Sweet Little Lies (8 page)

“I’m so glad you’re back. Things haven’t been the same without you,” Hannah said. She hooked a long strand of honey-blond hair over her ear. “Did you have a good Christmas?”

“Yeah, it was nice to see my parents and my sisters,” Jane said. She glanced briefly at the two camera guys filming in the corners, then at the top of her desk, which was cluttered as always with files, fabric swatches, and magazine clippings. There was a vase of frilly peach tulips next to her Mac. “Where’d these come from?”

“Oh, I picked them up on my way in. I thought they’d cheer you up.”

“Wow. That was really sweet. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome!”

Jane smiled at Hannah. Hannah had started working at Fiona Chen Events shortly after Jane had. She was one of the nicest people Jane had met in L.A., and she was a good listener, too. In fact, Jane used to confide in her a lot about Jesse—not just because of her listening skills but because she was one of Jane’s only friends who actuallyliked Jesse. Madison, Gaby, Scar (especially Scar), and even Braden had all advised her to stay far away from him because he was trouble. Hannah was the only person who had encouraged Jane to follow her heart. And back then, before everything blew up, Jane’s heart had told her that she was falling for Jesse. That they belonged together.

“So we’re gonna be working on the Crazy Girl party together,” Jane said. “It’s gonna be amazing.”

“Definitely,” Hannah agreed.

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“We need to go over some details, then set up a meeting with Ruby Slipper.”

“Yes! Anytime is fine with me. My schedule’s pretty clear.” Hannah peered at her computer monitor.

That girl was always on IM at work.

Jane felt her phone vibrating and fished it out of her bag. It was a text from Dana.

CAN YOU SAY GABYS NAME WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RUBY SLIPPER? Dana had written.

Jane ignored the text and shoved the phone back into her bag.Guess that’s confirmed, she thought.

Trevor had obviously intervened, convincing Fiona to pair Jane and Gaby up for the Crazy Girl party.

The PopTV cameras would be all over their entire event-planning process from beginning to end.

“Soooo. Have you, um, talked to Jesse lately?” Hannah asked, breaking the silence of the room.

Jane shook her head. “No. I’ve been meaning to call him, but…” Her voice trailed off.

“You really should call him,” Hannah told her. “I’m sure he wants to talk to you.”

“I’m pretty sure he doesn’t,” Jane said. “I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me.”

“You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“Yeah, well, this wasn’t just a mistake. I really screwed up, Hannah.”

Then, before Jane knew what was happening, her eyes welled up. She wiped a tear off her cheek. “I really screwed up,” she repeated, whispering.

Hannah got up from her desk and hurried over to Jane. She wrapped her arms around Jane’s shoulders and gave her a big hug. “We all screw up once in a while,” she said. “Call Jesse. Apologize to him.

You’re gonna feel so much better if you do.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jane said, wiping away another tear.

Jane remembered then that the cameras were still rolling. She had just confessed to Hannah on-camera how bad she felt about cheating on Jesse. This was what Trevor had told her to do when they spoke on the phone last night, wasn’t it? Did that mean he’d put those words into her mouth? No, they wereher words. So why did she feel a strange sense of…what? Being directed somehow? And had Trevor directed Hannah, too?No, that’s crazy, she told herself. Trevor’s suggestions were no different from Dana’s text-messaged requests. They were simply meant to help shape the girls’ conversations while they were on-camera. To make things more interesting for TV. After all, they couldn’t just sit there and talk about nothing, right?

Right?

10

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WHAT I NEED IS THE TRUTH

Scarlett touched the mike taped to the inside of her bra, making sure it was secure, before walking into STK. It was Monday night, and she had about a million things she’d rather be doing than attending some lame launch party for Cüt (pronounced “cute”), a new clothing line by the Japanese-American pop star Mika. When did pop stars start designing clothes? She blamed J.Lo. And Gwen Stefani. The party was a last-minute add to the shooting schedule, and Scarlett had tried to get out of it, telling Dana that she already had plans (i.e., an evening at home with some take-out Thai food andWuthering Heights , which she’d been meaning to reread since Liam had brought it up).

“Scarlett, let’s get a quick picture!”

