STAGESTRUCK - The Complete Series (21 page)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

STAGESTRUCK is a steamy New Adult romance by Alice Ward - This is part two of a two part series.

Kate Harper is now focused on launching her new career. She's set to take the stage for her Broadway debut, proving that she deserves her time in the spotlight.

Without Max in his way, Kate's costar Dylan Matthews aims to sweep her off her feet. Their blossoming friendship, quickly wins them the title of 'Broadway's Favorite Sweethearts', but before their relationship has a chance to fully bloom, Kate learns that not everyone loves a love-story.

Just as quickly as Dylan entered her life, trouble begins to brew. An unsettling photo left at her doorstep begins a series of strange events that grow more and more concerning as time goes on.

The police believe Kate may have a stalker, but Kate gets the feeling that there's far more happening than meets the eye.
 

With already so much to contend with, Max makes a reappearance in Kate's life. But having him nearby doesn't dispel the danger that's brewing for her.

Can Kate survive the dark side of fame? Or will someone dim the lights of Broadway permanently for her?
 

And what about Kate's love life? Who will she end up with? Who will be there for her when she needs him the most?

Find out all the answers in the second and final part of STAGESTRUCK!

The STAGESTRUCK Series is intended for a mature audience, 18+ only.

I paced the floors of the baggage claim area of JFK airport, anxiously awaiting my family’s arrival. It was Monday morning, just hours before my debut performance in Jersey Boys, and I was beginning to second guess my decision to meet my family’s plane. I was a bundle of nerves and I knew that dealing with my mother would likely make things worse. I checked the arrival board for what seemed like the hundredth time in five minutes; their flight information had changed from “On Time” to “Landed.” I took a deep breath and braced myself for the reunion. Five minutes later, I heard my brother Nathan’s voice boom through the baggage area.

“There’s our little starlet.” He called out as he approached me. Mimi and my parents followed closely behind him. Nathan wrapped me in a bear hug and I was thankful that he’d been able to make the trip. Since I’d been a bit of an outcast in high school, my big brother had been my best friend through a lot of lonely years. Having him here for my big night made everything feel complete.

“Kate darling, you look too thin. I hope that you’re remembering to eat, what with your busy life and all.” My mother offered as a greeting.

“Caroline, back off of the poor girl.” Mimi insisted. “Kate, you look fantastic.”

“Thanks Mimi,” I replied as I hugged my grandmother.

“Mimi’s right,” my father chimed in. “It looks like New York suits you, cupcake.”

“I’ve missed you, Daddy.” I told him as I broke away from Mimi and embraced him. “How was your flight?”

“As good as a flight can be,” my mom sighed. “I swear, I hate airplanes more and more every time I get in one. It’s uncivilized, the way they herd you on and off, makes me feel like livestock.”

“Now, Caroline, I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.” Mimi scolded her.

My mother rolled her eyes and I turned to Nathan. “Want to grab the luggage?” I asked.

“Love to,” he replied quickly. I turned to our parents. “The theater provided a SUV, it’s waiting outside in temporary parking. It’s a dark blue Trail Blazer, the driver’s name is Frank. You guys can take Mimi and get settled, Nathan and I will grab the luggage and meet you out there.”

“A Trail Blazer, huh?” Dad asked. “That was nice of them.”

“Oh don’t be silly Carl, it’s not like they sent a limo.” Mom said as they turned to the exit. Nathan and I exchanged a look and made our way to the baggage terminal.

“So be honest, how bad was the flight?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Not as bad as our trip to Disney, not as calm as our trip to Niagara Falls,” he replied.

When Nathan and I were in elementary school, our parents took us to Disney World. Between the airlines losing our luggage and three hours of rain every day of our trip, Mom had had plenty to complain about. We’ve judged every family vacation against it since.

“What is she so pissed off about?” I asked. “You’d think she could just be happy for me!”

“She’s incredibly happy for you.” Nathan insisted. “And she’s really proud, we all are. But I think that all of this Broadway stuff scares her. Mom has spent her whole life in Waterloo, she’s used to a quiet life. She doesn’t know how to handle all of the attention you’re getting.”

