Chapter 1
Justin’s life is just where he wants it. He’s got success, great friends, a beautiful wife, a daughter. What more could he want?
He jumped at the chance to help long time friend and one-time lover, Britney, when she wanted to get back on the scene musically. He went into the studio with her and with his help they created a smash album. Justin thinks they can be friends, until one night changes everything…..
Justin was in the bathroom looping the knot for his black tie when his daughter, Atiana, came in with big crocodile tears pouring from her eyes. She pulled at his black pants in angst.
"Daddy, do you have to go?"
Justin laughed through his nose, and then squatted so he was closer to her height. He stroked her dark brown hair before pulling her in for a hug.
"Sweetheart, mommy and daddy are just going out for a little bit. We'll be back when you wake up in the morning."
Atiana's crying had now been reduced to sniffles.
"How come I can’t go?"
"This is just for grown ups, baby doll. Otherwise you know I'd bring you."
He was still holding her against him when he heard the click of high heels hitting the linoleum surface in the bathroom. Atiana pulled away from her dad and Justin rose back up and turned to his wife, who was dressed in a simple dark grey button down shirt, the bottom tucked into a sexy black high waisted pencil skirt that flared just above the knee.
"Mommy!" Cried Atiana, running to hug her mother’s legs.
Justin watched as Atiana’s face lit up.
God this woman is so sexy
Claudia smiled down at her daughter as Justin leaned in to give her peck.
"Hi babe," Justin said with affection as Claudia tousled Atiana's hair gently.
"Hi baby,” She replied, kissing Justin with Atiana awkwardly inbetween them. “Atie, baby, go play for a little while." Claudia gently instructed their 6 year old.
They watched as she ran off to her room and the minute they were alone, their lips again connected, only this time it was with much more passion than their previous kiss.
"You look great," Justin said, breaking free from her lips.
"You don’t look too bad yourself," Claudia groaned. She was right, he looked damn hot, in black pants and leather square toed dress shoes. He had a basic grey dress shirt on with his black tie, which he hadn’t finished tying since his daughter interrupted him. He smelled of Axe body spray.
They stopped themselves from getting too hot and heavy. They had a schedule to follow tonight. They were attending an album release party for his ex-girlfriend. Yes, his ex, Britney. They had become close again about a year ago or so, when he helped her put out her "comeback" album, which was supposed to have come out in 2007 but didn’t actually hit shelves until late 2009. She had alot of personal issues, and she called him when she got her head right and had cleaned up her act. She was serious, she told him, and wanted him to write with her. After getting the ok from Claudia, of course, he agreed. He flew out to LA and she and he holed up in a recording studio for something like 3 days of non-stop creative brainstorming. He ended up producing her entire CD, a first for him. He was proud of their work. Proud of her. That album put her back on the map, and Britney would forever be grateful to him for all his help. That was 3 years ago already, and although he wasn’t able to help her with any new material, he was more than willing to come celebrate its release. And Claudia had surprisingly never met Britney, so it was an all around big night for all three.
*~
Justin pulled his car up outside the restaurant where the party was being held. The flashbulb lights from the mass of paparazzi were blinding. Justin looked wearily over at his wife.
"You ready baby?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
He leaned across and gave her a sweet peck on her lips and they both exited the vehicle. Neither thought it was possible for the paparazzi to get any crazier, but somehow they did. Claudia was used to the madness, it followed her husband everywhere, but for some reason she got scared. They totally swarmed her and she called out for Justin, who was at her side. He grabbed her hand and tried to push through the tangled mess of photographers.
"Justin, what does Claudia think of Britney?" One photographer asked him as he snapped a picture seemingly inches from his face.
"Shut up loser get a life." Justin said, before gently pushing Claudia through the front doors and out of the mess and chaos.
“Back up, guys! Back up!” Justin’s body guard hollered, doing his best to thwart off the paps.
Inside it was warm, and Justin immediately felt uncomfortable. There were a lot of Britney’s friends, friends that he used to be friends with too, up until their untimely breakup. Almost like in the movies, the room crowd seemed to split, and suddenly there she was across the room from him. She was sitting at one of the booths, surrounded by friends. He could hear the faint sound of her laughter, even from where he was and with all these people around.
“Justin! Heyyy!” Johnny, his manager and a close friend, walked up to him and put an arm over his shoulder.
“Johnny, what’s good?” Justin said, slightly less enthused. Johnny picked up on this but got distracted by Justin’s beautiful wife.
