Nick's P.O.V:
I tap my fingers on the wooden desk top as I stand by the reception and watch the hotel employee type away on her computer. I look back at Olivia and smile at her, making her smile back at me before I turn my back towards her.
"Sir, you don't have a booking." The woman shrugs. From the corner of my eye, I see Olivia get up and make her way towards me.
"Nick?" Olivia says. "What's wrong?" She asks.
"They've given our hotel room away." I say, making the employee cut in.
"Sir, your name would have come up on our system if you did book a room." The employee says, making me roll my eyes.
"Is there available room at all?" Olivia asks.
"There might be a fe-" She starts but I cut her off.
"No need." I say quickly. "We're not staying here." I add.
"Nick." Olivia sighs.
"We're not staying here." I repeat as I walk away, pulling my wife close behind me. "We shouldn't have to wait an hour for their own mistakes. Come on. We'll find another place to stay, love." I say.
"There are no other hotels around here." Olivia says as we walk out. "I'm tired and it's raining." She sighs. "Why can't we stay here?" She asks.
"I'll call up a friend of mine, we'll stay at his until we book a hotel room tomorrow." I say as I take out my phone. "That's if he's home-" I add, making Olivia cut in.
"I'll call up someone. She lives around here." She says as she take's my mobile phone since I changed my sim.
"Oh yeah? Who do you know around here?" I ask as she dials away.
"Rose." She shrugs and smiles up at me before she places the phone against her ear.
Bingo!
***
I lean back into my seat as I watch Olivia and Rose laugh together as they eat. We've been here for the last hour now. Rose was suprised to see me but didn't say anything and greeted me like an old friend. She's even letting us stay. She's acting like nothing happened. Like she didn't kill Chris and Karla.
She's heartless and cold.
Rose's eyes drift away from my wife who is leaning back into her seat and controlling her laughter and looks at me. Rose and I lock eyes for what feels like forever. I expect her to look away but instead, she raises her brow and tilts her head to the side. I look away from her and around the room.
She must have security outside her house or cameras somewhere otherwise she wouldn't be this confident around me. She knows why i'm here but hasn't really made a move to kick me out since Olivia is always there which I don't understand why because Olivia was in on it too.
"Excuse me, I need to freshen up." Olivia stands up.
Finally!
"Bathroom is upstairs, second one on the left hand side." Rose says.
"Thank you." Olivia smiles. I keep my gaze fixed on Rose as Olivia stands up and walks towards me. She places her hand on my shoulders as she leans down to peck me on the lips. "Loosen up. You look like your ready to kill." Olivia whispers before she walks away.
Oh kill, I will do love.
I clear my throat as I sit up and look away from the door way and at Rose who's waiting for me to speak. I watch her as she picks up her wine glass and leans back. We stay quiet for a few seconds before she breaks the silence.
"Olivia and you look happy together." She states.
"We are." I lie as I shrug lightly.
"Hmm." She nods before she stands up. I watch her gather up the empty plates before she walks out of the dining room. I quickly stand up and reach for the knife by the bread and place it in the back of my jeans.
I clear my throat and sit back down quickly when I hear her heels clicking down the hallway. Rose smiles at me widely as she walks back in. I watch her as she gathers up the plates.
"So, what do you do for a living?" I ask.
"I...Work in the music industry. I work along side managers." She shrugs. "But you should..." She slowly trails off when her eyes land on the bread plate. She glances up at me and then down at the the place where the knife was. I watch her clear throat as she tucks her hair behind her ear.
"You were saying?" I place my hand ontop of the table.
"You should know all about my job." She says. I stand up and gather the rest of dishes as I follow her out the dining room and into the kitchen.
"Ahh...That I do." I say. "You ruin people's life with contracts." I say and hear her let out a laugh.
"Hmmm....I make their lives better." She says.
"Better?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You ruined all of us!" I yell. Rose lets out a laugh at my little outburst before and shakes her
"You know, Olivia and Jay told me a lot about you." She points her finger at me. I clench my jaw lightly as I watch her laugh in amusement. "Now you Nicklaus, I feel sorry for." She says. "I heard Tessa stopped speaking to you Chris and Karla are....well gone." She shrugs.
"Shut the hell up." I say quickly. "You don't get to say their names!" I point at her.
