Harry and Dana Devlin looked to Lance for answers, Lance stared open-mouthed after his friend.
“What’s his problem?” Bryan asked, wrapping his arm tighter around Natalia’s waist.
Lance turned to the group. He didn’t know what was going on but he was going to have words with Justin. “I’m sorry about that.”
Natalia disentangled herself from Bryan’s arms. “Lance don’t apologise, I think this is my fault.”
Bryan turned to her. “How was that your fault?”
She took a deep breath. She wasn’t willing to go into details, especially not with Bryan and his parents present. “I kinda know Justin.” Lance looked at her in puzzlement, he obviously wasn’t aware of the cat and mouse game that her and Justin were playing. “I think he’s mad with me at the moment. I…I’ll go talk to him.”
Before anyone could stop her she stepped in between Lance and Bryan’s parents, and followed in the direction Justin had headed.
“Excuse me, excuse me.” She sighed as she tried to get through the crowds of people in the room. Justin seemed to be furthering the distance between them by the second and the heels she was wearing were not helping in her pursuit.
She saw him go through a door at the back of the room. Not knowing where it lead she pushed through the groups of people gaining looks of irritation. She ignored them though and carried on the chase, not wanting him to disappear.
She pushed open the door and found herself outside in the gardens of the hotel. Hanging lanterns cast the only light. She saw him sitting on a bench off to the right. Cautiously she approached him. “Justin?”
He continued to stare into the darkness and she suddenly felt nervous. He had always been the initiator in their previous conversations. “I…I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She cringed when she heard his bitter laugh.
“That’s funny, you see I didn’t expect you to be here. I guess I know why you were so against trying out for the dancing spot now.”
She bit her lip. He couldn’t know, she hadn’t told anyone. “You…you do?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yeah. I mean why would a stuck up rich bitch want to bring herself down to that level, to work for people like us? That would mean working with someone like me. I’m sure your boyfriend would love it too,” he commented sarcastically.
Her mouth opened and closed, unable to form the right words. “St…stuck up…” What was he talking about? He knew nothing about her and her with Bryan? He must be delusional.
Justin turned to her and rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, I’m sure someone like you can say it. With your money you must have had a good education. Well see if you can understand this. Maybe I don’t want to work with someone like you.” He paused for a second before laughing. It was a laugh she immediately disliked. It was mocking, cruel and it was a side of Justin she had not previously encountered, a side she didn’t wish to know. “Work?” he laughed. “Now there’s a concept you wouldn’t know about.”
He thought she was rich. He thought she was one of them. He thought she was one of those high society snobs inside that room. It was suddenly all coming together. She was consumed with fury. He thought she was one of the very people she despised. “You know nothing,” she ground out.
“Oh that’s where you’re wrong. I think I know enough.”
She held his gaze until it became too intense and she had to turn away. Choosing to step back from the situation she strode back to the door. Once she stepped through that door she would be drawn back into the world of Bryan. She didn’t want that but she couldn’t bear to be around Justin when he was this way.
“Oh that’s right, walk away. You’re good at that aren’t you Nat.” He spoke her name as if she were dirt.
“I’m not who you think I am Justin,” she said calmly.
“So prove it,” he called out as she reached for the door handle. “Drop daddy’s boy for a night and let me take you out.”
She swung around, eyes wide in disbelief. The nerve of him, she had nothing to prove, especially to an egotistical prick like him. “Fuck you Timberlake!”
“Many would love the pleasure,” he called back unfazed.
She yanked the door open and stormed back into the room. Somebody caught her arm and she was all set to turn around and swing at them, assuming it was Justin. She was thankful she didn’t though when she found herself looking into a pair of light green eyes, not the blue she had anticipated.
Lance chuckled. “Whoa there tiger.”
Natalia relaxed her shoulders and gave him a small smile. “Sorry about that.”
“We haven’t been properly introduced, I’m Lance.”
She chuckled. “Yeah I already knew that but it’s nice to meet you, I’m Natalia.”
