Someone’s cold fingers touched her shoulder. She turned around; it was Madison. Gaby was there too, holding a martini in each hand. Madison was wearing a beaded gold minidress. Her bleached hair was in full, loose curls. Gaby’s black corset dress went down to her knees, and her hair was styled in a smooth updo. Her makeup was flawless. Jane hadn’t seen either of them since the photo shoot.
“Jane!” Madison trilled. “Scarlett! Are you two sooo stoked about tonight!?” She sounded louder than usual and a little drunk.
“Hey, guys,” Jane said, hugging them both. “This is crazy, right?”
“It’s the best!” Gaby agreed. “Hey, does anyone want a martini? I accidentally ordered two.”
“I’ll take one!” Madison said, giggling. Jane noticed her parents raising their eyebrows. Her parents were cool with her drinking wine with dinner occasionally, and there’s no way they didn’t know she’d tried more, but still, she was glad she and Scarlett hadn’t had time to grab any drinks. Her mom and dad were most likely about to see her drinking at least once on the huge screen at the front of the room—might as well not rub it in their faces any more than PopTV was about to.
Jane and Scarlett introduced Madison and Gaby to their parents. “My mom and dad are over there, talking to Trevor,” Gaby said, pointing. “Hey, Madison, when are your parents getting here?”
“They’re not. They’re in Beijing.” Madison shrugged and took a sip of her martini, spilling a little. “They’re closing some deal on a resort they’re building over there. They wanted to take the jet and come back just for this party. But I told them we could celebrate the next time they’re in town.”
“Your parents are hotel developers?” Scarlett’s mom asked Madison, with interest.
Madison leaned over and took a sip of one of Gaby’s martinis. “Among other things.”
The Harps started telling Jane’s parents about some fancy new hotel in London they’d stayed at recently. Lacie and Nora wandered away, in search of celebrities. Jane turned to Scarlett, Madison, and Gaby so they could gossip about the other people in the room when she noticed a familiar figure walking into the club. Her heart practically jumped out of her chest. It was Braden! After his noncommittal RSVP, she wasn’t sure if he was going to make it. He was dressed in a black button-down shirt and dark jeans. He looked lost and uncertain, as though he had never stepped foot in a club before. Which, knowing him, was totally possible. The more Jane got to know him, the more she understood how not into the Hollywood scene he really was.
She was about to shout out his name when Trevor’s voice came on over the speakers. He was standing in the front of the room by the massive plasma screen. People turned to face him.
“Could I please have everyone’s attention?” Trevor called out. “Jane, Scarlett, Madison, Gaby, could I get you guys up here?” Jane threw her parents an excited, nervous smile and followed the other girls to the front.
“It’s exactly one minute and twenty-two seconds until the big moment,” Trevor went on, holding up his Rolex. “Before we get our first look at this very exciting new show, I just want to say what a wonderful time we’ve all had working on it. And it’s just the beginning! These last few weeks have been tough, but we did it. So I hope you all enjoy L.A. Candy as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it.”
The room went dark. “With that, I want to invite everyone to take a look at the very first episode of a show that I hope will be around for a long, long time. Ladies and gentlemen, L.A. Candy!” Trevor announced.
Everyone clapped and cheered. Trevor stepped back just as the screen came to life. Jane’s face appeared, smiling at someone or something in the distance. “My name is Jane,” she heard herself say over the speakers, in surround sound. She was mesmerized.
Then the opening credits began playing over the new Rihanna song and a montage of all four girls doing different things, the final image of Jane unpacking a box in the new apartment then collapsing on the couch with Scarlett and smiling.
Jane leaned against Scarlett. “Oh my God! It’s us,” she whispered.
“Yeah, yeah,” Scarlett said. She was pretending to be bored, but Jane could tell that she was mesmerized, too.
