SHE FELT HIS LIPS ON HER SHOULDER AND WOKE UP
JUSTIN: HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE?
MARIAM: JUSTIN??
HE SMILED AND SHE HUGGED HIM
MARIAM: OH GOD. YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE DREAM I HAD
JUSTIN: A DREAM ABOUT WHAT?
MARIAM: I DREAMT THAT YOU WERE SICK AND DIED. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT!!!!!!
JUSTIN: I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU
MARIAM: I LOVE YOU MORE
JUSTIN: AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. YOU'LL KNOW WHY LATER
MARIAM SMILED AND KISSED HIS LIPS
MARIAM: OK . I THOUGHT I LOST YOU
HE LOOKED AT HER AND SHE SAW THE SADNESS IN HIS EYES
JUSTIN: YOU DID
MARIAM OPENED HER EYES AND LOOKED AROUND. SHE REALIZED SHE HAD BEEN DREAMING AGAIN AND FELT THE TEARS IN HER FACE
Natalia: hey. I'm here
NATALIA GOT UP FROM THE CHAIR SHE WAS SEATING IN AND SAT ON THE BED NEXT TO HER BEST FRIEND
Mariam: I had a dream with him again
Natalia: it's been 4 days since the funeral. it's normal for you to dream about him Mariam.
Mariam: I don't think I can do this nata, I miss him a lot
NATALIA DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY. SURE SHE COULD JUST TELL HER FRIEND EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE OK BUT TRUTH WAS HOW DO YOU TELL THAT TO SOMEBODY THAT JUST LOST THE LOVE OF THEIR LIFE?
Natalia: I got good news. Some reporters called this morning and I answered their questions so they won't bother you anymore
Mariam: thank you. The day after Justin died I thought they were going to drive me crazy.
Natalia: I know. They wouldn't stop calling
DURING THE TIME JUSTIN WAS SICK ALL OF THEM HAD BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY THE MEDIA HADN'T FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS SICKNESS. SOMEHOW THEY MANAGED TO KEEP IT A SECRET AND ONLY TOLD HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS COWORKERS. UNFORTUNATELY A FEW HOURS AFTER HE DIED ONE REPORTER FOUND OUT AND IN MINUTES THE WHOLE WORLD KNEW. AFTER THAT MARIAM COULDN'T AVOID THE REPORTERS, THE CAMARAS, THE QUESTIONS AND THE CONSTANT CALLING FROM TALK SHOWS' REPRESENTATIVES. A LOT OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ALSO CALLED HER TO SEE HOW SHE WAS DOING AND TO TELL HER HOW SORRY THEY WERE FOR HER LOST
Natalia: dr. nicoletti called too. He wanted to see how you were doing. I told him you were doing ok
Mariam: ok. where are Dominick and veronica?
Natalia: they are downstairs watching TV. I came up to see if you were still sleeping
THE SAME DAY OF THE FUNERAL DOMINICK AND NATALIA DECIDED TO SPEND MOST OF THEIR FREE TIME WITH MARIAM. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE HER ALONE
Natalia: Lynn called again
2 DAYS AFTER THE FUNERAL LYNN WENT BACK TO TENNESSE. AT FIRST SHE TRIED TO CONVINCE MARIAM TO GO WITH HER FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DAYS, EVEN NATALIA AND DOMINICK THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA AND ALSO TRIED TO CONVINCE HER BUT AFTER SHE SAID NO PLENTY OF TIMES THEY ALL GAVE UP
Natalia: she wanted to know how you were doing
Mariam: why didn't you wake me up?
Natalia: I was going to but she said to let you sleep that she'll call you tomorrow
Mariam: how is she doing
Natalia: not so good. She sounds tired, depressed but she said she'll be ok
Mariam: ok.
NATALIA DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR SAY. SINCE THE FUNERAL MARIAM HAD BEEN QUIET AND DIDN'T REALLY WANTED TO DO MUCH.
Natalia: do you want something to eat?
Mariam: no. I'm ok. I think I'm gonna take a shower
Natalia: ok. Me and Dominick will be downstairs
Mariam: look nata I really from the bottom of my heart appreciate what you guys are doing. I mean the fact that you don't want to leave me alone is great but I think I need to be alone for a while
Natalia: are you sure because
Mariam: I'll be fine and it will do me some good to think
Natalia: ok. We'll leave but if there is anything wrong or you need something call us
Mariam: I know, I will
NATALIA HUGGED HER BESTFRIEND AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE 3 JOHNSONS WERE OUT OF MARIAM'S HOUSE. SHE LOVED THEM AND SHE WAS GRATEFUL THEY'VE BEEN WITH HER THROUGH THE WHOLE THING BUT NOW IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO BE ALONE. WHATEVER SHE WAS GOING TO DO, SHE NEEDED TO DO IT ALONE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS SHE REALIZED HOW BIG THE HOUSE WAS. NOW THAT JUSTIN WAS NOT THERE IT LOOKED AND FELT EVEN BIGGER. SHE MADE HER WAY DOWNSTAIRS TO THE STUDIO WHICH THANKS TO JUSTIN HAD BECOME HER FAVORITE PLACE IN THE HOUSE. SHE FOUND AN OLD DAVID GREY ALBUM AND STARTED LISTENING TO IT.
