Justin coughed as silent as possible to not attract any attention. 

„Eve. Do yourself a big favor and don’t dig in that hole,“ he replied, as he recovered. 

She frowned, being even more curious now.

„Why would you say that?“ 

„Just let it be, okay? It’s a well meant advice.“ 

She realized there was no chance getting any information from Justin.

„I just try to understand him,“ she explained. 

„I see your point. But I recommend focusing on here and now, instead digging in the past.“ 

„Can I ask something else?“ 

Justin chuckled. 

„No.“

Eve pouted. 

„Is this about C again?“ 

Eve shook her head. 

„Okay, fine. Ask.“ 

„Why *NSYNC split up?“ 

Justin rolled his eyes and deeply sighed. 

„This is not about JC,“ Eve said quickly. 

„But it’s about me and that’s even worse,“ Justin answered. 

„Does it mean you’re the reason?“ 

„Why you just don’t google those things, hm?“

„Because you’re a better source than Google.“ 

„But I don’t wanna talk about it.“

Eve leaned back into her armchair, pouting again. Justin regretted his harsh tone. He looked at her for a moment, before he finally answered. 

„I wanted a break from the band to make a solo album. It wasn’t my intention to leave for good. I just craved to fulfill my own ideas, which were running wild in my head for a very long time. When the work was done, I felt a deep satisfaction, which I never felt before. This album was me. It made me proud. This feeling was very addictive. I couldn’t give up on that anymore. My management pushed me to move on and I did. I was too young and too selfish to realize which consequences my decisions would bring.“

Eve listened carefully. 

„Do you regret it?“ she wanted to know next. 

Justin shook his head. 

„Does it make me a bad person?“ he asked. 

„I don’t think so,“ she answered. „It’s just proof, that you made the right decision.“ 

He smiled.

„There are people out there who see thing differently.“

„But that boyband bubble couldn’t last forever. Look at the music industry today. No one of them survived.“ 

„The Backstreet Boys survived.“ 

„But not with the same success. Their sales figures are heading south since 2007.

„How come you know that?“

„JC asked me to make a research. I compared record sales figures from the prior year with the current. That’s how BSB caught my attention.“ 

Justin smiled at her. 

„Do you ever listen to pop music?“ 

Eve shook her head and smiled.

„Only at parties, being drunk. In that condition I even know all the cheap lyrics.“ 

Justin laughed. 

„Cheap lyrics, hm?“

„I’m bringing sexy back… you motherfuckers watch how I attack…“ she started teasing him. 

Justin gave her a stern look.

„Are you messing with me now?“ 

„Get your sexy on…“ she continued teasing. 

„Are you drunk?“ 

Eve chuckled and made him smile, as well. 

„I guess after this, you won’t ask for another date, hm?“ she said eagerly. 

Justin bent his upper body in her direction. Then he gave her a deep look. 

„You won’t get rid of me that easy, girl.“ 

„Of fuck.“ Eve was thinking. „He’s definitely hitting on you.“ 

Some time later Eve and Justin returned into the office building. There was no need for Justin escorting her upstairs, but he still decided to do so. They waited for the elevator and smiled sheepishly at each other. 

„Gosh. He’s so cute,“ Eve was thinking. 

The elevator arrived. They went inside. Out of the blue the imagination being alone with him in a tiny room made Eve’s heart beating fast. She pressed the button. The doors started closing. Both gave each other another deep look. 

In the next second the doors suddenly opened up again. Both looked surprised, as JC entered the elevator, with a stern expression in his face. 

„I didn’t expect seeing you here today, T.“ he said, as the elevator started moving. 

„I didn’t come to see you,“ Justin replied. 

JC raised his eyebrows. 

„I owed him a coffee,“ Eve explained. 

JC glanced at her, before checking his wrist watch. Eve knew exactly what would come next and rolled her eyes. 

„Don’t worry. I’ll stay longer to tonight,“ she said, before he had a chance making a comment.

The elevator arrived. All of them stepped outside. Nicole watched the scene. 

„T, do you have a moment?“ JC said, obviously not being in a good mood. 

„Sure,“ Justin replied and followed him inside. 

Eve stopped standing at the front desk.

„Did something happen?“ Nicole asked curiously.

Eve shrugged her shoulders. 

„JC seems to be pissed off, that I’ve spent time with his bestie.“ 

„Why should this be a problem?“

„Dunno. Maybe he believes we talked about him.“ 

Nicole gave her a dirty smile. 

„I’m pretty sure Justin is not interested talking to you about JC.“

Eve raised her eyebrows.

„What are you trying to say?“ 

Nicole’s smile gone brighter. 

„I think he likes you. A lot.“

Eve grinned back.

„What do you know about his wife, Nic?“ 

„Not much, to be honest. They keep things private. But…“

„But what?“ 

„I heard some stuff…“

„I’m listening.“ 

„People say they are getting divorced.“

„Oh really? Why?“

„This are just rumors, Eve. I suggest you clarify that question during your next date.“ 

„Do you think he’ll ask me out?“ 

„Absolutely.“

Justin entered JC’s office and let himself fall at his sofa standing in one corner. JC closed the door and sat down at the armchair opposite of the sofa. 

„Am I in trouble for keeping your assistant up from working?“ Justin asked cheeky. 

„This is not funny, T,“ JC said, giving him a serious look.

„What exactly is your problem?“

„I want you to stop hitting on her.“

„Why?“

„Do I really need to remind you, that you’re still married to Jess?“ 

Justin rolled his eyes. 

„Do I really need to remind you, that this marriage only exists on papers at this point?“

„Does it mean you stopped couple’s therapy?“ 

„Yap.“

„Why?“

„Because it makes no sense. We want different things from life. I don’t need a shrink to come to this conclusion.“ 

„How does Jess see things?“ 

„Plays the victim, as always.“ 

„T, come one, man. Don’t talk about her like that.“ 

Justin sighed.

„I didn’t come here to discuss my fucked up marriage.“

There was a short pause.

„You can’t have Eve,“ JC finally said. 

„Why not?“ 

„Because I say so.“ 

Justin scoffed. 

„You’re not my boss, C. Remember that.“

„I mean it. I want you to keep your hands off her.“ 

Justin bent his upper body in his direction. 

„What is going on?“ 

JC looked into his best friend’s eyes. 

„I want her,“ he confessed. 

Justin smiled smugly.

„I knew it!“ 

„Ya, good for you.“

„How serious is it?“

„You’ve no idea…“