Idol

by Carrie Duffy

  ‘We need a medic over here people,’ Karl screeched. ‘We’ve got a fainter. Give her some air.’

  The crowd reluctantly stood back a little, and Zac saw one of the dancers lying on the ground. Her eyes were closed, and someone had put a sweater under her head. Then a man in a green jumpsuit ran onto the stage, followed by the assistant who had been sent to get him. His authority was enough to disperse the others, as he quickly knelt down and began examining her.

  ‘Is she okay?’ Jenna asked. Her eyes were wide with concern, and she had started biting her nails again.

  The girl was starting to come round now. She moaned and tried to sit up, but the medic told her to lie still for a moment while he checked her vital signs and shone a light into her eyes. He placed a hand to her forehead and looked up worriedly.

  ‘She’s running a hell of a fever,’ he told them. ‘She needs to drink plenty of fluids and go straight to bed for at least forty-eight hours.’

  ‘But she can still do the show, can’t she?’ Karl asked manically.

  The medic laughed in amazement. ‘This girl’s going nowhere except her room. I’m amazed she’s kept going this long. She’s running a temperature of one hundred and four.’

  ‘But we need her for the show!’ Karl repeated obstinately, seemingly unable to comprehend what he was being told.

  The medic ignored him. ‘Is there someone here who can take her back to her room?’

  ‘We’ll just have to cut that couple,’ Jenna whispered to Karl. ‘There’s no alternative.’

  ‘We can’t cut them!’ Karl insisted. The dancers were paired up for a sexy salsa routine, and had been choreographed to within an inch of their lives. Karl was determined that Jenna’s solo show would be the best of the night, and was taking her success personally. ‘It will look all wrong, totally unbalanced!’

  ‘Well, what are we going to do then?’ Jenna demanded. ‘We don’t have anyone else who knows the steps – unless you want to dance with Juan?’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind …’ Karl drawled, making eyes at the luscious South American.

  ‘Karl …’ Jenna warned, as she began to massage her temples. ‘This is not helping.’

  ‘Well, I might not be able to take over, but I do have a hell of a lot of contacts in this city.’

  ‘So what? No one can learn the routine that quickly. We’ve only got a few hours before the show.’

  Karl smiled smugly. ‘I know someone who can.’ He raised an eyebrow at a disbelieving Jenna, and reached into his pocket for his cell phone.

  Backstage it was pandemonium. Nick didn’t think he’d ever seen so many people crammed into one space, each convinced that they were the most important, that their job was the most urgent. The corridors were awash with people: PAs running up and down with messages for the star they worked for; stylists trailing essential pieces of costume; inexperienced runners trying to find their way around the backstage maze.

  Nick moved easily through the throng. He walked with the confidence of a man who knew just how desperately good-looking he was. The longing stares of the women he encountered were testament to that; the phone numbers pressed into his hand by eager groupies was all the proof he needed that he was one fine specimen of manhood. And now he and Jenna were the golden couple. She was the perfect complement to his handsome looks and alpha male status. Jenna was young, sexy and adored the world over – only the best would do for Nick Taylor.

  ‘Shit,’ he swore, as he checked his Rolex. She would be sound-checking around now, and she’d asked him to be there. He stepped up his pace a little, not wanting to look as if he was in a hurry, as he flashed his dazzling smile at any attractive woman he passed.

  The further Nick walked, the more the crowd thinned out and, as he turned down a deserted corridor, he realized he was lost. How the hell had that happened? He’d been following the signs to the stage, hadn’t he? Maybe he’d been distracted by a particularly fine pair of legs walking past him. He’d lost count of the number of stunning women wandering around The Colosseum today.

  He was about to turn back when he saw someone he recognized stagger out of a door a little further down the poorly lit corridor. It was Amber. As he watched, she was followed out by a well-built black guy, one of TJ Daze’s entourage, who was zipping up his jacket.

  Nick hesitated, wondering what to do. Probably best to get the hell out of there and pretend he’d never seen them …

  ‘Nick!’ Amber screeched.

  He sighed, turning back to look at her. She tottered towards him, sniffing heavily. Her eyes were bloodshot and she took a moment to focus on him.

