! KILLSHOT !
( a nicholas alexander chavez fic )

LUCKY, MARLEY AND LUCY'S SHARED APARTMENT
new york, new york
october 14, 2024
tuesday
11:15am

i groggily opened my eyes, the bright morning sunlight streaming through the window. my phone suddenly rang on the bedside table, jarring me awake completely.

i glanced at the screen and saw my mom's name flashing across it. i couldn't help but roll my eyes as i answered. "hello?" i said, my voice still rough with sleep.

"lucky! what on earth were you thinking?!" my mom's voice came through the phone, almost making me wince.

i sat up, rubbing my eyes. "nice to hear from you too, mom," i said sarcastically.

"don't get smart with me," she said. "you fire reagan, like it's nothing?!"

i was about to respond, but i paused. i realized nick was nowhere to be found in the bed.

i got up from my bed and was about to walk out of my room to look for him when my mom yelled, pulling me back into the conversation.

"do you know how hard it was to find her? she's a damn good manager!" she explained.

i pinched the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache coming on. "yeah, for someone else, not for me." i said bluntly.

"and what makes you think that?!" my mom asked, her voice sharp.

i walked out of the bedroom, following the smell of coffee into the kitchen. "because she's toxic," i said, not bothering to sugarcoat anything. "she constantly tries to manipulate and control me, and it's exhausting."

i spotted nick in the kitchen making breakfast shirtless. my heart fluttered a bit at the sight of him.

"and she only ever cared about my career," i added. "she didn't even bother to get to know the person behind the persona."

as i spoke, i couldn't help but watch nick as he moved around the kitchen, his back muscles flexing as he cooked. it was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

"she doesn't need to know the person!" my mom snapped, her voice pulling my attention back to the conversation. "she needed to make sure you stay relevant!"

i rolled my eyes, my patience wearing thin. "mom, you're missing the point. she cares more about my damn image than my wellbeing."

nick glanced over his shoulder at me, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips as if he could tell i was stressed.

"and what do you think keeps you relevant?!" my mom shot back, her tone verging on hysterical. "your image is your well-being, lucky! without that, what do you have?"

"two famous parents for starters!" i snapped back.

"that's exactly right!" my mom said. "and we worked so hard for you to have all the opportunities you have."

"i know you did," i said, trying to keep my tone even. "and i'm grateful for it. but that doesn't mean i'm going to let people walk all over me just to stay relevant." i saw nick give me a sympathetic look as he continued cooking. "i will start looking for new managers right now, cool?"

my mom was quiet for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by my response. "fine," she said finally. "but don't come crying to me if this backfires."

i let out a frustrated sigh. "i won't." i assured her.

"and try to pick wisely," she added. "don't do something completely moronic like pick an inexperienced friend."

i rolled my eyes at that. "mom, i'm not an idiot." i said, trying to keep my annoyance at bay.

"don't be stupid." she said bluntly.

before i could respond, she hung up, leaving me standing there dumbfounded. i let out a frustrated growl as i tossed my phone on the counter.

nick, still shirtless, looked at me with concern. "that bad, huh?"

i practically collapsed into one of the barstools with a sigh. "you have no idea," i said, running a hand through my bedhead. "she's pissed that i fired reagan."

nick put a plate of pancakes in front of me, the smell of the food bringing a small smile to my face. "i could've guessed that much, considering she hired reagan."

i took a bite of pancakes, their sweetness making my mood improve slightly. "she's convinced that i can never be successful without reagan, and she's probably gonna disown me after this."

nick scoffed, sitting down next to me with his own plate of food. "she'd never disown you, even if she's pissed at you. she's just being overdramatic."

i let out a huff of laughter, "i don't think it's an exaggeration when i say my mom is the queen of melodrama."

nick chuckled, reaching out to ruffle my hair. "well, i guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." he teased.

i swatted his hand away with a scoff. "very funny, jerk." i said with a smirk, giving his shoulder a playful shove. "thanks for breakfast by the way."

he laughed, "you're welcome, lucky-ducky." i swatted at him again for the nickname and he dodged it with a grin. "just try not to let your mom get to you, alright?"

