Sugar and Spice_ An L.A. Candy Novel - Lauren Conrad [51]
“Madison, I’m not sure we’re going to be done in an hour,” Trevor pointed out. Now he looked annoyed.
“Not if we keep talking about my old boyfriends from a hundred years ago. Let’s just get started, okay?”
As it turned out, the shoot took more than three hours, mostly because Sophie couldn’t follow directions. (Surprise, surprise!) She also kept looking right at the camera and posing, instead of acting natural.
By the time they finally wrapped, Madison was ready for a strong drink and some retail therapy. Luckily, this scene with Sophie was the only one she had to shoot today.
“You did great,” Trevor said to Sophie as he checked something on the monitor. Liar, Madison thought. Or was he just too mesmerized by Sophie’s looks to tell her the truth? “So. I’ll see both of you at the Playground party tomorrow night, right?”
“The Playground party?” Madison repeated. “What Playground party?”
Trevor stared at her. “Seriously, Madison? I’m talking about the video-game launch party you’ve been helping Jane and Hannah plan at work.”
“Oh, that Playground party,” Madison said. She had totally forgotten about it, and besides, she hadn’t done much in the way of “helping” Jane and Hannah. She mostly just showed up at the office whenever the PopTV cameras were filming. It wasn’t like Fiona expected her to come into the office to work. “Of course I’ll be there. Sophia and I can drive over together.”
“Perfect. And make sure to check in with Dana before she leaves today.” Dana was across the living room, talking to Matt. “She’ll have some instructions for you about what time to arrive and so forth.” Trevor turned to Sophie. “Sophia, this is the first time you’ll be meeting the rest of the L.A. Candy girls. We haven’t told any of them that Madison has a sister, so they should all be a little surprised. I can fill you in about that tomorrow.”
“Is Gaby back?” Madison said. She hadn’t heard from her in weeks. “When did she—”
“So what do you want me to wear for the party, Trev?” Sophie interrupted, studying her nails. “Do I need to wear, like, a dress?”
“Madison can help you with that,” he told her. “I’m sure you’re aware that shopping is one of your sister’s finest skills.”
Sophie grinned. “Awesome. I’ll let you buy me a new dress, Maddy. You know, as a ‘welcome to L.A.’ present or whatever.”
“Wait, why don’t we get some cameras on that?” Trevor suggested. “Dana! What’s on the schedule for this afternoon? Do you think we could clear one of the usual stores we shoot at?” he called out.
Sophie smirked at Madison. Bitch, Madison thought. Like I’m buying you anything.
But Madison knew that she would probably have no choice. Although it would be a bit of a challenge, since her credit cards were nearly maxed out. Knowing Sophie, she would pick out the most expensive outfit she could find, just to piss Madison off. And knowing Trevor, he would spin an entire episode out of the two girls arguing over price tags, in essence turning Madison into the smarter, more responsible sister (the “boring” one) and Sophie into the wilder, more impulsive sister (the “fun” one). Ugh.
I’m trapped, Madison thought angrily. She was stuck with Sophie, trying to keep her happy and also keep her from revealing Madison’s many secrets, until Sophie got whatever she wanted out of the L.A. Candy deal (fame, fortune, a rich boyfriend?) and then . . . what? Moved to Australia? Left Madison alone forever? Not likely. In the meantime, Madison was going to have to figure out how to rein Sophie in and regain the upper hand.
But how?
Chapter 19
She Said, She Said
Jane adjusted her earpiece and scanned the main room of Playground, mentally double-checking everything. There were several large flat-screens on the walls, and remote controls were available at each table so that the guests could try out the new Knife Assassin’s Revenge video game. In actuality, the remotes were there so that photographers could take pictures of celebrities in minidresses holding them . .