Star Power (2 page)

Charly and Liam looked at one another, then turned to him. Both said, “We are.”

Mr. Day exhaled, then looked to the other man. “Okay. Pitch it, Charly.”

Charly pointed to her chest. “Me? But we both . . .” She looked at Liam, and he nodded his approval. His eyes silently told her she could do it, he had faith in her.

“A'ight,” she exclaimed, with sass and strength. “I got this, babe,” she said to Liam. “
The Extreme Dream Team
special summer edition show. We'll take the life of a loner, make them go from drab to fab, and turn them into a VIP. I'm talking complete makeover—attitude, self-confidence and self-esteem, clothes, and . . .” She looked at Liam. “New digs, of course. I'll rework the person, Liam and the rest of the crew will rework their space. We'll make the person feel good, look good, and live good. You know, finally work on the gift
inside
the package. We always wrap a pretty package—someone's space, but what about the person? Who wants to live good and not look and feel good?”

“It's not technically true, but I'd say it's close to an oxymoron,” Liam said.

“Well, Charly—” Mr. Day began.

“Mr. Day,” she interrupted, cutting him off. She stood and placed both of her hands on his desk, then leaned forward. “Our ratings are high—at least they were for the last shows—the one that me and Liam hosted, and the reruns too. We don't want to lose that. Do we?”

“Well—” Mr. Day began.

“No, we don't,” Charly said, cutting him off again. “Besides, we gave you what you wanted and what my dad demanded. We got a hot show on our hands and, as you know, I didn't come here—”

Mr. Day slammed his hand down on his desk, the pound making the room grow quiet. “Charly! Please? You didn't come here for
nothing
. You've been telling me that forever now. I know!” He laughed, and the staff relaxed under his grin. “If you didn't have so much spunk—and that mouth—you would've let me finish.” He looked at Liam, then back to Charly. He winked. The other man clapped. “You and you”—he said, pointing to Charly, then Liam—“have just solved our dilemma. We wanted a new twist—that's what we were meeting about when you disappeared and went to the bathroom—and you delivered it.”

“So how do you propose we do it?” the other man asked.

Liam sat up. He shrugged. “Easy, mate. You're the network, so network it. Run a couple of ads—radio and on the telly, and have someone nominated.”

 

C
harly settled against the backseat of the town car, and prepared for the second leg of her trip. They were going to Tallulahville, a town just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was sixty-plus miles from civilization and the airport. The flight from New York had been uneventful, but, as usual, she couldn't sleep on the plane, and was now anxious and tired. She was excited about the upcoming show, and couldn't wait to begin the drab-to-fab makeover, but sleep was calling her. She yawned and stretched. She needed rest now more than ever. Nia, the winner of the contest, who had no idea she was getting a total overhaul or that she had even been entered into a contest, had been called difficult and resistant. From the pictures Charly had seen, she knew Nia was going to be a heavy project, but she was up for the challenge, which would begin as soon as her feet touched the pavement. Charly looked at her watch, calculating time and distance. If she guessed correctly, that meant she had at least an hour to nap, if she were lucky. She didn't have long to work her magic, but she wouldn't complain. She'd get the task done, and was thankful the opportunity had come. It'd taken almost a month for the studio to select a winner, but finally the time had come for Charly to show the world her other gift: the ability to make over someone from the inside. She opened the folder sitting on her lap, and looked at Nia's photos that had been submitted with her other information. Her hair was pulled back in a braid, and from what Charly could see, it was a yucky dull-brown that bordered on dirty looking. Her eyes were large, outlined with barely there lashes, and her heart-shaped face held not an ounce of love, but was weighed down by brows that looked inherited from Bert from
Sesame Street,
and a jagged scar was on her cheek. In one phrase, Charly summed her up: She looked as if she'd been dipped in frown juice. Charly shook her head, realizing how big a task she'd be undertaking soon. But she could do it. Somewhere under the weary mask of depression the girl Nia wore, Charly was sure there lived a pretty girl. Nia was plain and drab, but workable. Charly was certain she could snatch Nia out of the hole she'd climbed into after surviving a terrible car accident that'd left her face and confidence scarred as her story suggested. She was also a nerd, having never received anything less than an A+.

