Unrivaled (Beautiful Idols 1)

Heather swung her long blond hair over her shoulder and glared. “It better be.” She watched her friends leave, then purposely unlocked the screen. Her pink glossy lips widening into a conniving grin as she slid the phone toward Layla.

Layla glanced between Heather and the phone.

Was Heather onto her?

“There’s some new pics you might like.” Heather’s brown eyes shot Layla a knowing look. “Also, be sure not to miss the latest text from my assistant.” Layla stared, dumbfounded, watching her go, as Heather glanced over her shoulder and said, “I help you—you help me. Feel free to send yourself whatever you need.”

She merged into the crowded dance floor, as Layla scrolled through the phone before it could return to lock mode. She counted so many photos of Madison it seemed kind of creepy. Especially since it was obvious Madison wasn’t aware of being photographed. Still, she moved through them quickly, zeroing in on a series of Madison and Ryan in a restaurant. One with them both at the table with a strange middle-aged man taking pictures in the background, one with Madison walking away as that same man approached Ryan, and the next with the man getting what looked like an autograph from Ryan while staring after Madison. They were weird, sure, though she wasn’t sure why Heather had bothered to keep them. Still, she sent them to herself anyway along with another one so incriminating, the blog post was practically writing itself.

The texts were next. The one from her assistant included a pic of Ryan and Aster.

So that’s how Aster did it.

She forwarded the pic to herself and left the phone charging. Apparently Heather loathed Madison as much as Layla did. And now, thanks to her, Layla’s blog was about to go viral.

TWENTY-SEVEN

BACK DOOR MAN

Ira sat behind his desk and pushed another cash-filled envelope toward her. “Seems like Ryan’s becoming a regular.” His brow lifted. “I’d say that deserves a reward, wouldn’t you?”

Aster stared hard at the envelope, feeling hollow, shaky, and more than a little nauseated.

Madison knew about her and Ryan.

Not that there was anything to know, or at least not exactly, but one thing was clear—Madison Brooks was onto her.

The way Madison had looked at her and purposely sought her out—there was no other way to explain it.

Funny how she’d gotten everything she’d wanted, only to realize she was in way over her head.

“Heard Madison dropped by too. Strange how she left just when Ryan arrived. You know anything about that?”

Aster frowned and examined her nails.

“Anyway, keep it up and you’ll have a real shot at winning this thing.”

She smiled faintly, eager for the meeting to end.

“Not quite the reaction I expected.”

She shook her head, hoping to clear it, but it proved an impossible task.

Would Madison go after her?

Get some kind of revenge for inadvertently stealing her guy?

The only thing she knew for sure was she needed to get out of her head and back in the room.

“I’m sorry. I guess I just spaced. . . .”

What was she thinking? No one spaces on Ira Redman!

“I mean, I don’t consider it done until it’s done,” Aster said, returning to where she’d thought they’d left off. “Celebrities are fickle. They can turn on a dime. And we still have many weeks left.”

Celebrities are fickle. They can turn on a dime.

She just hoped one celebrity in particular didn’t turn on her.