She looked so lost, he thought as they drove silently back to the mansion. Over the last few weeks she'd come out of her shell and had shown him a side of her playful personality that he'd come to adore. He wanted that vibrant young woman back, not this shell of a creature that seemed to cringe at the slightest bump in the road. Never in his life had he met a more compassionate person, and it angered him that all it took was one visit from that piece of shit to destroy her confidence again.
"I know I don't have the right to ask this of you Nolan, but would you mind if I asked Rachel to come visit with me this weekend?" She'd already talked to her on the phone, and knew she was really worried about her wellbeing after the circumstances of last night.
"Of course I don't mind Angela, whatever you need," he forced a smile then focused on the road again, not really knowing how to tell her how sorry he truly was.
She hated the professionalism that seeped into his voice and wanted to scream in frustration that she was still the same person, and beg him to take her in his arms. He deserved so much more though, and she refused to be a bigger burden than she already was on him. She knew it had to be a huge pain to have your ex-lover sharing your house.
He'd increased his security team with a few phone calls earlier this morning, and got a quick report at the gate as they drove through. He vowed that no one would touch her while she was here, and when she moved out he would assign a group of people to her new place as well. "I hired you a personal body guard and he's waiting in the mansion to speak with you. If you don't like him, we can always find another but he comes highly recommended."
"You didn't have to do that Nolan, I'm sure the security you already have in place will be sufficient until I move." She appreciated all the effort he was going through, but didn't feel right about him spending even more money. "I would like to learn to shoot a gun, though."
The thought of her handling a weapon made him feel like even less of a man, but he knew it wasn't his place to tell her what to do. "I'll have Sanders call around and see if he can find a trainer." If she needed to do that to feel safe, then he wasn't about to refuse her. He'd already proved once that he couldn't protect her.
"I'd appreciate that, the sooner I learn to defend myself the better. So what did the police department say about the trespassing charge?"
"They are sending over an officer at noon today to speak with us. I informed them that coming to the station would just have reporters crawling all over the place and they agreed." He didn't add that the lawyer he'd spoken to told him that if the man was invited in, they might not have a case that would hold up in court.
"I'm sorry I brought all this into your house Nolan," she whispered softly, hoping he could forgive her for the added drama in his life.
"Stop it Angela," he said angrily, frustrated at their circumstances and the feeling of inferiority it brought about. "What happened wasn't your fault and I don't want to hear another apology, okay?"
She knew he was furious, and who could blame him, she thought sadly. "Fine, I just wanted you to know that I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
He couldn't talk with her about this right now, he was dealing with his own frustration at losing her. "Noted, now let's go inside and see if your new bodyguard is acceptable." They walked inside the house together neither one of them speaking.
Leonard Newman was definitely not what she was expecting. Angela smiled at the middle-aged man with the buzz cut, accepting his handshake. It was his smile and the light in his coffee colored eyes that really didn't seem to fit the bill for someone Nolan would accept as member of his security team. With the other men that worked in this capacity, they all seemed so impersonal and gung-ho, Leonard most definitely didn't fit into that category as the deep laugh lines around his eyes indicated.
"Ms. Storm, it's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am, I'm Leonard Newman, but please call me Lenny," letting go of her hand, he was pleased to discover she didn't look like the egotistical teeny boppers he'd normally worked for since retiring from the armed services.
His Southern drawl made her feel instantly more comfortable. "Nice to meet you as well Lenny, and Angela, Ms. Storm makes me feel a little old." It was very odd for her to feel she could trust someone instinctively, but this man definitely brought that emotion out.
He chuckled warmly, thinking that maybe he wouldn't have a raging head like he did with the other singing diva's in the past at the end of the day after meeting her. "Thank you Angela and I want you to know that as long as I'm looking out for you, no one will cross any lines." He took his job very seriously, having discovered firsthand how some of these crazy fans could be as dangerous as the combatants he fought in his career.
For some reason she believed him, and even though she hated the thought of Nolan adding on this expense, she hoped having him around would help ease some of her fears about Ronald confronting her again.
"Mr. Newman, let me make it clear that Ms. Storm's safety is my number one priority. Your credentials are without fault, which is why I hired you, but if anything negative happens while she's under your protection I can assure you that it will prove difficult for you to find work in this industry again." Being a nice person didn't matter to him as far as Angela was concerned, knowing she was safe and putting the fear of God into this security member was his only concern.
"You have my word that I would lay down my life before I allow one hair on her head to be harmed, Mr. Fitzgerald." He didn't take offense to the underlying threat offered, he'd expected nothing less from the reputation that preceded this man.
"As long as we're clear on that, then we will work together well. I will have a list of Ms. Storm's upcoming engagements by the end of the week. I expect you to be on call at any time day or night, and just so you understand if you are unavailable during any of those times, you no longer have a job." He'd already dismissed two security team members after the fiasco last night and had no problem firing anyone if they failed to do their jobs.
