Part 19 (1/2)

”I'm such an idiot!” the girl cried out.

Jane looked down and saw the ma.s.sive red stain blooming across the front of her white silk blouse. ”That's okay,” she said, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt. She noticed that the camera guy from before was still filming. Great. ”I have another blouse in my room. I'll just go up and change.”

”OhmiG.o.d, I'm so sorry,” the girl apologized.

Jane fake-smiled and hurried to the nearest exit, trying to hide the growing stain with her hand. She spoke briefly to Hannah, letting her know that she would be off-site for a few minutes. She made it to the elevator without receiving too many funny looks and pressed 9.

When Jane stepped onto her floor, she made a quick right-and was surprised to see another PopTV camera camped outside her door, along with Matt. The camera guy spotted her and zoomed in on her.

What's going on? Jane wondered. Was her red wine stain emergency really that interesting? But she couldn't ask questions during a shoot, so she just kept walking to her door and inserted her key card in the lock.

She was halfway inside the room when she realized that she wasn't alone in there. Two more PopTV camera guys were set up in opposite corners, filming.

And Caleb and Gaby were sitting on the edge of the king-size bed, kissing.

”What? Caleb!” Jane yelled.

Caleb and Gaby jerked apart.

”Janie!” Caleb exclaimed, swiping at the red lipstick smeared on the side of his mouth. ”Listen, I can explain. That dude from your show told me to meet you up here so we could do a scene. Then she showed up and threw herself at me. I swear!”

”Jane, I'm sorry!” Gaby cried out. ”I didn't wanna do this. But Annabelle told me that if I didn't, Trevor was going to kick me off the show!”

”Wait, what?” Caleb said, turning to Gaby.

Jane shook her head and covered her ears. ”No! You know what? I'm really not interested in your explanations. Either of you.”

”But, Jane!”

”Janie!”

Jane went over to her closet and yanked a fresh white blouse from a hanger. ”Have a nice life,” she said coldly, and stormed out the door. So I guess this is what happens in Vegas, she thought.

Once in the hallway, she pulled out her phone and called up the text from Braden.

DINNER ON MONDAY SOUNDS PERFECT, she typed.

Chapter 31.

Survivor

Madison took a sip of her martini and glanced around St. Mark's Square, wondering what had possessed Jane to suggest a Venetian masked ball. All the people in their feathery black masks were so lame, and the long, flouncy gowns made the girls at the party look old. Madison, on the other hand, had taken care to select the perfect dress for the occasion: a black Prada strapless with an asymmetrical hemline that was at once edgy, stylish, and s.e.xy.

Actually, Madison was supposed to be ”on duty” tonight, whatever that meant. But she had no interest; she attended parties, she wasn't the help. She hated her event-planning ”job” and even pretending to work there for the cameras was getting old. Besides, there was no way she was going to run around the Venetian in a uniform like Jane and Hannah. No wonder Jane's BF had disappeared, and Intern Boy seemed so moody, with their girlfriends looking so frumpy. Madison had half a mind to move in on one or both guys. But what would be the point? She could do better.

Madison's gaze drifted to Aja and Miguel Velasquez slow-dancing out on the floor. Now there was a boyfriend worth stealing: a super-hot, super-rich, super-famous baseball player. Her mind reeled with the media possibilities, not to mention the lifestyle upgrades.

”Maddy! There you are!”

Madison turned, sighing. Sophie was staggering toward her, holding a drink with one hand and clinging to Jesse with the other. Great. Sophie was halfway to wasted-or possibly already there-and the party had barely begun.

Madison casually switched off her mike and pretended to kiss her sister on the cheek in case anyone was watching. In fact, wasn't that Veronica Bliss talking to the Marley twins? And Veronica's hideous ex-a.s.sistant-turned-blogger Diego at the bar?

”For the hundredth time, it's Madison, not Maddy,” she hissed in Sophie's ear. ”G.o.d, you reek. What is that, pot?”

”You are so old, Maddy!” Sophie whined. ”Isn't she old, baby?” She stood on her tiptoes and nibbled on Jesse's neck, looking a little unstable on her five-inch platforms.

Madison caught her by the elbow and steadied her on her feet. She had seen Sophie trashed before, but not quite this bad.

”You wanna hit, Madison?” Jesse whispered, reaching into his breast pocket. ”It's good stuff.”

”No!” Madison clenched her fists, trying to keep her voice down. This situation was getting out of control. Aside from the fact that there was press nearby, weren't Sophie and Jesse both miked? It was hard to tell, since Sophie's clingy black halter dress didn't have any telltale b.u.mps underneath, and Jesse was in a tux. Maybe Dana hadn't caught up to them yet?

Madison knew that she had to do something, fast. ”Listen, Jesse-can you get us a couple more drinks?” she said sweetly.

Jesse smirked. ”Sure, anything for my girls. Be right back.”

He lurched toward the bar, b.u.mping into a couple of guests along the way and receiving nasty looks in return. As soon as he was out of earshot, Madison whirled on Sophie. ”We're going upstairs.”

”Why? I just got here.”

”Yeah, well . . . party's over. You're going straight to bed, and we'll talk about this in the morning.” Madison put her hand on Sophie's arm and started to steer her toward the exit.

Sophie jerked her arm away. ”What are you doing?” she screamed. Then she tossed her champagne gla.s.s to the ground, shattering it.

The crowd around them stopped talking. Madison froze.

Sophie glared at Madison with glazed, bloodshot eyes. ”Who do you think you are, my mother?” she spat out.

”No, Sophie-Sophia. But you're in no shape to-”

”Yeah, that's right. You are not my mother!” Sophie said, raising her voice as if to make sure everyone could hear. ”Cuz Mom lives in a trailer park back East, and you live in a fancy-a.s.s penthouse in Hollywood. Oh, except, it's not even your penthouse. It's your boyfriend's penthouse where he keeps you stashed away so his wife doesn't find out. Because you're a wh.o.r.e, Maddy.”

Madison felt the blood rus.h.i.+ng from her face. Veronica Bliss and Diego and the others were watching and listening intently. Madison heard whispers all around her.

”Sophie, please,” Madison said quietly, her desperation rising. ”You want money? I'll give you money. I'll give you whatever you want. But just shut up, okay? Or you're gonna ruin everything for both of us.”

”G.o.d! I'm so sick of you ordering me around!” Sophie shouted. ”I'm not your little kid sister anymore. I'm gonna be a way bigger star than you ever were. And I don't need to pretend to be someone I'm not to get there. You're so pathetic, faking that you're some rich b.i.t.c.h named Madison Parker just so people will like you. Tell them, Maddy! Tell them your real name . . . Madelyn Wardell!”