Lance shook her hand and grinned. “Yeah I knew that too. You seem to be causing quite a stir around here.”
She sighed. “Not intentionally.”
“So you know Justin?” he inquired as they headed back into the throng of guests.
“You could say that.”
“Ex-girlfriend?” he asked carefully.
“No way,” she replied quickly.
Lance laughed. “Don’t sound too happy about that,” he joked.
She shrugged “He has issues with me. We didn’t get off to the best start, I don’t see anything changing anytime soon.”
She spotted Bryan watching her from across the room looking none too happy. She sighed before turning to Lance. “I better be getting back to my “date””, she said sarcastically.
Lance didn’t seem to pick up on her sarcasm and faced her with a warm smile. “I might see you soon then.”
He could tell by the look on her face that she was confused and explained the situation to her. “Johnny, our manager, is going to talk to Mr Devlin about working with us.”
“Oh right.” It would be a good move for Devlin. Although she didn’t care for the family herself their prior success rate spoke for itself. She knew that any deal struck with ‘NSYNC would prove no different. Failure and unsatisfied clients were not satisfactory, that had been drilled into her head from day one.
Suddenly Bryan was at her side. As Lance politely excused himself she fought the urge to grab him and tell him not to leave her alone with him.
“What was all that about?” Bryan asked heatedly.
“All what about?” she asked in a bored tone.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her out onto the dance floor, joining the numerous other couples swaying to the dull music.
When he felt her try to push away he tightened his grip and whispered harshly in her ear, “don’t cause a scene.”
She moved stiffly with him. She noticed Justin come back into the room and move to his table, his face void of any expression. Bryan followed her gaze and instinctively pressed his body against hers, almost seductively. If the idea weren’t so bizarre she would have said he was jealous.
“Since when have celebrities felt the need to hang out with the likes of you Natalia?” he asked snidely.
She pulled her eyes away from Justin. She tried to overlook his question by busying herself unsuccessfully in trying to force a gap between them. Two men in one night had insulted her value in this world. Justin’s attitude had shocked her, and Bryan…well he could go to hell. She wouldn’t let him upset her, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She was worth ten of him any day…well that’s what she wanted to believe. Even coming from someone as low as him the comments battered her sense of self worth. She had long ago promised herself she wouldn’t make him aware of this though. She needed to remain strong, even if only on the outside.
“Drop dead Bryan.”
He tutted. “ Now, now, remember who you’re talking to.”
The boss’ son, that’s all he was. He was nothing special, just some overbearing creep who got lucky in the money stakes at birth. He held her job in the balance though. Although she didn’t have much contact with Harry Devlin, Bryan Devlin on the other hand she couldn’t seem to get away from. All Bryan had to do was mention to his father that he didn’t think she was doing her job properly and she would be out of there. Mr Devlin didn’t allow for slackers.
Natalia was in no doubt that he had tested his powers in the past. The younger women in the office never seemed to stick around long, especially the quiet or pretty ones. His father had groomed him into a clone of himself…well almost. Harry was a successful entrepreneur but she had a feeling if Bryan was to step into his shoes the business would crumble in no time. Bryan had people covering his back and picking up the pieces after him, left, right and centre. He was very much a “live in the moment” type of person, never taking responsibility and with seemingly no worries in the world.
He ran a finger down her bare arm and leaned in close. “You stick with me Natalia and you’ll go far,” he whispered in her ear.
The feel of his breath on her neck made her shudder in disgust. “Excuse me, I’m going to the bathroom.” She twisted out of his arms and he let her go, aware of the spectacle she could cause, with her at times, fiery temper. As quickly as she could she hotfooted it across the room into the seemingly safe confines of the restroom.
She pushed past the other women applying make-up and gossiping and entered one of the stalls. As she locked it she breathed a sigh of relief.
She’d envisioned a terrible night but this was rapidly going beyond anything she had imagined. Bryan was trying to sex her up on the dance floor while threatening her with her job. Justin had turned psycho on her. She had just been considering giving him a chance and then he went and pulled this on her. She hoped he was happy with himself when he found out what her life was really like. She had to stop and remind herself that he wouldn’t find out though.