  ‘Hey, Amber. Who’s your friend?’ he asked coldly, jerking his head in the direction of the guy.

  Amber walked slowly towards him. Her thin lips curled into a ridiculous, smug smile that irritated the hell out of Nick.

  ‘Him? Oh, that’s just Reggie. He’s a friend of TJ’s,’ Amber drawled, giggling, ‘Say hello, Reggie.’

  ‘’Sup,’ Reggie greeted Nick. Nick didn’t reply.

  ‘He’s just been helping me out with a little something,’ Amber confided. ‘You want any? Reggie’s very generous.’

  ‘You’re a mess, Amber,’ Nick told her harshly. ‘I don’t know how the hell Zac puts up with you.’

  Amber threw back her head and shrieked with laughter. Jesus, she was really out of it, thought Nick agitatedly, glancing down the corridor for someone to help him.

  ‘Zac?’ Amber repeated. ‘I’m old news. He’s got a new obsession in his life now.’

  ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’

  ‘Jenna,’ Amber rasped, making the name sound like a curse. ‘He wants Jenna now. He wants your girlfriend.’

  ‘You’re crazy,’ Nick sneered.

  ‘Am I? Think about it Nick. Open your eyes.’

  Nick’s breath was coming fast as he struggled to keep calm. Whatever she was on was clearly some good shit – she was out of her mind. ‘You’ve already ruined one relationship, Amber,’ he said grimly, a blatant reference to Zac and Jessica. ‘Leave me and Jenna alone.’

  But Amber only laughed harder as Reggie looked on, enjoying the spectacle. ‘You poor, sad fucker. I was only trying to offer you some advice. You know – as friends,’ she added sarcastically, leaning in close to Nick. ‘Just wait and see if I’m right.’

  ‘Amber,’ Nick began, feigning exhaustion. ‘Stop being a spiteful bitch, okay? It’s getting boring.’

  Amber’s hazel eyes blazed suddenly, as she felt pure venom shoot through her. ‘I’ve always thought you were a cocky little cunt,’ she spat. ‘Perhaps I was wrong about you two – you and your slut of a girlfriend make a great team.’

  Amber shot him a look of hate and went to walk off, but Nick grabbed her by the arm. He was a well-built guy, and his grip was strong. Amber’s face contorted in pain.

  ‘Get your fucking hands off me,’ she hissed, adrenaline pumping through her from the heady combination of fear, anger and coke.

  ‘Yeah man, what the fuck?’ was Reggie’s contribution.

  Nick didn’t loosen his grip, and the skin on Amber’s arm began to turn white as the blood drained from where he held it.

  ‘Don’t you ever say that about her,’ he roared at Amber.

  ‘Get off me before I scream this fucking place down and get you done for fucking assault,’ she rasped, her voice low and unsteady.

  Nick pushed her aside in disgust, flinging her away like a rag doll. Amber stumbled as he threw her, banging her hip on the wall. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Nick saw Reggie launch himself towards him. Instantly, Nick lashed out, his fist colliding with Reggie’s jaw. Fuck, that was going to hurt later. He hoped he’d be able to drum. Reggie staggered backwards, looking shocked.

  ‘Man, you gonna regret that shit,’ he threatened, squaring up to a furious Nick.

  Nick was fired up, ready for a fight. He’d launch that wannabe gangsta into orbit if he so much as laid a finger on him.

  �
�Reggie, leave it,’ Amber snapped, recognizing the rage in Nick’s eyes as she limped off down the corridor. Reggie glared at Nick, then spat on the ground at his feet. Phlegm mixed with blood from his bleeding gums. Nick stared him down, unmoving, as Reggie set his shoulders and walked off after Amber.

  As they reached the top of the corridor, Amber spun around. ‘Just you fucking wait,’ she warned, before they disappeared out of sight.

  Nick stood, breathing heavily. He couldn’t work out what had happened. He’d never hit a woman before, and he despised men who did … but he’d been so close with Amber. Christ, he’d been so mad he couldn’t even see straight – there was just a red haze in front of his eyes.

