Chapter 65: Threats and Promises

It was tomorrow, and Richie didn’t feel any better. He had hardly slept, and by the time the first rays of sunshine were poking through the window, he was done being in bed. He had tried to relax, had tried to put things into perspective, but couldn’t get past the point that Julianna had lied to him. Richie felt so let down, so betrayed.

He knew, though, that he had to deal with this or else risk going back to that place he swore he never would revisit. He pulled himself together as best he could, and went up to the house. When he walked into the kitchen, he was not surprised to see it empty. Jon was probably up in the studio or still in bed, and Dave and Teek were most likely home with their women. The song for the finale done, there wasn’t anything to do except wait for opening night.

Richie set about making coffee and after pouring himself a mug, sat at the table and stared at it.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Jon asked from the doorway.

“Waiting for you,” was his wingman’s tired response.

Richie told Jon everything and waited. Jon just looked at him. “You fucked up, man,” he said to his friend.

“What do you mean?” Richie answered.

“Julianna hasn’t done anything to make you think she’d get back together with that tool. In fact,” Jon said, taking a seat across the table from Richie, “if anything, she can’t stand him. I don’t believe for a minute that she invited him back.”

“Whose side are you on?” Richie asked, getting angry.

“Look,” Jon said. “Didn’t you tell me he just showed up at her apartment one day and she threw him out?” Richie nodded. He’d conveniently forgotten about that. “Why would she do that if she wanted him around?”

“Maybe she was lying about that too,” Richie said.

Jon was getting impatient. “You don’t really believe that, do you?” He looked at his friend’s face, and shook his head. “Man, you have to decide if you trust her or not. It’s an all or nothing thing.” He stood and slapped his brother’s shoulder. “You have to make that decision on your own.”

* * * * *

Julianna was in such a mood, that the final rehearsals, rehearsals that should have run smoothly, were choppy. Nothing made her happy. At one point, she made Lila so upset she left the stage. Stan, who’d been watching from the balcony called down to her, “What the hell is going on down there?”

“Nothing,” Julianna said, and promptly burst into tears and fled the stage, slamming into her office. She wouldn’t open the door for anyone, and Stan finally resorted to calling Julianna’s mother. Stan had a car bring Teresa to the theater, and she lightly knocked on the door.

“Cara,” she called softly, “Please talk to me.”

Julianna opened the door and fell into her mother’s arms. The two women disappeared behind the door and Julianna told her everything. Resting her head in her mother’s lap as she did when she was a girl, she told her mother everything from the time Mark came to her apartment to Richie leaving. “Have you called him, Cara, tried to explain?” Teresa was stroking her daughter’s hair.

“No, Mama,” she said. “I told him if he didn’t trust me, he should leave,” her sobs got greater. “And he left.” She was crying in earnest now.

“Then he’s a fool,” Teresa said.

* * * * *

Mark’s secretary rushed into his office without knocking. “Mark, there’s someone here to see you,” she said excitedly.

“Jesus, Martha, don’t you know any better than to rush in here?” Mark hurriedly closed what he was working on, not wanting her to see the change he had made to Sam and Lila’s contracts. He was going over to the theater today to get their signatures, and Julianna wasn’t going to stop him.

“But Mark, it’s…” She was cut off by the person in question coming through the door.

“Valentino,” he said, eyes cold and hard.

Mark nodded at him. “Well, well, well,” he said. “Martha, you can leave us, and shut the door.” He waited for Martha to comply before continuing. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“It’s not a pleasure, believe me.” Jon started advancing on Mark, who had the good sense to retreat behind his desk. “I want you to stay away from BIO,” he said.

Mark just laughed and sat in his chair. “What’s the matter? Little Julianna go running to her boyfriend for help?” Mark’s laugh was bitter and evil.

“No,” Jon said, “she hasn’t said anything to Richie or me.” It was true enough, Jon supposed. Not that Mark needed to know the whole truth.

“What’s it to you, Jon?” Mark sneered.

“You’re fucking with my family, and I don’t tolerate that,” Jon said, steel creeping into his voice. Jesus, he thought, this guy really is an asshole.

Mark shook his head. “Look, I’m a big boy, and I don’t have to take orders from you. If that’s all you came to say, you can just take your ass on out of here. I’ve got work to do.”

Jon knew that threats wouldn’t work on this guy, so he switched tactics. Taking a stroll around Mark’s office, he saw photographs of Mark with various people – famous people. People Jon considered his friends. Taking out his phone, he dialed a number. Mark looked on, amused. “Hello? Yeah, it’s Jon.” He waited a few moments for the person to finish his response. “Yeah, listen, I’m calling to ask a favor. Do you know a Mark Valentino?” Mark’s eyes narrowed at the mention of his name. “Yeah, well, he’s fucking with Richie’s girl.” Jon laughed. “I know. So anyway,” he stopped as his friend spoke some more. “That’s exactly it. Thanks, Chris. See you soon.” He hung up and looked at Mark. “That’s one,” he said, and dialed again.

