Chapter 30

***ONE YEAR LATER***

After the Backstreet Boys wrapped up their album and tour they decided to have a press conference to announce the end of the group.  They also had decided to finally introduce their significant others.  AJ and Casey had gotten married; Howie had been seeing Rachel for three years; Brian and Shannon had gotten engaged; Kevin and his longtime girlfriend Sarah were going to become parents in a few months; and of course the news of Nick and Gwen's engagement, which was the only one that had somehow remained unleaked to the press.  All of the families were also there.

After the announcement of the split - questions about the women sitting next to them began to be asked.

"AJ, how is married life treating you?" a reporter asked.

"Its great, Casey and I are very happy and ready to enjoy a bit of time alone.  I will be releasing a solo album next fall so I am not gone yet," AJ replied.

"Does anyone else have plans for a solo career?" the same reporter asked.

"I have thought about it but I am still not sure," Brian replied.  All of the guys said no, except for Nick, who was whispering something in Gwen's ear that had caused her to giggle.

"What about you Nick - earlier you had discussed the possibility of a solo project..."

"Actually I have other plans," he paused and smiled at Gwen as she nodded as if to tell him to go on, "Gwen and I are getting married next year and we are going to try and enjoy some time out of the spotlight."

Cameras began flashing as another reporter approached the microphone, "OK - this question is for Gwen," he said, knocking Gwen out of her stare with Nick and nodded to the reporter, "It has been rumored that you have a history in the business."

"Thats right, I modeled throughout my teen years," Gwen responded.

"It has also been rumored that you and your brother, Maxwell, we the sole beneficiaries of the Latham Corporation oil fortune after your grandfather's death."

Gwen looked at Nick and he took her hand and rubbed it softly as she answered, "That's correct."

Gwen hated talking about money more than anything in the world.  This was the first time this issue had ever been discussed in public where she was actually answering the questions she was asked.  As she suspected, questions kept firing at her about her family's wealth - everything was brought up from her father's company to the arrangement her and Max had with Forbes magazine.

"Why is it so important to you to keep the amount undisclosed?"

"Honestly I am kind of embarrassed about it.  I just don't think that it is a polite thing to discuss."

"Nick, how did you react when you found out that Gwen was the wealthiest woman in the US and that her family is ranked in the Top 5 on the world financial scale?"

Nick had never heard the rankings before, to her she was just Gwen, money or not.  Still, he was taken by suprise when the reporter said 'wealthiest woman in the US'.  He responded, "It didn't change anything - I didn't find out until I proposed and I would have never guessed had she not told me because Gwen is one of the most down to earth people I know.  As strange as it may sound to all of you, money is not what is important to either of us.  We are in love and just want to be together."

"Will there be a pre-nupitual agreement considering the substantial wealth you both currently poscess?"

"NO!" they said in unison, Gwen followed up by saying, "I love Nicky with all of my heart, we plan on spending the rest of our lives together and I trust him completely."

***AFTER THE CONFERENCE***

"God, people can be so fucking rude!  What happened to manners?" Gwen said to Jane Carter.

"I know honey - you would think that adults, even if they are reporters, should know it is impolite to discuss things like that.  But considering, I am very proud of the way you two handled it, together."

"Thanks Jane, that means a lot.  I just get so uncomfortable talking about it, I don't want people to know and now everyone will know."

Jane pulled her in for a motherly hug to comfort her and said, "Its OK sweetie, that part of your life is over with now."

***MEANWHILE***

"Nick, why didn't you tell us about that money stuff, we could have been prepared," Kevin asked.

"We didn't think it was important - and we were hoping it wouldn't get brought out, which was doubtful considering..."

"Damn, all I can say is that it must be an obscene amount of money if Forbes is involved and she is ranked," AJ said.

"She is really embarrassed to talk about it.  She didn't tell me until after I proposed and the only reason she did is because we were discussing where we were going to live and she said owned her building and a couple of others."

"She owns those buildings on Lombard?" Howie asked and Nick nodded.  All of the guys left the room wondering what kind of money she really had.  Brian stayed behind and looked at Nick, curiousity pouring from his eyes.  Nick leaned over and whispered the amount into Brian's ear.  His jaw dropped, knowing from the look in Nick's eyes that the figure was never to be repeated and the issue was never to be brought up again.

Chapter 31
Story Index