by Nova Raines
My muscles tighten. I’m sure my inheritance is nothing close to his. Does he think I’m using him to get access to VIP rooms and parties, too? “You know… very few people have the kind of money and connections your family has. I don’t. So…”
Kaidan takes another sip of his drink. “That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?” I say, my voice sharp. He’s on edge, and I’m provoking him, but I need to hear the rest of this. I need to know he doesn’t think I’m just after his money.
“Look… A lot of women just want me—and my father and my brother—for our money and connections.”
“And me? What do you think about me?”
He looks at me, his brow furrowed, like it’s obvious. “You were born into this lifestyle. You don’t act desperate, grasping for fame and connections. You have your own wealth, and you can take care of yourself. You’re nothing like those women.”
I rip my gaze away and glance out the window as our limo rolls a few inches closer to the drop-off point. If he finds out about my money issues, he’ll think I’m just like those other girls. I guess it’s a good thing he stood me up before I spilled the truth about everything. I can be self-sufficient. I’ll solve my own problems.
“Hay?” His voice is soft, and I look back at him.
“What if Serena and your dad really are in love?” It slips out before I can think it through, and my cheeks redden.
Kaidan raises a brow, and for a second I think he might not answer. “I’m not sure my dad knows what love is,” he finally says, his voice gruff.
“Yeah, I don’t know either,” I say quickly. I drain my champagne glass.
Kaidan takes away my empty glass. “Why not? Haven’t you ever been in love, Hayley Wade?”
I grab my clutch off the seat beside me and twist it in my hands. “Have you?”
He avoids my question and leans toward his window as the limo rolls forward again. “Oh good. Get ready. We’ll be getting out in a minute.”
I check my face and hair in my compact, then shove it in my bag. Kaidan’s leg is shaking, his foot tapping the floor. He dodged my question. Was he in love with Peyton? Is he still in love with her?
If I could slap my obnoxious champagne-soaked brain, I would. We pull to a stop in front of the red carpet, and I take in all the photographers and the well-dressed reporters dotting the carpet near the far end.
My pulse quickens. This is it.
Kaidan’s guards open the door, and the sounds rush in. Cameras snap, and from behind the fan section barrier, people shout the names of their favorite celebrities.
Kaidan grabs my clutch and hands it to his guard, then gets out. He leans back into the car to help me out.
All eyes are on us. The world watches as Kaidan takes me by the arm and we stroll down the red carpet. We stop to pose at certain points, and the flashes blind me. I do some of the poses I practiced with Char in the mirror, and I give my best sultry expression, hoping I don’t look ridiculous. I’m getting a serious contact high off the energy of the crowd, off the excitement displayed on their faces. A few photogs ask me to turn so they can get pictures of my dress from the back, and I pose for them, too.
Kaidan’s at my side, tense, barely smiling for the cameras.
He rests his hand on my lower back and guides me down the red carpet, his guards in front of us and behind us.
The fan section positively erupts as we walk by. I hear Kaidan’s name over and over, but he’s not stopping now. When we get to the section where the networks are, we keep going. He steers me forward, past where other celebrities talk to reporters, not sparing a glance for any of them.
“Kaidan Stone,” one calls out.
We’re just a short walk from the wide glass doors.
“Hayley Wade!” I dart a glance at the gowned woman reporter calling me. She’s got a microphone with a giant S on the side.
ScandalLust.
With a graceful twirl and my shoulders back, I step away from Kaidan, excitement flooding me at my brashness.
I give the reporter my prettiest smile and wait.
“Hayley,” she says. “My name’s Felicia Moreno, reporter for ScandalLust.” She gestures to her camera man, and he trains his lens on me. “Please tell us—who are you wearing tonight?”
I run a hand down my beaded bodice. “Calypso Day.”
I can feel Kaidan’s presence at my back as he waits for me. I shoot a look at him. His expression is hard, his jaw tight. He said no interviews. Oops.
“She must be a new designer. It’s a gorgeous gown,” Felicia says. “This is your first red carpet event in a while, isn’t it?”