“You ready, love? I know it's going to be a difficult time for you because Marlow couldn't come. It's too bad they're allergic to dogs,” Liam said, climbing into the car and sitting beside her. She and Liam and two cameramen, who were in a different town car, had flown in a day earlier than the rest of the cast so they could scout locations and goods and check out the businesses who'd offered their services. And the cameramen had another task; they were to act as guardians. That's what Mr. Day had said. But Charly didn't care, and she wasn't too focused on the scouting; she was concerned with the hair salon and spa and, above all else, the department stores. Liam needed to meet with locals who'd help him and Sully, his co-host construction sidekick, fix Nia's structure—a room they'd turn into a full-fledged library and technology room—while Charly met with Nia's family and friends, namely Rory, the one who'd nominated her, to find out who Nia really was. She was sure that beneath all of Nia's nesses—introvertedness, nerdiness, and drabness—there had to be a gem she could polish until it shone. If there wasn't, that meant Charly would fail. Epically.

Charly looked at him and nodded. She closed the folder. “I know. I'm going to miss my baby, Marlow. My sister and the rest of the crew too, but I'm going to stay as focused as I can on this show. That should help. And to answer your question, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I just hope the fake mission this town thinks we're on really works. Do you think we can pull it off? I mean if the people in this town think we're here to make over the mayor's office . . .” she began, forgetting the lie the studio had come up with so she could get close to Nia, and make the makeover seem like an accident. She wasn't happy about having to perform a sneak-makeover, but had been told it was the only way. The girl seemed to be resistant to standing out front. “I guess I just don't understand why we'd be renovating the
mayor's
office to get to this girl. I mean, I know she's the mayor's daughter, but overhauling a publicly funded space makes no sense. I'd be upset if my tax money went to rehabbing someone's home.”

Liam nodded. “The mayor's private office that me and Sully are turning into space for Nia, remember? The community will know the truth soon, and they won't be mad.” He filled her in on what she'd forgotten. “Remember, the mayor's real office caught fire so, temporarily, he's been working from home. It seems he's a tightwad with his budget and doesn't want to waste the community's money, so that makes sense. He has to have somewhere to be mayor from, right?”

Charly shrugged, then laughed. She was more tired than she thought. Now she remembered. Nia's dad did have another office, which was currently being renovated, and he was working from home so he wouldn't have to use tax dollars on a temporary office until the rehab was finished. It just hadn't been announced yet. “Okay, that works. I get it now. You and Sully will be in there making over her dad's personal office for Nia, and I'll be waving my magic wand over Nia.”

“Yep. Now you got it.” Liam reached over and took the folder from Charly. He opened it and frowned at Nia's picture. “I hope your wand is powerful, love. I really do, because what I'm looking at is not attractive. At all. She reminds me a lot of the girl we met at the frozen yogurt shop, but that girl had an excuse—she was a lot younger and, I bet, her dad isn't the mayor of New York or anywhere else.” He shut the folder, then shuddered.

Charly snatched back the folder. “Thanks a lot, Liam. And Nia's not that bad, I betcha. Though I must agree she does kinda resemble the yogurt-shop girl. But I can do this, Liam. I just need a power nap, and I'm good.”

“You need a power nap, all right. A power nap and my tools. If this Nia character looks anything in person like she does in the photographs, the girl needs a wall built around her so no one will be able to see her. That's the only way you're gonna help her—you must hide her.”

Charly rolled her eyes. “See, that's why you're single. The wrapping is good, but the package is empty.” She faked a sneer. “Nia's going to be good. Trust me. She's gonna fake it 'til she makes it. That's my plan. I'm going to get her to act the part until she truly becomes the player. You just watch, I'm going to make her shine.”

Liam laughed. “The package isn't empty, love. But we don't have to discuss that. You know you want me.” He winked. Charly waved him away. “So your assistant isn't going to help you make her shine?” he asked.

Charly's irises spun fire. As far as she knew, the personal makeover part of the show was hers. She and only she alone would make over Nia; everyone else was either there to assist her or there to help Liam and Sully with the room renovation. “Who? What assistant?” she asked, her attitude beginning to inflate. She'd only been told that making over Nia was her assignment, and she had it in writing. “I didn't agree to an assistant, Liam. That's not in my contract!” She shook her head. “I hope these people don't make me go to court.”

“Court?” Liam questioned, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Surely, you wouldn't.” He laughed loudly. “You'd actually take them to court over an assistant?”

Charly nodded, her nostrils flaring. “Yep, but not a court of law—I hold court in the street where the winner takes all. No judge. No jury. Just me and them and these.” She held up her fists in the air. “And they better be careful, 'cause I'm nice with these and ain't lost a case yet. That goes for you too, Liam, if you keep laughing. I didn't agree to an assistant. Period.”

Liam's smile grew wider. “Sure you did, love.”

Charly's neck rotated as her head swerved back and forth like it was going to spin off. “No, I did not,” she began.

Liam laughed again. “Calm down, love. Yes, you did. You did when you agreed to us coming here before everyone else. I'm your assistant.” He winked. “Don't you want me to assist, I mean, accompany you today? I'll make it worth your while,” he flirted.