The girls fell quiet as the opening credits faded out, followed by a shot of Jane walking into Fiona Chen Events. There was Naomi at her desk, telling Jane that Fiona wanted to see her. Then Fiona offering Jane the promotion. They showed Fiona telling Jane that she was trusting her not to screw it up. Then it cut to a shot of Jane with a worried expression. People around her laughed. After that was a scene of Jane setting up her new desk. Then Paolo stopping by and asking her out. Jane couldn’t believe they were showing this clip. She couldn’t stand Paolo. She had never heard from him after their unfortunate first date.
Next came Gaby at her job, at the PR firm called Ruby Slipper. She was at the front desk, answering phones and getting people’s names mixed up in funny ways. That got big laughs. (Jane was glad her first day at Fiona Chen hadn’t been filmed!) Then Madison working out at the gym with her personal trainer, Byron…who was hot! Jane felt a sudden urge to get in shape. Then Scarlett in one of her classes at U.S.C., taking notes. She raised her hand and gave some smart-ass answer. It cut to several of her classmates’ faces and then back to the professor. All stunned. People around them laughed again.
By the time it got to all four girls together at a club, Jane could sort of watch herself without feeling uncomfortable. Except…oh shit! Jane knew what night that was. She squeezed Scarlett’s arm. Were they going to show her wasted at Madison’s? With her parents and little sisters not ten feet away? Eyes glued to the screen, she watched them all going back to Madison’s apartment joined by a group of guys. There were shots of the girls dancing, laughing, drinking champagne. To Jane’s surprise it looked rather harmless. Phew! Then it showed two boys announcing that they were going home with Jane and Scarlett. It cut to a closeup shot of them pounding fists and giving each other knowing glances. Ew, thought Jane. Those guys are such tools! Music began to play as Jane, Scarlett, and the two guys made their way toward the door. Then it cut to a bird’s-eye view of downtown L.A. all lit up. The words “Created and Produced by Trevor Lord” appeared across the screen, and then the credits began to roll.
With that, the room broke into wild applause. Scarlett moved closer to Jane. “What the fuck?” she whispered.
“I know! They totally made it look like we went home with those guys,” Jane whispered back. “Didn’t we leave them at the elevator?”
“Yes,” Scarlett said. “I can’t believe they did that.”
Jane turned to Madison and Gaby. “What did you guys think of that?” she said in a low voice.
“That was awesome,” Madison said, although it seemed a little forced. “So when did you do the recording at the beginning?”
“Oh, it was kind of a last-minute thing,” Jane explained. She had only told Scarlet about the producers asking her to do the narration.
“Well, you did great. It all looked so good!” Gaby raised her martini glass in the air and twirled around, doing a little dance. “Madison, you want to get another one?”
“Sure, sweetie!”
As the two girls walked away, Jane and Scarlett exchanged a glance. Scarlett shrugged and mouthed, WTF? Jane shrugged back.
“Jane! Scarlett! O-M-G!”
D was rushing toward them, followed by an older guy Jane didn’t recognize. He hugged Jane and Scarlett tightly. “It looked amazing! I’m totally TiVoing every episode!”
Then D turned to the guy beside him. “I want you two to meet my friend, Quentin Sparks.”
“Pleasure,” Quentin said, extending his hand.
“Quentin is a club promoter,” D continued. “He does a night at Les Deux and one at Teddy’s. He does all the best nights.”
“I told D you girls are welcome at any of my clubs. We can comp you a table and a bottle. Just let me know,” Quentin added.
“Cool,” Scarlett said.
“Stay out of trouble, you!” D called after her.
“That’s exactly where she’s headed,” Scarlett said under her breath.
“Speak for yourself!” Jane said, waving good-bye and hurrying to the bar.
Braden’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “Hey!” he called out.
“Hey!” Jane threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. She hadn’t seen him in ages—not since that night at Lola’s. She’d been so busy with work and everything.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” she told him.
“Of course I’m here. I wouldn’t have missed your big night,” Braden said, grinning. “Show’s awesome. Well, you were awesome, anyway.”
Jane blushed slightly. “Yeah, well, they kinda edited some things in a weird way. Like that final scene? That’s not how it happened.”
