I didn’t even get a chance to respond before Evian barged into our conversation.
“You are so silly,” she said as she approached us. “Nice to meet you, I’m Evian Javid.” She shook his hand. “I’m a big fan.”
Evian was so low-class. The first rule of thumb about being a celebrity was you had to act like one—and that meant not getting all starry-eyed around the stars.
“Where do I know you from?” he asked, studying her.
“The reality show All American Princess,” she replied.
Kevin smiled at her. “Oh yeah, you’re that cute girl that has that new little show.”
“Um, cute? I wouldn’t say that,” she said, giving him a flirtatious wink. “Try beautiful.” She was completely disrespecting Lance, who was standing over in a corner talking to someone. I started to yell at him to come get his girl!
Kevin’s eyes roamed up and down her. “That you are.”
“And my show definitely isn’t little. In fact, it’s about to be one of the biggest things on TV. Watch and see.” With that, she bounced back over to Lance.
Kevin watched her as she walked off, completely turning his attention away from me. It took everything in my power not to go off on his little behind, but since I didn’t need the drama, I just turned and walked away.
I stood over to the side trying to compose myself until they called for us to come forward. The music started playing as we made our way onto the stage. I stepped on the stage first and then Evian just bumped right on past me and went to the podium.
“Hello, Miami,” she said, excitedly. “I am Evian Javid, host of All American Princess and this is Maya Morgan, she—”
No, this slug wasn’t about to try to introduce me!
I stepped up. “And I am the host of the number-one-rated show, Rumor Central.” The teleprompter began rolling. The way the script was set up, there was a section for Evian to read, and then a section for me to read. We were supposed to go back and forth. Since Evian’s name was listed first, I stepped aside to let her speak.
“We’re here to present the Newsmaker of the Year Award,” she began. “This award is given to an artist who is constantly in the news. This person can be an actor, musician, or philanthropist,” she continued reading, even though it was clear my name was above that line. As soon as she took a breath, I jumped in.
“This person is someone who is always making headlines—whether good or bad,” I read.
Before I could get out the next sentence—which again, had my name on it, Evian spoke.
“They are the ones who are constantly being talked about.”
I kept my smile as I leaned toward the mic. “The ones who are making all the headlines. Who—”
She leaned in and cut me off. “Who we love to talk about. Who we—”
I’d had enough. I kept my smile as I said, “You do see that has my name on it?”
“Excuse me.” She let out an uncomfortable laugh as she stood up straight.
“I’m supposed to read that,” I said, pointing at the teleprompter. I know it was incredibly unprofessional, but I was so sick and tired of Evian that I had literally had all I could take. “See, my name above those lines means I read. It doesn’t mean for you to keep reading. The names are there for a reason.”
Evian looked momentarily shocked, then leaned in like she was trying to get a closer look at the teleprompter. “I guess it does say your name.” She looked out at the audience and let out a small laugh. “Sorry, I don’t have my contacts in—they mess with my mink lashes.” She batted her eyes. Several people laughed, but I didn’t see anything funny. “Anyway,” she continued, “I know these people don’t care who reads what, so let’s just get the winner announced. So the nominees are—”
“No, ma’am. I don’t think so,” I said, cutting her off. I snatched the envelope with the winner’s name from her.
“Really, Maya?” she whispered as I stepped in front of her.
I ignored her and continued reading the teleprompter. “And the nominees for Newsmaker of the Year are, Miley Cy—”
She snatched the envelope back and took over. “Miley Cyrus, Usher, Justin Bieber—”
I snatched the envelope right back from her. We went back and forth grabbing the oversized envelope, both of us refusing to let go.
“Give it here,” she said.
“Are you really doing this?” I replied. “You are so janky!” As it dawned on me that we were actually on stage, in front of two thousand people, I quickly came back to my senses. I let the envelope go and Evian stepped back victoriously—then stumbled right over her gown. I watched in horror as she screamed and toppled to the floor.
The crowd was just as stunned as I heard several gasps and people jumped to their feet. I needed to do something and do it, now!
I stuck my hand out to help Evian up. She glared at me with evil eyes. “Just go with it,” I whispered through my smile. “We look like idiots and need to clean this up.”
As the confused crowd stared at us, I stepped to the podium. “Gotcha,” I said with a huge grin. “We’re good, aren’t we? You wanted reality drama, we gave it to you. Right, Evian?”
Evian dusted herself off as she glared at me and forced a fake smile. I guess looking out at the crowd told her we needed to do something to clean this up because she said, “Yep, all part of the act . . .”
As the crowd started applauding, I felt like I’d proven my point with Evian, and cleaned up any mess that might’ve been brewing. That’s why I tossed my curls over my shoulder, stepped back to the microphone, and continued, “So, now back to our regularly scheduled program. The winner of Newsmaker of the Year is Miley Cyrus!”
As Miley made her way to the stage, Evian shot me daggers and somehow I got the feeling our battle had just intensified. But I wasn’t worried. If anything, I’d just added my name to the newsmaker list, and after all was said and done, I’d probably be the one up here accepting this award next year. And I would take great pleasure in watching Evian watch me win.
