy.' He said.

'It is also best I let you know now I am aware you had the affair,'

Vickie looked up at him sharply the shock clearly visible on her face.

'You spied?' she exclaimed.

'I had no choice.'

'Excuse me, you had no choice? That is my privacy and what the hell I do away from here is nobody's business!'

'We have had concerns from a few people about you in the past few months Vickie and it is a concern for me and my business. We pride ourselves on being the best and having excellent standards, and if this is being tarnished in anyway I will step in.' He said. Vickie too angry to speak calmly stood up from her seat spinning on her heels she quickly stalked from the office and she made sure to slam the door hard on her way out. She was a mission nobody was about to stand In her way right now; she found the group in the main foyer on the ground level and impatient to get down there and deal with it Vickie took the fire exit stairs. She roughly pulled the heavy door open stormed out into the foyer she ignored the girls and headed straight for him. He didn't see her coming until the very last second when her fist made contact with his cheek. He staggered back the pain vibrated through his face he put his hand to his cheek looking at her in disbelief.

'Vick—'

'Don't start!' she yelled.

'I'm tired of hearing some pathetic excuse you have, every time you've done something wrong you always play the innocent card and act like the whole world owes you the apology. You're the one with the real issue and you just can't get over it, I don't want to hear anything more of what you have to say don't waste your breath.' She snarled.

'As of now this thing, us, whatever you want to call it its over. You hear me. OVER!' She yelled louder. He only managed to stare at her weakly unable to comprehend anything his head a mess and the pain in his cheek just causing him to be more confused. Vickie still ignored the others though she knew they'd be very shocked by this and she stepped around past him to the main entrance of the building kicking the door open with her foot. All of the guys looked to each other as did the girls no one able to comprehend in fully what had happened in front of them. Joey cleared his throat slightly he stared at Lance who was next to him his eyes cast down to the floor and his hand to his cheek.

Mark lazily flicked through the various programs on the hotel TV his mind not at all on the programs, he kept wondering about the incident earlier today in Johnny's office building. From the way Vickie had expressed her anger in front of everybody he knew he was in a bit of trouble too. While those guys didn't know the details of him and Vickie it was just a matter of time; he also couldn't help but wonder if the roles were reversed it may have been him being attacked.

Knock! Knock!

'Mark can I come in?' Nicole said.

'Its open.' He said.

Nicole came into the room she sat down on the foot of the bed turning away from the TV she looked at him, he gave her a quizzical look in return.

'What?'

'What are you thinking?' she asked.

'Nothing just trying to get my head together after today, everything is a mess and you know I do feel a little bit responsible.' He answered.

'Do you still like her then?' Nicole asked she knew she should trod carefully because like Vickie, Nicole knew Mark would beat around the bush and try to avoid the question. She watched his reaction as he at first kept staring at the TV acting as though she wasn't in the room, and then he looked out the window before eventually giving Nicole his attention again.

'Yeah, I do.' He said.

'Great so why don't you tell her?'

He let out a defeated sigh at the same time ran his hand through his hair.

'Nic you know I've already tried that approach, and it didn't come to much I'd rather not go down that road again.' He answered.

'So you're just going to give up and instead hope Vick may change her mind at some point?' she asked.

'No.'

'Then what?'

'I don't know.'

'Oh come on Mark, you can't just tell me you still like her but not do a thing about it.' Nicole answered.

'That is just it though I really don't, what happened you know did but I think we knew we couldn't expect too much,' he answered Nicole sighed in exasperation.

'You two are un-believable! Maybe I should bang your heads together to try and get some sense knocked into you.' She remarked Mark looking at her in bewilderment couldn't help but laugh at her exasperation.

'It is probably not a bad idea could do with the help,' he said.

'In all seriousness Mark you have to think about it decided what you want and just go for it; don't let stupid things get in the way of what you know will make you happy,' she said.

'Ok and I know it is all very easy to say but hard to do, but it shouldn't ever stop you, as you say you do feel a bit responsible for what happened so why not go out there and change it,'

Nicole got up off the bed headed for the door she didn't wait for him to say anything and slipped outside he stared on after her and her words still lingered in his head. He got off the bed turned the TV off and decided he needed to take a bit of a walk just to clear his head and get his thoughts straight. He gathered up his phone the room key and his wallet strolled over to the door pulling it open he stepped back surprised.

'Vick?' he said alarmed.

She still looked clearly upset though not quite as bad as earlier at the office looking back at him she smiled faintly.

'Hey.' She replied. Mark for several seconds was unable to get his brain to register this properly, confused by her outburst and now being here it hadn't clicked yet.

'Um…do you mind if I come in?' she asked.

'Yeah, yeah course sorry.' He answered moving immediately letting her come into the room he closed the door.

'So is everything all right?' he asked.

'No.' She sighed.

'Not at all.'

She walked over to the window and just stared outside.

