Wow, since when had he become the practical one, full of advice?
"Who took the photos anyway? Who was backstage? There was you guys and Hannah plus a couple of bigwigs she'd brought along. Bigwigs don't go around posting photos online.
It was that girl, the one with the pizza. As soon as I thought of her, the churning in my stomach solidified into a big lump and that lump said it had to be her. The look she'd given me when she'd seen me in the crowd had been pure malice.
"She worked for the venue, I think. She wouldn't have taken the photos though. She was really nice." Something about Tex’s voice made me think he was holding something back.
"What? You're kidding. How have you survived in the world this long? She was suspicious as all hell. "
He shook his head. How could he be so oblivious? Everyone else that was in that room had no reason for taking photos and posting them all over the net.
"She's the same girl who delivered our pizza. Don't you think that's strange?"
"You can't jump to conclusions. There was that chick with Devon. It could've been her."
"Like hell I can't. She's a stalker. That's for sure. She's a creepy stalker."
Tex's phone beeped. "Hannah's here," he said.
"Make her do a secret knock to get in."
He raised his eyebrows. "Really?"
"No, but check out the window to make sure it's her."
He went to the front room and I stared at my laptop. Tex was wrong. Hiding things was best. My laptop had become filled with horrible things. I couldn't even put a filter on it to avoid the gossip. It was everywhere.
Finally, Hannah knocked. It'd taken her ages to get to the door. She had an empty coffee cup in her hand, which she threw in the bin.
"Those beasts are blocking the driveway. I had to walk up from the road." She walked in the bedroom and gave me a look then moved almost like she was going to hug me but stopped herself. "Are you okay?"
I nodded.
"No, she's not. She's a mess."
Tex sat on the bed beside me, wrapping me in his arms while Hannah went to work. While she was on the phone to the building contractors, she dug in her handbag and got out a bar of chocolate.
"This will make you feel better," she mouthed then got back to the contractors.
Within no time, she had them organised to increase the security fencing around the building site and the entire property. Then she went outside and ordered the reporters off the property. She told them she'd organised tow trucks and they had five minutes to get out or their cars would be removed from the property.
"You really should get in touch with your parents too," Tex said, nodding at my laptop. "If they see the photos, they are going to be worried about you."
How did he know that? He was right, of course. They'd obviously seen the photos because they'd emailed me but what could I say to them anyway? That I was fine, but I wasn't. That I was a mess, which would be a shitty thing to say when they could do nothing.
Hannah had been right though. The chocolate bar had made me feel better. She should be a doctor. It was the best diagnosis I'd ever had.
Tex went out to check that the reporters had left, leaving Hannah and I alone.
"You know, a similar thing happened to me. It was pretty awful. In the end, the best thing I did was get up in public and face up to people."
"I can't do that," I said. "I just can't."
I picked at a hole in the knee of my sweatpants, fraying the edges. I couldn't even imagine what it'd be like to do something like that.
"No one is going to force you. Just, if you felt inclined, we could organise a press conference where the two of you announce your relationship. You don't even have to be there for it. Tex could do it alone."
"I don't even know if he'd want to do that. What are we going to say? We might have some undefined thing going on that may or may not last." I sighed without looking up.
"Okay, understood." Even though I couldn't see her, I could sense her gaze on me, trying to make sense of it all. "There are other things to worry about too. Like the fire. We don't want too much talk of that. And, of course, Julie. Tex has put himself in the limelight but we don't want too much probing. There are things about Tex – I mean, I know him and you know him and he's a great guy but, if the press twists things around, he might end up looking a bit nuts."
I nodded. A bit nuts was understating things. And he did look crazed in that photo.
"The press love him at the moment. Returned hero, back to conquer the world and all that, but they can turn on him just as easily."
God, it was true. I had no idea what it'd do to him if too much of his past was exposed. He'd managed to hide it all though. I bet there'd been a lot of speculation when he disappeared, lots of probing.
There was something else I wanted to discuss with Hannah before Tex came back. I told her my suspicions about the pizza girl.
"Right. She was so freaken' dodgy. I felt that as soon as I laid eyes on her. What was she doing backstage? Did Tex know her?"
I shook my head. "She said she worked for the venue. But she came here once delivering pizzas and acted totally freaky."
"Do you think she works for the press?"
"I think she's a stalker. If you'd seen the way she looks at Tex, and the evil looks she gave me..."
"We have to get to the bottom of this. Give me all the details you know about her. Which pizza shop, for starters. Actually, pizza sounds good. Maybe we should order some, just for investigative purposes."
I glanced toward the door. "Don't say anything to Tex. He thinks I'm being paranoid."
"Who else could it be though? The chick who was with Devon had a flat battery on her phone. I had to call her a cab home. Ergo, it wasn't her. Everyone else backstage I can vouch for. Hell, I'm sorry. I should've vetted people more thoroughly."
