"Cassie, OVER HERE!"

"Mrs. Lyndel, when is your next tour?"

"Cassie, are the rumors true about you relationship with your manager?"

Cass continues walking with a gentle smile on her lips. Her black glasses protecting her from the blinding lights. The security pressing the paparazzi back allowing her to make her way into the recording label. Her blonde hair now perfectly straight down her back. She makes it inside keeping her sunglasses on while hearing her heels click on the polished marble floor. Her two security guards walking on each side of her. She makes it to the elevator and gets on leaving her two guards in the lobby. She is meeting her team on the top floor and doesn't need her security. 

Leaning against the steel wall of the elevator. She closes her eyes and sighs allowing her mask to crumble momentarily. It has been four years since she signed her contract with Marx Records. It has been a world wind experience. Her pop songs rising to the top of the charts and she quickly became the headlines for every magazine. Four years of tours, sold out concerts, interviews and articles. She has written two albums and now is heading to her third platinum record. 

Her parents never tried involving themselves in her life. They said she had become a negative in the public eye for their business. The last time she saw them was three years ago. She never reached out nor did they attempt to make contact. She focuses her sole energy on her music. Her fans are her greatest support system. 

The elevator dings making her come back to the present. She puts on the polite smile again as she straightens her spine. She walks out strong with her head held high. The team already sitting in the conference room. She walks in as they stand up smiling at her. Her producer sitting at the head of the table. 

"Cassie, it's so good to see you love!"

She nods and takes a seat in her chair looking around the room. Her covers for her albums are framed and on display along with a few other artist. Her eyes coming back to Tate, the head of the label. 

"Cassie, I would like for you to meet a new team member here at Marx Records."

Cass follows his hand to the man he is talking about. Sitting in the chair is a man with dark hair and a set of icy eyes. He has a well defined jaw line and strong chin. Cass can say he is attractive to look at. The man in question stands up showing his height easily over six feet tall. His hand comes out but his face still remains void of emotion. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Lyndel. My name is Jackson Fillmore."

Cass shakes his hand giving a tight lip smile and sitting back down. Her eyes moving from the new man back to Tate. 

"I called him hear today because Jackson will be taking over your manager position."

Cass eyebrows furrow in confusion. Her manager is Landon, why are they trying to place a new one on her?

"I'm confused, what about Landon?"

Her eyes remain on Tate who glances at each of the other members in the room before turning back to her. He leans forward in his chair with his elbows on the armrest. 

"Mr. Taylor will be working with a few other artist and with Jackson being new, we thought you would be a good match with him!"

She can tell that's not the reason. Rather than opening her mouth, she gives another tight smile and nod looking to her lap. Her and Landon were in a private relationship but recently she felt he was pulling away from her. I guess this is his way of ending things with her. She brings her eyes back up to the new man in front of her. 

"Well then..." She stands up slowly rubbing down her skirt before looking back to her new manager. "Thank you Mr. Fillmore for joining me."

He doesn't say anything but gives his own nod still studying her. He can tell she was not what he thought. He has worked with enough brats and airheads. Cassie seemed to not fit either one of those molds. She was modest and polite to everyone. He watched her walk away still carrying herself strong. 

Cass makes it to the elevator looking in the reflection to see herself. Sighing loudly she drops her head putting back on her sunglasses. She has only one she can talk to at a time like this. Reaching into her purse, she pulls out her phone speed dialing number one. Putting the phone to her ear, she listens to it ring before it is picked up. 

"Cass?"

"Who else?"

It's quiet for a moment as Cass here's ruffling in the background. The elevator dings and she steps out quickly being flanked by her two security guards. She continues holding the phone to her ear as she hears a door being shut on the other end. 

"How is the sun in Cali?"

Cass giggles feeling the stress slightly leave her shoulders. That is until she catches the sight outside the doors. She takes a deep breath and talks gently into the phone. 

"Can you hold on one second?"

The security opens the door before quickly stepping out to flank her. The cameras begin flashing as the press begin shouting questions at her. She ignores them all making a quick escape to her SUV. Getting in the back seat, all the windows tinted out giving her a little comfort from the madness of her world. She pulls the phone back to her ear as they pull out on to the road. 

"Sorry bout that..."

"No need to apologize Cass." Cass sighs with a genuine smile tugging at her lips. 

"What time is it there?"

"Almost noon. Your already out and about today?"

"Yea, had to go meet the label today."

"Good news I hope?"

Cass chuckles humorlessly. "Yea... no."

There is a heavy pause and Cass knows she needs to elaborate but can't seem to find the strength to do so. She feels the tears coming to her eyes as she squeezes them shut. 

"Cass..."

It's soft and gentle giving her encouragement. She sobs dropping her head into her palm. 

"Landon left me Nat" She sobs letting the tears fall as her friend allows her to talk not daring to interrupt. "He got reassigned to another artist and left me. Not even telling me himself. I had to find out from Tate!"

"Tate...Tate's your producer right?"

"Yea" She says trying to regulate her breathing. Cass has only really trusted one person in the last 5 years and no matter what, true to her word... She answered every call. 

"Listen to me Cass..." Cass rest her head back against the headrest looking out to the crashing waves of the Pacific. "You. Are. Strong."

Cass smiles gently wiping at the tears. Her voice coming out a mere whisper. "I'm not sure anymore Nat..."

"Do you remember six years ago when you were paired with a brunette who was stubborn all to hell and barely ever smiled?"

Cass giggles at how she characterized herself. She remembers that day clear as day. "Yea... I do."

"I told you that I didn't know you and replied..." 

Cass smirked remembering, "Everyone will one day know who I am."

There was a silent pause as Cass took in her past self. She was so confident and sure of herself. That day, she drove Natalia nuts but now six years later and she was still her other half. Cass has had a few public relationships that have ended with her getting her heart broken. Nat was always there to talk her through it and put her back together. It's true that the pair had not seen each other in all these years. Cass has been busy touring and Nat now is busy handling her ranch. Three years ago her dad passed away leaving the ranch to the pair of siblings. Cass wasn't told until months after because Nat didn't want to bring it up while she was touring. Cass was hurt that her friend didn't confide in her but that's just who Nat is. She will bear the weight of the world before passing it to someone else. 

"Cass, you are so much more than you know. Hell I can't go an hour before hearing your voice float through Luke." At this Cass doubles over laughing smiling so wide. That damn truck is still going strong. She allows the laughter to fill her, loving how Nat always knows what to say. "My point is this, you.... are a pain in my ass, a HUGE pain in my ass." 

Cass once again laughs hearing Nat laugh with her. "Yea... I am."

"And I would never want anyone else."

Cass sighs smiling feeling at ease for the first time in weeks. Nat hasn't had to be there in person but she always talks to her. It could be the odd hours of the morning after a concert or when she was hiding away at a party. Her promise still stood from all those years ago. Cass knows if she needed her to be here, she would come but she's not that selfish. 

"I love you Nat"

"I love you Cass... keep killing it and call me whenever you want."

Cass tells her goodbye and slouches against her seat as her brain rewinds showing her the life she has had for the past few years. It has been a roller coaster. Through it all, she had her rock. She couldn't thank Nat enough for constantly being her anchor. 

Her phone rings and she looks down to see it is one of her 'friends'. She declines the call and smiles knowing she still has one true friend. 

Looking to the front, she can see the familiar driver who has been assigned to her for a few years now. He continues glancing back at her to check on her. She has thought of him as some sort of guardian angel. 

"You alright Ms. Lyndel?"

"Peachy king Clifford. Can you take me home please?"

"Right away Ms."