“Look,” Mark began. “I have shit to do, and it doesn’t include watching you make inane phone calls.” He buzzed for his secretary. “Martha,” he said, when she opened the door. “Mr. Bongiovi was just leaving.”

“Oh, OK. There’s someone else waiting for you,” she said.

“Tell whoever it is to wait,” Mark answered, dismissing them both.

“This isn’t over,” Jon said to him.

“Yeah, rock star, it is. Bye-bye now.” Mark went back to rewording some of the clauses in the contracts he had drawn up for Sam and Lila. By the time he was done with them, there was no way they could get out of the contracts without giving up everything they had. He’d own them.

When Jon went out to Mark’s outer office, he was surprised to find Teresa there. “What are you doing here, signora?” he asked her. Teresa looked up from the magazine she was reading.

“Jon!” she said, pleased. She stood and Jon kissed her cheek. “I am here to see that snake,” she said, distaste evident on her face, “and to tell him to keep away from my baby. What are you doing here?”

Jon laughed. “I was doing the same thing, though Richie isn’t my baby. He’s a piece of work,” Jon said, waving at the door.

Teresa rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I do not know,” she said.

Martha looked up at them. “Ma’am, Mark will see you now,” she said.

“I’ll wait for you,” Jon said, and settled into the waiting room,

Teresa breezed into Mark’s office.

“Teresa? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Delivering a message. Stay away from my daughter or I will have you killed.”

Mark sputtered and stood, outrage turning his complexion red. “How dare you come in here and threaten me. You can’t do that!”

“It is not a threat, it is a vow,” Teresa said quietly. “Do not think I cannot or will not have this done,” she said. She opened her bag and took out a single black rose. “This is your only warning,” she said, and laid the rose on Mark’s desk. Without looking back, she headed for the door.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Mark mocked, and didn’t see the narrow-eyed look Teresa shot him before closing the door.

Jon rose when she came out. “Well?” Jon asked.

“One way or another,” she said cryptically, this is done.”

* * * * *

Buried on page 23 of the New York Times, several days later

An unidentified man was the victim of a hit-and-run accident last night, outside the Bring It On theater. The man was Caucasian, 34-40 years of age, 6’2” dark hair and eyes. He was wearing a business suit and trench coat, of good quality. No identification was found on the body. Anyone with any information is urged to call their local police station.


Neither Julianna nor Richie saw this article, but Teresa did. She went outside, taking her pre-paid cell phone with her. “I see it is done. Your debt is paid.” She dropped the phone on the ground, crushed it with a rock, and threw away the pieces.

Buried on page 32 of the New York Times, two days later

The man struck outside the Bring It On Theater earlier this week, has been identified as Mark Valentino. Valentino, producer of television’s, ‘New York Minute’, had apparently just left the set of the upcoming Broadway show, ‘Tommy & Gina’, when he was struck and killed. Officials still have no leads and are asking the public for help. Anyone with any information is urged to call their local police station.


This one, Julianna saw, but said nothing.

Chapter 64: Setting Things Right

Julianna sat on the floor in the middle of her room, and cried. How could he not believe her? How could he believe Stan over her? Did he really think so little of her – she trailed off in her thoughts. Obviously that’s what he thought. She looked around at the room, focusing on the bed; its sheets still mussed from last night. The sight broke her heart. “Well, fuck him,” she said out loud through her tears. She stood, dried her tears, and stripped the bed. Carrying her sheets to the washing machine, she pressed her face to them, inhaling the musky smell of Richie. She refused to let the tears overtake her again, and got the laundry started.

Pacing her apartment, she could feel the walls closing in on her. This was ridiculous. It was all a big misunderstanding, but she couldn’t think how to fix it. “Snap out of it, Jules,” she told herself, but it was easier said than done. The pacing picked up speed. This was not her fault, damn it, she thought. She wasn’t the one who was being stupid and stubborn and unyielding, and – she stopped. She was getting distracted from the problem. The problem was Mark. He was the one who was the cause of all of this, and it started when he showed up at rehearsals again.

Grabbing her bag and keys, she strode to the door. No way was she letting Mark win.

* * * * *

Richie made the drive back to Connecticut in record time. He didn’t want to face his friends – not yet – so he went to Julianna’s cottage. He pulled out his keys and let himself in. Standing there among her things and her smells, he let the grief that he was holding at bay flow free, and collapsed to the floor. Laying there, looking up at the ceiling, he tried to be objective about this – tried to hear Jon’s reasonable voice in his head. He couldn’t. The emotions were too raw.

Richie crawled into the bedroom. He climbed into Julianna’s bed, clothes, shoes, and all, and let himself give in to the blackness. He didn’t relish the numbness like he thought it would, but maybe, just for a little while, it would help. He lay there, staring at the walls, trying desperately to think this through. He wasn’t going to be able to. He needed his best friend’s help. Again.

