Free Backstage Demands by Kristina King Page A

meet Peter while he changed and then head over the prison to meet with Jasper. She’d bring the files and go over them with him.
    Quickly she pulled her mini-cooper into the lot and took the parking lot elevator up to the lobby, then switched elevators at the lobby. One was open and waiting for her as if it were fate. As she stepped into the elevator, she smelled a familiar scent that she couldn’t put her finger on. She had no time to rack her brain searching for a memory. Within minutes, she was in the apartment, “Peter!”
    Peter was shaving in the bathroom.
    “Lauren? What’s wrong?” He could see she was frantic. She dropped her briefcase and went right into the bathroom with him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. He turned in her arms and wrapped then around her now sobbing shoulders, “Princess, what happened? Tell me.”
    Then she saw it. The light of the bathroom glinted off it. It was the round blue stone of a cocktail ring sitting on the sink near the soap and she remembered where she smelled that scent that lingered in the elevator.
    Lauren pulled herself from Peter and wiped her eyes sniffling.
    “Oh nothing … I just had a bad day at work and I was glad to see you. Just needed a hug.”
    Peter reached out for her and pulled her into a hug again.
    “C’mere baby. Let me hold you a minute. You’re shaking. Tell me what happened to upset you so much.” He stroked her hair as he leaned against the sink, pulling her close.
    Quick thinking Lauren wrapped her arms around him, but she let one hand drift a bit. Her fingertips reached for Darla’s ring. Once she had it, she curled her hand around it and let go of Peter. She shoved both hands in her pockets to hide the ring.
    “No it’s ok … you should get ready for your meeting. Noreen told me you have one tonight.”
    “Yes but I can cancel it if you need me to. I’ll reschedule and we can order in some pizza and you can tell me all about your day.” He locked his eyes on her. Lauren couldn’t tell if he already knew what happened to her or not. Had Darla told him?
    Lauren composed herself, smoothing her hands over hear skirt.
    “No really, Peter. Please go. I’ll be fine. I have some files I need to go over for a meeting with Darla Lovell in the morning. Oh! Dammit! I just realized I left the files in my office. I’ll go back and get them.” She kissed his cheek and headed back out, “Don’t worry about me. I’m really going to be fine. Good luck at your meeting.” She was out the door before he could stop her.
    *
    Lauren never made it back to the office. Instead, she went to jail, directly to jail. Do not pass go. Georgie saw her and let her in. He knew exactly who she was and she was more stunning than Jasper had once described her during one of their end of shift conversations. He opened the gate for her and guided her to the interview room where Jasper was waiting. When she entered, she saw that Jasper’s face had changed. He was still incredibly handsome, but now he looked drained. He had a black eye and a fat lip. Lauren wanted to run to him, but she knew she couldn’t. She looked between Georgie and Jasper since Georgie was still in the room,               “You do this to him? You rough him up?” Lauren was on fire.
    Georgie shook his head.
    “No way lady.” He held his hands up defensively and nearly laughed at how fired up she was.
    Jasper motioned for her to sit. He wasn’t cuffed and she noticed it.               “Georgie is actually a VERY good friend. He didn’t do it, but I’m happy to see my attorney is all over my potential police brutality case.” He grinned to her and a bit of that charm she had noticed during their first meeting returned. He motioned again for her to sit, “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.  Besides, you look almost worse than I do. What happened?” Lauren sat intently in the seat and leaned in across the table. Georgie looked