“I’m sure that that article didn’t help.” I sighed. “Were you home when that came out? How bad was she?”

“I wasn’t home, but I talked to her plenty.” Nathan told me. “It hurt her for you that people were saying such awful things. And I won’t lie; she was embarrassed and worried about what her friends would think. But I managed to talk her down. I think the bottom line is that she’s worried about you and she’s not handling it well.”

“Maybe she’ll understand after tonight’s show.” I suggested. The belt finally started moving and suitcases fell out of the shoot. I recognized my mother’s color coordinated luggage tags immediately, and we grabbed the suitcases as they passed by. Nathan loaded them on a cart and we made our way to the Trail Blazer. Mimi was up front with the driver; dad sat next to the driver’s side window and mom perched in the middle of the bench seat.

“Flip you for the third row?” I offered.

“No need, I’ll climb back there.” He insisted. We settled into our seats and Frank pulled away from the curb.

“I’m so excited about The Plaza!” My mother said as she smoothed the legs of her black wool slacks. “It’s so nice of your boyfriend to put us up in such a fancy place. He seemed like such a doll when I spoke with him, I can’t wait to meet him in person.”

I cringed at the mention of Max. We hadn’t spoken since he stormed out of Joe’s Bar on Friday. I’d sent him a text Saturday morning, apologizing for the kiss and insisting that it meant nothing. I asked him to call me when he was ready to talk; he’d replied with a short message telling me that he’d send a messenger to the theater to pick up the emerald ring he’d given me.

“Actually, mom,” I began slowly. “Max isn’t paying for the room, the theater is. Turns out, he isn’t as nice of a guy as we thought he was.”

“Well, I hate to hear that but I trust your judgment. And my goodness, if the theater is paying for The Plaza they must think a lot of you.” Mom replied.

I couldn’t believe it was that easy, but I wasn’t going to question it. The truth was that I was footing the bill for the rooms myself. If my family knew that, they’d insist on staying somewhere cheaper and paying for it themselves. I wanted them to have a glamorous New York vacation, so I figured a little white lie wouldn’t hurt anything.

“Kate, are you sure that you can’t stay for lunch?” Mimi asked hopefully after Frank announced that we were five minutes from the hotel.

“I’m so sorry, Mimi, but I have to get to the theater. There’s a lot to do with it being my first night. But I’ll see you right after the show, and we’ll ride to the after party together.”

“Alright sweetheart, I understand.” She replied. “I can’t wait to see you on that stage. I’ve known that this moment was coming since you were just a little girl.”

“You’re seats are right up front.” I told her with a smile. “You’re going to have such a good time. And it’s early, you should get out and enjoy the city for a few hours since this is your only day here. Just be ready to leave the hotel at seven, my friend Janette is going to pick you up and take you to the theater.”

“Alright, darling, I guess we’ll see you tonight.” My dad chimed in as we pulled up to the hotel.

We all climbed out of the Trail Blazer and I hugged everyone goodbye. They wished me good luck as a bell hop came and retrieved their luggage and then they disappeared into the lobby. I climbed into the passenger seat and tried to refocus as Frank drove back to my apartment.

I climbed the staircase to my apartment and decided to check in with Janette before going home. I knocked on her door and she answered a few moments later; she was in her bathrobe and had her hair wrapped in a towel.

“Hey,” she smiled as I stepped in to the apartment. “Did your family get here alright?”

“Yes, I just dropped them off at the hotel. I told them that the theater is footing the bill, so play along if they mention it.”

“Kate, I don’t know why you don’t just tell your family the truth. You’re making good money now; you can afford two rooms at The Plaza for the night.” She argued.

“I know that, but my parents wouldn’t see it that way. They would hate the idea of me spending so much money on them.”

“Alright, your secret’s safe with me.”

Janette seemed incredibly happy and I got the feeling that there was something going on that I didn’t know about. “Did you and Paul have a good night or something?” I teased. “You’re awfully cheerful.”

A wide smile broke out across Janette’s face. “No, I’m just excited about starting the album. I met with our new Sony rep last night and we picked out the song list. I wrote all but two of the tracks myself.” She beamed.

