During the roughly 20 minute ride to the nightclub that had been rented out for tonight, Amanda asked the men to tell her a bit more of what she should expect.
“This is thrown by the record company, so there will be everyone there from the label, to our staff and theirs, to celebrities, to the press, to…well, basically, anyone. It’s a pretty big deal. The club holds close to 800 people and it’s been closed to the general public tonight.”
She turned to Jon. “800 people?”
He nodded, “Yeah, 800, 850, not really sure, but it will be crowded.”
Richie agreed. “Don’t be surprised at anyone you see as the guest list changes every year. And, don’t worry, babe, you look gorgeous. You’ll fit right in.”
She shook her head. “Got it – be cool now, throw up later!” They both looked at her and she smiled. “I’m kidding, guys!”
The limo pulled up to the entrance of a club that was packed with people outside. It might have been closed to the general public, but that didn’t stop the public and those members of the media not invited inside from swarming there to see who was arriving. The car stopped, the door was opened and Richie got out first. Jon was next and then he assisted Amanda in getting out. Flashbulbs exploded as the two men were recognized and women and a few men screamed out their names.
Taking Amanda’s hand in his, Jon started down the walkway to the entrance. Richie flanked Amanda from the other side. They were both in their protective mode and made sure she was firmly between the two of them. Pausing when asked, photographs were taken and all three smiled. Jon never let go of her hand as he could feel her slight trembling. Richie smiled and joked, trying to take a little of the focus off Amanda as he also could sense her unease.
Fortunately, as this was a private party, they did not have to answer questions from the media, only provide poses and soon they were entering the nightclub. Jon turned to Amanda, smiling at her.
“See? Not so bad, right?”
“Nope, not so bad.”
He whispered to her. “You’re a really bad liar, you know that?”
That earned him one of her genuine smiles and she felt the tension drain away.
Moving more into the room, the two men were greeted by their friends and other industry people. Jon introduced Amanda to everyone who came up as his girlfriend, holding her close the entire time. Richie stuck with them for a little bit and then wandered off to see where the other guys were. A man from the record label dragged Jon into a discussion, asking if they were working on their next album and when Jon thought it might be ready for release. Making a motion that she was going to get a drink, Amanda excused herself so they could talk.
Wandering over to the bar, she ordered a glass of white wine and stood there with her back to the bar. She was watching the people in the room, enjoying having a moment to herself to acclimate to this new environment. Someone approached her and she turned to find Matt standing to her side. She stiffened a bit, but didn’t move off and didn’t look away. He ordered a drink and then turned to her. He took a deep breath.
“I understand I owe you an apology.”
She didn’t say anything, just waiting for what he would say to her.
“Apparently I received some bad information and I took it out on you.”
She nodded. “Um hum.”
“The main reason I wanted to apologize is that no matter what information I thought I knew, I had no right to speak to you that way. I really am sorry.”
She gave him a small smile then. “Apology accepted.”
Even though Jon had been deep in conversation, he remained aware of Amanda’s whereabouts and when he saw Matt approach her, he quickly excused himself and hurried to the bar. Coming up behind her, facing Matt, he put his arm around her waist.
“Hey Matt. What’s up?”
“Hey Jon. Just apologizing.” Giving a bit of a lop-sided grin he looked at Amanda and his brother. “Not sure it was accepted, though.”
Jon gave Matt a bit of a hard look. He was still pretty ticked at him and didn’t intend to make this easy.
“Well, when you call a lady you’ve never met a slut, she might be a little reluctant to take an apology at face value.”
“Shit! Jon, Amanda, I’m really sorry. I was wrong.”
Amanda put her hand on Jon’s arm, letting him know with a squeeze that it was okay. Jon took a deep breath.
“Amanda, this is my brother, Matt. Matt, this is the lady I love, Amanda.” Both turned to look at him, then at each other. Amanda extended her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Matt.”
“You too, Amanda.”
Matt still felt some remaining awkwardness and after a little bit of superficial conversation, he excused himself. Amanda turned to look at Jon.
“Were you trying to be a little tough on him?”
“Yeah, I was. He overstepped his bounds. No matter what he heard or thought he knew he had no right to talk to anyone like that. I want him to remember it.”
Jon ordered a wine and was then again dragged away. She smiled at him.
“Babe, it’s okay, go work the room.” He smiled at her and moved off.
Amanda made her way to the ladies’ room while Jon was occupied. There was one other woman in there and both said hello to the other. Amanda freshened up after using the facilities and noticed the other woman seemed to be hanging around, not really doing anything women usually do in the bathroom. Nodding at the woman again, Amanda went to open the door. The woman moved in front of her. Cocking her head, she excused herself, but the woman didn’t move.
The shorter woman, a bit on the heavy side, with rather plain features, looked at Amanda with what could only be called hatred in her eyes.
“I want you to know that Jon is mine. He’s always been mine. He screws around with whores like you, but he always comes back to me.”
Amanda backed away from the woman, concerned as they were the only two in the bathroom.
Keeping her back to the door to hold it closed, the woman continued.
“This is thrown by the record company, so there will be everyone there from the label, to our staff and theirs, to celebrities, to the press, to…well, basically, anyone. It’s a pretty big deal. The club holds close to 800 people and it’s been closed to the general public tonight.”
She turned to Jon. “800 people?”
He nodded, “Yeah, 800, 850, not really sure, but it will be crowded.”