'Its about today,' she remarked interested by her comment Mark joined her by the window he looked at her sideways she just kept staring outside.

'When I totally went off at Lance I know everyone wasn't expecting it and you're all wondering what its about,' she said.

'Curious yeah.' He said. Vickie moved away from the window and sat down on the bed tucking her legs under her body Mark turned as well though stayed where he was by the window looking at her wondering if he actually wanted to hear what she had to say.

'He's been cheating on me.' She said. Mark blinked he tilted his head to one side a frown began to appear on his face.

'Wait…what?'

'It's been going on for a while maybe even before I was overseas; though I can't be sure I just do know it definitely was going on when I wasn't here,' she answered she looked down at her hands Mark came and sat down next to her and she looked back at him.

'Guess that must make you feel a bit better,' she replied he gave her a shocked look.

'What would you make you think that?' he asked he felt a bit hurt she shrugged.

'Maybe because of…well you know…what we did.' She said.

'Yeah.'

Now it was Mark's turn to look down Nicole words were once again circling in his head.

'I um…I actually wanted to talk to you about that.' He answered.

'Ok.' She said she watched him get up and begin to pace around the room she could tell he looked as though he had something bothering him and didn't know how to go about sorting it out.

'What did you want to say?' she asked. He inhaled a deep calming breath he really hoped what he was about to say would make sense, he also hoped he would hear an answer one he wanted but he knew the chances weren't very high.

'Mark?' she said.

'Ok so what I am asking is if things were different in some way, like if you didn't have your boyfriend—' he paused seeing her make a face the second he said it.

'Well yeah I just wondered if maybe things might have worked out.' He replied she stared at him a slight frown on her face.

'What do you mean?' she asked he sighed.

'Please don't make it like you don't know Vick cause I know you do. There was something there I know it and so do you.' He answered. She stared down at the floor trying to get her head around everything that has already happened she didn't want to have to tell him if things could have been different she didn't even know the answer to it.

'Honestly I don't know what you want me to say. With the benefit of hindsight we can take a guess at the possibilities' but we'd never know for sure. All I know at least at the moment is, if I didn't know you then none of this could have happened.'

'But at the same time I am also glad it did otherwise I wouldn't have found out what my idiotic boyfriend has been up to behind my back.' She added with a frown crossing her face.

'What have you found out so far?' Mark asked changing the subject slightly.

'Well I know he's been leaving at night and coming back the next morning most of the time, although he tries and switches his routine when he can because he's avoiding suspicion. There is no way he would just go out and drink himself stupid, he only ever does when the guys are around but he's been off on his own; and Jessica happened to overhear a conversation he shared with Justin, something about his ex-girlfriend Danielle.' She answered.

'Were they really close?'

'Yeah very close I don't know how long they were together but it seemed to be quite a while, she even used to work with me but funnily enough I had no idea who she was and he never exactly told me until I had to find out.' Vickie added Mark shrugged his shoulders.

'Have you asked him about her then?' he asked.

'No.'

'Well sort of, I want him to just come right out and say it so he can admit it himself but he hasn't yet,'

'Then why don't you ask him straight out if you back him into a corner then he won't have a choice.' Mark replied she shook her head now getting a new idea.

'Actually I have a better idea and it is something Johnny said to me.' She said smiling slightly he burrowed his eyebrows giving her a curious look.

'I'm going to spy on him.'

'Vick, I don't know if that is such a good idea.'

'Why not? Johnny did it to me when I was away.'

'He—wait what?' Mark looked alarmed her words registering in his head she quickly put her hand up.

'Don't freak out Mark; he only said to me he knew I wasn't just working when I was away he didn't exactly say anything else so I doubt he knows it had to do with you or that you were even involved so you're pretty safe,' she said he looked doubtful.

'What if he knows but he isn't telling you?'

'Then why would he have invited you guys over?'

'Ok.' He said.

'So lets assume he doesn't know and now you want to spy on Lance so how do propose to do it?' he asked.

'Well obviously I can't do it because it would be too obvious but if you did or you came with me then it might be easier,' she replied he still didn't look very convinced if it was such a good idea.

'Look if you really don't want to do it then its fine its not as though I am expecting you to say yes,' she added.

'No, no I'll do it I don't mind.' He answered she cocked her head.

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah it could be interesting to see if this all turns out to be true.'

'Yes.' She said.

'It will be. I know he is not so innocent as he is leading everyone else to believe.'

'Ok you get ready we got somewhere to go.' She added getting up off the bed she got her phone.

'What are you doing?'

'Just making a phone call. Jess is the one who knows a bit more than the others and I got to get her on her own away from the others that way she is free to talk,' Vickie replied she headed for the door stepping aside leaving Mark alone to get ready; he leaned his head against the window and sighed deeply, still with Nicole's words echoing in his head he knew he had to do something, he just wasn't sure when was the right time.