“Janette, that’s fantastic news!” I exclaimed. “I’m so proud of you, we have to celebrate.”

“Thanks, Kate,” she smiled. “But that can wait. Tonight we’re celebrating you, remember?”

“I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble with the party.” I told her. “I know that you got stuck with the bill after Max disappeared.”

“Don’t worry about that.” She insisted. “You just concentrate on having a great show and let me worry about the rest. What time do you have to be at the theater?”

“Not until four,” I replied. “I stretched the truth on that with my family too. I just needed some time alone to focus on my performance. I may even take a nap; I got up really early to get to the airport. Could you check in around two-thirty and make sure that I’m up?”

“Sure,” she quickly agreed. “I’m not going anywhere until it’s time to pick up your family. I talked to Parker earlier; he and Mark are going to meet us at the theater. They’re so excited to see the show!”

“Is Bridget going to make it?” I asked hopefully. Out of all my new friends, Bridget was the one I was the least close to, but I’d still hoped that she’d be at the performance.

“I don’t think she’s coming.” Janette replied slowly.

I was silent for a moment before replying. “So… I take it she’s team Serena?”

“She and Serena have been friends since grade school.” She explained. “Don’t take it personally.”

“Serena is spreading lies that I got my role by sleeping with Dylan.” I reminded her. “It’s hard not to take that personally.”

“I know, but there’s nothing that you can do to stop Serena. She’s upset and she’s going to run her mouth until she feels better. Everyone who matters knows that she’s full of shit.” Janette argued.

“Max believed her.” I replied.

“You and I both know that you made that worse for yourself. If you hadn’t been kissing Dylan when Serena brought him to the bar, none of that would have ever happened.”

I sighed. “I know you’re right. And I shouldn’t be thinking about Serena right now, it will only make me more nervous than I already am. I just can’t help but wonder what she’s saying and who believes her.”

“I’m sure most people in the industry see her for what she is: a jealous, lying snake. And once you take the stage and impress everyone with your phenomenal talent, everyone will know that you won the role honestly.”

“God I hope so. If I’m going to wow anyone, I’ve got to get my head on straight… which means that I can’t keep thinking about Serena. I’m going to head to my place and relax. See you around two-thirty?”

Janette nodded. “I’ll come over armed with strong coffee and something for you to eat.”

“You’re the best, Janette. I’m so glad we ended up next door to each other.”

“Don’t mention it.” She smiled. “If you get your gown ready, I’ll take it when I stop by later so you don’t have to haul it to the theater.”

Janette had gotten a signing bonus with her record contract and had footed the bill for another Fifth Avenue shopping trip. She’d chosen a black Prada gown, while I’d opted for a crimson Valentino.

“It’s already in my dressing room.” I told her. “But thanks.”

“No problem. You’d better get going if you’re going to take a nap. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

I thanked her again and made my way to my apartment. I thought that I’d have a hard time getting to sleep, but I drifted off as soon as my head hit the pillow.

“Well, you’re here early but this makeup isn’t going to wear off. Sit down and I’ll get started.” Mica said as I stepped into the makeup room.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “I was going to run to the coffee stand. I just popped in to see if you’d like something.”

The makeup artist gave me a reluctant smile. “Actually, I’d love a vanilla latte. Hold on and I’ll get you some cash.” She said, moving for her purse.

“Don’t worry about it.” I insisted. “I’ll get it today and you can get it next time.”

“Thanks, Kate. I’ll get your colors set out and be ready when you get back.”

I nodded and made my way out of the theater. The air was brisk and everyone on the street seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. I wondered if I’d ever get used to the pace of the city as I ambled to the corner coffee stand. I placed my order and continued people watching as I waited for the drinks. It dawned on me that if the night went well, I may not be able to move around so freely outside the theater. It was a problem that I looked forward to having.

The barista announced that my order was ready and the sound of his voice snapped me back to the present. I collected the cups and returned to the makeup room. As promised, Mica had my colors spread out on the counter.

“You’re a lifesaver Kate, I’ve been yawning all day.” She said as I stepped into the room. “No problem,” I told her. “I figured it would be in my best interest for you to be at the top of your game.”

