Star Struck (10 page)

“I wish it was that simple,” he responded.

“In that case, I must do something I should have done the moment I got the invitation in the mail. As of this moment, we are no longer friends. I would prefer it if Garrett handled my case. I will only deal with you if he’s busy, understood.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“For the first time in a long time, all is clear. You made your choice. Peace be with you.”

Hailey left Trevon in the room to ponder what she said. Once on the other side of the room, she exhaled. She glanced at herself in the mirror. On the outside, it looked like she had it all together, but here she was suffering from low self-esteem. That’s what it had to be; otherwise, she would not be allowing Trevon or any other man to treat her the way he has treated her. She was vowing off men unless they served her purposes.

***

Garrett tossed and turned the entire night. Images of Hailey invaded his mind and groin. The shades he wore hid the bags under his eyes. He spoke to patrons as he made his way to his office. Caroline wasn’t at her desk, so he slipped into his office hoping to avoid an inquisition. He flipped the light switch and stopped in mid-step when Trevon swirled his chair around.

“About time you got here,” Trevon said.

Garrett took off his jacket and placed it on a rack. “I didn’t know I was on a time clock.”

Trevon stood and walked around the table. He didn’t sit but instead paced the floor.

He did his best to ignore him. He sat on the edge of the conference table, waiting on Trevon to make his next statement.

“I bet you’ve been feeding Hailey stories about me haven’t you?”

Garrett shook his head. “Man, you got issues. I have a number to a psychiatrist and I’m sure she’ll get you in today.”

“Everthing’s a joke to you. You supposed to be my boy, but you’re nothing but a backstabber.”

He stood up so that he and Trevon were face to face. “I’ve entertained you because I know you’re going through some things, but let that be the last time you raise your voice at me. I’m not your child.”

“What ever. Stay away from Hailey.”

“If you were so concerned about her, you wouldn’t be marrying some other woman. Now get the hell out of my face.” Garrett stared him in the face and walked around him towards his desk.

“This is just like senior year. You knew I wanted to take Pam to the prom, but you went behind my back and asked her.”

Garrett couldn’t believe what he was hearing. That happened ages ago and he was still holding a grudge. “If memory serves me correctly, it was your suggestion that I ask.”

“I was kidding and you know it.”

He shook his head. “You need to grow up. It’s a doggone shame for a thirty year old man to act like you do.”

“Leave her alone. She’s vulnerable right now. You’re the last thing she needs in her life.” Trevon backed off and started to sound defeated.

Garrett wanted to smack him but knew it wouldn’t do any good. He was beginning to question their friendship on many occasions. He realized Trevon had always been selfish and would probably never change.  Their friendship was hanging on a thin thread. He refused to let Trevon and his rants stress him out.

“Let’s make a pact. You stay out of my business and I’ll stay out of yours.”

“One day somebody is going to knock that smug look off your face.”

Garrett stared him in the eyes and said, “Well today’s not the day, so I would suggest you go call that pretty fiancé of yours and let me get some work done.”

Garrett didn’t look at Trevon anymore. He knew he was still standing there, but he continued to ignore him. Trevon said a few obscenities. Garrett didn’t look up until he heard Caroline say, “There you are. I have those reports you wanted.”

Trevon snatched the folders from her and stormed out the room. Caroline looked at Garrett. He shrugged his shoulders. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Saturday night does it?” she asked.

“Ask him,” he responded.

“I always thought you and Hailey made a better couple than Trevon, but you know I try to keep my comments to myself.”

He booted up his computer. “Since when?”

Caroline walked and closed the door. “I didn’t want to say anything, but Shareeka’s left several messages on the answering service for you. She didn’t use her name, but she’s called here enough for Trevon that I know her voice.”

“I’m sure it was nothing.” Garrett pretended to be viewing the computer screen.

“I could tell Saturday night, she wasn’t too thrilled to see Hailey there.”

“For someone trying to stay out of other folks business, you’re not doing too good.” Garrett chuckled.

“Looks like the chicken has come to roost.”

“Say what?” Garrett asked. Caroline was always coming up with some stupid saying.

“Trevon is finally getting a dose of his own medicine. Here all this time I thought you were the player. At least you let the women know you weren’t ready for a commitment.”

“Finally, someone on my side.”

The phone rang interrupting the rest of the conversation. “I guess I better get back to my desk, before my boss fires me.”

“You better,” he said, right before answering. “GT Securities.” He paused. “Hold please.” He transferred the call to his accounting department.

He thought about some of the things Trevon said about Hailey. Would he be able to leave Hailey along? Did he want to leave her alone? Those questions and many more filled his mind as he sat behind his computer desk staring at the blue screen.

~ 16 ~

It was a typical Monday around the studio. To Hailey’s relief, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Brenda worked with Bach and his team on screening her mail and she went about her duties as if all was normal.

The guests arrived on time and the studio audience cheered for her when she arrived on the set. The show taped without a hitch. Her life to the outside world appeared to be perfect. After the taping, she returned to her office and surfed the internet.  She googled herself and found out what some of the online gossip columnists were saying about her.  Some of her colleagues avoided the gossip sites, but not her. She wanted to read what folks were saying about her. Sometimes it did upset her when the information was false, but for the most part, she blew things off.

