[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme's eyes never left Duke as he pulled the chair from the other side of her desk. A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips, as did his usual gesture, as he listened to her words, as if considering knocking some sense into someone who upset her. She nodded to his next words, but she wasn't so sure it was mistakes that led to the big mess, and finally giving them a piece of her mind. It still felt like there was more behind it. It was only Natalia's detail that seemed to be falling through the cracks, and no others; it was infuriating her to no end. 

She was pulled from her thoughts when he leaned in and nudged her nose with his. Her smile grew the tiniest bit at his words, and even a small laugh escaped her lips. “You never know. I've seen that fierce look come into those dazzling blue eyes of yours before….. Yes, they should be after that phone call. I can only hope they get down there before things go south much more.” A heavy sigh escapes her nose when Duke places her hand on his neck. It was one of the few things that helped calm her. It was simple, but it worked like magic. At Duke's question, Esme leaned forward and softly pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes. “Stay.” she breathed. 

“Sing, hum, whisper sweet nothings. Just be present. Give my mind something else to focus on if only for a moment, before your captain sends you off to take care of something.” She nuzzled her head against his as she breathed deeply and slowly released it. “If he sends you to Nataila's show…. Promise me you'll be careful. From what her manager told me. It's a madhouse over there right now.” Her thumb strokes his neck soothingly, while her other hand holds his firmly. 


[h2]Rosie[/h2]
Rosie looked at Cason when he looked at her, thanking him with a look when he acknowledged her words. Her eyes then went back to Natalia, and she nodded at Cason's next words and listened to Natalia’s response. She sighed, and a ghost of a smile came to her lips at Natalia's apology. “I know, believe me. You spend so much time going through things on your own that when you finally have people you can rely on, you still forget you can lean on them. I still struggle with that myself.” she admitted before Natalia filled her and Beau in on what she told Cason. 

She went silent as she listened, her mind taking in every detail and working on a plan until the security detail arrived. “Of course, they didn't give a name. Why would they?” she said under her breath. “It makes it harder to find them. So they can stay in the shadows and watch how things play out.” Rosie clenched her fists as Natalia read the text she had just received to herself. This whole thing dredged up old memories for her. She had dealt with something similar a few years ago, and they never found the creep. Even though she had moved and changed her number, she still gets a text now and then from the creep. She wasn't going to let this creep get away with messing with Natalia; she would let this one get away. She didn't want Natalia to go through what she had and still was.

“I'm with you on that statement. The sooner they get here, the better. A janitor's closet is no place for you to be stuck in for longer than necessary.” she said firmly. “If I have to, I'll go out there and push the crowd back myself so you can get your sound check started.” She pushed herself off the wall and looked around the room for a moment. “I'll push and beat them all off with a broom or mop so you can make a run for it.” Rosie released an irritated sigh through her nose as she looked at the door, then back at the three in the room with her. “This is utterly ridiculous.” she breathed under her breath. If the security detail didn’t get there soon, she would do just as she told Natalia with or without anyone at her side. However, knowing Beau as she did, he wouldn't allow her to go out there without a fight, and then eventually join her.