  All he knew was that he would have done anything to protect Jenna, regardless of the consequences. And to have that fucked-up junkie speaking about his girl like that, to call her those names …

  As Nick stood shaking with anger, his fists clenched and his knuckles white, he suddenly knew that all he wanted was Jenna. He wanted to put his arms around her and protect her. With a flash of realization, Nick understood that he wanted to do that forever – to take care of her and keep her safe from the world. He didn’t ever want to let her go.

  He wanted to marry her.

  24

  ‘No fucking way.’ Sadie paced up and down beside the pool, gesticulating angrily with her free hand. She was wearing a blue and white striped bikini, and her bronzed skin was slick with sun cream. ‘I’m not doing it.’

  At the other end of the phone, Karl Madison winced at her vehemence. ‘Sadie, honey—’ he began, but Sadie cut him off.

  ‘How can I learn the routine that quickly? I’ll look like an idiot.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t totally believe, one hundred per cent, that you could—’

  ‘There’ll be four thousand people – and God knows how many watching on TV – looking at me wondering why the hell some amateur who can’t even do the steps properly was given a job,’ Sadie went on, as though Karl hadn’t spoken.

  ‘It’ll be easy for you, you’re a fabulous dancer—’

  ‘No,’ Sadie replied resolutely.

  Karl paused. He had ducked out of a fire exit behind the stage and was now leaning against the smooth stone wall of The Colosseum. The brightness was blinding after the darkness of the interior, and the hot sun blazed down on him. Karl was inhaling petrol fumes from the endless convoy of trucks that were reversing up to the goods entrance, their cargo unloaded speedily and efficiently by sweaty roadies wearing grease-stained wife-beaters and stonewash jeans. There was a hell of a lot of muscled, oily flesh on display. Rough trade, yum. Karl forced himself to stop staring and focus on Sadie.

  He’d been in the business for a long time – as a dancer for seven years, and now as a choreographer for a further twelve. For the past five years he’d been at the very top of his profession, the go-to guy for celebs who wanted a sexy, spectacular routine for their concerts, videos, whatever. He’d seen endless clients have major breakdowns, panic attacks or suffer crippling stage fright and claim that they couldn’t go on, that the routine was too hard and they’d never be able to do it. In addition to dancing, Karl reckoned he could have a pretty lucrative sideline in motivational speaking.

  But he knew there was always an underlying cause to their anxiety – he just had to figure out what it was.

  ‘Sadie, do me a favour and level with me.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she replied, instantly defensive, and Karl knew he was on to something.

  ‘What I mean is that this would be a phenomenal experience for anyone. Both you and I know that you’re one of the most talented dancers around and the steps are not going to be a problem for you – even if the situation is gonna be a little … pressured. So what’s the real reason?’

  Sadie sighed. She stopped pacing and sat down on a sun lounger, feeling cornered. ‘I know her,’ she admitted finally. ‘Jenna.’

  ‘Oh really?’ Karl raised his eyebrows so high they nearly fell off his face.

  ‘Yeah. When we were younger – we were on the same competition circuit.’

  ‘But that was years ago,’ Karl said dismissively.

  ‘I don’t like her, Karl.’

  ‘Look, I’ll make sure you get really well paid. Enough to get you over a little personal dislike.’

  ‘It’s not about that,’ Sadie burst out in frustration, wondering how to explain herself. ‘Look, this is kind of embarrassing for me. And a little awkward, given that she’s your number one favourite client or whatever,’ she added sourly.

  Karl stayed silent for once, giving her the chance to explain.

  ‘A few years ago we were in the same competition, and it was a big one. A really big deal. She danced well, yeah, but nothing special. But Karl, I blew everyone away. It was one of those moments where everything came together – I couldn’t have wished for it to go any better. It was like the perfect storm, you know?’

  ‘So what happened?’

  ‘Jenna won,’ Sadie stated flatly.

  ‘Okay …’ Karl began slowly. ‘Well … maybe you just weren’t as good as you thought you were. I mean, sometimes it feels like you’ve done an awesome job, but it just doesn’t communicate—’

  ‘No Karl.’ Sadie could feel herself getting angry. ‘I should have won. Everyone told me I should have. And you know why I didn’t?’