“Yeah, that’s typical with reality shows, I think. Here.” Braden handed her a box wrapped in pale blue tissue paper. “I brought you a present.”
“A present? Seriously? Aww, you didn’t have to get me anything!”
“It’s no big deal. It’s kinda lame.”
Jane tried to hide her eagerness as she ripped open the box. Tucked away in a nest of white tissue paper was a stuffed puppy doll. It was white with floppy brown ears and brown spots.
“Awwww!” Jane said, holding it up. “Braden! You got me a puppy!”
“I figured he could keep you company until you got a real one,” Braden explained.
“That’s so sweet. I’m naming him B, after you.”
“You are not!”
“Too late, I already named him.” Jane smiled at him. Screw “friends.” She liked him so much. “Seriously, Braden, I can’t believe you did this. Thank you so much!”
Jane hugged him again. She knew any other guy would have brought her flowers or something generic, but not Braden. He was different from any guy she had ever met. Why did Willow have to be in the picture?
She knew she should ask Braden what was up with Willow these days.
But not tonight. Besides, he had come alone.
As Jane tightly hugged Braden, she felt someone’s gaze on them. Over his shoulder she noticed that someone was watching them intently from across the room.
For a moment her eyes locked with Trevor’s. She gave him a little wave, breaking from her hug. But Trevor showed no response. He should have been happy, right? His show was a huge success, at least if this crowd was any indication. So why did she feel like she was in trouble?
25
A CREATIVE SOLUTION
The clock said 3:05 a.m. Trevor couldn’t sleep. It was always like this on the night of a series premiere. He wouldn’t know for hours if L.A. Candy was a hit or a bust. But until then…his mind wouldn’t stop churning.
He thought about the mood tonight at Area. There had been no mistaking it—it had been electric. Everyone loved the pilot. But ultimately, there was no way to tell from a small crowd of friends, family, cast and crew, and a handful of industry people if the show was going to have a future or not. So—he would have to wait.
He glanced at the clock again: 3:06 a.m., 3:07 a.m.
If the show was a hit, he was going to have a minor problem on his hands. Actually, it was not so much a problem as an interesting challenge. And he of all people relished challenges. He would wrap his brain around this one and figure out a creative solution, just as he always did.
Jane was very important to the success of L.A. Candy. Which meant that her love life was very important to it too.
26
HERE’S TO ALL FOUR OF US GETTING INSANELY RICH AND FAMOUS!
Scarlett glanced at her watch, then at the menu, then at her watch again. She tapped her foot restlessly.
Jane leaned over. “What’s wrong, Scar? Do you have someplace else you have to be?”
“Where is everyone?”
“We’re early. Trevor should be here any sec—and Madison and Gaby, too.”
Scarlett leaned back in her chair and peered around at the other tables, trying not to feel totally annoyed. Trevor had summoned her and the other girls for a lunch meeting at Toast. What did he want with them, anyway? Hadn’t they all seen enough of one another at the series premiere party last night? Besides, she was still in a foul mood over the episode. It had not reflected her “reality”—not at all. Jane had been put off by it too, but not for long. Braden had shown up at the party, and after that she’d been way too cheerful about everything—including the fact that Trevor and the rest of them had completely twisted everything. Like Jane’s nonrelationship with Paolo and that stupid, drunken night at Madison’s apartment.
Scarlett didn’t look forward to—what? Nine more episodes of the same? She wondered if it was too late for Jane and her to get out of their L.A. Candy contracts.
“Hey, they’re here!” Jane’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Scarlett saw that Jane was waving eagerly at Trevor, Madison, and Gaby, who were walking toward their table. Jane looked…excited. Happy. Maybe she likes being a part of all this, Scarlett thought. Maybe she doesn’t want to get out of her contract.
Trevor was striding toward their table, his cell glued to his ear. Madison and Gaby trailed a few feet behind him. Both girls were wearing shades and looking unusually pale, as though they had been out partying until about five minutes ago. Which was a likely scenario, from the way they had been putting away martinis last night.
