Eye Candy (16 page)

Chapter 40

A
s the wheels touched down at Miami International Airport, I was still trying to process everything that I'd just learned.

And, boy, had I learned a lot. The question now was what I was going to do with the information that janitor (he never would give me his name) had given me.

I knew that celebrities lied about their age all the time, but Nelly Fulton had taken things to a whole different level. I couldn't wait to look her in her face when I called her on it.

I was just making plans in my head on how I was going to confront her at school tomorrow when I got a tweet that said
Join Rumor Central host at the Miami Beach Extravaganza tonight at nine
.

I rolled my eyes because I was supposed to be headlining that and they'd just moved Nelly right on in.

“Well, there will be no time like the present,” I said, grabbing my purse and making my way out of the plane.

I thought the Miami Beach Extravaganza would be the perfect place to put Nelly Fulton on blast. I checked in with my parents since I'd been gone all day, then I made my way to South Beach, where the event was being held.

I sat toward the back in my shades and a baseball hat that I'd picked up from a vendor. The Miami Beach Extravaganza was a couture swimsuit fashion show, and Nelly was supposed to be the star attraction.

On my way from the airport, I sent out a text to a couple of friends in the media to make sure that they would be there. I wanted everybody to get this.

Finally, about ten minutes after nine, a man walked on to the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said to the now crowded tented area. “I hope you guys are ready! We have a great show for you tonight, and to kick things off and to keep it flowing is
the
diva, the teen queen, the new host of
Rumor Central
and
X Factor
winner . . . Nelly Fulton!”

The crowd started clapping—okay, who am I kidding, they went wild, but I was sure it didn't have anything to do with her hosting
Rumor Central
. It was because of the whole
X Factor
thing. Regardless, I sat there and tried to keep my attitude in check as Nelly walked onto the stage.

“What's up, Miami?” she said, waving to the crowd. “It's your girl Nelly Fulton and I am so happy to be here today! Are y'all ready to have a good time?”

The crowd started screaming. It took everything in my power not to play my hand right there and shut this show down, but I wanted to wait until after the show when the media was in full force. I didn't see the crew from
Miami Hot Gossip
and I definitely wanted to make sure they were front and center. So I sat and I actually enjoyed the fashion show. Nelly did an okay job, but she didn't have the personality that I did. And she was phony as all get out. But I let her do her as I sat and waited for the question-and-answer segment. I actually smiled when I looked back over my shoulder and saw all of the media finally there.

And as soon as the host said, “Okay, before we go, what would the Miami Beach Extravaganza be without hearing from you guys? There are two small mics in the center of the room,” he said, pointing to the two mics on the stand. “Come on up if you have a question about the fashions you saw tonight, or if you have a question for our star about her music, her show, or how it feels to be the reigning teen queen. Step right up.”

Several people came up and I slowly made my way up behind them, making sure to keep my head down. I waited as four or five people asked frivolous questions about the fashions.

A couple of people asked about her upcoming album and then it was my turn and I slowly stepped to the mic. I eased my sunglasses off, took my hat off, and shook my hair out.

“Oh my God, it's Maya Morgan,” someone next to me whispered.

“Hi, Nelly,” I said. She looked kind of shocked, but then quickly put the smile back on her face.

“Well, if it isn't the
former
host of
Rumor Central.
Everyone give it up for Maya Morgan!” she said and the crowd actually went wild again. Several people clapped and waved in my direction.

I smiled and leaned in to the mic. “Oh, today isn't about me.”

“Well, we know that,” she said, cutting me off.

Oh, this was gonna be good. I was going to take great pride in what I was about to say.

“Today is all about you making your debut at the Miami Beach Extravaganza,” I continued. “And one of the questions that I have is . . .” I paused as the crowd grew silent. “. . . who is Nadra Franklin?”

The smile completely left Nelly's face, and if it was possible for her to lose all color, she did. Her reaction was enough to send the media scurrying.

“E-excuse me,” she stammered.

“Nadra Franklin. You know her, right?” I said a little louder.

