by Raziel Reid
“Where’s the party?” Lily asked.
“I know the guy who lives here,” Chris said. “Well, I follow him.” Chris showed Lily the guy’s feed. Champagne bottles popping over exposed breasts, designer labels, money-clogged toilet bowls, videos of bikini-clad girls being thrown off the roof of the beach house into the pool. According to his most recent Story, he’s out of town, partying in Palm Springs.
“You won’t believe his art collection,” Chris said, staring through the front windshield up at the dark house.
It happened so fast. Lily was kind of buzzed from the roadie. It was supposed to be a good night. It was supposed to be her escape. As they drove along the coast, Lily pretended she deserved nice things.
“Where are you going?” Lily asked when Chris stepped out of the car. He just slammed his door shut and she watched him disappear around the side of the house. Lily switched off the stereo, waiting. Then she heard glass break. Followed by the house alarm ringing. Lily jumped out of the car like she was trying to jump out of her skin. Chris came running back, moments later, with a life-size furry sheep sculpture in his arms.
“Are you crazy?” Lily yelled. “What the hell is that?”
“Your ticket out of the Valley,” Chris said.
It struck Lily, the way he said it. It was like time stopped. Just for a second. Then in the chaos of it all, Lily found herself getting back into the car.
Chris shoved the sheep onto Lily’s lap as they sped out of the motor court and down the PCH. He was driving like a crazy person, weaving between honking cars. When she heard police sirens, Lily panicked. She tried to shove the sheep out the passenger’s window but it wouldn’t fit. Chris leaned over and pulled her back, losing control of the wheel.
The Camaro careened into garbage bins at the end of a driveway and crashed straight into the garage door of a beach house. The cruiser pulled up behind them and two officers jumped out, guns drawn. Chris’s face had hit the steering wheel and his nose started gushing blood. Lily was spared from the brunt of the impact by the sheep, which acted as a sort of airbag.
“Since you don’t have a record, and the other defendant is over eighteen, we’ll fight to get the charges reduced to a misdemeanor.”
The sound of Lily’s lawyer’s voice snaps her out of her flashback. Stan looks down at his paperwork and back up at Lily. “Do yourself a favor, kid. Drop the loser. You can do better. I have a daughter about your age. You know what I tell her? Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
paleyhailey
1m followers
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The infinity pool in the backyard of the Paleys’ modern house in Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills spills open to the sunny L.A. skyline all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The property is bustling with activity as Hailey’s party is being set up.
Bartenders who all model for IMG stock an outdoor bar; a selfie wall made of white roses borders the yard; lights are strung around palm trees; a pink VIP tent is being erected; and a red carpet is unrolled in front of a step-and-repeat featuring all the sponsoring brands, the Platinum Triangle title, and the spiral logo for MKTV. Valeria doesn’t even get this much sponsorship! The world is predicting big things for the spawn of movie star Patrick Paley.
“Is that Grey Goose?” Hailey snaps at one of the models at the bar, pointing to a bottle of vodka. “I only drink Belvedere.” Hailey’s mom says you don’t get a hangover from Belvedere, and she would know.
Celebrity event planner Kevin Lee is strutting around as he organizes the setup. He’s the most extra person ever and a living legend. Kevin did Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s wedding. He’s wearing a skintight pink suit with rhinestones and rose-tinted sunglasses as Hailey greets him with a double-kiss.
“Kevin, you’ve outdone yourself. I can’t believe you pulled it off so fast!” When Greta and Bea were more interested in gossiping about Lily than helping her plan the party, Hailey knew she had to call in the big guns.
“Beverly Hills, darling! Chi chi chi chi chi!” Kevin puts an arm around Hailey’s shoulders and leads her across the yard toward the house. “Guest of honor, don’t worry about a thing. You just go get dressed. Million-dollar party—lots of bling bling bling bling bling!”
Kevin goes over to supervise the building of the VIP tent just as Whitney steps outside through the retractable glass wall leading into the Paleys’ kitchen.
