“Madison, Madison, over here!” yelled a tabloid reporter. “You look awesome! Who are you wearing?” he asked, commenting on Madison’s emerald-green, empire-waisted silk dress.
She flashed her professional model smile, and then said, “It’s one of a kind by Issey Miyake.”
“Madison, just a few questions!” another reported yelled from behind the ropes. “Are you here as Lucas’s date?”
“She’s too young to date,” her grandmother answered.
Why can’t Nancy mind her own business? She’s making me seem like a two-year-old! Madison fumed to herself.
“If you’re not here as his date, then are you guys friends?” the reporter asked, pressing the issue.
“Sure they’re friends. They go to the same school,” Nancy said, answering again.
“Come on, Nancy, let’s go inside,” Madison whispered to her grandmother, eager to end the Q and A.
“Of course, dear,” Nancy said, leading the way into the party.
As Madison was making her way inside, she felt her cell phone buzzing inside of her purse. She wanted to answer, but knew that Nancy would have a gazillion questions, and she didn’t want to be grilled.
“Your names, please?” demanded the beefy keeper of the gate.
“Renée and Madison Reynolds,” Nancy said, continuing to speak for Madison.
The doorman flipped through the pages of the guest list until he found their names. “Go right in; the VIP hostess will seat you,” he said, in a deadpan voice.
Madison adjusted her long hair behind her left ear, and walked ahead of Nancy, trying to put some distance between them. The music was pumping and people were everywhere. She looked around and spotted a few models that she knew, drinking at the bar. What I wouldn’t give for an ice-cold martini, she thought.
“Why do they have to play the music so loud?” Nancy asked, catching up to her granddaughter.
Because it’s a party for young people, and you should be at home knitting a sweater or baking cookies, like most grandmothers!
“Nancy, if it’s too noisy for you, why don’t you go home? I’ll be all right by myself,” Madison suggested, trying to get rid of her grandmother.
“Dear, I wouldn’t dream of leaving you here alone. Come on, let’s get some cranberry juice,” Nancy said, walking toward the bar.
Only if I can have a double shot of vodka in it! As Madison was dreaming of a cocktail, she felt her phone buzz again. “Nancy, I have to go to the ladies’ room, I’ll be right back,” she said, rushing away before Nancy had a chance to follow.
Once inside the restroom, Madison hit the speed dial to Reagan.
“I’ve been calling you. Why didn’t you pick up?” Reagan asked, in a huff.
“Because Nancy’s been breathing down my neck, and I haven’t had a second alone.”
“Have you seen Lucas yet?”
“Yeah, I saw him on the red carpet.”
“How did he look?”
“Good, like a cross between Mario, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown, all rolled into one! He has on a European-cut black shirt, and a pair of snug black pants. He looks totally different out of that baggy uniform. I can’t believe that we screwed the pooch on this one. We treated him like shit, when he’s going to be a mega-star!” Madison said.
“Don’t worry, Mad, once I win him over, he’ll forget how we acted. Trust me,” Reagan said, confidently.
“I hope you’re right. Since Lucas and I are both in the entertainment industry, it’d be great if we were friends instead of rivals.”
“I agree; that’s why you have to sneak me into the party!”
“And how am I supposed to do that? There’s an Incredible Hulk type guarding the guest list.”
“There’s gotta be a back door that nobody is watching. I can get in that way,” Reagan said, refusing to be deterred.
“Good idea! I’ll find the back door and call you back.”
“Hurry. I’m getting ready to hop in a taxi, and should be there soon.”
“Okay,” Madison said, and clicked off her phone.
Madison poked her head out of the ladies’ room, making sure that Nancy didn’t see her come out. Luckily, her grandmother was nowhere in sight. Madison mingled through the crowd until she made her way to the rear of the hotel. “Bingo!” she said, the instant she spotted the service entrance. She took out her phone, and quickly dialed Reagan to tell her the good news!