“As you can tell I didn’t have a good weekend.”
“Do tell,” Mo said, as he went to his case and pulled out several hair wigs in various sizes and colors. “What are you wearing today Mademoiselle?”
“I’m not sure.”
He held up a black wig with wavy hair. “So what man do you want me to beat up today?”
Hailey chuckled. “Why do you assume it’s about a man? I do have a life.”
“Dear, you know I know men and only a man can have a queen like us come in looking like this.”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and didn’t like what she saw. While Mo worked on her make-up and hair, Hailey told him about Trevon. “I should be the one getting married to him, not this Shareeka Johnson person.”
“I agree dear,” Mo, said to appease her.
“Besides, the name alone sounds so ghetto.”
“Now when you’re right, you’re right, but Hailey you can’t go prejudging someone because of their name.”
“Whose side are you on anyway?” she asked.
“It’s all about you. But Mo tells you like it is,” he said, as he did the finishing touches to her make-up.
“I’m just saying. Why would he want ghetto-fabulous, when he can have all of this?”
He turned her around to face the mirror. Hailey looked like the star that she was. “Shareeka better watch out because once mine, always mine. Trevon Swint is mine.”
Mo gave her a high five. “Work it girl.”
“Think I won’t.”
Hailey feeling satisfied with her hair and make-up opted to wear a three piece beige pants suit. She said a silent prayer and waited for John’s signal. She walked out on stage to the cheers, “Hailey. Hailey.”
“Welcome to the Hailey Barnes Show.” Hailey spent the first few minutes talking to the audience at home; drawing them in with her twinkling eyes and dimples that wooed many photographers when she was modeling. “When we come back, you’ll meet my panel of guests from the infamous paparazzi.”
Hailey’s heart wasn’t in today’s show. She was just going through the motions. She asked the pertinent questions some of her peers had said behind closed doors and lit into some of the panelists because she too had been a victim of paparazzi mania.
“Growlll,” one of the panelists imitated a bear’s growl.
Hailey held her hand up to her heart. “Sorry. I’ll take off the claws.”
The audience laughed. One of the other panelists said, “We promise to treat you like the other stars.”
“Ouch. Maybe I should be nicer to you guys.” Hailey looked at her audience and then back at her panelists. “Not.”
At the end of the show, Hailey thanked the audience and the panelists. She heard one of the panelists say, “She’s not as bad as what folks make her out to be.”
“No, she was actually nice.”
Hailey smiled and walked off the stage. She could turn on the charm when she needed to and if she could woo members of the paparazzi, she could get her man back. She needed to make a phone call and smiled as she headed to her dressing room. Her smile faded when John blocked her path.
“Follow me. Security wants to meet with us now.”
Hailey tried to get out of the meeting. “But. I have things to do. Things to prepare for tomorrow’s show.”
“It can wait.”
She followed John to his office. She didn’t see how he worked with all of the chaos. He had files everywhere. She was surprised he knew where anything was. She was so busy wondering how mister control could work in a space filled with boxes and files everywhere. She knew exactly what she was getting him for his birthday. She was hiring someone to clean his office.
“Ms. Barnes, thanks for meeting with us,” Bach, the head of security said, as he extended his hands out.
Hailey smiled and shook his hand. She admired a man who could look like a man on steroids but still look like he walked off the cover of GQ magazine. His clean shaven head was a turn on but simply reminded her of Trevon. She sat down in the first available seat.
“Fellows, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I have things to do.”
“This will only take a few minutes. I promise you,” Bach responded. For the first time, Hailey noticed he was holding a folder. He handed it to her.
She opened it. Her mouth flew open. “Where did you get this?” she asked. She viewed the red stained letter that contained more hateful words. With each letter, the words became more and more personal.
“After last week, we decided to go through all of your fan mail. We came across these and a few others.”
Hailey twisted in her seat. “I don’t know what to think.”