LATER THAT NIGHT MARIAM DECIDED TO GO BACK TO HER JOB. SHE DEFENITELY NEEDED SOMETHING TO KEEP HER BUSY SO SHE CALLED BARRY AND TOLD HIM SHE WAS READY TO GO BACK TO JIVE/ARISTA RECORDS.
MARIAM LOOKED AROUND THE ENORMOUS CONFERENCE ROOM. SHE ARRIVED AT J/A RECORDS AROUND 8 IN THE MORNING AND BARRY INSISTED IN HAVING A GENERAL MEETING TO ANNOUNCE THAT SHE WAS BACK.
Barry: good morning everybody
THE ROOM WAS FULL OF J/A'S BEST SONG WRITERS, IMAGE CONSULTANTS, PUBLICISTS, MANAGERS, SECRETARIES AND MUSIC PRODUCERS INCLUDING DOMINICK.
THE MEETING ONLY LASTED 30 MINUTES AND AFTER AN HOUR OF HEARING HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND A GREAT FRIEND, I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOST, HANG IN THERE AND YOU'LL BE FINE, MARIAM FINALLY GOT TO HER OFFICE
Ana: welcome back Mrs. Timberlake
Mariam: thank you. Tell me who are we working on now
Ana: Mr. Barry said he'll be here in a few minutes to discuss that subject with you
Mariam: ok Ana thank you
HER SECRETARY LEFT AND CLOSED THE DOOR. MARIAM WALKED TO HER LEATHER CHAIR AND SAT DOWN. AT HER DESK, THERE WAS A FRAME WITH A PICTURE OF HER AND JUSTIN AND ANOTHER ONE OF HER AND NATALIA WHICH THEY HAD TAKEN ON ONE OF THE VACATION TRIPS TO BAHAMAS. SHE HEARD THE DOOR OPENED, LOOKED UP AND GAVE HER FULL ATTENTION TO THE MAN IN FRONT OF HER
Barry: so how you doing?
Mariam: I'm fine. So who we promoting now?
Barry: are you sure? You know you can always take a few more days off
Mariam: I'm fine Barry and let's get to work. Who are we promoting?
Barry: well Ana and I just finished outkast and sarah
Mariam: that was fast! That's good news!
Barry: yeah. We just signed 2 different new artists plus we are promoting another 2 artists
Mariam: ok. That's good. I'll have a lot to do and won't have time to think.
Barry: that's 4 artists. I can't let you do all the promotion by yourself
Mariam: why not?
Barry: that's way too much. You'll have to work twice as hard and travel wherever the band or artist is at not to mention that two of them are new to the business so they'll need extra promotion
Mariam: so what you are trying to say is that I won't have time to sleep
Barry: exactly. Now if I hire an assistant for you
Mariam: that won't be necessary
Barry: Mariam that's way too much work for only one person
Mariam: we are talking about me Barry. I'm the best director of promotions you ever had and you know it.
Barry: I know
Mariam: you know I'll do a perfect job plus I need this. Just trust me, I'll be able to handle it all
Barry: ok but if I see that it gets too crazy for you, I'm hiring an assistant
Mariam: you won't have to. Anyway tell me about the 4 artists
BARRY PICKED UP THE FOLDERS FROM THE DESK AND GAVE THEM TO MARIAM
Barry: ok number 1 is The Calling
Mariam: the rock band??
Barry: yep
Mariam: since when are they part of J/A records???
Barry: they had legal problems with their label records so after the whole thing was over we made them an offer and next thing you know they are signing with us. At this moment they are recording their new and first album with us and they will be done in a week so you won't get to promote them for another week
Mariam: ok. Who else?
Barry: miss Dido decided that her 4 year break is over so she is back
Mariam: I just thought that after her last album in 2006 she wasn't coming back but I guess I was wrong
Barry: well she started recording her new album two weeks ago so you'll probably start with her in a few weeks
Mariam: got it and what about the two new artists?
Barry: ok they are the main ones right now. I want top promotion. Like never before. This got to be your best job ever. I'm talking about putting them on the best shows, work with their style, teach them how to handle the press
Mariam: got it so tell me about them
Barry: both are females. One has the r&b style. Angelic voice. Gorgeous girl. Very sweet and outgoing. She is from Chicago and is only 20. she has the perfect attitude for this business. Plays guitar and piano. Her name is Soraide. She'll be the next r&b diva.
Mariam: ok and who is the other one?
Barry: her name is Rachel Villas. Her style is rock. She is a great singer and an amazing songwriter. She is 19 and from North Marion, Florida. Her style in general is between Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne. Also plays the guitar. She is definitely a rock star.
Mariam: ok.
BARRY STOOD UP READY TO LEAVE
Mariam: can you please tell Ana to contact both of the girls' managers for me? I want to meet with the girls as soon as possible. Thanks.
