Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols 1)

“I’m not comfortable with that,” Aster snapped.

“That sounds more like your problem than mine.” Layla shrugged. “And don’t even think about trying to back out when payday comes around, because I will hold you to it.”

Aster gnawed the inside of her cheek, a nervous habit she’d yet to cure herself of. “You’re not going to ask for the soul of my firstborn child or something, are you?”

Layla rolled her eyes. “Why would I want your illegitimate mistake?”

Aster sighed. The girl was a nightmare. Who knew what she’d demand? Well, she’d deal with it later. For now she had Night for Night, and that was all that really mattered. “Guess you’re representing Jewel,” she said.

Layla shrugged like she didn’t care either way, leaving Aster to second-guess the deal she’d just struck as she watched the other girl walk away.

“You convince her?” Tommy called, as Aster made her way back.

Aster nodded, wondering if she looked as shaken as she felt. “I feel like I just made a deal with the devil, but yeah, it’s done.”

“Hope it turns out to be worth it.” Tommy squinted against the sun, eyeing her carefully.

She shrugged, clicked her key fob, and unlocked her car. Remembering her manners, something that had been in short supply all day, she looked over her shoulder and said, “Hey, Tommy—good luck with the Vesper.”

“Good luck to you.” He grinned.

The competition had officially begun.

NINE

SUMMERTIME SADNESS

Layla stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel at the same moment there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Mateo offered, pausing a

moment to grin appreciatively at the sight of Layla naked before heading down the hall.

She wrapped the towel around herself and pulled a comb through her hair. It looked awful, more neglected than usual, like the hair of an overstressed soccer mom who’d run out of Xanax. She should try harder. Maybe do something with the color. Though she doubted she would. It was bad enough she’d worn a pair of toe-numbing stilettos in order to look the part for the interview. If she started highlighting her hair, where would it end? Scouring Pinterest boards, looking for nail art ideas? She refused to be that girl.

Then again, Mateo had exhibited some major appreciation for the shoes. Especially when she’d kept them on well after everything else had come off. And lately, making Mateo happy went a long way toward alleviating her guilt over not telling him she was working for Ira. She wanted to. She just hadn’t found the right time. But tonight she’d tell him for sure. It was her first official day on the job, and the last thing she wanted was for Mateo to discover the truth on his own.

She rubbed some moisturizer into her skin, letting the towel slowly drop to the floor like some kind of bathroom burlesque, winking salaciously at Mateo through the mirror as he returned with a large white envelope clutched in his hand.

She strained to make out the lettering, but Mateo’s fingers covered the logo. “Did Publishers Clearing House finally send me that million-dollar check?” She laughed playfully, until she saw the hurt expression on Mateo’s face and the laughter died on her lips.

Today was the day Ira was sending their first list of celebrity gets, which Layla assumed would arrive by email. It never occurred to her he’d opt for home delivery. And now her phone was chiming with incoming texts—most likely from her team wanting to strategize.

“You gonna get that?” Mateo struggled to keep his face neutral as he nodded toward her phone.

She shook her head, reached for her towel, and quickly covered herself.

“What if Ira needs you?” he said when her phone chimed again.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, searching for just the right words to explain, only those words didn’t really exist.

“When were you going to tell me? Or were you ever going to tell me?”

“Tonight.” She lifted her gaze to meet his, needing him to believe it.

“And how long have you known?”

She hung her head, if for no other reason than to avoid the hurt look on his face. He’d always been so open and honest with her. Layla was the shady one—the dealer of secrets and lies.