Star Struck(15)
“Sorry, I was just excited,” John said, as he handed Hailey a faxed sheet of paper. “You did it.” Hailey jumped up and down. She hugged John and continued to jump up and down. “I’m nominated. I’m nominated,” she repeated over and over.
Brenda said, “I hate to rain on your parade, but nominated for what.”
John opened his mouth to say something, but Hailey stopped him. “No, let me. I’m nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for not only The Best Talk Show, but for the Best Talk Show host.”
“Congratulations,” she responded.
“Thanks. I have a People’s Choice Award, but this is my first Emmy nomination.” She turned to address John. “Did you tell the staff?”
“You’re the first one I told,” John responded.
After John left, Hailey reached for the phone to call Trevon but stopped before dialing the last digit. It pained her to know that although she had a successful career, she really didn’t have anyone to share the fruits of her labor with. If she really thought about it; it had been like that for awhile. Maybe Garrett was right. Maybe she should think about just moving on and letting Trevon go on with his life.
She hung up and dialed Garrett’s number. “The favor I was asking. Forget it. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Garrett responded, “You would change your mind after I got us an invitation to the party of the year.”
Hailey looked to make sure Brenda wasn’t watching her and she wasn’t. “I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been invited to a party hosted by Tre and his fiancé and I want you to go as my date.”
“You got to be a kidding.”
“I’m not joking.”
Hailey contemplated the idea for a moment before responding.
“Are you still there? I can always pull out my little black book and get someone else to go.”
“You wouldn’t dare. Count me in. Email me the details.” Hailey hung up the phone and forgot about leaving Trevon alone. She knew Garrett would come through for her.
Brenda commented. “You look like you got some more good news.”
“If you only knew,” she responded, as she logged on her computer to wait on Garrett’s email.
***
Garrett could kick himself for agreeing to attend the party with Hailey. He hadn’t planned on it, but when he heard Hailey’s voice, he couldn’t resist an excuse to spend more time with her on a social basis. What he was doing was playing with fire. Trevon had no idea what both women were up to and he debated on whether or not to warn him.
“Man, life is good,” Trevon said, after bursting through his office door.
“You need to learn how to knock first.” Garrett hit the send button in his email to Hailey and turned off his monitor as Trevon took a seat across from him.
“Whatever. I just came by to tell you that I just got off the phone with our next big client. We’re to handle security at the Grammy’s.”
“Good job man.”
“It was your proposal that got us in the door.”
Garrett stuck out his chest. “Well, you know I can’t take all of the credit.”
“True, true. It was a team thing.”
“We do make a good team,” Garrett admitted.
“Since grade school.”
Garrett felt guilty about not telling him about his plans on crashing his party with Hailey. He thought about how to break the news to him. “There’s something I want to tell you.”
“Me first. I’ve decided to let Hailey go.”
“For real.”
“No. But it does sound good doesn’t it.” Trevon laughed.
Garrett didn’t. “Tre, you need to let her go and this is the last time I’m going to say it to you.”
“What man in his right mind would give up having Hailey Barnes? Man, do you know how many men wish they were in my situation?”
“Sometimes you disgust me. Hailey is a human being. She does not deserve to be used.”
“Hailey is selfish. Always has been. If she wasn’t, it would be her I’m marrying and not Shareeka.”
“The only person I see being selfish is you. Don’t you think your future wife deserves all of you and not just a piece of you?”
“I didn’t want to get you all up in my business, but since you are. Shareeka’s not all that innocent.”
Garrett shook his head in disbelief. “You two deserve each other.”
“Well, Shareeka’s who I want as my wife. Hailey can either get with the program or bounce.”
“You’re selfish. I don’t know what either one of them sees in you,” Garrett admitted.