“Yes, many years. In fact, the last time I walked the red carpet was with my father.”
“Our condolences. So sorry to hear about your loss.”
I paste on a fake smile and lean toward the mic. “Really? That’s fascinating considering all the hateful headlines your tabloid has been publishing about him lately. Care to explain that?”
The woman’s eyes narrow. I’ve pissed her off. Excellent. They’ll never air this.
She smoothes her expression. “So, you have to tell us. You came with Kaidan Stone tonight. If he’s no longer single, he’s off The Lust List,” she says in a bright voice, like I didn’t just insult her. “Can we announce to the world that you two are officially a couple? Or is Peyton MacKenzie still in the running?”
I’m gonna pop a bitch. I take a deep breath, keeping my perfect smile intact, trying to think of a good response. Kaidan’s standing right behind me. What the hell do I say?
I feel a hand on my arm, and Kaidan steps in front of me and tears the mic from the woman’s grasp.
My eyes widen in shock to match the look on Felicia’s face, and she flushes as Kaidan makes eye contact with her.
“You can tell the world they have no business knowing anything about our personal lives. Though we have many Stone label artists here tonight who I’m sure would love to talk to you.”
He shoves the mic back at Felicia and grabs my hand. I stalk off with him, my heart in my throat. Did I piss him off? We pass through the doors, and I keep my gaze straight ahead as ushers lead us into a huge auditorium. Tables draped in filmy deep purple material fill the front of the space, and the velvet auditorium seats are already half full with celebrities and others lucky enough to get tickets.
“Sorry,” I finally say, keeping my voice low.
Kaidan lets out a low chuckle. “They’re assholes. I’m glad you gave it to them.”
My heart swells at his words, and the thrill I felt returns as I gaze in wonder at the massive stage with the awards podium and the second stage where the musical acts will perform.
As the usher leads us to one of the tables in the front of the room, my eyes go straight to Kaidan’s dad and Serena.
The old man is downing a drink, looking half-drunk in his pristine tuxedo. And Serena Lynn sips wine at his side, her hair in an updo, her busty frame stuffed into a skintight baby blue gown. But all I can stare at is the massive diamond necklace hanging around her neck.
I tear my eyes away and scan the rest of the table. Eight places. Char would have a heart attack. Hot pop R&B singer Bia is sitting at our table with her manager. She’s wearing a red silk gown that looks great against her brown skin and is positively covered in gems and jewels. There’s a guy standing next to the table, preparing to sit next to Bia. As we get closer, I realize it’s Ethan Beckham—all tattoos, dark black hair, and black glasses. He’s a twenty-two year old hipster heartthrob. He was a child prodigy and makes all his tracks on his own—an international rock star. And international douchebag… if the tabloids are to be believed.
Ethan has a pretty, petite, fiery redhead with light blue eyes at his side. Zoe North, a former child star and sometimes-singer turned sex symbol. She’s all over the tabloids, because she’s being considered for the starring role in the upcoming Better World trilogy, a soon-to-be blockbuster movie series about humanity e
scaping a dying Earth in search of a new planet. Zoe’s got a princess-like, cream gown on, with layers of ruffly silk skirt and a fitted bodice that pushes up her cleavage. The color makes her look even paler.
Bia, Serena, and Ethan. This is the superstar table—Stone Record’s biggest money makers.
We finally reach the table, and Calvin Stone gets up and comes to Kaidan to embrace him. “Ah, my boy.”
Both of them smile broadly at the table, and Kaidan’s entire disposition changes. It’s a like his earlier apprehension just slides off him, and I sense he’s entirely in his element now.
Calvin gestures to Kaidan, clearly insinuating he sit beside Bia’s manager. Which puts me next to Serena Lynn. My heart speeds up, and I flash the table a bright smile. Everyone offers fake smiles back, assessing me openly. They’re everything. I’m nothing. But I’m Kaidan’s date, and doesn’t Kaidan hold their futures in his palm?
A member of the waitstaff hurries over, and Kaidan orders us drinks in a low voice, then pulls out my chair for me. I sit down, and one of the guards that came with us hands me my clutch. Our drinks arrive in record time, less than a minute, and I start working on mine, sneaking glances at Serena.