"easier said than done." i said with a sigh, "she wants me to find a new manager...and fast. which means i have to spend your last day in new york manager searching."

nick pouted at that, "i was looking forward to today, you know?"

i smiled sympathetically. "i know, but trust me, i'll be spending almost every second of the day looking for someone. i doubt we'll have much quality time together."

nick's expression changed from pouting to concerned. "you're not gonna drive yourself crazy looking for someone, are you?" he asked, his tone gentle yet worried.

i gave him a small smile, my heart fluttering a bit at his concern. "no, i'll be careful. i promise." i said, reaching out to give his hand a reassuring squeeze.

nick squeezed my hand back, his gaze not leaving my face. "i'm being serious, lucky." he said adamantly. "i don't want you to run yourself ragged trying to find someone."

i couldn't help but grin at his protectiveness. "i know you're being serious," i assured him. "and i appreciate your concern. i'll take a break if i need it, i promise. but i have to find a new manager soon. i don't need my mom riding my ass any more than she already is."

nick sighed, clearly not happy with the thought of me stressing myself out. "i can see why your parents are so stressed out." he joked, lightening the mood a bit.

RENTED OFFICE SPACE
new york, new york
5pm

it had been hours, and i was getting frustrated. i've had several managers come in for interviews, but i couldn't bring myself to sign a contract with any of them.

i was sitting in my rented office, contemplating if i should take a break, when a small knock came at the door.

i sighed, calling out, "come in."

the door opened and a brunette woman in her early thirties entered the room, her 5'6 stature and bright smile putting me slightly at ease. she wore a white ralph lauren dress with a pink valentino trench coat over it.

"lucky?" she asked, her voice smooth and pleasant.

i stood to greet her, plastering on a polite smile. "that's me." i confirmed, gesturing for her to sit down.

she smiled at me and walked over to the couch. she sat elegantly, crossing her legs at the ankles and folding her hands in her lap. "i'm cindy." she said ever so politely.

"it's nice to meet you, cindy." i replied, settling back in my chair.

i couldn't deny that i was already impressed with how put together she was. her demeanor and style screamed class. i could practically hear the old money dripping from her.

"i know you must have seen lots of managers already," cindy said, giving me a sweet smile. "so i'm not gonna waste your time. i know you want someone who'll have a good eye for business."

i nodded, "i really would just like to hear about you...what makes you stand out from those other candidates?"

cindy's face lit up at the question, her eyes sparkling. "well, for starters," she said, a hint of confidence coming through. "i'm not just some manager who's only in it for the money. i genuinely care about my clients, and i want to see them succeed. i graduated from smith college with honors in business management." she explained. "i also handled most of my family's investments, which is a good example of my knack for business."

i was impressed. cindy was exactly what i was looking for. business savvy, but still caring and devoted to her clients.

i leaned forward in my seat. "and tell me...how do you feel about your clients' relationships?" i asked, testing her ability to balance business and personal life.

cindy's expression softened. "oh i'm all for relationships." she said, a hint of dreaminess in her voice. "i think love is what truly makes the world go round, if you know what i mean."

my eyebrows raised at that response. i had a feeling i knew exactly where this was going. "okay, what about your personal life?" i asked casually, hoping she would take the bait.

cindy's face brightened, "oh, you couldn't have asked a better question. i'm currently happily engaged. my fiancé is the love of my life, without a doubt." she gushed.

i couldn't help but laugh internally. bingo. "i'm gathering you're a bit of a romantic then?"

cindy nodded, a dreamy expression on her face. "oh, absolutely. i've always been something of a dreamer. i think i read one too many fairy tales as a little girl." she confessed with a laugh.

i chuckled at that. "so...you think love is one of the most important things in life, hm?"