She glared at me as the crowd stared at her. “Um, I think that's all of the time we have for questions,” she said, turning to the host, who looked confused as well.

“No,” I said, speaking loudly into the mic. “I think you should tell these people that
you're
Nadra Franklin.”

She glared at me some more. And I smiled.

“And? Your point would be?” she asked, trying to play it cool. But I could tell, she was completely shaken. “People change their names all the time.”

“Do people change their ages, too?” I said. I raised my voice as the crowd started chattering. “Ladies and gentlemen, I don't take away from Nadra—I'm sorry, from Nelly—that she's a fantastic singer, but she's also a fraud.” I turned to the crowd and pointed to the stage. “Miami, I present to you teen queen,
thirty-one
-year-old Nadra Franklin!”

The crowd went crazy. The photographers started flashing their bulbs. Nelly looked at me like she wanted to kill me. And I turned around and walked out of the room.

I could hear her suddenly begin screaming after me. But I walked out with a smile on my face, ignoring the cameras that were pointed at me and the people who were pulling at me, trying to get more answers. My work was done. I'd put the nugget out there. I had no doubt in my mind these people would get to work and take it from there.

That janitor had been all too happy to sell the story about the small-town girl who had decided to seize her chance at stardom by pretending to be more than ten years younger. He said he'd remained quiet all these years because he didn't want to out his daughter. But since she'd blown off his attempts to rebuild their relationship, he'd decided to make a little money off the story.

I didn't know if he actually was her father. I didn't even really care. He'd given me enough proof that she wasn't who she claimed to be, and that was all I needed. I was sure that the media would dig a whole slew of bones out of Nadra Franklin's closet.

That janitor just didn't know. That was the best thousand dollars I'd ever spent.

Chapter 41

W
hen my mom called me into the kitchen to sit and talk, I just knew she was about to light into me about what had gone down last night. She hated for me to get “down in the gutter” and preferred that I take the high road. But I had to get her to see there was no high road with Nelly Fulton.

“So, you're all over the news today,” my mom said.

“I know,” I said. “And I know you probably don't approve of what I did.”

“Well, I've learned that you have a lot more spunk than your mom. You get that from your father.” She patted my hand. “So I'm sure you had your reasons.”

“I did,” I said, grateful that I wasn't getting a tongue lashing. “I just couldn't let her win.”

My mom nodded her understanding. “You know I will still always prefer the high road, but I understand sometimes you have to meet people where they are. And I also know revenge is best served cold.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means that in order to successfully complete an act of revenge, one must be without emotions when carrying out those plans. Emotions will make you lose focus on what you are trying to accomplish, and possibly ruin the act itself. You took your time and thought about this, right? And still decided it was something you needed to do?”

I nodded. “I did. I didn't just react without thinking.”

“Then, you did what you had to do.” She smiled and we talked for another thirty minutes. It was a rare, intimate conversation. Sometimes my mom got on my nerves, but I did enjoy when we just sat and talked about everything under the sun.

We'd been talking about Alvin and she was giving me advice, relaying the story of her first love and how she'd thought that she'd never get over him.

I was about to ask her a question when my phone rang. I'd been ignoring calls all day, but this one was from Black Tie Productions, the company doing the movie.

“Mom, hold on. I have to get this,” I said, pushing the TALK button. “Hello, this is Maya.”

“Hi, Maya. This is Robin Teague, assistant production director.”

“How are you?”

“I'm well, thanks. Excited about this project. I'm not going to hold you. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to courier over the final script. We're actually set to film in Miami in three weeks, so I'll need you to get right on your lines. We think you and J. Love are going to be fantastic.”

At the mention of J. Love's name, I groaned. Did I really want to work with him after all that we had been through? Since I wasn't ready to quit the movie, I said, “Okay, that's great. I'll get right on it.”

After I hung up and explained the situation to my mother, she said, “I am so proud of you. And yes, you can work with J. Love. Do your job and ignore him the rest of the time.”

I smiled. She was right. I'd exacted enough revenge. I was just going to do me.

We talked some more, and then my dad walked in, setting his briefcase on the counter.

