Driving back to that apartment was the longest drive in history. So much had been put into my lap. So much had changed in just the time it took to drive into the past and brings things front and center for me to see with my own two eyes. How could I have not seen what was going on right under my nose? How could I have missed that I was brought into the world to benefit them in the long run? It makes me sad that this is how my future nieces and nephews were going to be brought up the same way. If something didn't change, they would live the same life I did. Happy or not. I knew that under no circumstances would my children have to deal with something like a Bloodline. I was happy with my choice. I was glad that every piece of me chose a different path.

The view of downtown New York City was a scene I never got tired of seeing. I loved the tall skyscraper buildings, I love the style and structure of the buildings that only NYC could have. The energy that resides in this city, could never be duplicated anywhere. Growing up in this city was the best way to experience the fast past world that I lived in. Even with all the negative things that have happened in this city, all the heartbreak, all the pain and all the suffering made each person in this country and in the city alone, believe that through anything we as individuals could stand strong and out way anything that came in our paths.

Seeing a shadow of a silhouette of man in your empty New York City apartment was not so comforting. The stories of being mugged and robbed were reality in this city, they weren't just stories. I really didn't think someone could get in this building without some kind of purpose of being in here however at this point you never really know.

I turn to see he was standing at the window looking at the view. My pulse began to calm itself when I saw who was standing there. As glad as I was that it was him standing there I was worried that something had happened to Justin. I hadn't heard from him all day, now that I thought about it. I even sent him a photo of the heels and he never responded.  "What are you doing here?" I asked as he turned towards me. "Is everything ok with Justin?"

He smiled, "Justin is fine. I'm here to see you."

He had that sound in his voice or worry; I knew he had been sent here. "Trace, I'm fine. Really I'm ok."

He tilted his head sideways, "In all the years I have known Justin, I never heard that kind of pain in his voice. I knew that he was at a loss of what to do. When I picked up the phone and heard the tone of his voice when he said my name then there was complete silence on the other side of the phone... I knew something had happened and he needed me. I knew at that moment I was going to be flying somewhere today. But I didn't expect it to be to NYC, for you. He knew you weren't ok. He knew that you were trying to be supportive for him. He knows you, he loves you."

"I was not okay when he left..." I said, breaking up my words, attempting not to cry again. "But I couldn't let him worry about me. I put on a strong face and sent him off with everything I had. However after the evening that I had I think everything has come into perspective. I think the only thing I want in life, is Justin. Nothing else matters." I walked over to the couch and sat down.

"You have no idea how great it is to hear that." Trace said with a sense of release rolling across his face. He sat down on the other side of the couch next to me "I have to tell you. When I first heard from Justin that he was seeing someone new, I was on the defensive. I have watched him broken hearted more times than I care to remember. Being who he is, it's hard for him to meet someone that is genuinely interested in him as a person and not the person he is known for. When he told me you didn't have any clue who he was, I didn't believe that for a moment. Everyone knows who Justin Timberlake is... anyways having the chance to get to know you and to learn the love he has for you I couldn't be happier that he has chosen you."

Getting to know Trace and the person he was is privileged time. I am getting to know a piece of Justin. A piece that has always been there, always by his side, always the friend he needed. "How long is Justin making you babysit me here?"

"Until he is done with the tour." He joked.

"WHAT?" I said.

"I'm just messing with you. He just asked that I stay as long as you needed me. I can stay as long as you want company."

"We'll I appreciate it but you don't have to stay. I know you are very busy with William Rast. I will be fine."

"I'm not going anywhere tonight and we will see what tomorrow brings and we will deal with it then."

Trace only had one request. Dinner. He didn't eat lunch, jumped on the plane and with now he was starving. I hadn't eaten the entire day so I agreed that we should go. I did get to call and explain to Justin what was going on with the shoe line. He said that Troy will make sure things work out. I trusted that I wouldn't have to worry about this, and he would handle it. Justin warned me that press was going to be bad. I was going to be hounded and I would see a different side of this industry that people don't normally get to see. How much worse could it get? He asked if Trace had made it there explaining that he just couldn't leave like that, knowing I was in a million pieces and he had to leave me there all alone.

I was glad it was Trace he sent because I actually get along with Trace.

The apartment was lined with photographers as we walked out the door and down the ramp. The questions immediately start flying. They had questions about the lawsuit, they wanted to know about Justin, and they wanted to know about my father. Sometimes the things they say or the questions they blurt out are very invasive and rude to ask. Sometimes it's just simply not their business.