  At the other end of the phone, Karl shook his head. Sadie didn’t wait for an answer.

  ‘Because she fucking cheated. Her mother was screwing the head judge.’

  ‘For real?’ Karl’s jaw dropped.

  ‘Yes Karl, for real. I saw them together. And you know what happened? The prize was a trip to LA to work with Ghetto Angels. While Jenna was out there she got discovered by Ultimate Management, then a few months later she’s this huge star. That was my chance,’ Sadie wailed, all the repressed feelings of injustice that she’d tried to keep locked away came spilling out. ‘My opportunity to kick-start my career. If I’d gone to LA that could have been it for me – straight into the big league, working on projects that I love. Instead I’ve spent the last three years dragging myself round London doing shitty auditions for half-assed shows I don’t even want to be in.’

  Sadie could feel herself getting upset and that frustrated her more than anything. She hadn’t even wanted to tell Karl in the first place. The move to Vegas had been meant to herald a fresh start, a chance to put everything behind her. Now, with the arrival of Jenna, she felt as though her past had followed her.

  ‘Can you understand why I don’t want to do it, Karl?’ Sadie pleaded. ‘I’ve had to watch her take the chance that should have been mine and then when I’ve finally started to do something with my life, to make something of myself out here, she rocks up and you want me to drop everything just to be her backing dancer? To stand in her shadow and make her look good while she takes all the glory? I can’t do it,’ she finished.

  Karl hesitated, wondering how to play it. ‘Look Sadie,’ he said finally, his voice soft. ‘I understand, I really do. But I’m not asking you to do it for Jenna. I’m not even asking you to do it for yourself. I’m asking you to do it for me.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Don’t interrupt,’ he chastised her gently. ‘You’re an amazing dancer. You’re superb at what you do and your career is about to sky-rocket. There’s a lot of buzz about you out here.’

  ‘I bet you say that to all the girls,’ Sadie muttered, but she couldn’t help but feel pleased.

  ‘No Sadie, I don’t,’ Karl said firmly, his tone serious. ‘Look, don’t tell the others anything about this yet, because it’s not confirmed, but I want to take the Kandy Girls global. I’m already getting calls from friends in other cities – New York, LA, New Orleans. And I reckon we could make a huge impact in Europe – the Crazy Horse, the Lido, the KitKatClub …’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Honestly. That could be your future, Sadie. What does one li
ttle gig matter?’

  Sadie said nothing.

  ‘I mean, who knows what’s meant to be,’ Karl went on. ‘Maybe you were never supposed to win the competition. Maybe your destiny was always to come to Vegas and meet the faaaabulous Karl Madison.’

  In spite of herself, Sadie smiled.

  ‘I’m asking you as a favour to me because you’re the only one who can do this. You know that. None of the others could manage it.’

  ‘That’s emotional blackmail!’ Sadie cried, feeling herself start to weaken and hating herself for it.

  ‘It’s the truth. You’re the best and I need you for this.’

  ‘Enough already with the flattery!’

  ‘Okay, but I just want to say one more thing – don’t you want to be part of this show? The Night of a Thousand Stars,’ Karl whispered, making it sound magical. ‘Do you know how many big names are inside The Colosseum right now? This is history in the making, Sadie, and you could be part of it …’

  ‘All right, all right, you’ve worn me down. I’ll do it!’

  Karl let out a shriek that caused the truckers to look curiously in his direction. He gave them a little wave, and they quickly went back to work. ‘You will?’

  ‘I don’t know why, but yes. For you. You owe me big for this, Karl, I mean it.’

  ‘I do. I know. Sadie Laine, you are one fabulous diva.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sadie let out a deep breath, trying to release the tension. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Yeah, right. ‘What do I need to do?’

  ‘I’ll take care of everything. Just get yourself here.’

  ‘Should I call a cab?’

  ‘There’s one coming over for you. In fact, I called them before I called you, so it should be there any second.’

  From outside the front of the house, Sadie heard a car horn.

  ‘You bastard,’ she swore.