“Claudia, look at you, you look amazing sweetheart. How are you? How’s Atiana?”
Claudia and Johnny embraced.
“She’s good, thanks.”
Meanwhile, Britney had spotted Justin and his new wife, Claudia. She instantly felt sub-par compared to Claudia, who was much taller and a little thinner. She saw Johnny place a hand over Claudia’s stomach when Justin had his back to them. She scoffed at the idea of Claudia being pregnant again. Then she chuckled to herself when she envisioned Claudia looking like the Michelin Man. By now some of her friends who were sitting next to her noticed what had caught her attention.
“Is that the wifey?” one of her friends said, presumably to Britney.
“Her name is Claudia. She’s a model with legs from here to the moon,” Someone else replied. Britney turned her head in the direction the comment came from but no one fessed up. She didn't want to hear how gorgeous Justin’s wife was. She wanted them to say how much hotter Britney was than Claudia.
“She’s pregnant again I hear.” Another unidentified voice whispered.
“Who flipppin’ cares…who wants a drink?” Britney said, changing the subject. Her offer was accepted by her group at the booth and they all got up and headed over to the bar.
Justin was talking to an exec from the record company when he saw the group of girls, Britney leading, head to the bar. He politely excused himself from the conversation and turned to Claudia, who was still gabbing it up with Johnny.
“Baby, I’m gonna go get something. Do you want your usual?” He asked, touching her arm.
“No, just….I’m fine, sweetie.”
Justin had a look of wonder in his eye. Johnny felt it as well but remained silent. Claudia caught onto Justin’s thoughts.
“Baby, I’m not pregnant. I’m just not thirsty.” She said with a big grin. But this was his wife, his best friend. He knew. He knew at that very moment.
“Johnny, would you excuse us for a sec?” Justin politely but firmly said.
“Nice to see you both. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
The couple smiled and then Justin gently pulled Claudia off to the side.
Britney was at the bar ordering drinks but couldn’t keep her eyes off Justin and Claudia.
“Ooh, they are fighting! At your party, Brit. Nice.”
Without taking her eyes off them, Britney corrected her friend.
“No,” She shook her head, her eyes squinting in study. “He’s smiling. They aren’t fighting.”
Just as she was saying this, Claudia appeared to be wiping her cheeks as if she were crying.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, Brit. Homegirl is crying.”
She’s pregnant. Britney thought to herself.
“Who cares guys?” Britney said, shaking her head and hollering for the bartender and ordering a round of drinks.
As she waited for the drinks, she couldn’t get her mind off of Justin and Claudia. She looked up discretely towards their direction but they were gone. Her eyes scanned the dark, crowded room for them. She finally relocated them at a table, talking with Clive Davis, the “big boss” for the record label.
*~
Clive had only met Claudia once, at their wedding, and so the group was catching up and Justin took his wallet out to show Clive some pictures of Atiana.
“She’s beautiful, Justin. She looks just like her mother,” Clive said, puffing on a cigar.
Justin was none too thrilled with Clive’s smoking, because Claudia had indeed just confessed to Justin that they were expecting their second child. But he didn't wanna tell “everyone”, so he just tried to wrap it up with Clive.
“Well listen, we’re gonna go say hi to the lady of the evening.” Justin said, referring to Britney. He looked for her and saw her at a booth not far from the bar. Justin smiled and just as he did, she locked eyes with him. His smiled faded a little and he grabbed his chin and rubbed it.
Britney’s heart was thumping so hard she swore Justin must have been able to see it from across the room. God, he was still hot. She managed a smile and a little wave, and Justin smiled and waved back. Justin thought she looked stunning, in a black dress with a very, very low back that complimented her nicely shaped rear and a plunging neckline.
Claudia clutched Justin’s hand as they made their way over to Britney. Britney looked over with just her eyes and saw them approaching. Her whole body stiffened up. She was so nervous to meet the woman who, regardless of exactly the reason, had taken her place as Justin’s wife, instead of Britney.
It should’ve been me Britney thought in her head as she somehow managed a smile.
“Brit, hey!” Justin said, pulling her in for a one armed hug. He would’ve hugged her all the way except he was holding hands still with Claudia.
“Hi J, how are you?”
“I’m fine. Brit, I want you to meet my beautiful wife, Claudia. Claudia, Britney.”