Growing up for the majority of my life in the New York, I knew my around the city pretty good but when there are forty people surrounding you, in your space, screaming at you, you seem to lose that sense of direction. So after circling the block I need to be on for the restaurant twice, I finally realize where I was and where I needed to be. In the process, I didn't manage to lose a single person following us.

"Brace Yourself." Trace said as we sat in my car, looking at the people surrounding the vehicle. "This is the negative side of falling in love with my best friend."  We both took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. I was surrounded and by people, I couldn't move an inch. They had me trapped in the doorway of my car. Trace ran over to my side of the car, pushing people out of the way. He took my hand into his and pushed our way slowly. Trace was beyond annoyed, I think I heard him say "MOVE!" at least a dozen times among other things. He didn't have nearly as much patience as Justin did with them. Trace hasn't had to deal with it as much or at the level that Justin normally does. Just inside the door I breathed for the first time since I stepped out of the car. The ciaos it was to simply go in to have dinner was overwhelming.

Trace walked over to the hostess and told her we needed a table for two.

She had this perky voice that was perfect for this job. "It's going to be about forty minutes."

Trace looks at me and looks outside, "Is there any way we could get in quicker."

"I'm sorry sir. I don't have any available tables at this moment." She said looking down at the table layout.

"Ma'am" he says looking down at her name tag, "Julie, is it? I come here all the time and I know there are tables they are always vacant."

She knew exactly what he was talking about, she just couldn't figure out how he knew about them. "Would you be interested in sitting on the outside patio?"

"No... we can't sit outside." He started to get annoyed.

"I'm sorry those tables are for..."

He cut her off, "They are for important people or celebrities, I know that. My name is Trace Ayala... this is...."

I stopped him. "Trace we can wait. It's fine."

"Arabella... are you sure?"

She perked up, "Arabella? As in Arabella Kinsey? As in Justin Timberlake's girlfriend?"

I was embarrassed, it creeped me out that people knew my name and I didn't know them. "Could we just sit somewhere out of the view of them..." I pointed out the front door.

"Oh." She said. "Give me just a minute, I will have them set you a table up."

                I stood there, watching the cameras continue to flash through the glass.

"See" Trace said. "Sometimes you have to drop his name."

"I won't do that. I would rather wait."

Julie walked over and told us to follow her, the further we walked the more people took notice. I guess everyone knew about this exclusive seating area. We sat at the table and I could see everyone still staring at me, the back Trace's head but staring right at me. I hoped that they would get tired of staring at my mug and maybe focus on the person they were having dinner with.

"You know this had nothing to do with pushing in front of people, right? The random people surrounding the building taking your photo nonstop needed to be controlled."

I sat in my chair, stiff and still embarrassed, "I just feel wrong using a name to get things faster. My father used to do that all the time. I don't ever remember walking into a restaurant and waiting to be seated. But I would see others and ask why and he would say, it was because they were a different class." I lowered my head, looking down at the menu. I really had hatred for the man that my father was. How dare he talk down to the people he didn't know. How could he think so less of someone without even knowing who they were as a person? But I had guilt about having that hatred against him now. I still knew his entire thought process was wrong and cruel however how could I hate someone so much that I would never see again? How can you hate your own father so much that even in death you can't let things go?

"Arabella?" Trace asked in a concerned tone.

"Could you not call me that please?" I half smiled at him, trying not to cry. I hear anyone say my name like that and I can hear the voice of my father talking to me.

"Are you okay? We can leave." He asked leaning in towards me.

"No. I'll be ok."

"What would you like me to call you then?"

I picked up the wine glass, sipping more than just a sip. "Anything but that."

"Mahahahaha..." he said drumming his fingers together, "Oh you have made a mistake with that one."

I smiled, laughing at him. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No you shouldn't have, but at least I got you to smile again." He said with a level of achievement.

I remained quiet for most of dinner. The twinge of quilt I had made the memory of my father hard to contain. I no longer felt responsible for my father's death but I still felt guilty for never being able to explain myself. I never got to show him how happy I was with Justin.

Not having Justin to crawl into bed next to tonight wasn't going to be easy.

"Arabella Kinsey was seen walking hand and hand into Danube on Hudson Street in the Tribeca area just hours after a twenty five million dollar lawsuit was filed against a co-worker. Kinsey is claiming that, Holli Vantilburg has stolen designs from her upcoming shoe line, which she ironically was wearing at dinner, and attempted to have the designs made under the Vantilburg name. But what's even more of a shocker is who Kinsey was walking into the restaurant with. Her on again off again boyfriend Justin Timberlake is in Detroit for his current stop on his world tour, while she was in NYC with Trace Ayala, Timberlake's childhood friend. Maybe we had it wrong, maybe Justin is the one that needs to watch his back."