Rumor Central Read Free Page A

me daggers.
    â€œTelling you about?” Sheridan said. “You knew about this?”
    â€œYou knew we were getting fired and you didn’t say anything to us?” Evian added in disbelief.
    I shook my head, but before I could reply, Tamara said, “No, Maya had no idea they were canceling the show.”
    â€œThat’s right. I had no idea,” I said with an attitude. How were they getting mad at me?
    â€œBut you did know they were looking at you for another show,” Bali said, staring at me like he was trying to see straight through me.
    â€œBoy, I was into my party. I didn’t know what she was talking about,” I snapped. They were really busting my bubble right about now.
    â€œYou are such a freakin’ liar,” Shay said.
    â€œI got your liar,” I snapped.
    Tamara quickly stepped in. “Look, we are not about to do this,” she said with a heavy sigh as she turned back to me. “I just need to know if you’re still interested.”
    I looked around the room and several sets of eyes staring at me. I don’t know what they expected me to say, but I knew what I was going to say. “Of course I am!”
    â€œReally, Maya?” Sheridan asked, looking at me like I was crazy.
    I stared at her. She was my best friend, but if she wanted to trip with me, I’d let her go in a Miami minute.
    I didn’t bother answering her; instead, I turned back to Tamara, and whispered, “Maybe we should talk about my new show in another room. I have a feeling this environment is about to get a bit hostile.”
    Tamara hesitated, then nodded like she knew that was probably best.
    â€œTalk to you guys later,” I said, grabbing my purse and getting up from the table.
    â€œSeriously, Maya?” Sheridan repeated.
    â€œYou are so foul,” Bali said as I headed toward the door.
    â€œWith a capital F,” Evian added.
    â€œWhat happened to all that crap you were talking about, ‘we’re a team. We need to stand together’?” Shay snapped at me, or rather at my back because I was already at the door.
    I had given that “we’re a team” speech less than twenty-four hours ago, and I’d meant it. At the time. But today was a new day. I was about to get mine and too bad, so sad for my friends.
    I turned and shrugged. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” I said, then turned and headed out the door.

Chapter 3
    A true diva never lets you see her get excited about anything. But it was taking everything in my power to keep my emotions in check. As the four bigwigs tossed around comments like “all-out promotion,” “celebrity interviews,” and “hottest show ever,” I felt like I was on top of the world. But still, I kept my cool. Honestly, I just wished they’d hurry up and finish so I could go call my boyfriend, Bryce, and tell him the good news. I wondered what kind of gift he’d buy me to celebrate. Bryce loved spoiling me. And getting my own show was definitely cause for spoiling.
    â€œ Rumor Central will be a hot, new edgy show that will dish the latest celebrity dirt,” Tamara said. “I mean, the name is Rumor Central , but we just kind of put the rumors out there—you know, in a sensational way. We’ll let the people draw their own conclusions. We’re like Perez Hilton, Media Takeout, and Bossip on TV—but from a teen perspective. And that’s only part of the show. The other is the celebrities coming on, talking about what’s hot in their lives, addressing some of the gossip that’s going on out there about them, stuff like that.”
    Tamara eyed me like she was studying me. “So, Maya, are you feeling any of this?” she asked from the head of the table, where she sat with three other executives from the TV station. It had been less than thirty minutes since I’d gotten the news that I’d be getting my own show. But