“Oh I don't get a special title?” Britney kidded with Justin as she shook hands very weakly and insincerely with Claudia.
“Like what?” Justin quipped back.
“I don't know….’Claudia, this is my beautiful ex fiancé, Britney.” Britney said in a voice that was supposed to imitate Justin.
“Fiancé.” Claudia questioned, her eyebrows narrowing.
Justin had his arm gently around her shoulder and he pulled her snuggly to him.
“Baby, I told you that. Brit and I were engaged…for a while.”
“No, you didn't tell me that, Justin.”
Britney felt the rising tension and tried to downplay things.
“It wasn’t that long.” Britney said.
“Britney? I asked you in March in Venezuela and we were engaged for almost a year.” Justin said his face and voice making it clear to Britney that her lack of value was insulting to him.
“God Justin,” She replied. “Can you cry next take?”
She bit her tongue when he shot her a look.
“Baby, it’s no big deal.” Justin said to Claudia, with a peck on her cheek.
“Justin, it was a big deal. I gave my virginity to you, jerk.” Britney again mocked Justin and his sensitivity.
“Yeah, after you gave it to 4 other guys first.” He shot back.
Britney had a stinging look on her face from his latest wise crack and she didn’t have a good comeback.
“Ouch.”
“I’m kidding.” Justin said with a roll of his baby blue eyes.
“So how does it feel, being Mrs.Justin Timberlake?” Britney asked, changing the entire conversation and turning her body to Claudia.
Claudia felt Justin squeeze her hand in his.
“I love it. I mean,” She looked up at him. “He’s everything to me.”
“Aww.” Britney said with a smile. Outside she was beaming, inside, she was fuming. “Let’s do a shot! To you guys!” Britney exclaimed, testing the waters. Justin gave her an icy stare.
She knows
“I’m fine really. I don’t like tequila much anyways.” Claudia politely objected, over Britney’s shouting.
Justin took hold of Britney’s wrist.
“Britney, c’mon. How about you and I do one then?”
Britney didn't reply, just took hold of him and pulled him away from Claudia to the bar. Justin looked over his shoulder and winked at his wife, who waved and walked off towards a booth.
At the bar, Britney ordered a couple shots and while they watched the bartender making them, she looked at him with just her eyes, so that he wouldn’t notice. God, she missed him. Here he was, standing there married with a child and another on the way. He had a rock solid career that included multiple Grammy wins. And what did she have but a failed marriage, 2 kids that she lost custody to back in 2008. Rehab, more rehab, a head shaving incident. It was only in the past couple years that she had cleaned up her act and got her image back where she wanted it. He looked at her and she smiled.
“I’m so proud of you, Brit.” Justin said, rubbing her back.
“Thanks. We make a good team,” She replied with a lazy smile.
“We sure do.”
Claudia sat at the booth all by herself and people watched. Every so often she would look back at Justin and Britney. She was never the jealous type, and she trusts Justin. But something in her gut, something deep down told her to be careful with this one. Something was telling her to keep a close eye on her man. On cue, she saw Justin rubbing Britney’s back and then they laughed and cheered before bottoms up on the shots.
“Dance with me,” Britney said after downing their shots.
“I don't know-“
“What's the problem?”
Justin was quiet for a split second.
“One dance.” He said, giving in.
He felt uneasy and looked over his shoulder for Claudia, but couldn’t spot her anywhere. Britney grabbed his hand and pulled him out under the strobe lights. Wasting no time, she put her arms over his shoulders and they began to dance. It didn't take long for Justin to forget all about Claudia, and he and Britney became the only ones in the room. They stared into eachothers eyes as they danced on eachother, her breasts brushing teasingly against his chest and when she turned around, he didn’t know where to put his hands. He didn’t want to be seen touching Britney anywhere that could be misunderstood for being sexual. But she was rubbing her hands on the sides of his legs and he couldn’t help but give in and place his hands on her hips as they rocked to the beat. Every so often her butt would bump into Justin’s crotch, or she would push it back purposely. After a few minutes, he began to get hard and Britney found out and turned to face him with a look of seduction he had never seen on her face prior. It was wrong, but he wanted her right then. He felt the old feelings creeping back like they had sometimes when they were in the studio and she would laugh a certain way, or push her hair out of her face. There were little things that made him want her again. It was those little things she did, a giggle here, a cute pout there, that made it easy to forget what she had done to him years back.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Meet Your Future Enemy
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