Hailey’s dad once told Entertainment Weekly while promoting one of his movies that he married Whitney because she reminded him so much of the woman in his favorite painting, Beverly Hills Housewife by David Hockney. An icy blond woman frozen in front of a glass-box mansion, elite and alone.
“We may have another guest of honor tonight,” Whitney says. She must have heard Kevin’s carrying voice.
“Who?” Hailey asks.
“Your cousin Lily.”
“The one who won’t stop being poor?”
“Don’t be so judgy, darling. Lily doesn’t have anyone!”
“What about her mom? Is Aunt Erin still selling stories about you to the tabloids?”
“I talked to Erin this afternoon, actually. She’s in Reno with her new boyfriend. You won’t believe it! They left Lily behind in the trailer.”
“Canceled,” Hailey says. She whips out her phone.
Her mother’s trashy side of the family is too real. Hailey can’t imagine growing up in the Valley, never mind in a mobile-home park. Jesus fuck. Hailey used to pity Lily when they were kids but now she’s just embarrassed by her. Hailey’s glad that Lily’s off the grid. She doesn’t have an Instagram and has never been associated with Hailey’s brand. Until now.
Hailey looks up the Hollywood Life story on her phone and stares down at Lily’s mugshot. It’s a testament to her family’s fame how many Shares it’s getting.
“Did someone at the police station leak the photo?” Hailey asks. She looks up at Whitney, who just blinks back at her. “Mother, you didn’t!”
“Oh, I’ve had connections in the force since your father’s first DUI. I just wanted to create a little buzz, distract from the negative press surrounding the trailer. Lily’s arrest couldn’t have come at a better time.”
“I can think of a better time,” Hailey says, indignant. “Like, not during my party! Or never?”
“Erin and I talked after a call I had with Platinum Triangle production…I’m feeling anxious about the trailer, Hails. I’m worried I went too far in my feud with Kathy Strom this season. People are calling me transphobic!”
Hailey rolls her eyes. “Bots.”
“Kathy has all the viewer sympathy because her husband chopped off his dick! Look at the comments.”
Hailey indulges her mother by opening Instagram and clicking on Whitney’s most recent post.
“Is that my Viktor & Rolf dress?” Hailey asks.
She has to admit as she scans through the comments, Whitney’s getting slammed.
here2bentertained Saw the trailer and not watching season 2 bc of you. Your empathy is zero. I’d love to see how you behave with nothing. Yuk.
“And of course I’m the one who first mentions the possibility of Morgan Cadogan faking cancer on camera.” Whitney is at the center of every storyline. “Kathy might have run with it, but it came out of my mouth first. How do you think that’ll look if she really does have cancer?”
“Well, I just reached a million followers,” Hailey says, closing Instagram.
“What about you and Joel?” Whitney asks. “Can you honestly say you got the story you wanted for season 2?”
Hailey stares out at the backyard. Joel Strom is her one and only failure. This season Hailey and Platinum Triangle story producer Sam constr
ucted all of these scenes between Hailey and Joel. Their followers are so loyal. #Jailey. But Joel has been hard to reach. There were a few moments caught on camera that looked like something was building between them, but then Joel would become aloof. Hailey’s been friend-zoned, and her brand is all about being desired—so that doesn’t really work for her.
“Sam’s looking for Lily now. Production wants to shoot some footage with your cousin and introduce her near the end of the season,” Whitney says.
“What?”
“I was thinking we can do a makeover segment…you know, a shopping spree, give Lily—and the audience—the whole Rodeo Drive fantasy. All it’ll take is a little fake compassion and our reputations will be restored!”
“You really scare me when you don’t eat anything but Klonopin all day and start plotting.” Hailey gives her mother a look. “You really want Lily to be on the show?”
“We’ll sort out her legal issues, obviously. I mean, Hails, you’ll be a role model to this girl. You can have her walk in the Dress for Success fashion show you’re organizing at the Beverly Hilton.”
