chapter three

I sit with about seven stacks of paperwork around me with barely an opening to get out. Not even my stint as a personal assistant required this much paperwork. I never did like this aspect of the job, it was the interaction with people and the music that I craved. What I thought was going to be so wonderful about this job was explaining that I had the privilege of experiencing being on the outside and watching someone ruin their lives over this shit. Unfortunately, my new stigma has followed me into work.

I was sitting in listen to the AA meetings and sharing a story about Sarah when someone interrupted me, “You’re Justin Timberlake’s fucking girlfriend. What do you know about pain?”

I sat there stunned for a minute, “A fair amount.”

Someone in the back scoffed, “Must be so hard having all that money. My kids were taken from me because I spent all mine on booze. You really want to help? Why don’t you cut me a share of your cash.”

I felt as though someone had slapped me in the face as they all sat there, staring at me and judging. I felt claustrophobic as they seemed to close in on me until Shane, a twenty seven year old recovering alcoholic and partner in the business who helps run the meetings, stepped behind me and guided me out the door and to the conference room. He sat me down and brought me a cup of water, “He was just upset, it had nothing to do with you.”

“Yeah,” is all I’m capable of saying.

Shane helps me to my feet, “Why don’t you go home for a while? Take a break and then come back tomorrow. You still have to get everything ready for next week anyway.”

I nod slowly and gathered my things up in my arm, fumbling for my keys as my hand shook. Shane grabbed my hand and held it firm, “Why don’t I take you home?”

“That’s not necessary.”

“No, I want to. They have it covered in there, come on,” he says, no giving me much of an option since he had already pried the keys out of my hands. We arrived back at the house and Shane insisted on staying since there was no one home and he’s one of those guys who were brought up to treat women like porcelain. That is why there is a stack of papers a mile high and a guy sitting across from me on the floor trying to read though a proposed contract for the new wing.

“Thanks for staying,” I say, looking up at him.

“No problem. We had to do this together anyway. Now is as good a time as ever.”

I smile and go back to doing the number for the budget. I shift, moving to lie down on the carpet when I notice Shane frowning, “What’s the matter?”

“I’m just thinking that this sounds like a really bad idea,” he says, looking hard at the construction plans.

I take off my reading glasses and bend over to see which part of the drawings he’s looking at, “What part?”

He takes a pencil and goes over the kitchen, “This,” he says pointing to the specific area, “It really isn’t laid out very well. Not a good use of space, the cooks will be slamming into each other as they all try to get to the stove. Who okayed these blueprints?”

“That would be….Lexi,” I respond as I find her signature along the dotted lines for approval.

“Obviously she’s never cooked before.”

“It’s not her fault, I must have not noticed when I approved the plans. She was just sent to make a few adjustments to the kitchen from tile to granite.”

Shane ignores me as he flips the other plans over, holding the out to me, “And look at this area of the new wing, shouldn’t there be more windows and a bathroom?”

I take the drawings from him and look it over, “These are not the drawings I originally saw.”

“They definitely look modified to me. And we know for sure that it wasn’t the carpenter.”

I rub my temples, “I sent Lexi to modify the plans but she was only supposed to change the interior décor. Carpeting to hardwoods, granite countertops instead of linoleum and oak cabinets. I never said change the design.”

Shane sighs and sits back on his heels, “Call her and get her in here.”

Fuck. I pick up the phone and go through my address book until I come across her number and dial it. After a few rings she picks up, “Hello?”

“Lexi its Bethany.”

“Oh yeah, what’s going on?” she asks.

“Look, we need to go over the changes you made to the interior of the new wing of New Day.”

I hear talking in the background fade as she must be moving away from whoever she was with, “What did you think? Did you love it?”

This has to be one of the most awkward conversations I have ever had, “Why don’t you meet me at my house so we can talk. Shane is here to and we need to talk.”

“Sure, if that’s what you want,” she says hesitantly.

“Good, do you remember how to get here or do you need directions?”

The car dings in the midst of my question so I know she’s getting in her car, “No, I can find it. See you in ten.”

I hang up the phone and toss it on the couch, “She’s coming.”

“She’s got a lot of explaining to do.”

“I’m sure this is all some sort of misunderstanding,” I respond. Of course whether this is at all her fault or not, it means that is has to be fixed ASAP. Only problem is, Justin and I are leaving for our vacation tomorrow.

After a few minutes a knock comes at the door and I hop up to answer it. I gesture my hand towards the house as I open it, “Come on in Lexi.”

She steps through the threshold and follows me into the living room, “What’s going on?”

Shane holds up some blueprints, “You signed off on these?”

“Yes,” she says carefully.

“And you were the one’s who made the changes?” he probes.

“You mean the kitchen and lounge?”

Shane throws the paper down on the floor and rubs his eyes, “No, to the space station. Of course the blueprints.”

Lexi winces as he snaps at her, “I was told to make some changes.”