Exhausted, Richie looked at his watch. Tomorrow, he thought, and tried to sleep.

* * * * *
Someone was pounding on the door. Mark looked at his watch and swore. It was 9:30 at night – who the hell could that be?

“What?” he called through the door.

“Open the fucking door,” a very angry woman’s voice demanded.

Mark complied, and smiled when he saw his ex. “Julianna, darling, how wonderful to see –“ his words were cut off by a jab to the mouth. “Son of a BITCH!” he screamed, and before he knew it, she was in his apartment.

“Shut up and listen, asswipe,” Julianna said, slamming the door and advancing on Mark. “You are NOT welcome in my life. Not personally, not professionally, not tangentially. Not at all. Period.” Mark had backed up as far as he could, and was wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “Stay away from my theater, my actors, my apartment, and my life.”

When Julianna raised a hand again, Mark caught it and twisted her arm around behind her. Pulling her close, he pinned her other arm between them, and grumbled in her ear. “Now you listen, bitch,” he spat, “I will do whatever I want, whenever I want. Always have, always will. You do not scare me, you stupid little fool.” He hiked her arm up higher, making Julianna wince. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of crying out.

“Get your filthy hands off of me,” she said angrily.

“When I’m good and ready, sweetheart,” Mark answered, menacingly. “I am not ready to abandon this little project. I have too much invested, and nothing you do or say is going to change my mind.” He opened the door, and still holding Julianna close, walked through it. “Now, kindly go away,” he said, and releasing her roughly, he stepped back into his apartment.

“This is not over,” she said to him, daggers firing from her eyes.

“Not by a long shot,” Mark agreed, and slammed the door.

* * * * *
The next morning, Julianna was the first one to the theater. As people entered, she told them to go take a seat in the audience; she had an announcement to make. She was going to take care of this once and for all. Everyone, including Stan and her leads were sitting with puzzled expressions on their faces when Julianna strode onto the stage.

“Everyone, thanks for bearing with me,” she started, looking out over the people who worked with and for her on this project from the very beginning. “I know most of you personally as well as professionally, and if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know that I don’t make personal requests lightly or often.” There was some shifting among the staff, but it appeared as if they were just anxious to get to work.

Julianna continued. “It has come to my attention that Mark Valentino has been hanging around the theater again. I want to make this absolutely clear.” She stopped and scanned each face in turn, noting the apprehension on her leads’ faces. “I have banned Mark from this theater. I cannot stop you from pursuing personal relationships with him, but he is not welcome here at all. Period.” She saw Sam and Lila slide looks at each other then turn their attention back to Julianna.

“We only have a few short weeks until opening night, and I need everyone to be focusing on their roles in making this show the success I know it can be. I’m asking for you to honor my wishes in this respect.” Julianna sighed and paced the stage a little. “For those of you who don’t know the history, or who have only heard the rumors, Mark is my ex-husband. We did not part on good terms, and I do not want him around. Any questions?” There weren’t any. “Thanks, everyone. Sam, Lila, with me. Everyone else, back to business.”

Julianna led her leads into her office. “Now, you two want to tell me what you’re all twitchy about?” Julianna smiled at them. “I could practically feel the nervous energy wafting off of you out there.”

Sam and Lila looked at each other, then at Julianna. Sam spoke up. “Mark, Mr. Valentino, offered to help us negotiate a record deal after this run was done,” he said sheepishly. “We didn’t know that he wasn’t supposed to be here,” he added.

Julianna seethed inside, but didn’t let it show. “Did you sign anything yet?” she asked. The pair shook their heads. “OK, I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to get independent verification if you don’t believe me. Mark is not a nice man. He is good at what he does, but he is ruthless and will cut corners and tell you whatever you want to get his way.” She grinned ironically. “He’ll probably tell you the same things about me, but you’ve worked with me, and I hope that you don’t feel that way.”

She sat behind her desk. “Now, if you’re serious about wanting to get into the recording business, I have lots of contacts I can set you up with, but AFTER we get through opening night. I don’t want to stop you from realizing your dreams, but I do want to keep you from getting distracted. You need to be focused on your roles right now. Your performances are excellent, and I want them to stay that way. Does this make sense?”

Lila nodded. “I’m so glad you said something; he wanted us to sign a contract right away, and we were a little anxious about doing that.”

Julianna nodded. “That’s fine. If you want a contract with someone to manage your careers, that’s your business. If it’s Mark, that’s your business too, but he’s not welcome here.”

Sam shook his head. “No,” he said. “We heard the rumors about what your ex did, and knowing it was Mark who’s the ex, we don’t want anything to do with him. Our loyalties are to you, Julianna.”

Julianna stood and hugged her leads. “Thank you. I promise you, when we get through the first night, I will help you any way I can.”