Charly rolled her eyes, relaxing. “I thought you were just coming to scout for your part.”

Liam shook his head. “Nope. I've been assigned to be the diversion—ya know, in case you get mobbed. It seems as if everyone wants to be a part of the show. Tomorrow I'll begin working my end.”

Charly smiled. She could live with having Liam around. They weren't together and hadn't shared anything more than the special moment or two followed by the kiss, but she remembered it. How could she forget? she questioned as her eyes moved to his grin. She blinked slowly while reminiscing. His lips had been soft then, and she was sure they still were now, but she wouldn't say anything. There hadn't been closure, and he hadn't pushed the issue, so neither would she. “Okay, assistant. Wake me up when we get there.” She winked, shut her eyes, then warmed when she heard his response.

“Anything for you, love. Anything at all. Just say it.”

 

She felt her body rise, then fall. A weird rubbing sound followed. Charly sat up, then stretched. Apparently the town car had rubbed against the curb when parking. She lifted her glasses, then squinted her eyes. Surely, her sight was betraying her. Yes, she'd agreed it would be a good idea to travel to a small town, but she hadn't meant so tiny that she could blink and miss it. Small shops, a gas station/convenience store, and a renovated office building that served as a post office and police precinct sat on the opposite side of the street. Charly gasped, almost afraid to turn her head. She lowered her shades, then cupped her hand on the side of them. She didn't want to see where they were staying. If it was as small-town as everything else before her, she knew she wouldn't want to stay there.

Liam's foot bumped against hers. “You okay, love? The sun bothering you?”

Charly's head rotated in the negative. She pointed toward the side of the street where they were parked. “How does it look? The motel?”

Liam pressed his lips together, then let out a long “Hmm.” Charly's eyes bulged, and Liam laughed. “Nah, it's not that bad. And it's not a motel, it's a hotel. A quaint one, actually. No outside hallways, I promise,” he said in a teasing tone.

Charly gave him a sinister smile, then scrunched her nose at him. “You better be right, Liam. You know I'm not a fan of outside corridors and entryways,” she said, then reached for the door handle, never taking her eyes off him. He'd taken up most of her power nap, intruding in a dream where he'd tried to kiss her and told her he wanted her to be his girlfriend.

“Wait!” he said loudly, stopping her from opening the door all the way. “Turn around before you get out. There's a mob of people on the corner. I guess they thought we were staying at a hotel down there.” He reached over her, grabbed the passenger door, and pulled it shut. He looked over his shoulder and his expression twisted into a look Charly didn't recognize. “From here, they look weird. It's like they have on costumes or something. I can't tell from where we're sitting. Let me get out first. I'd rather them swamp me than you, especially with the way they look.” He flexed his muscles. “Besides, I can keep them off.”

Charly turned and looked out the back window. Sure enough, there was a weird-looking group gathered. Some were colored blue and silver, others were holding signs that she couldn't make out, but could tell that they were clearly there for them because one sign read CHARLY. She shook her head. “News travels fast. Thanks,” she said, turning back to Liam. Her eyes did a quick inspection of his toned body. Yes, he could keep them off. She didn't know how he'd kept himself busy when they were apart, but it definitely included pumping iron. His muscles had obvious clear cuts like sliced bread; his upper body was chiseled and defined. She almost touched him to see how tight his arms were, but she stopped herself. His taut body had been built last year, and as good as he looked, she knew he couldn't do anything but improve. Liam was just one of those guys who got better every day.

“That's what happens in small towns, love. Just one three-way call is all it takes.” He got out of the car, then made his way to her side. He opened the door and reached for her hand.

Before her heeled foot touched the ground, a camera was in her face and a microphone was hanging over her head. She pressed her lips together, trying to pretend she wasn't on film. She had to act natural, but it was hard. Since they'd come in a separate town car, she'd forgotten about the cameramen and boom men being sent ahead with them. “Thanks,” she said to Liam, then stood. She looked up at him, loving his model-tall height, then turned and peered at the hotel. She nodded and smiled. “You're right. The hotel is quaint.” Her eyes moved to the camera crew. She still didn't understand why they had to capture everything. Their rooms had never been televised, and neither had their arrival. She shrugged. It was what it was, and she'd asked for it, she reminded herself.

“Charly! Over here,” someone said, speed walking toward her, holding a cell phone in an outstretched hand.

“Oh, yes. Liam! Liam, please speak for us? Say anything. I just wanna hear your accent,” a woman, who looked old enough to be their mom, yelled as part of the group made their way down the block toward them.

“Well?” Liam asked, still holding Charly's hand. “Shall we run for it?” he teased.