#
Chapter 16
Denise
It worked. I was the greatest and the photos had been the greatest idea ever. Sure there were a few do-gooders complaining that they should never have been published but no one knew it was me, and it really did cause a sensation. I went on every site and scrolled through the comments, making sure to add my own anonymous ones to keep the discussion going.
While I could see exactly what kind of reaction it caused online, the worst bit was not knowing how it affected that evil bitch. I had to put a stop to my spying because I was sure she would recognise me. I'd thought about various disguises but wasn't sure if that would work. The last time I'd driven out there, they'd put up huge fences around the property. That kinda annoyed me. Stupid fences, keeping me out. Although I could climb them if I really wanted to. It looked like they'd installed some kind of security too, with cameras hidden around the place.
Then it hit me. If they'd gone to that much trouble, she must be really rattled. She was terrified. I wondered if she'd become scared enough to move out. After all, no one would be in the slightest bit interested in her if she wasn't with Tex. She'd just be another nameless nobody.
Then I’d be the one locked inside with Tex and she’d be locked out.
I'd woken up eager to get online to see the latest developments in the drama but the story wasn't even on the front page of any of the celeb gossip sites any more and the comments had dwindled off. Instead, there was some crap about the Kardashians that no one cared about.
I needed more. Like a crack junkie, I'd had my high and it was wearing off. I had to get more. Nothing in my life had given me the pleasure I'd gotten from reading those comments. All the hate heaped on her. Every bit of hate directed at her was like love directed at me. It was a vote for Team Me in the “me vs Ruby” battle for Tex's heart. I’d win though. I’d be standing on that podium holding aloft the Tex love trophy while the crowd cheered for me.
I took a sip of Coke from my sipper cup beside me and broke off another row of chocolate. I had to think this through. I wasn't really like a crack junkie. I had to be more strategic than that. I did
n't want Tex to see me in a negative light. Of course, I was doing this to help him. I only had his interests at heart but I could see how my motives could be misinterpreted. Once we were together, he’d see things my way but, until then, I didn’t want to ruin things and I sure didn’t want any interfering busybodies blocking me.
I needed to think of something big. Something that would make her look bad. And that would send Tex running into my arms. It wasn't like you could just google something like that. You had to think it out for yourself. I picked up the sipper cup again but it was empty. Damn it. I went to the fridge to get a refill.
I could bug their studio. That would be a great way to find out what was going on. I had no idea how to get in there to place the bug but I was sure it would be possible. I could put a bug in a pizza box if they hadn’t stopped ordering pizza.
If only there was some way to make her disappear. That'd be the way to do it. She could just vanish and Tex would think she'd left him. He'd be devastated and I could rush in to fill the gap.
It wasn't like I planned to kill her or anything. Just maybe smuggle her aboard a cargo ship so she was discovered when they were way out to sea. I’m sure that’d be not too hard to arrange. She was nothing. A disposable thing. And I would be the one to dispose of her.
I tried to sort out my plans but my thoughts kept going around in circles. I needed more information but I had to get to work. I'd been put on probation at the call centre for my tardiness. I pulled on my clothes and ran to the train station. I could figure something out once I got there.
In my break, I checked the fan forum for gossip. FORSAKEN had been nominated for best artist at the Music Awards. Of course, I didn't expect anything less. I scrolled through the posts. Lots of crap about whether they'd win or not. As if that was even in question. A few people wanting to organise a watching party. The usual stuff.
Then the post that nearly killed me.
"So, do you think Tex will take his new gf to the awards?"
That was by BadBrad. The bastard. It was something I'd not even considered. I bet he’d just posted that to rub it in my face.
"If he does, that makes them official! Zoinks!"
My supervisor motioned for me to come into a team meeting. I motioned back saying I was on a call. I wasn't but she wasn't at her desk so she wouldn't know. I couldn't go sit in their boring meeting without getting this resolved.
If he took her... but he wouldn't. He just couldn't.
Of course, I read to the end of the thread without learning anything. As if those losers would know more than me. I logged off and went into the meeting. I had to sit there listening to a whole heap of crap about performance and changes to the company mission statement. Whatever. Did anyone in the world ever care about that stuff? Why didn't they just write a mission statement like "give us your money and piss off"? Because that'd at least be honest.
I had my own mission statement. Tex would not take that witch, Ruby, to the Awards. That was my mission and I'd move hell to make sure I won. The bugging idea – not even going far enough. The meeting droned on. That suck-up, Peter, actually asked questions about the mission statement like a big, fat loser. I brainstormed ideas for my anti-Ruby list.
If they were serious about this meeting, they'd have least supplied some sandwiches or other food. I never quite understood how corporations worked. Take Tony. He only had a little pizza shop but, if he wanted to discuss staff business, he gave us free pizza to eat and sat us down with a full belly. But then again, I wasn't convinced that Tony's pizza place wasn't just a front for the mafia. Maybe laundering money.
Was he actually in the mafia? Because that was an unutilised resource if I ever knew one. The mafia, they'd be mighty handy when it came to making people disappear.
I wrote "mafia" on my bullet-pointed list. I made the bullet point into a star because Tex was a star.