She even had a few sites bookmarked for quick views like the popular Mad News, Brown Sista and Mrs. Grapevine blogs.  She giggled when she saw the entry about her in JoJo’s Journal on the eSpot – Entertainment News blog. I guess Shareeka wasn’t the only one who thought she had gained a few extra pounds.

She attempted to access her fan site several times but she kept getting an error message. She called her assistant. “Jackie, can you find out why my fansite is down?” A video of her lounging around in a skimpy bikini begins to play. “What the…”

Jackie comes in the room. “I had our IT person check it out. I hate to tell you this, but someone hacked the site. He’s going to take it completely down for now.”

“Tell him don’t do anything just yet. I’ll send Brenda down to talk to him.” She called Brenda and relayed the information, while Jackie called IT.

There went the uneventful day. Less than an hour later, Brenda, Bach, John and Garrett sat across from her in the conference room. “We spoke with IT and it seems like someone hacked your site and sent the picture to everyone that was signed up on your site,” Bach said.

“At least I wasn’t totally nude.” She tried to look on the bright side of things. “It could have been worse.”

Brenda added, “We’re tracing the IP address now to see where the problem originated.”
“In layman’s terms please,” John insisted.

Garrett responded, “With an IP address, we can identify the person or location of the computer.”

“Hallelujah. My troubles are almost over,” Hailey said, as she held her hands up.

“Now, calm down. We don’t know if it’ll lead to the person directly. It’s possible that they used someone else’s computer or one in a public place,” Garrett said.

“I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of it. I’m confident in GT Securities.” Hailey stood up. “Brenda, will you be accompanying me on my interview at Hotel Bel-Air?”

Brenda looked at Garrett. Garrett responded, “I’ll go with you. I want Brenda to follow up on the IP report.”

“Let’s go. I’m already running late.”

John said, “See what I have to deal with.”

“Oh I can handle her.” Garrett teased.

Hailey waited by the door and patted her foot. “Step. Step.”

Garrett opened the door. “After you.”

***

Hailey wished Brenda would have come with her instead of Garrett. Garrett sitting in the corner pretending to be invisible made her nervous. She was already nervous interviewing for the People magazine article. The ride over to the hotel lobby went smoothly only because they both avoided talking about anything personal. They spent the ride talking about her fan website and making small talk about the weather and traffic.

The brown-haired female reporter pulled out a tape recorder and asked her several generic questions to ease the tension. “I learned earlier today that someone hacked into your fan website. Is that true and how do you feel about it?”

Hailey responded, “It’s true and I apologize to my fans for having to endure receiving the mass email that was sent out about it. We have people working to resolve the problem and hopefully they can ensure that it doesn’t happen again.” She looked in Garrett’s direction.

“I haven’t had a chance to see the email that went out.”

“It wasn’t bad; it could have been worse.”

“Rumor has it that you have a deranged fan out there.”

Hailey squirmed in her chair. Garrett nodded his head as if he understood her nervousness. “I’m not sure what rumor you’re speaking of.” She hoped she sounded convincing.

“One of my sources said that this person has been sending you hate mail at the studio and your home.”

“Well, you might want to check with your sources again. You can’t believe everything you hear.”

“I will do that. Changing the subject. How do you feel about your Daytime Emmy nomination?”

“I’m thrilled of course. I’ve worked hard to get to this point and I appreciate being honored by my peers.”

“A lot of people didn’t think you could do it.”

“Exactly. They only saw me as a pretty face. When I was approached about doing the talk show, I almost turned it down.”

“I’m sure you’re glad you didn’t now.”

“Am I? I proved to myself and to some of the naysayers out there, that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

“Some have accused you of exploiting other women to keep your ratings up.”

“Those are my haters. My shows deal with issues that the average woman faces. I don’t exploit women, I help build up women’s esteem.”

“Do you know what you’re wearing to the awards show?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I like so many designers. I recently wore a dress by Fazio, so who knows.”

“Thank you Hailey. Good luck.” The reporter extended her hand.

Hailey shook it. “Thank you.”

The magazine’s photographer stepped in. “Now you’re all mine.”

“Take me, I’m yours.” She winked.

Hailey, with Garrett not far behind her, followed the photographer to the outside of the hotel. “I want to take a few by the swan lake and then some over there near the fountain.”

“Beautiful choices.”

She was handed a Versace two piece dress. It didn’t take her long to change. She let the hair and make-up people pamper her. She seduced the camera and changed clothes several times for the hour photo shoot.

Being in front of the cameras felt good. A part of her missed it, but the other part that wanted to settle down, liked not having to travel to a different spot every week.”

Was Garrett over there sweating? Did she see lust in his eyes? She blew him a kiss and laughed when he looked away.
Can’t stand the heat can you?

~ 17 ~

Hailey made him feel like a horny teenager. He could have sworn she was seducing him, the way she looked at the camera. Not one straight man in the area could resist the looks she gave the camera. He couldn’t wait to see the photos when they were released. He was tempted to pay the photographer some money on the side so he could have his own private collection.

“If you care to stop daydreaming, I’m ready,” Hailey interrupted his lustful thoughts.

“Where to now madam?”

Hailey looked at her watch. “I’m hungry. What about you?”

“Do you like Mediterranean food? I know a restaurant that’s not too far from here that’s great.”

“I’m in your hands.”

Once they were seated behind the doors of his SUV, he said, “I have a confession to make.” Hailey looked at him waiting for him to continue. “I hate small talk.”