The Deal (Jelena)

Chapter 3

Present Day

"Come on, I know you've been wanting to run things way before I was given ownership." Justin says on the phone, all while pacing around his room and looking for anything he thinks he needs to pack. He doesn't exactly know what he needs but his brain can't stop thinking about everything.

He's on the phone with Scooter Braun, the man he believes his late uncle would have given the company to if Justin wasn't around. Scooter knows so much more about producing music and managing artists than Justin does. He's learned a lot from Scooter.

"I thought you'd be happier about this." Justin comments. "I know how much Riverrun Records means to you and you're the only person I trust when I'm away."

Scooter sighs on the the phone. "It's just so last minute. You never take time away."

Justin swallows and closes his eyes. It's a very last minute decision for him to travel back home, but he also really needs to do this. This is the first time in years that he'll be returning back to a place he's not even sure he's wanted in. This is a risk he's willing to take.

"I'll still make myself available when I'm away for meetings and any questions or concerns you have. It's only a two week trip." Justin explains to him. He's running out of time for Scooter to accept his request.

"I don't mean to put so much on you last minute like this, especially since you have your own work to focus on." He adds.

Justin raises his eyebrow when he hears a breathy chuckle coming from Scooter.

"You know, when I first heard that you were going to be my boss, I was about to quit. There was just no way in hell I'd let some 23 year old kid be superior to me. You sure have surprised me over the years."

Justin nods his head, almost reminiscing about all the times he had to prove to his team that he wasn't just some young man that was handed a company out of luck. What stops him from getting too far in those memories was the girl that holds practically every other memory he has.

"It's only two weeks, right? I think I can manage things."

Scooter's answer brings Justin instant relief. His plan can now officially go into motion without him having to worry too much about what will go on here while he's away.

"Thank you. You really have no idea how much I appreciate this." Justin tells him.

"Enjoy you're time away and I'll be sure to keep you in the loop on things."

After the call ends, Justin hurries to look up which airlines have tickets left to the soonest flight from New York to LA. He sees that there's a few tickets left for business class for a flight that leaves in four hours and decides it will be his best chance to prepare himself a little bit more. Justin books the ticket without having to think twice about it. The price doesn't matter to him because all that matters is he's going home.

As if he were back in high school, Justin's abbot nervous about seeing Selena again after all these years between them - years that have been full of milestones. He actually doesn't know what he wants to wear when he first sees her again. Justin wants to look good for her, and not just because he hopes looking attractive will help convince her that the deal is real. He's always tried to dress to impress her and she doesn't even know it.

Standing in his closet, only wearing his joggers, he begins taking clothes off from their hangers. He'll look through them once he's settled in California.