Chapter 1
“Dating tips. Celebrity diets. Crazy food combos.” David-Lee Stuart - the constant headache of a man that only seems to get more and more infuriating with every meeting - paused to shoot what he thought was an intimidating glare in Nico’s direction.
Nico had been over the moon when he first accepted her application as a writing intern four years ago, she slaved away doing everything in her power to impress him. She ran coffee orders faster than any intern, stayed late at the office proofreading articles. Her job at the Los Angeles Review had been a dream come true, she was finally doing what she wanted, she was a writer that her parents could be proud of. Paid life at the Review was a lot different than what she had imagined though. The creative freedom she dreamed of having was tarnished straight away, and the junior journalist was forced into the world of meaningless fluff pieces that people read on Facebook when they’re bored or waiting for their Uber to arrive. Nico wanted to do something more, something meaningful with her writing.
Shifting in her seat slightly she glared back at the balding man, she knew what was coming next. She wasn’t performing at her best, she’d happily admit that. But she couldn’t help it, she had reached her fluff quota and couldn’t bring herself to report on ‘celebrity on set demands’, or list ‘the most ridiculous celebrity baby names.’
“You’ve lost it Minoru.” David started once more while running his nicotine-stained fingers through what little hair he had left. “Where’s that spark? That drive that caught my eye?”
“It’s hard to find a spark when you’re writing a two-minute fluff piece for Facebook.” Nico side smirked back, she knew that her attitude alone could cost her everything, but sometimes it was just so hard to keep her natural sarcasm inside.
“You’re not the only one in that department Nico, yet you seem to be the only one with a sudden attitude problem.” He sighed and reclaimed his seat behind the desk. “And frankly, I don’t see how this is going to-” Nico’s heart sank as the words began to leave his mouth, she may have seen it coming but she wasn’t ready. She had so much more to offer the Review, and she needed to find a way to show David that.
Nico opened her mouth to protest, only to be interrupted by the crashing sound of the hardwood door hitting the wall, and the violent stabs of Prada heels closing in on them. “This is impossible!” Crystal Wood aka the thorn in Nico’s side. Crystal took great pleasure in bragging about her assignments every chance she got, especially when she knew that Nico was within earshot. Every major story went to Crystal, and Nico hated the blonde for it. They had started out together as interns, Crystal had been quite the party girl and Nico was naive enough to cover for her when she could have thrown her under the bus. She thought that they were friends, but instead Crystal had been stabbing her in the back every chance she got.
“Crystal can’t you see I’m in the middle of a meeting?” David smiled shyly, confirming the ongoing office rumor that Crystal had been sleeping her way up to the top. “We can talk about this later.”
“No David! We can talk about this now.” The blonde stomped her foot, resembling a spoilt five-year-old perfectly. “I’m not letting that little prima donna ruin everything I’ve built!” Nico had to bite her tongue, forcing herself not to laugh in Crystal’s face at that comment. Sure she may work hard, but everything had been handed to her with ease.
“That prima donna is the face of all the good that’s left in this country. She’s adored by millions, there’s not a person around that hasn't heard of Karolina Dean.” David tried and failed to change Crystal’s opinion of America’s Sweetheart, but the blonde’s face still held a look of absolute disgust. “It’s one interview Crystal! If you can’t get that much out of her, then maybe you aren't the writer I thought you were.”
Nico couldn’t believe what was happening before her very eyes. An opportunity had fallen in her lap, her chance to dethrone Crystal once and for all and show David what she could really do. This Karolina Dean couldn’t be that bad, knowing Crystal she was most likely trying to over-dramatize everything.
“I could do it,” Nico muttered, pulling the secret couple away from their private conversation, reminding them both that she was still in the room.
“You? Don’t make me laugh.” Crystal placed her well-manicured hand over her heart, and let out the fakest laugh Nico had ever heard.
“I’m serious. If you can’t do it, then maybe someone else should try.” The black-haired girl stood, not letting Crystal’s height intimidate her one bit. “I’m closer to her age and unheard of. It makes sense for me to try and get through to her.” She looked past Crystal and smirked at David who stayed seated comfortably in his seat, head resting in his hands as he took a minute to actually think about Nico was suggesting. He knew that being the first to land an interview with Karolina would skyrocket his company, he’d be the envy of everyone, the main man in town. But could he really trust someone he was seconds away from firing?
“You’ve got a point there.” Crystal snorted at Nico’s expense, breaking David from his money-filled daydream. “You aren’t really considering this?” She snapped as their eyes met. She’d seen the same look time and time again, he had a plan and she wasn’t going to like.
“Yes...yes I am.” David stood, suddenly filled to the brim with confidence in Nico. Long forgotten are his intentions of letting her go – for the time being anyway – and in its place was nothing but the support and trust, the two things she’d been trying to earn for years. “You get the scoop on the Princess of Pop within the next two days, and I’ve got myself a new senior reporter.”
“So I’m not getting fired today?” An uncharacteristic smile crept onto Nico’s face as she repeated, finally, this is it,over and over in her mind.
“Not yet...this is your chance, Nico. Show me what you’ve got, kid.” A creepy smile played on his lips, angering his latest fling to the core. But Nico couldn’t care less, this was her time. Her chance. Her story…all she had to do was score an interview with America’s most loved pop star. No biggie…right?