Justin sat at the table feeling even lower than he had at the beginning of the night. He picked up Joey’s Jack Daniels and coke and downed it in one go. He shuddered as the mixture of liquids slid down his throat.
He didn’t know why he had reacted in that way. Shock was probably a major contributor. When she had stepped out from behind Bryan he had blinked, thinking he was seeing things.
She had looked beautiful standing there; her skin slightly flushed from the heat of the room. He’d then realised who was by her side. As soon as he’d set eyes on him he knew he didn’t like him. The way he stood, smug, cocky and completely confident, irked him. The way he touched Natalia made him want to rip his arm off. He’d had no choice but to walk away.
She’d followed him. He’d expected Lance to storm after him and demand to know what he was playing at but it was her that had sought him out.
He’d never liked these types of parties; he hated the people who attended them. They all thought they were a class above the rest. But she was there. What did that say about her? Was she like them? She said she wasn’t but why else would she be there? Only the elite attended such functions.
He had money but he had acquired it in an entirely different way to the majority in the room. He’d been lucky enough to get it doing something he enjoyed while entertaining others as well. Money was nice to have but it hadn’t changed him. Maybe the fame had changed him a little. He’d become more cautious, learnt who he could trust and depend on.
Money, wealth, wasn’t the be all and end all in his life; he didn’t throw it around to impress others, to intimidate others. He could have fun with it, buy things he’d never dreamt he could have when he was younger, and treat his brothers. He could still remember when he hadn’t been so lucky though, that kept him grounded.
With Natalia he didn’t know what to think anymore. He’d known her such a short time but she’d shown so many sides to her personality. In the beginning, at the diner, she’d been understandably cautious but she’d been playful. The run in at the supermarket, well she hadn’t been too pleased to see him that’s for sure but her sarcasm had amused him. When Chris had caught her watching them rehearse he’d loved seeing her fumble for a way out. But most of all he’d loved to watch her dance. She seemed at peace when she was alone in that studio moving in a way that made it impossible for him to break his gaze. Unknown to her he had looked in on her every day since their initial meeting. He couldn’t help but wonder if Bryan knew of her passion and if he did know did he care? Justin didn’t think so. Justin on the other hand could relate. He was the same with his music.
Somehow it didn’t fit. She didn’t belong there just as much as he didn’t.
If he was totally honest with himself he knew it was jealousy that had sparked his outburst. The moment he had seen her he knew he wanted to be the one she stood by while he introduced her to people. Now with Bryan in the picture it might have been impossible.
Justin looked up and speak of the devil he saw Bryan alone. Without thinking twice about it he rose from his seat and marched straight to the man in question.
He held his hand out. “Justin Timberlake.”
Bryan raised his eyebrows but grasped Justin’s hand and shook firmly almost as if to silently warn Justin to watch out. “Bryan Devlin.”
If she had it her way she would phone Alexei and get him to pick her up so she could escape this hellhole. The consequences were too big though. The thought of going out there again was working her up into having a panic attack. Her chest felt tight, it was harder to breath and she was extremely warm all of a sudden.
A rapping on the stall door snapped her out of her thoughts. “Okay, okay,” she cried as it continued. She swung the door open nearly causing the woman to fall into the small space.
Natalia looked at herself in the mirror. She suddenly didn’t feel as glamorous. Tears pricked her eyes and she closed them tightly trying to push them away. She felt like a pawn in someone’s game. It was as if she didn’t have a say in her life anymore. Everyone had a part in controlling it other than her. Too many people were depending on her and she felt herself beginning to crack under the pressure.
With a shaky breath she left the room and rejoined the party. She had only taken a few steps when she saw them. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, Bryan and Justin were deep in discussion. Just then she saw Justin look up and she knew there was no escape. Her worst nightmare was coming true before her eyes.
Chapter 9
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