Angela was shocked at how rude Nolan was being, and knew she needed to step in. "Lenny, thank you so much for agreeing to protect me, I'm sure we'll get along just great and that you know how to do your job." Glaring at Nolan, she shook her head. She wanted to smack him in the head for the way he treated this man.
"I take my job very seriously, Mr. Fitzgerald, so I'm sure we won't have any issues." He'd lost his own daughter to a violent attack, and inevitably his wife when she couldn't cope with the grief of that loss. He knew more than most just how sick some people in this world could be, and understood that in this business the groupies could be even crazier.
With a curt nod of his head, Nolan concluded this interview was over. "Ms. Storm will have your number, and I'll have that list for you soon, you're dismissed."
Lenny smiled at Angela before walking out of the room, and Angela was beyond livid at the way he'd been treated. "Honestly Nolan you could cut the guy some slack."
Rolling his eyes at her naivety, he took a deep breath to control his mood. "Listen Angela, I know I probably came off as a total ass, but I know if you don't set the right mood with these people they'll get you killed." She didn't understand the seriousness of the world she was walking in yet, or the people that would make her stepfather seem like a saint if they managed to get her alone.
"I would think people would work harder for you if you didn't treat them like some idiot with the IQ of a school kid." She rolled her eyes right back at him, frustrated already by the circumstances and just spoiling for a reason to argue.
Already angry that he was losing her, her comment sent him right over the edge. "Maybe I should have offered him flowers and chocolate, and then took him out to dinner?" Couldn't she comprehend that he was trying to keep her safe? He'd already failed her once, he damn sure wasn't going to allow it to happen again.
Stomping her foot, she wanted to slap his arrogant attitude right out the door. "Maybe you should learn a little human compassion Nolan, not everything in the world centers a
round you being the boss." She wasn't even sure what they were fighting over at the moment. She was pissed off that he didn't want her for himself anymore, but still felt like he had to protect her, and angry at herself for not being enough to make him want more.
"How far did that human compassion get you last night with your stepfather Angela?" Even as he said the words he wanted to bash his head into a wall. The look of pain on her beautiful face was enough to make him sick, and once again he failed her. "Damn it baby, I'm sorry."
Holding up her hand, she shook her head. He obviously wanted to hurt her, and needed to put distance between them. "Let's just stop here Nolan," giving him no time to respond she walked upstairs, not sure where she was supposed to sleep now that she wasn't sharing his bed any longer, she found her way into one of the spare ones and slammed the door behind her. Frustrated at the entire scenario, she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs how unfair this all was. Pulling her phone out of her purse she called Rachel, needing advice.
Rachel answered the phone groggily, not normally accustomed to getting up before noon when she worked the night before. The pain in her best friends voice had her wide awake instantly though. "What happened hon?"
Angela gave her the full run down on what was going on with her and Nolan, and she agreed to take some time off work and make it to Las Vegas tonight. A huge part of her just wanted to go back home, and forget this whole music business and heal over her break up with Nolan, but she'd signed a contract. The dream did not seem like the paradise she once thought it would be now, and maybe she just wasn't meant to be this person, she told Rachel miserably.
"You will stop this self-pity right now Angela," Rachel told her firmly, refusing to allow her to do this to herself. "That asshole Ronald is not going to take away any more of your life, and if Nolan Fitzgerald can't see what he's losing by giving you up, then so be it, but you have a destiny and I'm damn well not going to let you give that up over any man."
She'd known that Angela hooking up with Fitzgerald was a mistake, and he'd now made it to the third most hated man on her list of people she'd like to beat the shit out of. Rachel was not going to allow any of them to take away her friends dream, even if she had to stand between her and any other idiot that tried to bring her down again.
"I'm going to get the first flight out there Angela, and you are going to sit tight and not make one more decision until I get there, okay?" This was intervention, she thought to herself. If Angela couldn't fight for herself, then damn it, she'd take up the slack and get her back on the right track again.
"I don't even know what they're paying me yet Rach, and I know you don't have the money to miss this much time off work or pay for the flight." The last thing she wanted to do was put her best friend in arrears over her failures.
"When I get there we'll sort all that money crap out, and don't you worry about me baby girl, I'll be fine." She could grab some extra shifts at the bar to cover the flight when she got back, and finances weren't going to keep her away from the one person in this world she considered family.
They'd always lived week to week, struggling to pay the bills, but even that wasn't going to keep her from doing the right thing by her best friend. "You just keep your chin up Ang, I'll be there soon and all of this will seem like a bad memory."
Tears streamed down her cheeks at how much her best friend was willing to give up just being there by her side. "I'm going to make this up to you Rach, I promise." There was so much she owed this incredible woman, and the debts just kept increasing.
Rachel laughed softly, "Just making sure you're okay is worth it to me baby girl, now let me get off this phone so I can get a flight out of here." With all her experience in the bar industry, she decided if this turned into an extended stay, she could probably find work at one of the casino's there.