Barry: are you sure you are going to be able to handle all of this by yourself??
Mariam: consider it done Mr. Weiss
BARRY WALKED OUT AND CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND TOOK A DEEP BREATH. HE ONLY HOPE HE WASN'T MAKING A MISTAKE LETTING MARIAM DO EVERYTHING BY HERSELF
DURING THE NEXT 3 WEEKS MARIAM WOULD DO NOTHING BUT WORK. SHE FORGOT ABOUT EVERYBODY AND CONCENTRATED ON HER WORK.
DESPITE NATALIA'S EFFORTS TO BRING MARIAM TO HER OLD SELF, NOTHING WAS GETTING BETTER. NOT ONLY NATALIA BUT ALSO DOMINICK AND BARRY WERE TRYING THEIR BEST TO HELP MARIAM. ONLY A WEEK AFTER JUSTIN DIED SHE STARTED DRINKING AND EVEN THOUGH SHE WOULD ONLY DRINK ONE OR TWO GLASSES OF ALCOHOL A DAY IT WAS STARTING TO WORRY EVERYBODY AROUND HER. BARRY HAD ALLOW HER TO COME BACK TO JIVE/ARISTA RECORDS BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER HE WASN'T SURE THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. MARIAM DIDN'T STOP WORKING AND PROMOTING, NOT EVEN TO BREATHE. IF SOMEBODY HAD TO FLY TO NEW YORK, LONDON, TOKYO OR THE END OF THE WORLD TO PROMOTE AN ARTIST SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO SIGN UP FOR THE TRIP, SHE WOULD STAY UP UNTIL 6 IN THE MORNING WORKING ON THE PROMOTION PROJECTS AND IDEAS, SOMETIMES SHE WOULDN'T EVEN GO HOME SHE WOULD STAY AT HER OFFICE. BETWEEN EXCESSIVE WORK AND THE DRINKING SHE WAS SLOWLY CONSUMING HERSELF. SHE WOULD ASK FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY NEW PROMOTION PROJECT EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS STILL PROMOTING THE 4 ARTISTS BARRY HAD GIVEN HER THE DAY SHE WENT BACK. AND IF BARRY WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO HER, SHE STILL WOULD END UP WITH IT BECAUSE SOMEHOW SHE ALWAYS CONVINCE BARRY THAT SHE WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING WHATEVER CAME HER WAY. NOT ONLY WOULD SHE NOT LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT WASN'T HER JOB, SHE WOULDNT TALK OR CALL ANYBODY. SHE HAD BECOME DISTANT FROM EVERYBODY
NATALIA STILL TRIED HER BEST TO SOMEHOW GET SENSE INTO MARIAM'S HEAD. SHE WOULD EITHER CALL HER FRIEND AND WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS MARIAM DIDN'T FEEL LIKE PICKING UP THE PHONE, NATALIA WOULD GO TO HER HOUSE EVEN THOUGH LATELY ALL THEY WERE DOING WAS FIGHTING
natalia: what the hell happened to you? All you do is work, drink, and ignore people's phone call. Look at this house, when was the last time you clean in here???
Mariam: well I'm sorry if unlike some other people, I don't have the time to do any of that
Natalia: what is that supposed to mean??
Mariam: it means that obviously not all of us have the perfect life and the perfect marriage that is exactly like one from the 50's. the husband goes out and works hard while the wife stays at home cooking and taking care of the offspring. How fucking adorable!
Natalia: well I might not have problems to cry over but I honestly doubt that I would seek the pity of others by being a bitch to them
Mariam: fuck you.
Natalia: I wish that for only one second you would see yourself in the mirror. look at you. you disgust me
Mariam: really?. then what the fuck are you still doing here????
natalia: I'm still here because even though you are ungrateful bitch I care about you and I'm not going to allow you to destroy your life
Mariam: my life? what life? I have no fucking life. Justin took it with him when he died
natalia: stop torturing yourself. I know that it hasn't been that long but you have to move on
Mariam because he is gone!!!!
Mariam: well you know what? if you were in my situation I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know what to do either
natalia: Mariam. I know that you are hurt but sweetheart you got to move on and you got to let us help you
Mariam: this is fucking unbelievable!! you know, Dominick, Barry, dr. nicoletti, Lynn and you should start your own rehab center or something! how many times do I have to say that I don't fucking need help. I'm fucking working and I drink one glass a day. what the fuck is wrong with that?????
natalia: the drinking got to stop. u never drank in your life before, you don't need to do it now and working has become like an addiction for you. look at you, when was the last time you ate something? you don't eat, you don't sleep, you don't leave that office, you don't call anybody anymore
Mariam: yeah well life is a bitch and then you die!
NATALIA PICKED UP HER PURSE AND JACKET FROM THE SOFA AND TURNED AROUND READY TO LEAVE
Natalia: you want to hear something really sad? If the man you love was alive, I'm one hundred percent sure he would hate the woman you have become. Have a very good day!
THE REST OF THE NIGHT MARIAM DID NOTHING BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT NATALIA HAD SAID