"Poor Nicklaus." She pouts. "He is back to being lonely again-" She doesn't get a chance to finish her sentence when my anger gets the beat of me. I grab her by the neck and slam her face ontop of the counter, making her fall onto the ground with a painful groan. She lets out a laugh as she backs up against the wall. "That's it Nick, lay your hands on me again you wuss. Beat down a defenseless woman!" She raises her voice. I get a good bunch of her hair in my fist and pull her up to her feet.
"You're not defenseless. I saw that pistol sticking out your shirt." I spit.
"And that still give's you the right to lay your fingers on a woman?" She asks. I yank at her hair, making her moan out in pain.
"Did you kill them!" I yell in her face. "Did you leave their kids as orphans and ruined their fucking future!" I scream.
"I think you know the answer to that one." She laughs, making me slam her back into the wall.
"Why?" I ask. She shrugs and smiles and this time I don't hold back. I grab the knife and press it to her stomach. "Why!" I scream, making her laugh again. She's lost her plot. I push the knife into her slightly making her hiss in pain. "Why? What the fuck did they do!" I shout.
"It's not what they did, Nick. It's what Tessa and her 'husband' did." She says.
"But they had nothing to do with the fucking contract." I state. "So why them!" I yell again.
"Nick. Nick!" I hear Olivia scream as she runs towards me and try's to pull me away. Olivia falls back against the floor when I pull my arm away from her and push her away.
"Karla did...And so did you Nick. You tried to get rid of it and me and my friends weren't having that." Rose says, making me look down at her.
"So why didn't you kill me instead of Chris?" I ask. "Why not just me. They had kids. They had fucking kids to look raise where as-" I start and get cut off.
"Where as you didn't." Rose shake's her head. "We wanted to hurt you....Chris was a lesson and so was Karla. A lesson for you Nick. A lesson for Marshall and a lesson for that stuck up bitch you call a friend." She says. "I know about your drinking problems. I knew you would be a mess after we killed them....After I killed them." She says. "Your life is ruined. Tessa's life is ruined. Karla's life is...Well she doesn't have one anymore and as for Marshall, he'll be ruined too if he doesn't stick to the contract." She says.
"And Chris? He didn't even know about it." I shout.
"Oh he did....He knew about us planting that attack at the club where Tessa lost-" She says, making me cut in.
"Where she lost her memory....Where I was shot. You did that." I ask and look up at her. I watch her nod before I speak again. "Chris wouldn't have done anything." I say.
"Yeah....I know. He was just...Practice." She shrugs. I tighten my grip onto the back of her hair making her scream out in pain as I dig the knife a little deeper.
"You killed them....You killed them for a fucking contract." I hiss.
"It's all for the contract, Nick." She whispers.
"What part does Olivia have in this?" I ask when I hear her cry as she begs me to leave Rose alone.
"She doesn't....She didn't..." She slowly trails off. I watch her swallow hard as her face turns pale.
"Speak!" I scream.
"She doesn't have a part in it. She doesn't even know about the contract." She says.
"How do you know her?" I ask.
"We're cousins." She says.
"Is that true?" I turn to face Olivia. I watch Olivia nod as she cries.
"Nick. Let her go. Please let her go" She cries.
"I'm not done with the bitch." I state and look back at her. "Talk!" I yell at her.
"I talked Olivia into coming back to you and used her to spy on you but you kept the contract a secret." She shrugs. "I called her every morning to ask about you." She adds.
"So she did nothing wrong." I whisper to nyself and watch Rose shake her head. I watch the blood stain my hands and the knife.
"No...You emotionally abused her for no...R-reason and pushed her away for no reason." She chokes out.
"Nick. Nick please let her go." Olivia says as she walks towards me again.
"She killed Chris and Nick. You heard her say it." I say.
"They'll lock you up." She says quickly. "Please...Please...Nick. please stop. You'll kill her. Please..." She trails off and starts to sob. I look back at Rose when she collapse's on the floor, making the knife clatter on the floor next to her.
I run my hands across my face, staining half of my with the blood on my hands. I drop down on the floor, across from my wife and look at Rose who's gasping for air as she lays on the ground. I stand up when Olivia starts to dial for an ambulance and slowly walk away.
Tessa's P.O.V:
"Mooom!" I hear Iris shout as I feed Jameson Milk. The door creeks open, making me quickly place my finger on my lips. Iris closes her mouth just when she's about to speak. "Sorry." She whispers as she glances at Jameson who's now asleep on my bed. "Pizza's here." She tells me, making me nod once.