Richie agreed. “Don’t be surprised at anyone you see as the guest list changes every year. And, don’t worry, babe, you look gorgeous. You’ll fit right in.”
She shook her head. “Got it – be cool now, throw up later!” They both looked at her and she smiled. “I’m kidding, guys!”
The limo pulled up to the entrance of a club that was packed with people outside. It might have been closed to the general public, but that didn’t stop the public and those members of the media not invited inside from swarming there to see who was arriving. The car stopped, the door was opened and Richie got out first. Jon was next and then he assisted Amanda in getting out. Flashbulbs exploded as the two men were recognized and women and a few men screamed out their names.
Taking Amanda’s hand in his, Jon started down the walkway to the entrance. Richie flanked Amanda from the other side. They were both in their protective mode and made sure she was firmly between the two of them. Pausing when asked, photographs were taken and all three smiled. Jon never let go of her hand as he could feel her slight trembling. Richie smiled and joked, trying to take a little of the focus off Amanda as he also could sense her unease.
Fortunately, as this was a private party, they did not have to answer questions from the media, only provide poses and soon they were entering the nightclub. Jon turned to Amanda, smiling at her.
“See? Not so bad, right?”
“Nope, not so bad.”
He whispered to her. “You’re a really bad liar, you know that?”
That earned him one of her genuine smiles and she felt the tension drain away.
Moving more into the room, the two men were greeted by their friends and other industry people. Jon introduced Amanda to everyone who came up as his girlfriend, holding her close the entire time. Richie stuck with them for a little bit and then wandered off to see where the other guys were. A man from the record label dragged Jon into a discussion, asking if they were working on their next album and when Jon thought it might be ready for release. Making a motion that she was going to get a drink, Amanda excused herself so they could talk.
Wandering over to the bar, she ordered a glass of white wine and stood there with her back to the bar. She was watching the people in the room, enjoying having a moment to herself to acclimate to this new environment. Someone approached her and she turned to find Matt standing to her side. She stiffened a bit, but didn’t move off and didn’t look away. He ordered a drink and then turned to her. He took a deep breath.
“I understand I owe you an apology.”
She didn’t say anything, just waiting for what he would say to her.
“Apparently I received some bad information and I took it out on you.”
She nodded. “Um hum.”
“The main reason I wanted to apologize is that no matter what information I thought I knew, I had no right to speak to you that way. I really am sorry.”
She gave him a small smile then. “Apology accepted.”
Even though Jon had been deep in conversation, he remained aware of Amanda’s whereabouts and when he saw Matt approach her, he quickly excused himself and hurried to the bar. Coming up behind her, facing Matt, he put his arm around her waist.
“Hey Matt. What’s up?”
“Hey Jon. Just apologizing.” Giving a bit of a lop-sided grin he looked at Amanda and his brother. “Not sure it was accepted, though.”
Jon gave Matt a bit of a hard look. He was still pretty ticked at him and didn’t intend to make this easy.
“Well, when you call a lady you’ve never met a slut, she might be a little reluctant to take an apology at face value.”
“Shit! Jon, Amanda, I’m really sorry. I was wrong.”
Amanda put her hand on Jon’s arm, letting him know with a squeeze that it was okay. Jon took a deep breath.
“Amanda, this is my brother, Matt. Matt, this is the lady I love, Amanda.” Both turned to look at him, then at each other. Amanda extended her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Matt.”
“You too, Amanda.”
Matt still felt some remaining awkwardness and after a little bit of superficial conversation, he excused himself. Amanda turned to look at Jon.
“Were you trying to be a little tough on him?”
“Yeah, I was. He overstepped his bounds. No matter what he heard or thought he knew he had no right to talk to anyone like that. I want him to remember it.”
Jon ordered a wine and was then again dragged away. She smiled at him.
“Babe, it’s okay, go work the room.” He smiled at her and moved off.
Amanda made her way to the ladies’ room while Jon was occupied. There was one other woman in there and both said hello to the other. Amanda freshened up after using the facilities and noticed the other woman seemed to be hanging around, not really doing anything women usually do in the bathroom. Nodding at the woman again, Amanda went to open the door. The woman moved in front of her. Cocking her head, she excused herself, but the woman didn’t move.
The shorter woman, a bit on the heavy side, with rather plain features, looked at Amanda with what could only be called hatred in her eyes.
“I want you to know that Jon is mine. He’s always been mine. He screws around with whores like you, but he always comes back to me.”
Amanda backed away from the woman, concerned as they were the only two in the bathroom.
Keeping her back to the door to hold it closed, the woman continued.
“You need to get out of his life because he’s only going to dump you, just like the others. Jon has always comes back to me and he always will.” She sneered at Amanda then, a wild look in her eyes, then swung the door open and disappeared.
Rut roh!
Psycho bitch makes her dramatic entrance! LOL!
I'm glad Amanda didn't let Matt off too easily-he needs to think before he speaks!
I'm thinkin' that woman is delusional and Amanda better watch out! She sounds like she's trouble-okay-on to the next chapter and thanks for not leaving us hanging...
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Maryann, honey, ain't gonna happen. Looking forward to the CPB interactions. Wondering, though, why didn't Jon have this taken care of already? He knew it was her... Aaahhh, all will be revealed I hope... LOL
Oh Maryann you just made the biggest mistake of all. You don't threaten someone Jon loves. Now I hope Maryann gets exactly what is coming to her, in spades.