Mica laughed. “Keep bringing me coffee and I’ll make sure that you look like a million bucks every night.”

I settled into the cushioned chair and Mica slathered my face in pancake foundation. “If you want, I’ll tone this down a little after the show.” Mica offered. “I know that you’re going to a big party tonight.”

I was surprised by the offer. Serena worked in another makeup room in Lincoln Theater and I’d been under the impression that she and Mica were friends. “That’s so sweet of you, but I’d hate for you to go to the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all.” She assured me. “I have to stay until the final scene anyway to oversee touch ups. After the curtain call, change into whatever you’re wearing tonight and then meet me back here. You’ll probably get photographed a lot when you leave; you want to look your best.”

The thought of having my picture taken hadn’t even crossed my mind. “When you put it like that, how can I refuse?” I laughed. “Thank you so much, Mica. I know that I’m not your favorite person.”

She blushed brighter than the makeup she was brushing onto my cheeks. “I’m sorry that you picked up on that.” She said softly. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but for a while I believed the trash Serena was spreading. Now that I’ve spent some time with you, I know that she’s been lying. Not to mention that I’ve sat in on some of the rehearsals. You obviously deserve to be here. I’m sorry that I bought in to Serena’s story.”

“It’s alright,” I assured her. “She’s your friend; it’s only natural that you’d instinctively believe her.”

“She’s not really my friend, more like a coworker. It’s just easy to get caught up in all of the gossip that goes on around here. You have to admit, your story is a little unbelievable. You showed up out of nowhere, signed with the most selective agent in the business, and landed a lead role in a major Broadway play. It’s a little hard for people to believe that you got here on your own merits… until they see you on stage, that is.”

“I know that it’s unbelievable. I still have a hard time believing it myself, and I’m the one it’s happening to. I honestly feel like I’ve been living in a fairytale since I arrived in the city.”

“And now you look like you stepped out of one.” Mica smiled as she spun my chair to face the mirror. She was right; I looked like a princess.

Mica moved on to my hair, rolling my long blonde locks around a large barreled curling iron. She separated my hair into sections and pinned it up in a classic fifties up do. When she finished, I hardly recognized myself.

“You do fantastic work, Mica.” I told her.

She casually waved off the compliment. “You’ve got the hard job. Are you ready for tonight?”

I nodded. “I haven’t focused on anything else for the last three days. I know everyone’s lines backwards and forwards and I could follow the stage directions in my sleep.”

“You’re not nervous at all?”

I shook my head. “Just excited… I’ve been waiting for this night for as long as I can remember.”

“Then all that’s left to do is get into your costume.” She smiled. “I’ll see you after the show.”

I thanked her again, stood, and stepped back into the hallway. I was halfway to my dressing room when a familiar and unwelcome voice called out from behind me.

“Getting ready for your first and last night on stage?” Serena called out in a sing song voice.

I turned and gave her a cold stare as she approached. “What are you doing here, Serena? Don’t you belong on the other side of the theater?”

“I had a break and I just couldn’t resist stopping by on your big night. I hope you haven’t moved much in to your dressing room. They’ll probably have Poppy’s name back on the door before the final act.” She sneered.

I knew that she was trying to upset me and distract me from my performance but I refused to give her the satisfaction. “Maybe they will,” I agreed happily. “But you know what? My name is on the door right now. I’m taking the stage tonight and living my dream. Even if they fire me tomorrow, no one can take tonight away from me.”

“It’s too bad that you have no one to share it with.” Serena quipped. “Have you even spoken to Max since Friday? Or have you been too caught up with your playboy costar? You know that Dylan isn’t the relationship type. I hope you realize that by being with him, you’re just going to make a fool of yourself.”

I was determined not to give in and argue with her but my patience was running thin. “Who I share or don’t share this night with is none of your business.” I reminded her. “If you’ll excuse me I need to get back to my dressing room. Have a good night, Serena.”

As I turned to walk away, she called after me. “You have a good night too, Kate. Enjoy it while you can, you’ll be kicked out on your ass tomorrow.”

I ignored her and made my way back to my dressing room to get into my first costume.