"absolutely." cindy said emphatically. "love is what makes us human, you know? it's what gives us purpose, and it's what keeps us going, even in the darkest times."

i considered her words for a moment, mulling them over while i picked up her portfolio. it was full of her past successes, some of which were pretty impressive.

i paged through the folder, making sure to get a good idea of just how business savvy she was.

there were client success stories, a list of her previous clients, and a few other things in the folder. as i read more, though, one thing became evident.

cindy was good at her job. really good.

i closed the folder and looked up at her, my expression thoughtful. there was one more thing i wanted to know before i decided on anything. "cindy," i said slowly, "why do you want to work for me?"

cindy's face lit up at the question. "oh, where do i even start?" she said, her eyes sparkling. "you're beautiful, successful, and you have this air of cool confidence that's just so admirable. but what really draws me to you, lucky, is your passion...your drive. you have this fire in you that's impossible to ignore, and i just know we could accomplish so much together."

i was a bit surprised by her answer. most of the managers i've met were all very business minded, focusing on how much money we could make together.

but cindy seemed focused on my success and my passion, not just my money.

"that's refreshing to hear," i said honestly, tilting my head to the side. "most managers who come in here only care about how much money i could make them."

cindy shook her head, a look of distaste on her face. "oh, i don't like that at all." she said firmly. "i don't judge people by their wealth. i judge them by their character. money isn't the only thing that matters in this world, you know." she then paused, "plus i have so many ideas for you that i think would be beneficial."

i leaned forward in my seat, my interest piqued. "oh really? such as?"

"i think you need to start your own business." cindy suggested.

i was caught off guard by that response. "my own...business?" i repeated, my eyebrows raising. i wasn't sure i had heard that correctly.

"mhm," cindy confirmed with a confident nod.

and with that i knew. i knew she was in it for me. "you're hired." i said as i held my hand out to shake hers.

cindy's eyes widened in surprise. "wait, really?!" she asked, her voice almost gleeful.

i couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "really. you're the first person who has an idea other than 'endorsements, walk fashion weeks, and get magazine deals.'" i said.

cindy's face lit up as she stood to shake my hand. "oh, you won't be disappointed, i promise." she vowed.

i laughed, her excitement slightly contagious. "i have faith in you, cindy. when can you start?"

"right now if you'll let me!" cindy said eagerly. "my fiancé won't mind at all. he'll be here in about an hour, but he can entertain himself."

i chuckled at the thought of her poor fiancé having to entertain himself at this office space. "we can get started soon, but i will warn you. my mom's still pissed at me for firing reagan, so you might have to deal with calls from her. and i know this office space isn't ideal, it's just a rental for the day..." i said.

"don't worry, if your business takes off like i know that it will, you will have an entire office space to yourself with workers." she said with a confident smirk.

I let out a soft laugh, her confidence almost endearing. "you sure are confident, miss monroe." i said with a small, crooked grin. "do you always get what you want?"

cindy shrugged at that, "i wouldn't say i'm cocky, i'd say i'm self-assured. i have faith in my ideas, and besides, i'm a good judge of character." she explained. "and you, lucky clarke," she pointed a manicured finger at me. "are going to be just fine."

LUCKY, MARLEY AND LUCY'S SHARED APARTMENT
new york, new york
8:30pm

"honeys! i'm home!" i announced jokingly as i entered the front door.

lucy and marley sat on the couch like always, "shhh," marley shushed me. "your boyfriend is sleeping." she whispered.

"i can't believe he goes to bed this early." lucy said with a laugh.

i nodded, "i know, he's like a grandpa. but i love it." i said with a shrug. "i kind of feel bad though..."

"why's that?" marley questioned.

i sat down on the other couch, letting out a sigh. "i feel like i haven't given the days he's been in new york my all." i confessed. "and today i spent the whole day looking for managers, when it was his last day in new york. he leaves tomorrow morning and i can't help but feel shitty."

"well it's not your fault you've been busy." lucy pointed out. "you know that he's not really mad about it. he just doesn't want you to burn yourself out."

"how was he when i was gone?" i asked the two.

"he was fine." marley said, trying to sound nonchalant.

i raised an eyebrow at that. "was he just fine, or was he being pouty and mopey?" i asked, knowing my boyfriend.

lucy giggled at that. "he was being a little mopey. like a puppy who'd been left alone without their owner." she teased.

i let out a soft laugh, imagining nick sulking on the couch without me there. "ah, poor baby," i said jokingly. "i'm gonna go to my room." i said as i got up from the couch.

"are you going to say goodnight to nick?" lucy asked innocently.

i paused. on one hand, he would be pissed if i woke him up. on the other, i really wanted to see him.

