Nick walked around the mansion, still in admiration. This Trans Con showcase was being held at the home of Lou Pearlman. No matter how many times Nick had been there, he was still in awe of the place. He had managed to step into a separate room, away from the noise.

"Whatcha think, Frack?"

Nick jumped. "Frick, man, you scared me," he lightly chuckled. "What do I think about what?"

"The new talent."

"Man, it all seems so..."

"Manufactured?"

"Yea," he sighed.

"People say the same thing about us ya know."

"But we aren't," he said sternly.

"Nick, somethin' botherin' you?"

"Nah, just wanna be alone for a bit. That okay?"

"Sure, dude. Come and find me when you're ready to go...I was ready about twenty minutes ago," he smiled, the headed out of the room.

Nick stood by the fireplace, watching the embers burn. Flashes went through his mind of occurrences over the past couple of years...stumbling upon one fact. He'd never had a real love. There were many girls, some girlfriends, but never someone he could actually see himself with. "One of the many downfalls, Carter," he whispered to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You can and you will," Justin whispered.

"Why must I?"

"He's the biggest competition!"

"You're asking me to seduce him…to..."

"Kill him," Justin snarled.

Natasha thought for a moment. She knew she had to get an idea quickly. 'Why did he have to be here tonight?' "Wouldn't he be more use to you as like, a spy? Once he's on our side, he'll have to do what we say."

"He'll want you, and he can't have you."

She swallowed hard. "Justin, you know you're the only one for me. He may get my body, but you'll always have my soul." It was so true yet it was such a lie.

"Just go get him." His tone was full of anger, rage and evil.

Natasha felt her eyes water. She held her pain behind an evil grin...trying to play along.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick still stood in contemplation. "You've had all these women, Carter. Yet, you don't wanna fall in love with any of them. What the hell's your problem? I'll tell you what your problem is; you don't wanna fall in love. Commitment scares the hell out of you and falling in love means you can't have your fun whenever you want it. You sicken me," he choked out as he stared into the mirror that hung on the wall right above the fireplace.

"You know, that's really no way to talk to yourself."

Nick darted around, noticing the sweet voice that came from behind him. "Natasha? What are you doing here?" A combination of shock and excitement crossed his beautiful face.

"Oh, just thought I'd check out the latest in Florida talent," she grinned.

"Well, yea, I kinda figured that. What I mean is who do you know? Most people, if they aren't in the business, know someone. Believe me, if I wasn't in the business, I probably wouldn't be here!" His smile took her breath away every time.

"Oh, this person and that person, everyone knows someone," she replied politely.

Nick sensed she didn't want to discuss it. "Are you enjoying yourself as much as I am?"

She heard the sarcasm in his voice, causing a slight giggle. "Why do you think I came in here?" She stepped closer, noticing everything. His suit was black as night. He wore a midnight blue button down shirt underneath and a white T-shirt under that. He looked absolutely amazing. "I've been bored off my butt with these manufactured cookie cut out bands," she smiled. "Plus, I saw you come in here...all the more reason to investigate this stunning room."

She seemed to glide closer to him, moving with pure grace. Once he saw all of her, his heart practically dropped. Her dress was strapless, slightly above her knees and clung to her body just right. It was dark blue and sparkled when in the right light, but it wasn't sequenced. A gold chain hung around her neck and the blue floating stone set her outfit off perfectly. The skin on her shoulders seemed to sparkle a bit also whenever she moved a certain way. She was the definition of exquisite beauty in his eyes. "Little old me?" he blushed.

"Nickolas, you know you're all that when it comes to the ladies." She paused, coming as close as she could to him. "The question is does this lady stand a chance when it comes to you?"

He felt her breath on his skin, leaving him frozen in time. His name rolled off her tongue so exquisitely. It left him paralyzed. "Did you drive?" he managed to blurt out.

She laughed lightly. "I take it you wanna get to know me better then." She took his hand, leading him out of the room, out the door and soon out of a life he once knew.