Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols 1)

Feeling better already, she slid her phone into her pocket and merged back onto the street. It would all be okay. She would not lose her way. She could have Mateo and her job. There was no reason to choose. Though if she didn’t come up with some better ideas, Ira would choose for her.

THIRTEEN

EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD

Aster stood beside the DJ booth and gazed upon the dispersing crowd like a queen surveying her subjects. Her first official night on the job and she was already a success. It was like all the recent graduates from LA’s most exclusive private schools had shown up wearing metallic moon and star tattoos, transforming the Night for Night dance floor into a writhing, swirling constellation of the next wave of LA’s movers and shakers.

“Nice turnout.” Taylor stood alongside her.

Aster snuck a sideways glance at the pretty blonde. In her perforated leather minidress, she looked surprisingly chic and sexy for someone Aster had originally taken for a prep.

“Thanks!” She grinned. “It was so much bigger than I expected.”

“Was it?” Taylor narrowed her gaze.

Aster looked away, refusing to engage in whatever game Taylor was playing. All that mattered was that it was past closing time and the mob was just starting to thin.

“I thought we were a team,” Taylor said.

Aster continued to watch the dance floor, spotting her friend Safi and trying to make out the boy she was with before they faded into the crowd.

“You hijacked the night—made it all about you. You don’t want to play on our team, no problem. We’ll do just fine without you.”

“Will you?” Aster returned the look, watching as Taylor mumbled under her breath and stormed off to where Diego and Ash waited.

First night of the competition and her team had already turned against her. It was just as well. What was the point of working together when only one person would win? Even though Aster didn’t understand the rules, she figured she’d be better rewarded for breaking them than trying to follow them.

The night was a success, and nothing Taylor said could change that. The only immediate problems Aster faced were her throbbing feet and aching cheeks thanks to her four-inch heels and an overload of grinning and air-kissing. Party hostess injuries. Well, she’d better get used to it. If things continued like this, she’d sail through the first week and beyond.

“Aster.” Ira came up behind her. “Got a moment?”

She followed him up the stairs and into an office that was strictly business, like Ira himself, not a single personal touch to be found. He gestured toward a chair, and Aster gratefully lowered herself onto the seat. Stifling a sigh of relief to finally be off her feet, she rubbed her aching calves while Ira rummaged through his desk.

“Those were decent numbers for a Thursday.” He retrieved a white envelope bearing the red Unrivaled Nightlife logo, then leaned back in his seat.

Aster smiled sedately while a fist-pumping happy dance raged in her head.

“Mind telling me how you did it?”

“I created a party within the party. Told everyone on my list that a golden star or moon tattoo would gain them entry.” She raised her wrist, displaying the one she wore. Then, feeling clumsy under the glare of his unblinking gaze, she dropped her hand to her lap. “Anyway, they had to go through me to get them, and I guess word spread.” She shrugged, unwilling to admit she’d possibly stolen kids that were on her teammates’ list.

“And?”

She shifted in her seat, unsure what he meant.

“They got some metallic tattoos—is that it? No free drinks? No discounts at the door?”

“I can do that?” she asked, wondering why she hadn’t thought of it.

“Only if your gets are famous. Which none of them were.”

She sank a little lower, not feeling quite as pleased with herself as she had a moment before. “I guess people like to feel like they’re part of something cool.”

Ira gave her a thoughtful look. “What works on a Thursday will fail on a Saturday. You need to aim higher.”

She dropped her gaze to her lap.

“Anyway, I know you’re tired, so here.” He slid the envelope across the desk, and without even checking, Aster knew it was filled with a fat wad of cash.