A photographer was standing by the small white backdrop with the Cüt logo all over it. Scarlett had learned these backdrops were called step-and-repeats. Since being on the show and being forced to attend so many launches, openings, and premieres, Scarlett had learned a lot of new things, like that they were all basically the same event. They were at the same locations, with the same guests, and with the same photographers and reporters asking the same questions. The only things that changed were the logos on the step-and-repeat and gift bags for the guests to take home afterward. Scarlett hated posing for photos, but she was here at the party—might as well follow the party rules, which included smiling pretty for photographers and acting like she was really, really glad to be there in support of some here-today, gone-tomorrow teen idol’s idea of fashion. Besides, the night was young. There was still plenty of time for rule breaking.

Inside, STK was crazy crowded. Several of the tables normally used for dining served as stages for models wearing what Scarlett assumed were clothes from the line. She saw that they had set up a DJ

booth near the front door, filling the room with techno music. Waiters maneuvered their way through the thick crowd while balancing trays of tiny beef sliders and skewers of chicken satay.

Scarlett glanced around, searching for Jane. After their awkward conversation yesterday about Madison, Jane had puttered around the apartment unpacking and doing laundry, talking to her goldfish, Penny, and in general basically ignoring Scarlett. And this morning she had left for work early. Scarlett had texted her at lunch-time, asking her if she planned to be at the Cüt launch, and Jane had written back, YES. Not, YES, U 2? Or YES, U WANNA GO 2GETHER? Just YES.

Scarlett noticed Madison at the bar, talking to some guy and looking for all the world like a high-priced hooker in her animal-print minidress and coordinating metallic platform stilettos. Scarlett felt her face go hot. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Madison since before Cabo, but she had some things she wanted to say to her now. She didn’t care that the cameras were there. Nothing she said to Madison would make the cut, anyway. Trevor had called last night and filled her in on his little plan for presenting the whole Jane-Braden-Jesse-Gossipfiasco. The sentiments Scarlett had in mind for Madison most definitely didn’t fit Trevor’s plan.

Scarlett crossed the room in a dozen quick strides, aware that theL.A. Candy cameras were following her every move. (No Liam today, though.Sigh .)

“Madison,” Scarlett said, tapping her shoulder.

Madison turned around and looked a little surprised to see Scarlett there.

“Hey, Scarlett.” Madison gave her a fake smile. “Jane didn’t tell me you were coming. You want a drink?”

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“I don’t need a drink, you pathetic, two-faced, lying bitch. What I need is the truth.”

Madison’s fake smile never left her face. “About what?”

“About the fact that you gave those pictures toGossip . I want to know where you got them. And why you did it.”

Madison looked away, chuckling. “Guess I was wrong about you needing a drink. You’re already drunk—or crazy—or both.”

“No,you’re the one who’s crazy,” Scar spat out. “How could you do that to Jane?”

“I didn’t do anything to Jane. I love her like a sister. I already told you”—Madison glanced at the camera—“Jesse’s the one who gave those pictures toGossip .”

“I talked to him about it, and he said it was you.”

“Oh, so you’re gonna believe what Jesse says? Of course he’s gonna lie about that. He’s covering up for whathe did.”

“The only one who’s covering up is you, you scheming—”

“Hey!What’s going on?”

Scarlett jerked around at the sound of Jane’s angry voice. Jane and Hannah, that girl from her office, were standing there. Scarlett wasn’t sure what to think of Hannah. Was she friend or foe? She had met her only once, at Jesse’s twenty-first birthday party at Goa. But she had seen Hannah on severalL.A.

Candy episodes, giving Jane encouraging advice about Jesse. Which was bizarre. Didn’t Hannah know about Jesse’s messed-up past? Had she ever even talked to him? Or was she too mesmerized by his (even Scarlett had to admit) gorgeous face to care?

At the moment, Hannah looked anxious as her brown eyes shifted between Scarlett and Madison. Jane looked…well, pissed off. But she would get over it once Scarlett forced Madison to come clean.

“Janie, I’m so glad you’re here! Madison and I were just talking about why she likes to ruin the lives of her ‘friends,’” Scarlett said, jabbing a finger in Madison’s direction.

“You’re insane,” Madison shot back. “Jane, she’s insane.”

Jane frowned at Scarlett. “Scar, cut it out. Please just drop it.”