"I'll see you soon, Rach," they said their goodbyes, and for a brief moment, she felt the panic recede knowing with Rachel here everything would work out just fine. Knowing how much she was willing to risk by flying out here, she decided to walk downstairs and at least find out what type of income she was making so she could hopefully repay her for the loss.
She found Nolan in the studio, and he stopped playing the piano the moment she walked in. "Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to discuss my salary with you and let you know that Rachel is coming in sooner than I thought."
He'd completely forgotten to discuss her account, and again reminded himself that he needed to get his head focused where she was concerned. "Let's walk up to my study, I have all that information there." At her nod, he led her out of the studio, into the other room. Opening up a file cabinet, he pulled out her contract and the bank account information he'd signed her up for.
When she saw the numbers on the accounting paperwork, she almost fell out of her chair. "Nolan, surely there's some mistake here?" Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was more money than she'd ever even contemplated having in her life, so to say she was shocked was the understatement of the year.
"It's accurate, after the release of the first album you'll receive royalties when we've matched the initial investment." He handed her a folder containing her bank card, check book, and all the forms she would need to take over the account.
She was completely blown away, this type of money could keep her and Rachel out of debt for the rest of their lives, she thought. "You're going to have to help me out here Nolan, because I don't understand how you can offer me this type of income without knowing we'll sell at all?"
He chuckled self-derisively at her comment. "Believe me when I tell you Angela, with me backing you, this will be chump change." In truth he felt a little guilt for not advancing her more because even with the sold out venue of the band she was opening up for, this was a small fraction of what her earnings would be this year.
Sitting back in the oversized chair, she tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she was no longer poor. "I don't know what to say," she couldn't put it out there more accurately than that, she thought, it had never even occurred to her that making this kind of money was possible before.
"Tell me it's not enough and you're going to work your ass off to triple it that would be a start." He was so happy to see a smile on her face that he would have signed over his entire bank account just to assure she kept that look forever.
"Are you kidding me? I've been working for three hundred a week or less since I started my first job, this is like hitting the lottery!" She couldn't help it, she squealed.
Her mood was infectious and he chuckled. "Well hell Angela, if I knew that was all it took to make you happy I would have paid you earlier."
Just like that her happiness evaporated, and she studied him seriously. "Nolan, promise me this isn't personal, and this is what you normally give singers you've signed." She was ecstatic over having the income, but there was no way she could take it if he was paying her off.
He wished he had stuck his foot in his mouth over his last comment when he saw her smile fade. "I promise you it's not personal Angela, this is the standard I offer anyone that I've decided to sign." He didn't mention that he usually put out a few test demos on the market before making that decision with other artists, because he didn't want her to think she was getting special treatment.
With a sigh of relief, her smile was replaced. "Well in that case I want to spend money." Grinning at the ability she had to buy anything she could possibly dream up, she felt for the first time she was finally safe from poverty.
"Where would you like to go," shaking his head he smiled, pleased that this small thing had made her happy again. He ached to take her in his arms and beg her for another chance, but if he couldn't have that, at least he could make her life a lot less stressful than it had been before she met him.
Throwing her head back, she laughed again. "The funny thing is I have no idea what to spend it on." The show had already given her a new wardrobe, and living here with Nolan, she didn't have to worry about furniture or food, so s
he couldn't think of anything she truly needed at the moment.
"That's probably a good thing at the moment, we still have the officer coming over at noon and what time is your friend coming in?" He hated to bring up the negatives at that moment, but it was a reality they had to face.
She'd completely forgotten the police report with all the excitement about her new wealth, but oddly enough it didn't drag her back down into the panic mode she normally felt when things were stressful. "She's trying to arrange a flight, so I'm not sure, and you're right I want to file that report."
"Call her back and tell her not to worry about booking a flight, I'll have our pilot meet her at the New Jersey terminal whenever she's ready." There was no reason for her friend to take a commercial flight when they had a plane on standby at the studio.
"Seriously?" Angela grinned, and thought even though she could now afford to pay her back, it would probably be much more fun to take a personal plane. She was amazed the studio even had something like that.
"Seriously." He chuckled, once again caught up in her happiness. He watched as she dug out her cell phone and quickly explained to her friend what the situation was, and enjoyed the animated excitement on her face as they talked.
"Rachel wants to know if four would be alright, she's got a few things to take care of before she leaves town?" At Nolan's nod of agreement, she quickly gave the go ahead and hung up the phone.
"I really appreciate you doing this Nolan, the flight would have cost half our rent," she admitted sheepishly.
"So you and Rachel are really good friends?" He wanted to know everything about her. He knew from past conversations that Rachel had taken her off the streets and given her a place to call home, but other than that they hadn't discussed her much.
"She's my best friend," Angela smiled warmly, thinking about how close the two of them were. "I know I told you before that she took me in when I had nowhere to go, but she also helped me get my GED and helped me find a job. We've been inseparable until I came here so it's been really hard without her."
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