“To the countertops, carpeting and cabinets, not to the actual layout of the plans,” I say gently.

“I did,” Lexi insists, “I made all the changes you told me to which sent the price sky high and it was more than our budget. The designer offered to do a few things to cut down on the cost to keep the things you wanted and I signed off on them.”

I subconsciously start playing with the rings on my finger, “You needed to contact one of us before you made any changes to those plans Lexi.”

“Now we have to spend the next few days correcting everything. What are you going to do Beth, aren’t you supposed to be going on vacation tomorrow?”

I bite my thumb nail and shrug, “I guess I’m going to have to tell Justin he’ll have to go alone.” It’s bullshit. I know he won’t go without me. He calls us a unit.

“Wait, let’s not get carried away. Are you guys staying in a hotel?”

“A bungalow, but we could change it.”

“What if Lexi and I joined you up there since all hotels have conference rooms, make the changes and we’ll fly back to New York and leave you two to have the rest of your vacation together?”

I think about it for a second, “That could work. Trace and Gia were going to be joining us anyway.”

“Perfect. You get your vacation and we can get this whole thing settled,” Shane says, standing up and patting me on the back, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Kay,” I respond, watching him leave.

Lexi looks like a wounded puppy, silently leaning against the wall. I clear my throat awkwardly, “Everything is going to be okay.”

“No it’s not. I really thought this is what you wanted, I swear,” she pleads.

I walk over to her, “I’m sure you did. Look at it this way, you and Shane are getting a vacation and getting everything settled once and for all.”

Lexi nods silently. I pick up all the papers off the floor, “We’ll end up having a great time, you’ll see.”

“If you say so.”

“Trust me, we’ll have fun.”

Lexi brightens up a little, “It’ll be cool in Hawaii though.”

“See, no worries. I’ll talk to you tomorrow and get our hotel set up.”

She smiles and leans in, hugging me, “Thanks. I’ll see you.”

I lean against the door as she shuts the door and sigh, sliding down the wood to the floor. Justin is going to hit the roof. As I think the very thought the front door tries to open, smacking me in the back of my head. Justin looks around the corner as slides through the door, “You alright? Why were you sitting there?”

He helps me stand up and I rub the place where the door smacked me, “I’m fine, I was just resting.”

“Behind the door?”

I smirk, “Yeah I do my best thinking there.”

He pulls me towards him, planting a kiss on my forehead and helping me rub my head, “When waiting for me to get home, try the bedroom.”

I roll my eyes playfully, “Thanks for the tip.”

“By the way, Trace and Sam are starting some burgers on the grill for us. I have returned your brother safe and sound.”

He walks me into the kitchen and put a few pieces of ice into a ziplock bag, placing it on the bump that is swelling by the minute. I place my hand on the bag, “Thanks. Why don’t you pull up a seat, I have something to tell you.”

Justin pulls up a kitchen chair and turns it around, sitting down, “What’s up?”

I smile reassuringly and place the bag of ice down, “I am really excited about going on vacation with you tomorrow.”

“Yeah….. me too.”

“Except that something kind of happened today.”

Justin tenses up, “What happened?”

“Le…. Someone screwed up the plans to the new wing and I have to spend the next few days with Lexi and Shane to try and get it all straitened out.”

“Beth come on, this was our vacation.”

“And then I spoke to Shane and he suggested that we get rid of the bungalow, I’ll spend a day or two working it out and then they’ll go home and we can spent the rest of our vacation together.”

Justin groans and I take his hands in mine, “You wanted to fly Trace, Gia and Derek up to see us for a few days and have fun so instead of having them up at the end of the vacation, have them up in the beginning so you can keep busy while I fix this.”

He remains silent for a few seconds before relenting, “Alright.”

I smile, “I swear I’ll make it up to you. We’ll have as much sex as you want.”

“Really?” he responds.

“I can try.” I kid.

His hand goes to my cheek, letting his thumb rub my skin, “I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“Good,” he says, pulling me into his lap.

Trace comes into the kitchen with Sam, “We need help.”

Justin and I look from Sam to Trace, “What’s the matter?”

Trace looks down at his feet, “Sam and I just set the grill on fire and we need a fire extinguisher.”

Justin jumps up, “We don’t have one.”

I stand and quickly go under the kitchen cabinet, producing a fire hydrant, “Here, go put it out before the house catches fire.”

Gia runs in the house with her hands on her hips, “Did either of you morons consider that fact that the hose was inches away and you could have just put it out that way?”

Sam and Trace look at one another, “No.”

Gia throws her hands up in the air, taking the fire hydrant and walking off, followed closely by the boys who want to see if she was actually able to put it out with their own eyes.

Justin looks at me curiously as they run off together, “When did you get that?”

“As soon as we moved in. I’ve seen you cook.”

I try not to laugh as he stands there speechlessly for a minute, “You are so dead.”

I pull at his hand, “Come on, let’s make sure they aren’t going to need the fire department.”

4