When the whole table is seated and has their drinks, Kaidan gestures to me. “This is Hayley Wade, if any of you haven’t met her yet,” he says.
Serena avoids looking my way, but the rest of the table greets me politely, and then Kaidan turns to Bia and her manager.
“Performing ‘Lux’ tonight?” Kaidan asks. “They’re going to love it. Congratulations, you two, on the sold out tour.”
“We did do well.” The manager runs a hand along Bia’s back. She leans into the touch, and it’s a little creepy, since he’s at least twenty years older than her, but that’s not exactly strange at this table.
“Oh, better than well,” Calvin says. “We’ve never had a tour sell out that fast.”
Bia cracks a smile, clearly pleased by the compliments, and sips her drink to hide her pleasure at their words.
“And Ethan,” Kaidan says, “I hear you’re one of the top choices for the Better World soundtrack. Dozens of producers in the running, I hear?”
“He’ll land it,” Calvin says. “I have no doubt about it.”
Zoe beams at Ethan and caresses his arm, gazing at him with sultry eyes beneath fake eyelashes. “They’d be stupid not to choose him. I’ve heard his demo. It’s amazing—a perfect fit for the story. I hope I get the role just so I can sing the songs he’s written.”
Zoe’s hand disappears beneath the table, finding a spot somewhere on Ethan’s lap. He shifts in his seat and locks gazes with her, barely aware we’re here.
“Yeah. It’ll be a badass soundtrack,” he says. “But I have inspiration.” He leans forward and shares a sloppy kiss with Zoe, and I look away.
“And you’re also performing tonight, right Serena?” Kaidan says, with no hint that he secretly hates her.
“Of course.” She rolls her eyes. “I wanted to do ‘Devil,’ but Calvin insisted I do ‘Beautiful Lie.’”
“They’re both hits, love,” Calvin says. He squeezes her hand. “We want to push ‘Beautiful Lie.’”
“But you know how much the boys love when I dance to ‘Devil.’”
“The boys?” Calvin lifts a gray brow.
Serena grins. “Not that I care what the boys think when I have a real man.”
Calvin laughs and gives her a peck on the lips.
The two of them squick me out, but Kaidan doesn’t miss a beat. His friendly expression never falters.
“Both ‘Devil’ and ‘Beautiful Lie’ are Top 100,” he says. “You sing ‘Lie’ tonight, and it’ll hit number one by next week. You produced it, didn’t you Ethan?”
Ethan downs his drink, what appears to be hard liquor on the rocks, and waves over the waitstaff. “Another,” he says, shoving the glass in the direction of the waitress without looking at her. “Yeah. ‘Beautiful Lie’ is all me.”
“Not entirely,” Serena says, shooting him a dark look.
Ethan folds his hands in front of him. “Uh—did you forget what your vocals sounded like raw?”
Serena flushes, and her eyes narrow. “The track would be nothing without my vocals.”
“It’s true.” Kaidan says, “There are two amazing Stone Label talents on one track. And that’s why it’ll hit number one.”
Serena lifts a brow at Ethan but nods, placated by Kaidan’s words.
He continues the conversation, asking Ethan about the song he’s set to perform and bantering with everyone at the table in turn. Calvin interjects every once in awhile with a clever remark. They’re the perfect picture of father and son. They control the conversation. They’re confident. Powerful.
Kaidan’s really good at this—at schmoozing and managing the talent. If he hadn’t told me himself he had doubts about taking over the label, I never would have believed it.
I admire how easily he masks his true feelings, but it’s a little disturbing at the same time. Because… how can you trust someone who can hide how they really feel so easily?
The auditorium is quickly filling up—the show will be starting soon.
Our table devolves into multiple conversations—Bia with Zoe, Bia’s manager with Kaidan, and Calvin with Ethan. I sit in awkward silence beside Serena, and it takes everything in me not to look at the diamond. I want to rip it off of her and take it home. A little heat spreads in my belly, champagne or what—I don’t know. Serena used my dad to get that diamond, and she’s using Calvin Stone to ensure her hits continue to be hits. I’m sure of it. I down my champagne, and a new glass appears before me like magic.