“I amnot gonna drop it! Madison’s lying to you! She’s trying to hurt you, and I’m not gonna—”

“Hey, what’d I miss?” Gaby pranced up to the group, patting her smooth light brown updo. “You all seem kinda stressed. Did they run outta gift bags or something?”

“Hi, Gaby, I’m Hannah.” Hannah spoke up quickly, clearly trying to defuse the situation by acting as if nothing were wrong. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we met at Goa.”

Gaby nodded. “Oh, yeah. At Jesse’s birthday party. Aren’t you that girl he was flirting with?”

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Hannah blushed. “Um, no. I’m Jane’s friend from work. In fact, we’re all gonna be working on the Crazy Girl party together.”

“Cool,” Gaby said, her gaze wandering to a passing waiter who was carrying a tray of Cosmos.

“Ohhhh!” She reached over and took two.

“I really like Mika’s designs,” Jane said, her own attempt at changing the subject. “Especially her dresses. I love that one with the beaded neckline.”

“You would look soooo pretty in that,” Hannah said eagerly.She’s just trying to help Jane steer the topic away from Madison, Scarlett thought, annoyed.Which at this point puts her in the “foe” category.

“So would you!” Jane exclaimed to Hannah. “And what about the shirt with the yellow—”

Jane stopped abruptly. The color drained from her face as she stared over Hannah’s shoulder at something—or someone—across the room.

Scarlett followed Jane’s gaze to see what had thrown her, and saw Jesse Edwards posing at the step-and-repeat with some brunette hanging all over him. Behind the official photographer were several other photographers, jockeying for position to get a clear shot of Jesse and his date.

Hannah and Madison took note of Jesse’s arrival, too. Hannah looked worried and whispered something in Jane’s ear as she reached down and squeezed her hand. Madison looked…Whatwas that expression on her face? Panic? Scarlett allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction. She knew she was right about Madison. The girl was terrified that Jesse was going to tell everyone the truth about what had happened. In front of Jane. On camera (not that Trevor would let it make it onto the air…).

Finally,Scarlett thought.

As for Gaby, she was oblivious to what was going on around her. “Ohmigod, look at that pretty dress!”

she said, pointing to the piece of sea green dental floss wrapped around Jesse’s date. “Do you guys think I could pull off that color?”

“Excuse me,” Jane mumbled. She started pushing through a crowd of people, toward the ladies’ room.

She was obviously upset. Scarlett started to follow her, except that Madison actuallyblocked her way and then shouted, “Wait, Janie! I’m coming with you!”

Jane stopped, turned, and smiled gratefully at Madison. She stretched out her hand. “Thanks, Madison.”

Madison threw a triumphant smile in Scarlett’s direction as she took Jane’s hand, and the two of them headed to the ladies’ room together.

Scarlett knotted her fists.Janie? Did Madison seriously just call Jane Janie?

11

MY IMAGE NEEDS TO BE SAVED NOW?

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“Soooo,” Gaby said, picking at her manicure. “Who was that girl Jesse brought to the party last night?

Does anyone know her name?”

Hannah stared at Gaby, stunned. Jane sucked in a deep breath.

Gaby, Hannah, and Jane had just spent the better part of their morning in the massive reception area at Ruby Slipper brainstorming ideas and locations for the Crazy Girl Valentine’s Day party (on-camera, of course). Unfortunately, Gaby had a very short attention span and kept steering the subject to other stuff, like how cute her office decor was (“look at my cute phone!”). If only Dana would text Gaby as often as she seemed to text Jane, telling her to focus on work, already. Of course, Jane would rather talk about how Gaby had told her boss that everything on her deskhad to be cute than about Jesse’s date last night.

“Weren’t you kinda bothered when she and Jesse were making out?” Gaby asked Jane.

Jane reached up and twirled her hair around her index finger. It had been a nervous habit since she was little. Why was Gaby bringing this up? And on-camera, no less?

Last night had been bad enough. Jane had hidden out in the ladies’ room at STK with Madison for what seemed like forever, though it was probably closer to fifteen minutes, trying to recover from her shock at seeing Jesse (with adate ) and to gather the courage to approach him and apologize. Madison had been so great, holding her hand and giving her a pep talk. She’d advised Jane to hold off on talking to Jesse—she thought it was too soon—but Jane had decided to go for it anyway. Madison had looked genuinely concerned.