“How are my two favorite ladies?” He kissed my mom on the lips, then kissed me on the top of the forehead.

“We are great,” my mother said. “But guess what? Your daughter is about to officially be a movie star now.”

“I thought she was already a star.” He winked in my direction.

“
Movie
star,” my mother replied. “She got the role in the new Hype Lee film. And they start filming it right after graduation.”

“I didn't know she was up for a role in the new Hype Lee film. Nobody tells me anything around here.” He playfully pouted. “And since I'm the primary investor in that film, you'd think I'd know these things.”

That made me and my mom do a double take. “What do you mean, primary investor?” I asked.

My dad loosened his tie. “You remember I told you I acquired that production company, Black Tie Productions?” he said to my mom. “I have a majority holding.”

“What?” I said. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“Yes, why didn't you tell us?” my mom echoed.

“Um, because neither of you ever have any interest in my business. You just want to spend the money my businesses make.” He removed his tie and set it across his briefcase.

“And that sounds like it's going to be pretty lucrative,” my mom said with a sly smile.

“Remember, you're on a budget,” my dad replied, pointing a playful warning finger at my mom.

“Budget, smudget,” my mom said, waving him off. She didn't pay him any attention when he complained about money. For her, a budget meant that she could only shop in Paris once a month, instead of twice.

“Okay, Dad, for real. What does that mean, since you're the investor?” My mind was churning.

“It means I pay for everything,” my dad said, looking at me like he couldn't figure out why I was quizzing him. He was right, I'd never shown one iota of interest in his business. But that was before he got in the movie business.

“I'll be paying your salary,” my dad continued. “So that means you work for me.”

“Oh, I need a raise then.” I giggled. But then, it dawned on me. Maybe I wasn't through getting my revenge after all. The perfect payback. “I do have a question, Dad. As the majority holder, you really call the shots, right?”

“Yeah, pretty much. But that's why you hire competent people. I try to step back and let them do what they do.”

I stood and eased over to him. “Daddyyyyy,” I said in my little girl voice. “I do need you to do something.”

“What?” He gave me a side eye.

“Well, you know I would never ask something like this, but it's pretty important.”

“Oh, spit it out. What is it?”

Even my mom was looking at me funny, trying to figure out what I was up to.

“J. Love is supposed to be the star of that movie. I play his girlfriend.”

“Okay?”

“I don't want him in the movie.”

“What?”

It was time for me to put my acting chops to work. “Daddy, J. Love hurt me really bad. He broke me and Alvin up, then he was just so mean to me.” And, for good measure, I threw in, “And the last time I was over there, I thought he was going to hit me.”

“Hit you?” my dad exclaimed. His whole body tensed up like he was about to go into attack mode.

I made sure I cleared that up before my dad was out the door. “But he didn't! I was just worried that he would because he has such an awful temper. That's why I broke up with him, because he's just an awful person and well, I really want this role, but I just don't feel safe with him.” I lowered my head, like I was really sad. “I was just telling Mom that I didn't want to take the role because I didn't want to work with him.”

“Oh, no!” my dad exclaimed. “Nobody messes with my baby.”

“I really don't want to work with him.” I dabbed at my eyes, even though there weren't any tears there (guess I still had some work to do on my acting).

“Well, if I had known you were even interested in acting, I would've told you, but now that I know that this is something you want, and you're serious about it, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, I just don't want to do it with J. Love.”

“Then I'll make a call. If they want my money, they'll get rid of J. Love.”

“I mean, I don't want to mess with your business,” I added for good measure.

“You know I usually don't mix business with personal affairs. But I also don't play when it comes to my princess.” He stroked my hair. “You don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything.”

“Are you sure you can do that?” I asked.

“The man with the money calls the shots. Consider it done.”

I gave him an innocent smile as I hugged him. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Of course, sweet pea,” he said. “I'm going to make that call right now.”

I watched him walk out of the kitchen, and then I turned around to see my mother staring at me as she shook her head. “And the Academy Award goes to my daughter, Maya Morgan,” she said.

I braced myself for her to fuss at me, but instead she smiled and said, “I raised you well.”