“So, you dating Kaidan officially now?” Serena asks.
I freeze and slowly turn toward her, pasting a smile on my face. But Serena isn’t even looking at me. She’s gazing at another table and waves brightly, smiling as she catches a friend’s eye.
“I’m not sure. I…” My eyes have followed Serena’s gaze, to the group she’s waving at. It’s two tables filled with Cylon Smash band members and their dates. And right smack in the middle of the group, hanging off Ender Varrone’s arm, is freaking Peyton Mackenzie, wearing a shiny gold gown and shooting daggers at me.
I avert my eyes quickly, face flushed. Thank God I didn’t wear the gold gown!
“Kaidan’s great,” Serena continues, her voice low. “He’s been nothing but welcoming to me.”
I take a breath, trying to forget the way Peyton is likely staring at me. “You mean—about you and his dad…”
She waves her hand. “Oh yeah. Can’t say the same about Devon.” She makes a face and whips some lip gloss out of her purse. The diamond moves with her, and the necklace settles in her cleavage.
“I love your necklace,” I say, gushing like it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
She looks like a deer in headlights for a split second, then smooths her lip gloss on. “Thanks.”
“So whatever happened between you and my dad?” I ask, my voice light.
“Oh, you know. He left me for someone younger.”
Ew. She’s such a liar. “Really? That’s interesting. I didn’t know that.”
“Well, I mean—you were at school. So you wouldn’t know, would you?” Her tone is snippy.
“Yeah, you’re right. So who was it?”
“Some girl. Some eighteen-year-old aspiring model.”
My chest tightens, and I chug my champagne. It tickles my throat, and my cheeks flush. I want to accuse her of being a liar, but what if she’s telling the truth? Maybe she caught him cheating. He was kind of known for that.
“So when do you head back to get ready for your performance?” I ask.
Her shoulders relax, like she’s relieved I dropped the topic of my dad. “I have to give out the award for best pop song, and then I’ll head to the dressing room to get changed.”
Get changed. There’s no way she’d wear that diamond on stage… would she? “I’
ve always wanted to go backstage and see what it’s like to get ready for a show.”
“Oh yeah?”
She doesn’t take the bait and invite me. I take another swig of champagne. “I would love to come back there with you. Could I?”
She blinks rapidly. “You’ll miss the show if you do.”
“Oh, no I won’t. I’ll watch you from backstage.”
“Sure. Okay. Come back and see what it’s like.” She gives me a false smile, then tugs at Calvin’s sleeve. “Honey, I need to go to the ladies’.”
“The show starts in five.”
“I’ll be back.”
She leaves the table, and I sit in silence, drinking, waiting for things to begin. I sneak a peek at Peyton again, and she’s back to chugging her champagne and hanging off Ender’s arm. He is completely ignoring her, animatedly talking to his drummer’s date.
Serena gets back just as the lights dim and the music starts. Perfect timing so she doesn’t have to continue talking to me.
Everyone goes silent, and Kaidan grabs my hand and squeezes. My breath catches at the unexpected touch, and I look at him beneath the dim lights, his brown eyes glinting warmly at me. I give him a little smile. As far as I can tell, he hasn’t spared a single glance at Peyton—doesn’t care who’s here. I’m here with Kaidan Stone tonight. And he wants to be with me and only me.
He holds my hand, caressing it lightly with his fingers, as we watch the awards show.
A comedian, Jamal Mason, is hosting the awards, and Kaidan and I both laugh as he opens with a joke about his complete lack of musical ability.
We speed through the first few awards, and then it’s time for a commercial break, and the lights turn up a little. Ethan leaves to get ready for his performance, and the conversation in the auditorium picks up to a low murmur.
I turn to Kaidan and jump when I realize he’s leaned close and is inches from my face. He grins at me and looks… happy. Truly. I feel giddy with the same happiness, and I laugh in response.