"I'll be down in a sec." I whisper back before she closes the door behind herself. I slowly climb off the bed, making sure I don't wake Jameson up for the fourth time now.
I'm not very good with babies so Marshall is usually the one to put Jameson down for his naps or bed time and I put Milo down for his naps and also his bedtime. But if Marshall's on a business trip in the future and i'm left with Jameson I need to know how to put him to sleep. Marshall offered too take over a couple of times when Jameson wouldn't stop crying when I was putting him down for his nap but I refused any help.
I pull open the bedside draw and take out the two baby monitors before I turn one on and place it by his cot and hook the other on to my jeans before I turn the volume up so I can hear him when he cries. I walk towards Jameson and carefully pick him up before I make my way towards his cot. I kiss his forehead before I slowly place him down with a small smile on my lips.
I did it!
I lock the windows and make my way towards the balcony doors. I open the door, making our dog Hunter quickly jump up in excitement as he barks, I quickly hush him as I look back into the room. I don't really have time to look after Hunter but Ryder takes really good care of him. They're never apart.
"Shh Hunter." I place my finger on my lips as I open the door again. Once Hunter is inside, I lock the doors to the balcony behind me before I whistle at Hunter to follow me. Once we're out of the bedroom I glance back at Jameson one last time before I close the door behind me. "Come on boy." I click my fingers, making Hunter follow me. I make my way down stairs and into the kitchen with Hunter behind me.
"Is he sleeping?" Marshall asks as I walk towards him. He pecks my lips before he fills up Milo's glass. I walk over the the sink and wash my hands.
"Yeah." I nod and close the tap before I dry my hands. "I told you I could do it." I smile as I sit down next to Marshall on the high stool.
"Oh, sorry. Iris, honey, go get some wine. We need to celebrate the fact that your mom put a baby to sleep." Marshall says sarcastically, making me nudge him as Ryder and Iris laugh.
"Here you go." Iris holds up the pizza box. I reach out for a slice and place it in my plate.
"Ry, at least leave the dog alone whilst your eating." Marshall says. I watch Ryder play with the dog as everyone else eats.
"How was your day at the studio?" I ask. It's been two days since we last saw our managers and Marshall still hasn't said anything about why he left so quickly that night. He's been busy at the studio so I didn't really get a chance to ask him. The house phone rings, making Iris get up. We watch her answer the phone before I look at Marshall. "Well?" I say.
"It was-" Marshall starts but stops talking when Iris calls me.
"Mom. It's uncle Jay." She places the phone on the counter infront of me.
Jay? I haven't spoke to him since the funeral.
"Hold on." I say to Marshall as I pick up the phone and place it next to my ear. My stomach rumbles as I look down at the pizza. "Hello?" I reach out for the pizza and take a bite.
"Tessa, where the fuck is he?!" Jay yells. Marshall looks up at me when he hears the shouting from the phone. I stand up and walk out of the kitchen and into the living room. "I've had enough of your whole bullshit!" He screams.
"Woaah....Calm down. Are you drunk?" I ask as I look up at the clock.
It's 2 in the morning in England, why the hell is he calling me?
"I have been nothing but nice to you and Nick." He says. "Imagine my anger when I come home to find ambulances blocking house and Rose bleeding on the fucking kitchen floor!" He yells.
"Ja-" I start and get cut off.
"Where the fuck is he Tessa? Where the fuck is Nicklaus!" He screams.
"I don't know but Nick had nothing to do with it. He's in Detroit." I say quickly.
"He came here with wife and now he's gone. If you're hiding him from me-" He starts, making me cut in.
"Nick would never lay his hands on a woman!" I raise my voice slightly.
"If he is in Detroit, I will come down there and kill him with my bare hands." He hangs up the phone.
***
"It needs to end. I don't know what else to say Tes-" I listen to Leroy speak for the last half an hour without interupting him once, we'll without interupting him until now. I close my laptop shut and make a note in my head to email Nick after this call since my calls go straight to voicemail.
"Why do you want to take him away from me so badly?" I ask, making my manager let out a heavy sigh. "I mean, is it really that hard for you to see me happy?" I ask.
"I want you to see you happy." He states.
"So let me stay with my husband. With my family." I add.
"Tessa. He is not your husband and they are not your family." He says.
"Yes they are!" I raise my voice slightly.
