| Chapter Nineteen |
| "No, I'm sure that would be fine, we aren't sure yet, I'll call you as soon as I know, thanks." She rubbed her forehead in frustration then motioned as if she was choking someone, causing Justin to chuckle at her antics. "I know and we are very sorry, ok, ok, let me call you back, yes I will, thank you, bye." She threw the phone down as if the caller would beckon her back if she didn't rid of it fast enough, then turned to Justin. "Who was that?" "Teen magazine, they are very upset that you had to cancel the interview and photo shoot." She looked through the papers before her on the coffee table, from where she sat next to it on the floor. "Oh, sorry." He put a hand to her shoulder, rubbing it lightly. "It's not your fault Justin, they had planned for NSYNC to be the cover story and now they have to find a new one. They're just stressed, they'll get over it." She flipped through a few more papers then dialed Johnny's number for his input while Justin flipped through the channels. "Where's JC?" "No idea, he had something to do." She had gotten Johnny's opinion, and had moved on to writing up a rider with all of the guys revisions on her lap top. "Brianne, I'm bored. Let's do something." Justin turned off the television and dropped the remote onto his lap. "I'm sorry Justin, I have a meeting in an hour." "With who?" "Johnny." She saved and printed the new rider, ready to take it to Johnny for approval, then gathered her other papers and set them in her briefcase. "Can I come?" He pleaded, leaning toward her with puppy dog eyes. "If you're up to it, of course." She looked expectantly at him, wanting to know if he was ready. "Let me change my clothes." He was standing before her, changed, hair done, and shoes in hand a few minutes later. "Come on, I want to stop for gas before the meeting." "Good morning, Brianne, Justin." Johnny motioned for them to take a seat, then took his own seat behind the desk. "Good morning." Brianne set her briefcase on her lap, then began shuffling through the papers. "Good to see you out and about." Johnny turned his attention to Justin, while Brianne looked for the revised rider. "Thanks, I feel a lot better." "Here you go, sir." Brianne handed Johnny a packet of papers, consisting of the rider, the new biographies, and a few other things he had asked for. "Thank you, and call me Johnny." He flipped through the pages, glancing briefly at each one. "Of course." "Brianne told me about the problem with Teen magazine, I think I have a solution." Justin leaned forward, throwing Brianne a reassuring glance when she tried to interject. "Go ahead." Johnny turned his attention to Justin, sliding the papers to the side. "Ok, I'm fine enough for the interview, but maybe they could just do head shots for the photo shoot." "If you are sure you are well enough to do it." Johnny's look grew uncertain and Justin leaned in as far as he could with out hurting himself, then continued. "As long as Brianne comes with us and I'm sure I'll be fine." He settled back into his chair, happy with his bargaining. "Why?" Brianne turned to him, astonished she would have anything to do with his well being. "Because you're the one watching over me." "Are you willing to go with them?" "Of course, I'd be more than happy to." Justin was more than happy with her answer, resisting the urge to stand and hug her. "OK, it's settled, try to make the appointment for as soon as possible. Call the other guys and tell them when and where to be. Oh, and I set a file on your desk, some stuff that came out over the weekend, damage control and an official statement please." He dismissed them with a wave of his hand, and Brianne led Justin to her office to find the file. "Oh no, Justin." She handed the file to him, shocked at the newspaper inside. "It fucking figures." He threw the file back onto her desk after looking through the tabloid story. "I'll get it straightened out." She placed the offending object into her brief case, then started for the door, expecting Justin to be behind her, instead he slumped into a nearby chair. "I don't fucking believe it, I can't even have my appendix out without it being twisted." He ran a hand along his face, trying desperately to wake himself from this nightmare. "Justin, you and I both know you didn't overdose on cocaine, we'll get it straightened out." She kneeled next to him, putting her hands on his knees for comfort. "It doesn't matter, people have already read it." The pain in his eyes made her settle into her desk, pulling the file from her briefcase, then looking for the number in her phone book. Justin tried to speak when she dialed the number, but she held up a finger to tell him to remain quiet. "Hello, I need to speak to the head editor, thanks. Hello, this is Ms Carlson, NSYNC's publicist. Yes we have seen it, I suggest you immediately withdraw your comment, and not with a one paragraph revisal on the last page, I want your revisal to be just as eye catching as your first comment. Justin had his appendix out, and I really do not appreciate you twisting the story. I know you didn't come right out and say he did, but you compared his appearance to that of people who had been admitted to hospitals for overdoses, causing people to think that was why he was there. I want it in your next issue, front page news or you will hear from me again. No, have a good day, good bye." She threw the phone back into it's cradle, then stood and rounded the desk. "Thanks." "No problem, bubba." "I wonder where JC is." He linked his arm with her own, then led her to the elevator. "No idea." She was really starting to let it bother her now, he had been so secretive when she had asked where he would be. She walked through the lobby, arm in arm with Justin, not really paying attention to what was going on. Before she knew what had really happened, Justin was standing above her laughing as she splashed around in the fountian she had fallen into. "Smooth." He teased as she tried unsuccessfully to remove herself from the water as everyone in the lobby looked on. "What the hell is wrong with me?" She asked retohrically, finally pulling herself from the water and out the door, Justin a few steps behind her. "That was funny, I wish the other guys would have seen it." Justin tried to contain his laughter but it finally came full force as she looked at her car with a confused look. "It's going to get wet." She whined, ignoring his comment. A look of relief came over her as she remembered her work out clothes were in the trunk, along with a towel. She quickly threw it over the seat then deposited herself in the car, embarassed and wet. |
| *Thursday morning* |
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