Dress for Success is a charity that donates clothes to women for job interviews. Hailey is one of those girls who treats people like shit 364 days of the year and then throws a charity fashion show on the 365th day and calls herself a philanthropist.
“She can stay in the pool house,” Whitney says.
“You want her to live here?”
“Not permanently. Just until we have enough footage.”
Hailey opens her mouth to protest but quickly closes it. Maybe having Lily around isn’t such a bad idea. It’ll mean the cameras will start rolling again, and Hailey will have one more chance to write the perfect ending for season 2. Besides, the press is all over Lily’s arrest, and it’ll be cute if Hailey saves her.
“Are we literally sucking this girl’s blood right now?” Hailey asks.
Whitney tries to arch an eyebrow but she can’t because she just came from an injectables appointment.
Hailey pulls up Lily’s mugshot on her phone.
“Welcome to Beverly Hills, darling,” she says, her voice becoming increasingly ominous. “Chi chi chi chi chi…”
lily rhode
no results found
Lily’s phone pings repeatedly as she steps out of the sheriff’s station. Her mugshot is all over the internet. Lily’s trying to keep up with all the incoming messages from her friends who have seen her in the press and can’t believe she’s related to the Paleys. Half the messages are from Lily’s best friend from school, Mia, who is freaking TF out. She watches Platinum Triangle religiously and she feels personally betrayed that Lily never told her that she’s one degree of separation from the hottest show on TV.
It’s not just Mia. Lily hasn’t told anyone about her famous relatives. She tries not to think about the Paleys because she knows the thoughts will spiral—thinking about them will turn into comparing herself to them.
Lily looks up from her phone, across the vacant parking lot. Where to now? There’s no one waiting for her at home.
Lily’s about to call an Uber when a black SUV pulls up to the curb in front of the station. A woman in her early thirties, dressed all in black with her hair in a messy bun, jumps out of the back.
“There she is!” She strides right up to where Lily is standing. “Quite the debut! What’s next, a sex tape?” She leans in and lowers her voice. “I can help you slide into the right DMs, if you’d like.”
“Excuse me?” Lily asks.
“Joking! Totally joking. You’re only sixteen.”
“Do I know you?” Lily gives her a weird look.
“Sam Dresner, story producer on Platinum Triangle.” Sam puts out her hand. Lily reluctantly shakes it. “Your Aunt Whitney sent me to find you.”
“My aunt?” Lily looks past Sam toward the SUV. “Is she here?”
“No.”
Lily looks back at Sam, who winks.
“But she sent a camera!”
realvalerialeon
3.3m followers
tanya_emily @anevae_19 she’s a hoe who keeps bringing up drama about Sean so she needs to get over herself
anevae_19 Excuse me she’s not a hoe u r but that’s ok bc I still love u bc your my little mini me @tanya_emily
blue2380 @tanya_emily what drama does she bring to Sean?
tanya_emily blue2380 LMFAO we weren’t even talking to you get tf out
blue2380 @tanya_emily @anevae_19 but I am talking to you since you’re on my faves page talking reckless on a subject you don’t even know about! AGAIN how tf is she a hoe?
anevae_19 @blue2380 lmaooooooo nigga you funny I wasn’t calling her a hoe I was calling my FRIEND a hoe read the friken comments before you say stuff Oml go get a life and stop saying stuff until you read it correctly now you can get tf out
blue2380 @anevae_19 girl bye if you love her like you claim, you wouldn’t be up here calling her a hoe!
bellvwyckoff Shut up @anevae_19 @tanya_emily @blue2380 why u fightin
blue2380 @anevae_19 1. Don’t call me no nigga. 2. Bitch I can read 3.youre ignorant as they come
anevae_19 @bellvwyckoff we aren’t fighting we do this everyday
Valeria’s old movie star posters are hanging on her bedroom wall. The Barney and Friends movie. The first live-action Dora the Explorer. She’ll never forgive herself for not being cast in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. But the poster that makes her mouth go dry is Dr. Seuss’s Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? starring Valeria and Patrick Paley.
