Star Struck (17 page)

“Did you read the fine print at the bottom of the paper?” Garrett asked.

Hailey reviewed the paper more closely. Her eyes squinted as she read the caption at the bottom. “GT Securities?”

“Trevon probably did this to scare you because of catching you here yesterday. That’s another reason why I didn’t tell the cops about this.”

“He has lost his doggone mind. Wait until I get my hands on him.”

“Oh I got this. Believe that. I need to get you settled in at your office and then I’ll be confronting Trevon in person.”

Hailey couldn’t believe Trevon would stoop to doing something so low knowing how scared she was. While Garrett was making his phone calls, she sent a few text messages cussing Trevon out. He claimed to not know what she was talking about. It’s not like he would admit it anyway. She felt confident that Garrett would get to the bottom of the situation. For once she was going to trust someone else to handle her problems.

By the time Garrett was dressed, he found Hailey in the living room waiting on him. “I know it’s going to rain now. Hailey Barnes beat me getting dressed.”

For the first time since the rock incident, Hailey smiled.

~ 29 ~

Garrett didn’t smile when he entered the conference room. Trevon, and all of his employees that knew anything about Hailey’s case avoided eye contact. Caroline tried to give him a cup of coffee but he passed. “There appears to be a breach somewhere in the building,” Garrett said, looking around the room. He continued to say, “One of our clients was camped out at my place for safety reasons and guess what? I get this. He held up a copy of the note. “Written on our notepad paper.”

People started mumbling to one another. Trevon said, “I know you don’t think anyone of us had anything to do with it. She has a fan. The fan could have gotten the paper from anywhere. From the studio.”

Garrett hadn’t thought of that. Brenda had been working with Hailey there and could have left the notepad there. He made a mental note to get in touch with Brenda after this impromptu meeting. In fact, he decided not to wait. “Caroline, call Brenda on her cell phone.”

Brenda answered after a few rings. After checking on her father, Garrett apologized for calling under the circumstances. Brenda said, “I didn’t use any of our stationery at the studio. I never take a client’s file with me. I try to record everything in my brain.”

“Thanks. Keep us updated on your dad.”

He turned and looked at Trevon. “That throws that theory out the window. Anybody else have any more great ideas?”

Silence. Garrett didn’t want to believe any one of his employees would do something like that but he had to make sure. Hailey’s life may depend on it. They invaded not only her privacy but his by trespassing and destroying his property.

“I apologize if I offended anyone but we can not have people working for GT that can’t be trusted. I would appreciate it if you all would go over any visitors and identify any that may be of questionable character. That’s all.”

He stood and looked out the window as people filed out the room. Trevon approached him from behind. “You know you’re wrong for calling us all in here for this. Hailey got your nose wide open.”

“Look Trevon, I’m this close,” he held out his hands. “from punching you the hell out, so I would suggest that you get out of my face.”

“I’m the one who should have a beef with you.”

“You know what. Screw it. If you want to fight, come on.” Garrett unloosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves.

Caroline walked back into the conference room. “Everything okay in here?” She looked at Garrett and then back at Trevon.

Trevon backed back from Garrett and was the first to speak. “Everything’s fine. We’re just having a discussion about this weekend’s event.”

“I wanted to remind you I was supposed to leave early today but under the circumstances, if you need me to stay, I can,” Caroline said.

“No need to,” Garrett said.

“You sure?” she asked.

Trevon said, “One of the other ladies will have you covered. Don’t worry about things here.”

Garrett faced Trevon. “Caroline is the only thing that saved you.”

“Look man. I was pissed to see Hailey at your place but why would I do something like that and then leave evidence?”

Garrett thought about it. Trevon did have a point. Trevon was a lot of things but stupid he was not. The only other person he could think of that probably felt she had a reason to harass Hailey was Shareeka. He started to mention it to Trevon but thought second of it.

“Somebody is behind it and it’s about time we found out who.”

“Hailey’s your problem now remember,” Trevon said, sarcastically.

“As long as she’s a client of GT Securities, she’s yours too. Now if you ever cared an ounce about her, you would be doing everything you could to help find out who is behind all of this. Unless, of course you know more than you’re telling me.”

Trevon stared Garrett in the eyes. “You tripping man. Get a grip,” Trevon said, before walking out of the conference room.

Garrett pulled out his cell phone and called Shareeka. “Meet me at your place pronto,” he stated. , Shareeka didn’t question him. She seemed excited that he called. Garrett needed access to see if he could find any evidence linking Shareeka to what had been happening to Hailey. 

“Caroline, I’ll be out of the office for awhile. If you need me, call me on my cell.”

Caroline looked like she wanted to say something. Garrett didn’t have time for small talk. When he got to Shareeka’s, she appeared at the door in a red satin robe slightly opened. “You’re just in time. I was just about to hop in the shower,” she said, as she made sure he could view her naked body underneath the robe.

Perfect.
Garrett thought to himself. “Don’t let me stop you,” he said in a husky voice.

“It’s more fun with two.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be here when you get out,” he attempted to assure her.

Shareeka let the robe fall completely open revealing her naked body. “You sure you don’t want to join me?”

“I’ll be waiting for you when you get out,” he lied.

As soon as he was sure she was in the shower, he started going through her things to see if he could find any evidence proving she was behind the threats to Hailey. He came across some of their office stationery. He slipped it in his pocket. He fumbled through her drawer and saw a small box filled with clippings and pictures of Hailey. For someone who couldn’t stand Hailey, she sure kept up with her career.