Also, Tony had that creepy storage shed behind the pizza place, near where we parked the cars. It was lucky the health inspectors never went near that shed because he'd be closed down within minutes. It had to be rat infested. He said he kept supplies in there but I bet it was just rat supplies.
I wrote "rats". Also "rat poison".
I tried to think of other ways to get rid of the witch. Maybe I could have her burnt at the stake like the witch she was. That would be entertaining.
I could get more photos and post them online. Photos of her at the studio. That would freak her right out. Maybe photos inside the studio. She'd be so scared, she'd probably barricade herself inside and never come out. I added "creepily invade privacy."
Finally, the meeting was over. I got back to my computer. Nothing interesting about the Awards. I tried to do some more snooping on the witch but nothing ever came up about her. My attempts to find out if she had a prison record had come to nothing.
Except... this time she'd received an overseas call. It from a local number though. They must have roaming turned on. That would cost them a fortune. Did they have no idea what roaming charges were like? Actually, I should call them and let them know. That would be good customer service.
I checked the name. Same surname. That was even more interesting. Family?
I dialled the number and identified myself.
"I noticed you have roaming enabled on your phone and wanted to give you a friendly reminder that the charges on your plan can add up very quickly."
"That's okay." The woman sounded older, maybe her mother. "Our daughter had a distressing situation come up recently and we wanted to make sure we had all channels of communication open. Normally we just chat on Skype but some horrible photos had been posted online and she's such a private person, I knew she'd be upset.”
Wow, she was like the Wikipedia of information Ruby wouldn't people to know.
"Of course. Well, I'm not a mother myself but I know how important that bond is. I just hope you were able to comfort her." I was super impressed at how sincere and caring I sounded. I needed to get this woman to sing like a canary.
"I think so. She had a bit of cry but she got her feelings out. I told her to try reiki. Have you ever tried it? It's amazing."
Shut up about the reiki already and get back to the stuff about her breakdown. This woman sounded like a total hippy, going on and on about alternative therapies. That totally confirmed my “Ruby is a witch” theory.
"Is she okay now?"
"She's getting her confidence back. I just hope she doesn't have another setback. I never thought she'd ever be in a relationship with someone in such a public position. Still, it's good that she's dating."
Yeah, really damn marvellous.
“That must be reassuring,” I put a smile in my voice. You learn that, working in a call centre.
“Yes, I wouldn’t want her to have another breakdown.”
"That would be devastating." Tell me more, please tell me more.
But, before she could spill her guts, she had another call come through.
"I'll let you get back to work but thanks again for calling."
Damn it. Still, another setback... that could be arranged.
While I was at it, I looked up the mother's name online. Holy shit. There were photos all over the place of her frolicking on beaches in a bikini. At her age! She was definitely the witch's mother. She had the same hair. Same ferrety face too. There were links to her business too. She was a life coach. I wondered if I could make another excuse to call her. Maybe I could pretend to need life coaching? If I waited a while, she'd not remember my voice.
I just had to find out what she meant by a breakdown. Did she mean an entitled rich girl breakdown where she got all emo for a few weeks or a full-on institutionalised breakdown? Because that would make a huge difference to my plans. The fabric of Ruby's mind had started to unravel though and all I had to do was provide the additional friction needed to push her over the edge. That was definitely not outside the bounds of the possible. I imagined how it'd be when she finally snapped and I'd be there to rescue
Tex from her crazy. He'd be so grateful with me. I'd be the one to go to the Awards show with him.
I spent the rest of the shift working on the most important part of my plan – shopping for a dress to wear on that night. I would not be leaving that to chance.
Chapter 17
Ruby
I didn't know what to do when I received the email. A bunch of photos had been attached. There were photos of me on the house site, some even taken through the windows to the inside of the studio. They were really creepy. Someone had been watching us and taking those photos. I didn't want to keep looking but I couldn't help myself.
The later ones were even worse. I didn't know where that person had gotten them but there were photos from various high school yearbooks and other moments during my childhood. I hadn't even seen some of those photos before.
I wrapped my blanket around me and sat on the bed, shaking.
Tex had gone out to rehearse. That woman was crazy. I couldn't even talk to Tex about her. He thought I was over-reacting. But I knew it was her. She'd been at our place delivering the pizza and she'd been back stage. She had crazy eyes and she didn't want me around but I couldn't prove a thing. I'd tried to talk about it a few times to Tex but he'd been so dismissive of my worries about her, I ended up deciding to keep it to myself.
I wiped my nose on the back of my hand. I would not get upset about this. No matter what, I would not cry. I exhaled, trying to get my thoughts back on track.
Maybe, I could get some proof from the email. I tried to reopen it with my hands shaking. It'd been sent from [email protected] -- a public email service. When I tried to track the IP address, it came up as being sent from a public library. If I got the police involved, maybe they could track down the person who'd booked the computer for that time slot. But she'd probably used a fake name, maybe even a fake ID. And I really didn’t want to involve the police.
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