“Jane! Scarlett!” Trevor snapped his cell shut and kissed each girl on the cheek. “Traffic on the 101…,” he said in response to Scarlett looking at her watch. “I ran into Madison and Gaby out front.”
“You don’t have to yell, Trevor,” Gaby whined, rubbing her temples as the hostess pulled out her chair for her.
“Sweetie, do you want me to get you some Advil or something?” Madison offered.
Gaby nodded. “Yes, please. I feel like crap.”
“Can you have our waitress bring us water right away? Flat?” Trevor asked the hostess. “I have news,” he told the girls mysteriously.
Scarlett raised her eyebrows. “News?”
“You’re giving us a raise?” Gaby piped up.
Trevor laughed. “Better than that.”
A waitress came by a few moments later with glasses of water. Trevor waited until she had set a glass in front of each of them and walked away. “So. I wanted to tell you all personally that L.A. Candy is a hit! It was the number-one rated show for women eighteen to thirty-four last night—and, surprisingly, men eighteen to thirty-four as well.”
“Oh. My. God!” Madison threw up her arms, her bracelets jangling noisily. “This is amazing!”
Gaby glared at the bracelets and rubbed her head.
“So, what does that mean?” Scarlett asked him. “For us.”
“It means that things are going to be very different now,” Trevor replied. “Twenty-four hours ago, almost no one knew who you were. Starting today, you won’t be able to leave your apartment without being recognized. Case in point…” He nodded his head in the direction of two girls in their early twenties waiting for a hostess. Both were looking in their direction and whispering to each other.
Scarlett looked over at the girls and then back to Jane. Her friend hadn’t said a word; she looked dazed. Her mind reeled as she tried to take in Trevor’s news. L.A. Candy was a hit? For real?
Trevor turned to Jane as well. “Jane? You okay?” he said, sounding concerned.
Jane blinked. “Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just…well…it’s just that I didn’t really expect this. I’m kind of blown away. No offense, but I thought no one was gonna watch this show.” She laughed.
Trevor reached over and squeezed her arm
. “Well, everyone watched last night. And it’s just beginning. I guarantee you that over the next few days and weeks, it’s gonna get a little crazy. You have no idea. This is a big deal. Your face is going to be everywhere. You’d better get ready because it’s going to happen fast.”
Scarlett glanced at Trevor, then at Jane, and back to Trevor again. She noticed he was directing his comments to Jane. Why wasn’t he saying all this to her, Madison, and Gaby, too?
Madison seemed to notice this also, because she cleared her throat noisily and raised her glass. “Well, here’s to all four of us getting insanely rich and famous!” she blurted out.
Scarlett turned to Trevor. “This is all really pretty exciting and all that,” she said, sounding less than sincere, “but let me ask you this. On last night’s episode? Why did your editors make it seem like Jane and I went home with those guys?” she demanded.
“Scarlett,” Trevor said slowly. “It was just an ending shot. No one said you all went home together. Maybe they were just walking you out. Besides, I wasn’t there, but you did all leave together. And we have Jane on camera inviting them all to your place. We aren’t making up crazy stories here.”
“But—” Scarlett began, but Trevor stopped her.
“Honestly, Scarlett, it’s not a big deal. You’re on a number-one show. It’s exciting. Trust me on this. You just enjoy the ride and let me worry about how the show is edited, okay?”
Scarlett was about to argue with him some more. But Jane threw her a look—it was somewhere between a pleading “Can we talk about this later, in private?” look and a frustrated “Do you always have to be such a pain in the ass?” look. Not that Jane would ever call her a pain in the ass to her face. But Scarlett knew that she and Jane had their differences about the show, about being “friends” with Madison and Gaby, and about everything that had happened in the last month or so since the first shoot at Les Deux. Jane was, for the most part, into it—and even when she wasn’t totally into it, she was at least open to the experience, ready to be a team player. Scarlett, on the other hand, was starting to have serious regrets about ever signing on.
L. A. Candy Page 15