By now, the water had stopped running. He made his exit from her house before she returned. He was pulling out the driveway, when he saw Shareeka open the door. He pretended not to see her. A few minutes later, she was calling his number. She shouted, “Why did you leave?”

“Something came up at the office. Besides, I had second thoughts. It’s over this time for real.”

“Screw you Garrett.”

“You’ve already done that,” he responded before disconnecting the call.

Shareeka called back several times. Each time he allowed her calls to go to voice mail. He wouldn’t even bother to listen to them. He planned on deleting them as soon as he got the chance. He dialed Trevon’s number. “We need to talk. There’s some things you need to know.”

“If it’s about Hailey, I don’t want to talk about it okay.”

“Just be at the office. I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”

When Garrett got to the office, he informed Caroline he didn’t want to be disturbed. “Trevon is the only person I care to see.”

“Yes sir,” she responded.

While waiting on Trevon, Garrett placed the evidence he retrieved from Shareeka’s place on his desk.  Trevon walked in the office and saw the items. “Where did you get all of this?” he asked.

“That’s what I called you in here for. Have a seat because what I’m about to tell you is serious.”

He watched Trevon as he picked through the items. “So whose been doing this?”

Garrett responded, “Guess.”

“Who?” Trevon asked, confused.

Garrett sat down behind his desk and responded, “Shareeka.”

~ 30 ~

Trevon looked through the items. “No man. Shareeka may do some wild stuff but nothing like that man.”

“All the evidence is here.” Garrett watched Trevon to see if maybe he knew something more and was taking up for Shareeka.

“She probably found some of this stuff at my place and called herself hiding it from me. You know I’ve bought practically every magazine Hailey has been in.”

“Stop making excuses for her.” Garrett was getting agitated. He was on the verge of telling Trevon some things he may not want to hear.

“I’m just saying. It’s obvious she can’t stand Hailey. But to do this. No. You’re on the wrong trail. I think you’re too close to this to figure things out. Let me assign someone who doesn’t know Hailey personally.”

“I brought you in here since she’s your fiancé to see how you wanted to handle it.”

“There has to be some explanation for this. Let me call Shareeka and get to the bottom of this.” Trevon pulled out his cell phone.

“There’s more,” Garrett said. He could not let him make that phone call.

“We can talk about this later,” Trevon said, as he dialed Shareeka’s number.

“Shareeka’s been cheating on you,” Garrett blurted out.

Trevon hit the disconnect button on his phone without speaking to Shareeka. In a low voice, he responded, “And how do you know this? Did you find that out too when you weaseled your way into her house?”

“Wake up man. How do you think I had access to her personal belongings if she didn’t let me in?”

“I know you’re not telling me what I think you’re telling me.” Trevon stared straight ahead. By now, he was almost on the edge of his seat.

Garrett felt like he had no other choice but to spell it out. “I met Shareeka about a year before you did. We’ve had this on again off again sexual relationship.”

Trevon’s hands started shaking. “When did it end?”

“It doesn’t matter. It happened and I just thought you should be aware of it.”

Trevon’s eyes turned a dark brown. “Why now?”

“Because I’m tired of her making a fool out of you.”

“So when did you say it ended?” Trevon asked, barely above a whisper.

“Just drop it.”

“No, you owe me that much.” Trevon’s voice escalated.

Garrett dropped his head. “A few weeks ago.”

Trevon jumped up and pushed all of the stuff on the desk to the floor and reached over and grabbed Garrett by the collar. Garrett could feel Trevon’s breath in his face. He didn’t flinch. This time Garrett let Trevon get his anger out of his system. “Bastard. Man you’re just as scandalous as the hoes out on the street. I knew you liked to be someone’s clean up man; but I never thought you were cleaning up behind me.”

Trevon released the grip he had on Garrett’s collar and he fell back in the chair. Garrett rubbed his neck and said, “Man, I’m sorry. I would have told you sooner but I didn’t want our friendship to end over a woman.”

Trevon started laughing uncontrollably. “Have Shareeka arrested because if the cops don’t get to her first, there might be a homicide tonight.”

“Calm down. Shareeka’s not worth you ruining your life over.”

“You have to have it all don’t you. Hailey. Shareeka. Who else I’ve talked to have you messed with?”

Garrett understood Trevon’s anger, so that’s why he was patient with him. “Look, let’s get something clear. I knew Shareeka before you two got together. Hailey was single when she and I got together.”

Trevon clapped his hands. “So you finally admit it. You and Hailey have been messing around. How long has it been going on?”

“I didn’t go after Hailey until you made it perfectly clear to her that she was not going to be a part of your life.”

“You know how I feel about Hailey. I told you I loved her but it would never work because she’s just too much of a drama queen.”

Garrett didn’t want to hear his lies. “You want to talk about me, but you’re not all innocent in all of this. You don’t know what it means to be faithful.”

“That’s my business.”

“It would be if you didn’t come back and brag about it.”

“You should have told me about Shareeka man.”

“Maybe I should have, but I didn’t want to hurt you.” Garrett knew Trevon was telling the truth. As he thought back on it, he should have told Trevon as soon as he realized they were both doing the same woman.

“Do you know how embarrassing it is? We’ve sent out invitations. We just had that party. I want to punch you out so bad but it wouldn’t do any good.” Trevon looked like a man defeated.

“You had your opportunity a few minutes ago but I suggest you don’t try it again.” Garrett was no longer in a generous mode.

“To think I was about to marry the woman.” Trevon shook his head back in forth in disbelief.

“Truth be told, you don’t truly love Shareeka either.”