Valeria rummages through her closet, choosing an Alice + Olivia off-shoulder white lace boho dress, and she sprays herself with Miu Miu perfume (No one can resist my Twist) before checking her reflection in the full-length mirror. She’s cute and hateful.
When she gets downstairs, the TV is on in the family room. Valeria’s mom, Gloria, is watching Daily Pop as she holds Valeria’s baby brother, Leo, and tries to tidy up the kitchen counter. Valeria’s six-year old sister, Sophia, is jumping on the couch.
“…sources reveal Hollywood may be bracing for another sex scandal,” the host is saying. “The allegations are against an unnamed actor of a major studio franchise and involve sexual misconduct on film sets spanning nearly two decades…”
Leo is crying and Gloria is shaking him, a little too roughly, trying to soothe him. She reaches for a bottle of Klonopin on the kitchen counter and swallows a capsule with a sip from her Starbucks cup.
Valeria used to be on the same anxiety pills to help her get over her nerves before auditioning. She was also on Adderall to keep her energetic on set, and Ambien to help her sleep. Her mother referred to Valeria’s decision to stop taking the pills as her “teenage rebellion,” but Valeria just wanted to feel again.
“Sophia, cut it out!” Gloria says sharply.
Gloria tries to give Leo a pacifier but he spits it out onto the floor. His sobs turn hysterical.
Valeria takes him from her mother’s arms. He instantly calms down. Leo is Valeria’s favorite thing in the world. She loves him more than anything. And the feeling is mutual. He actually smiles at Valeria as a last tear streams down his chubby cheek. Gloria’s too relieved to be offended.
“Want me to put him down before I go?” Valeria asks.
“Sophia!” Gloria snaps. Sophia immediately stops jumping. Leo’s lip trembles like he’s about to start wailing again, but Valeria manages to rinse off the pacifier and get it in his mouth just in time.
“I’ll put him down,” Gloria says. “You’re late enough as it is. I hear Platinum Triangle is shooting the party. Leave it to Whitney to get production running again just for her. I want you featured with the long-lost trailer trash cousin, if you can. And make sure you’re seen with Sean!”
“Fine. Whatever.”
“Not whatever. His dad played for the Lakers, Valeria.”
Valeria shrugs. “Christoph Johnson’s kind of a crackhead now.”
Gloria picks up a stack of
mail next to the pill bottle on the counter and waves it around. “Having you linked with someone so high profile is good for publicity. In case you haven’t noticed, these aren’t fan mail. They’re bills.”
Sometimes Valeria thinks her mother derives pleasure from hurting her.
“God knows my Platinum Triangle salary isn’t going to cover them. They think they can pay us with attention.”
“Because they can,” Valeria says.
Gloria gets competitive. “I’m more in demand than you these days. And it’s not like we can count on your father. He’s in Vegas cracking eggs his golden goose hasn’t yet laid.”
She takes Leo back from Valeria’s arms, giving Valeria a once-over.
“Is that what you’re wearing?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“I repeat, the show’s filming. Put on something that shows a bit more skin.”
Sophia figures she’s stopped for long enough and resumes jumping on the couch. Gloria sighs.
“Go look in Sophia’s closet.”
Valeria rolls her eyes and turns to go.
“Oh, and Valeria?”
She stops and looks back.
“He wants to see you tonight. At the Montage Beverly Hills.”
lily rhode
no results found
Lily sits across from Sam in a red leather booth in Formosa, the famous Old Hollywood café on Santa Monica Boulevard where the stars used to go after the day on set. It’s dimly lit and designed with a Cantonese theme, framed photos of Hollywood stars lining the walls. Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean…The waiter brings them each a mai tai, which Sam swears all the stars used to drink when they’d meet at Formosa.
“So what is it exactly that you do on Platinum Triangle?” Lily asks. She takes a sip of the drink and immediately feels her shoulders relax. She’s exhausted. Last night catches up to her all at once. She didn’t sleep in her cell.
