The next morning, I'd just started to drift off when my phone exploded with vibrations.
The second I answered, Emma's frantic voice hit like artillery fire. "Natalie! My God! Mr. Winston bought Harbor Records! He's our biggest boss now! I just got the notification—every deal we had in the works—the UK festival, the New York studio invitation—all canceled! Natalie, is Mr. Winston trying to blacklist you?"
I gripped the phone, fingertips frozen, my brain completely unable to process what she was saying.
"What happened between you two? Natalie, when these rich people want something, they get it. Anything in their way gets crushed without mercy. Right now, Mr. Winston is the steamroller, and we, especially you, are the poor little road! Youunderstand? You need to go apologize to Mr. Winston, grovel if you have to. Whatever he wants, give it to him! Otherwise my career, your dreams, and that little one in your belly—all of it's finished!"
Just then, the apartment door opened.
I instinctively hung up and turned around stiffly.
Richard walked in. He held a thin folder, expression calm, almost indifferent. His gaze swept over my pale face and the phone in my hand.
"Looks like you got the news." He walked to the table and set the folder down. "Natalie, sign this and come back to Los Angeles with me." His voice carried no inflection. "As Mrs. Winston, you'll receive the best care. After the baby's born, he'll have everything he deserves. Your singing career," he deliberately emphasized those words, "can continue. Within reasonable, controlled parameters, I'll make arrangements."
"And if I don't sign?"
"Then I can't guarantee the people close to you will continue living and working normally." Richard's tone grew even softer, but every word froze my blood. "Natalie, making them lose everything would be as easy for me as eating or drinking."
God, was Richard threatening me with Andrew and Emma? I lunged forward, my voice sharp with shock and fury. "You have no right to do anything to my friends! They have nothing to do with what's between us!"
Richard looked at me like I was an unreasonable child. "Natalie, I gave you two months to play your independence game. I even tolerated your constant refusals, lies, and escape attempts. But I'm out of patience now." He stepped forward, his towering shadow bearing down with suffocating pressure. "You have two choices. Come back to the life I've arranged for you, or watch everyone who tries to help you, everyone close to you, pay the price for their association with you. Choose."
I glared at him, shaking all over—half from rage, half from fear. I couldn't believe there was someone this cold, this ruthless, this pathologically controlling in the world.
"Richard," I ground out each word, "you are a complete and total bastard. Despicable, shameless, vile! You think threatening my friends' careers and safety will make me submit? Make me go back to being your obedient little wife?! Dream on!"
Richard looked at me, not a trace of anger on his face. He even pulled his lips into a slight smile. "Good. Looks like you chose the second path." He stopped looking at me and turned toward the door. "Remember, Natalie, whatever consequences your choices bring, you'll have to bear them."
He opened the door and walked out.
I stood there, drained of all strength, slowly sliding down onto the cold floor. I hugged my knees and buried my face.
I don't know how long I sat there. Until my phone went crazy again, Andrew's name flashing across the screen.
A powerful sense of dread instantly gripped my heart. My hand shook as I grabbed the phone and answered.
"Natalie?" Andrew's voice was strained with pain and gasping, background noise chaotic with distant sirens. "I'm... in the alley behind Havana Bar. Something happened... could you... come? I... can't really move..."
"God, what happened? What's wrong?" I shot up from the floor, heart pounding like it would explode. "I'm coming right now!"
I hung up and bolted out the door without even changing, just grabbed my keys and phone.
When I reached the alley behind Havana Bar, police lights spun blindingly. A few people clustered around while cops asked questions. Then I saw Andrew.
He was slumped against some steps, curls matted with dried blood at his temple, multiple bruises on his face, split lip, pressing an ice pack to his ribs.
"Andrew!" I screamed and rushed over, dropping to my knees in front of him, wanting to touch him but too afraid. "My God... what happened? Who did this to you?"
Andrew opened his swollen eyes. When he saw me, he tried to force a smile but winced as it pulled at his injuries. "Hey... don't look like that, it's not that bad... just some drunk assholes who didn't like my face..." He tried to joke. "Maybe my new song was so bad it pissed them off..."
Just then, a tall figure pushed through the crowd of onlookers. Richard stopped beside me, looking down at the battered Andrew, then at me kneeling on the ground, face streaked with tears.
"Looks like your friend ran into some trouble, Natalie." He said flatly. "Need me to call an ambulance? Or contact the best surgeon? I know a few good ones."
I snapped my head up, bloodshot eyes boring into him as all my fear, helplessness, and rage crashed through my last shred of rationality.
"It was you!" I screamed, standing up so violently I stumbled. Richard instinctively reached out to steady me but I slapped his hand away. "You did this! Richard! You cold-blooded monster! You actually had someone beat him up?!"
