17
Jude
"Olivia, wait!"Jude called after Lucky as she ran out the elevatordoors.
He wanted to chase after her, explain everything to her, but he knew from experience that after such a crazy day, she needed some time to herself. Plus he had no choice but to deal withDonna.
"Oh Jude, that's so cute," Donna said. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about her, I'm sure you'll tap that ass soon enough. Youalwaysdo."
Jude gritted his teeth, wishing he wasn't stuck in an elevator alone with her. Every part of him despised Donna. They rode the elevator in an uncomfortable silence until it reached thelobby.
"What are you doing here?" he seethed with anger as he turned back towardsDonna.
"I already said, I was worriedaboutKat."
"I know you, Donna. This has nothing to do with Kat." Jude stared at Donna menacingly. "And how dare you call yourselfmywife."
"Why? That's whatIam."
"Only because you refuse to sign the papers. We never even livedtogether."
"Doesn't matter. I won't sign until I get what I deserve,"shesaid.
"You don't deserve anything. You got enough from me when I agreed to sign that shitty contract youdrewup."
"Is that why you're on the baby's tour? Did Uncle Richard offer to break your contract? He's become shrewder with age,Isee."
"Did I hear my name?" Richard joined them. He looked at Donna with annoyance. "Really, Donna? Why are you here? What do you want?"Richardsaid.
"I'm worried myclient--"
"Shut the fuck up. We all know why you're really here," Richard said. "Now if you don't mind, I have a tour I need to get back on track. Where'sLucky?"
"Donna told her--" Judebegan.
"I got it," Richard put his hand up. "You know, Donna, this girl is the real deal. She's talented and much too sweet to have to deal with the likes of you. I did you a favor by putting Kat on the tour. Yes, I wanted eye candy, but I could've gotten that anywhere. Besides, I was wrong about Lucky. She's real, she's not plastic. Women can relate to her and based on what's been going on, plenty of men want her. I don't know what I wasthinking."
"You know someone so young needs someone to help hernavigate--"
"Donna, let me put this in the simplest way I can for you. Kat is off the tour and Black Dog will never work with you ever again. If you show up anywhere around Lucky, there will be helltopay."
"But Uncle Richard, how could you? We'refamily!"
"I could care less that we're related, you've taken advantage of that for far too long and it ends now. You don't care about the artists, you just want theirmoney."
"But--"
"Leave," he growled. "And take that poor excuse of a keyboardistwithyou."
Donna looked defeated. Jude had never seen her look so lost and vulnerable before. He wanted so badly to feel sorry for her, but he couldn't. He had no compassion for her. She had done nothing but ruin his life since he first met her. Looking at Donna's face, her expertly applied makeup and perfect outfit, he wondered what he ever saw in her. She was proof that he fell in love tooeasily.
He thought about Lucky and his feelings for her. But were they true? Maybe he blindly loved her just as he did Donna. Regardless, he had too much baggage. Lucky deserved much better than him. Just as Donna deserved whatever she got fromRichard.
Richard waited for Donna to walk away before turning to Jude and pattinghisback.
"You're a good man, Jude," Richard said. "Thanks for taking care of Lucky for me. I knew she couldn't handle the paparazzi just yet. Especially not when they smell freshblood."
"Yeah well, it wasn't that long ago I had my first run-in with them," Jude said. "They can be brutal when they don't get whattheywant."