"we'll see." i said as i entered my room.

i sat my phone and purse on the dresser, contemplating on whether or not i should wake nick up.

on the one hand, he would probably punch me. on the other, he'd really just grab me and pull me down to snuggle with him.

"ah, screw it." i said with a shrug.

i walked over to my bed where nick slept soundly. i sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to stroke his cheek.

"nick?" i asked gently, not wanting to startle him too much.

nick let out a sleepy mumble and shifted slightly in bed. he always looked so cute when he slept, his lips slightly pouted and his cheek smooshed against the pillow.

i couldn't help but let out a soft 'aw' at the sight of my boyfriend all sleepy and pouting.

"he's just too cute to bother right now." i thought to myself as i stood from the bed, heading into the bathroom.

i quickly stripped out of my clothes and climbed into the shower, letting the hot water soothe my stressed muscles. i let out a soft sigh of relief as the water hit my skin, tension from the day slowly releasing.

~~

after about 20 minutes of showering and getting ready for bed, i emerged from the bathroom, my hair damp and a new pair of pajamas on.

i walked over to the bed, laying on my side.

i let out a sigh as i snuggled up to nick, burying my face in his chest. even asleep, he smelt like a mix of cologne. i wrapped an arm around his waist, my eyelids starting to feel heavy.

i felt the tension and stress from the day slowly melt away as i drifted closer to sleep. nick's body felt warm against mine, his breathing deep and steady.

i let out a soft sigh of contentment, feeling more relaxed than i had in days.

as i was just about to fall asleep, i was jarred out of my dozy state by nick's sleepy voice, muttering into my hair. "you're finally back..."

i let out a soft laugh, moving to look up at him. even in the dimly lit room, i could see the sleepy pout on his face and the tiredness in his eyes.

"sorry," i mumbled, running a hand through his hair gently. "did i wake you up?"

"only briefly." he replied, his voice still groggy from sleep, "didn't think you were going to say goodnight."

"i had meant to." i said, a hint of humor in my voice, "but you just looked so cute i couldn't wake you up."

he chuckled at that, his eyes still closed. "i hate that you're a sucker for my face."

i shrugged, not being able to deny it. "and i hate that i'm gonna not be able to see this face the second you go into the airport." i teased, poking his cheek.

"don't remind me." nick mumbled, his eyes still closed as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

"i'm sorry i wasn't around today." i said softly, almost inaudible.

"don't apologize," nick mumbled back, his eyes slowly opening as he looked at me through the darkness. "i know you were doing something important...how'd it go by the way?"

"good, i think." i replied, a hint of hopefulness in my voice. she was different from other managers, a lot more sincere. "i found a new one...her name's cindy. and she seems promising. at least she has a lot more ideas than 'endorsements and walking fashion weeks.' "

nick chuckled at that. "well that sounds like a start." he hummed, his free hand moving to play with a strand of my hair.

"she wants me to start my own business." i said with a smile.

nick raised an eyebrow at that, his hand pausing briefly from playing with my hair. "her first idea is starting your own business?" he asked, intrigued.

"mhm," i said with a nod. "apparently i have a 'drive' that you don't see in people in this industry often." i explained. i couldn't help but feel a little excited by the idea, a small flame of hope sparking inside me.

nick let out a hum at that, seeming to think it over. "you're determined and charismatic, that's for sure." he said, his eyes drifting over my face, a slight frown making its way across his lips.

i could feel the concern radiating off of him like heat waves. "what's that look for?" i asked, poking his chest.

"i'm just gonna miss this determined and charismatic girl." he admitted.

i let out a soft laugh at that. "you're such a sap." i teased, poking him in the ribs this time.

he let out a laugh, trying to swat my hand away. "stop that," he mumbled as he caught my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.

"goodnight, nicky." i said as i kissed him softly.

"goodnight, baby." nick mumbled, kissing my forehead.

i snuggled closer to him, my head resting on his shoulder. i let out a deep sigh, feeling content and warm in his arms. i felt as juniper jumped on the bed, snuggling with us.

~~

a/n

okay so thoughts on cindy?? face claim for her is kristin davis (2000's)- the pics can be found on the cast chapter.

small drama coming up

hope you guys are loving thissss...40k reads is insane. love you all 🙏😘