Chapter 26
After that disaster at the Teen Choice Awards, I didn’t care if I ever saw Evian again. In fact, it was probably best I didn’t see her because I couldn’t be held responsible for what I might do. That’s why I took the long way around when I arrived at the station. I saw her car parked out front and I went around through the back simply because I didn’t want to pass her office because there was no telling what I might do if I saw her, as she probably was itching to start a fight with me. So I needed to play it cool, and for right now that meant staying clear of her. Trust, I wasn’t scared of her. I just didn’t need her bringing me down any further than she already had.
I had just slung my purse over my shoulder and was going up the back walkway to WSVV when I noticed Evian talking with a guy who looked very familiar.
I pushed up against the wall so that they couldn’t see me. Was that—? No, that wasn’t the guy that she had disappeared with, but he sure did look familiar.
I told myself that it was just my imagination looking for something, but then I saw the distressed look on Evian’s face and I knew something wasn’t right. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I saw her shuttle him away. He looked agitated, but he did go to his car and instead of going back in the building, Evian walked around to the parking lot to her own car.
I was just about to leave, but I stopped myself. I wasn’t going to mind my own business. My gut was in overdrive for a reason. I needed to see what in the world they were up to. I waited until Evian got in her car then I raced back around, jumped in mine, and began following them. She was right behind the guy and I stayed about two car lengths behind her.
“Where is she going?” I mumbled.
I followed them to T.G.I. Friday’s, where they went inside. Why would she be getting something to eat? I thought.
I could see the hostess sit them at a table in the back corner. Man, I would’ve given anything to be able to hear what they were talki
ng about. Even still, I eased into a booth at the bar and just sat, waited, and watched as I struggled to figure out why this guy looked familiar. Whatever they were talking about had Evian agitated and worked up. Then he pulled out his phone and began punching the screen, but she stopped him, and he eased the phone down. The next thing I knew, she pulled out her purse, got out her checkbook, and wrote a check.
Why in the world is she giving this man money? I thought. The waitress came over and took their order. It was obvious that Evian wasn’t trying to eat, but he seemed to be ordering up a storm. As soon as the waitress walked off, Evian threw the check at him, said something, and then raced out. My first instinct was to follow her, but then something said he was the one I’d needed to be getting information from. I sat for a minute trying to make sure he wasn’t anybody who knew me since he looked so familiar. I couldn’t place him, so I could only hope that he didn’t know me. So, finally, I made my move.
“Hey, handsome, is this seat taken?” I said, walking up just as the waitress set a salad down in front of him.
He looked me up and down, a big cheesy grin across his face. “It is now,” he said. He pointed to the seat. “Please, sit.”
“Sorry.” I slid into the seat across from him. “I don’t mean to be forward, but I’m a little bummed. My boyfriend stood me up and I’m going to dump him. I saw your girlfriend leave and she seemed kind of angry, so I thought maybe I could buy you a drink.”
He put his napkin on the table. “You buy me a drink? You don’t get a girl who offers to pay for stuff often.” Even though it was a little choppy, I was surprised at how well he spoke English. I had the strangest feeling he spent a lot of time in the States.
“Oh, I’m an equal-opportunity woman,” I said with a sexy smile. Trying to pretend I was attracted to him was hard because he actually came across as kind of slimy, which made my skin itch.
“Oh, you’re a woman, huh?” he replied.
I motioned up and down my body. “Don’t I look it?”
“You sure do.” He took a bite of his salad, stuffing a forkful of lettuce into his mouth. “Well, that’s not my girlfriend,” he replied with his mouth full. Just gross. “She’s just a girl I have a business transaction with.”
“Oh. What kind of business are you in?”
He stopped. “You sure ask a lot of questions.”
“Hey, chill,” I said. “I was just making small talk. Anything to keep my mind off of my jerk of a boyfriend.”
He leaned forward, a huge green piece of lettuce stuck in his two front teeth. “Well, I definitely am the one to keep your mind off of that.”
I smiled even though he made me sick to my stomach. I eyed his phone. That was going to give me the answers I needed. But how in the world could I get it? The napkin he’d thrown on the table had covered it, but I was sure when he got up to leave he’d get his phone.
Finally, I said, “What you drinking now?”
“Just a root beer.”
“How about I order us some drinks?”
“Are you old enough to drink?”
“My ID says that I am.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
I reached out like I was ready to take his hand and I knocked over his extra-large root beer and it went tumbling straight into his lap.
“Man!” he said, jumping up.
“Oh, I am so sorry!”
“¡Chica estúpida!”
“You want me to go get some napkins?” I said, acting horrified. “Or you can get cleaned up. The restroom is right there.”
He seemed really irritated. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he went to the restroom.
That was my cue. As soon as I saw him step inside, I grabbed his phone, which was open on the home screen. What idiot doesn’t lock their phone these days? I scrolled through his phone log. Evian’s number was on there several times. I whipped my phone out, took a quick picture of his call log screen so I could have the numbers to look up later, and then kept scrolling to see if there was anything else. Nothing was giving me a clue, and then I saw it. A picture of Carson. This guy and Carson were drinking and holding up beers as they toasted the camera. So they knew each other? But where did I know him from? And what was this guy’s connection to Evian?