"He is your husband for the contract and they are your children for the contract!" Leroy says.
"No, he is my husband because I love him and they are my kids be-" I start and get cut off.
"Love him? You didn't even know who he was when you were marrying him!" He yells, making me curse at him in Spanish.
"I lost my memory." I state.
"Look, Tessa. I don't want to fight with you." He says.
"Well stop calling me and there won't be any fighting." I say, making him sigh.
"Three hundred million." Leroy says.
"What?" I say in confusion.
"The creators of the contract are offering-" He says, making me cut in.
"Oh shut up, Leroy." I shake my head.
"Are offering you three hundred million dollars to walk away peacefully." He talks over me.
Peacefully? What the hell are they going to do if I don't?
"Why is everything about money to you and to them?" I ask. I hear Leroy let out a long sigh but he doesn't interupt. "Leroy, I don't give a shit about money. I want to live a normal life with a husband who loves me for who I am as a person and not for my money and fame. I want to take care of our kids with him. I want to see them have a bright future, you know? Send them off to college. Be there when they all get married and have kids..." I slowly trail off when Leroy starts to speak.
"If you sigh the contract Tessa, I promise you that I will do everything in power for you to have full custody if you leave Marshall and stick to the contract." He says, making me let out a humourless laugh.
"I want to do all that with Marshall." I say. "I want a normal life, Leroy." I shrug. "Plus...You would have never let me keep Ryder and Iris once I signed the the contract." I mumble.
"Tessa. Please." Leroy says.
"I'm going to hang up now." I roll my eyes.
"I am only trying to keep you safe." He says.
"Have a blessed, blessed day Leroy." I add. I remove the phone and just when i'm about to press my thumb down on the red button, his next four words stop me.
"Marshall accepted the money." Leroy says quickly. I open my mouth to speak but no words come out, Leroy notices that I didn't hang up added carries on talking. "He chose the money over you Tessa." He adds as I press the phone to my ear.
"Nice try Leroy." I shake my head.
"It's nothing but the truth. I talked to Paul this morning." Leroy says.
"I'm going to hang up now." I say, making Leroy quickly talk again.
"He's going to New York to sign a contract this weekend." Leroy says.
"Bullshit." I scoff. "Bull-fucking-shit." I say louder as I stand up from the leather chair.
"Marshall and Paul will be meeting up with the creators." He says as I pace around our home studio. I pick up my warm cup of tea and take a sip, hoping it would calm my heart beat down. "We will offer you the same contract to sign...Even if he has signed his already to leave you peacefully. This contract will stop Marshall from getting close to you and it will stop you from getting clo-" He explains, making me cut him off half way.
"So like....A restraining order?" I say in anger.
"Call it what ever you want. Marshall already agreed." My manager says.
"My husband would never do th-" I start and get cut off.
"You 'husband' is just after money. It's the reason he signed the whole fucking thing and instead of the money we promised you when you first signed the contract, we're give you both ten times more." Leroy raises his voice. "Snap out of it Tessa and grow up! Face reality and get on with your life! That man is leaving you." He hisses. I throw my phone at the wall followed by the tea cup in my hand.
I inhale a large breath as I kneal down on to the ground and scrunch my hair up into my fist. I stand up and open the window, letting the cold air hit my face.
"Calm down, Tessa. He's lying to you. Calm down." I whisper to myself.
"Mom. I heard something sma-" Ryder says, making me turn to face him. He closes the door behind himself and stops a few feet away from me. "What's happened?" He asks, making me shake my head.
"Nothing Ry." I whisper and turn away from him.
"Mom, what's happened." He asks again. I stay quiet this time and look out at the snow as I try to calm myself down. "You're sweating." He mumbles under his breath. He picks up the water bottle from Marshall's desk before he walks towards me. He opens the cap and holds the water bottle out to me.
"Where's your dad?" I ask as I reach for the water bottle.
"Packing." Ryder says, making me quickly look back at him. I place the bottle down by the window sill, making Ryder reach out for it before he holds it infront of me again.
"No thank you, sweetheart." I say and watch him close the cap. "Packing?" I raise my brow.
"Yeah." He shrugs as he sits walks towards the leather chair and sits down. "He said he's going away for the weekend, I thought you'd be going to but it's just him and his manager." He shrugs.
"Did he saw where he's going?" I ask.
"New York." Ryder says, making me nod slowly before I look away from him.