I placed his phone back under the napkin and hightailed it out of there. I had been determined before to find out what Evian was up to, but now, I was on a mission and I wouldn’t rest until I got my questions answered.
Chapter 27
Evian may have had everyone else fooled, but Kennedi was right, this wasn’t adding up. It was one thing to capitalize on a “tragedy,” but it was like this opportunity was falling into her lap and she was just taking it and running with it. I was definitely starting to agree with Kennedi. I smelled a setup.
But I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin in trying to put all the pieces of this puzzle together. I didn’t know how I was going to get to the bottom of what was really happening. I’d gotten nowhere with Delana. But I knew if anyone could help, Alvin could.
I had learned my lesson about just popping over, so I’d called and he knew I was on my way. Even still, my heart quickened as I waited for him to answer the door. I don’t know why I felt twinges of jealousy when I thought about Alvin with someone else. He was a geek with a capital G. He was my friend and really cool, but it’s not like I had any romantic interest in him, so I don’t know why who he was dating bugged me. But it did.
“Well, if it isn’t my princess,” Alvin said, opening the door and giving me a big hug.
“I keep trying to tell you, boy. I’m the queen.” I winked at him as I sashayed past him into the house.
He closed the door and motioned for me to follow him back to his bedroom. The first time he’d done that, I thought he was some kind of pervert, but I’d since learned that was where he did all his work, so it was no biggie.
“So, what’s this top-secret mission that you can’t tell me about over the phone?”
“I could. But I knew if you saw me in person, there was no way you could tell me no.” I flashed a smile at him and he shook his head.
“You think those big brown eyes can get you whatever you want, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I said, playfully batting my eyelashes.
He laughed as he sat down in the chair at his desk. “You don’t have to try and con me, baby. I got your back no matter what.”
“Good,” I said, putting my Chanel bag down on his dresser. “Then, let’s get to work.”
“So, what is it you want me to do online now?” he asked.
“How do you know I want you to do something online? Maybe I just want to talk to you.” I wiggled my foot in his direction. “Maybe I just want a foot massage.”
“Oh, my pleasure,” he said, scooting his rolling chair toward me.
I pulled my foot back. “Boy, quit playing. You know I need your super tech skills.”
“Of course, I know that,” he said, laughing as he rolled back over to the computer. “So, what you need?”
I eased up behind him. “I need you to hack into someone’s cell phone account.”
He sat back, acting like he was appalled at my request. “Oooh, you do know that’s illegal, right?”
“And? When has that ever stopped you before?”
Alvin grinned. “You’re right about that. What’s the phone number?” he asked, tapping on his keyboard.
I pulled out my phone and began scrolling until I got to Evian’s number. “It’s 786-333-4612.”
“Okay, give me a minute. Is there a time frame you’re looking for?”
I thought about it for a minute, before saying, “Let me do the last thirty days. That should cover our time in Cancun.”
“All right, give me a minute.”
I looked around his house as he went to work. At least he’d opened some blinds and let some light in. When I’d first come here, he’d kept the room dark. There was all kinds of computer equ
ipment and gaming stuff. Stacks of comic books sat in the corner. Marvel comics and superhero posters hung on the walls. Since I’d met him, at least he’d upgraded from his twin bed and gotten a queen-sized bed with a grown man’s comforter (he used to have an Avengers comforter). There was no way, at the time I met him, I would’ve thought we could ever be friends. Kennedi had a friend who had hooked me up with Alvin to help me out with some computer issues.
“Okay, I’m in,” Alvin announced.
“Boy, you are some kind of good,” I said, giving him a hug from behind.
“And one day, you’re going to realize what a good guy I am. I just hope it’s not too late.” He flashed a knowing smile.
The thing I loved about Alvin was he’d make those comments, then keep it moving, so there was never time for any uncomfortable air to hang.
“What are you looking for?” he asked as I began scanning her call log over his shoulder.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged.
“I don’t know how to help you then.” He studied the screen with me. “She had a lot of international numbers on the sixteenth.”
I thought for a moment. “That’s around the time that she was kidnapped. Matter of fact, she went missing on the sixteenth.”
“What time was that?”
My mind raced as I tried to recall the time we were on the beach. “It had to be pretty late, like one in the morning.”
“Yeah, these calls were pretty late,” he said. “Four a.m. Even six a.m.”
“Okay, that’s after she went missing.” I rubbed my head, trying to think. “And who is she calling?” I asked.
“786-959-3399.”
“That number sounds familiar.” I pulled my phone out and began scrolling through it. “That’s Shay’s number! So she was calling Shay when she was supposed to be kidnapped.” I paused as my mind raced. “But Shay said she hadn’t heard from her. This isn’t making sense. Maybe this was some kind of time delay.”
Alvin shook his head. “Nah, these times are usually on point. And look, since she’s gotten back, she’s been getting a lot of calls from that same international number that she called on the seventeenth, the day after she was kidnapped.” He pointed to the screen. It was the same number popping up over and over. None of the calls were that long.
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