“Isn’t it, though?”
Nicole caught her breath. She realized that maybe Remi’s anger and scorn were justified. She had cut the line, she was getting preferential treatment from Red Jameson and it was wrong.
“I guess maybe you have a point,” Nicole told her. A single tear escaped and dripped down her cheek. “I really enjoy working with you, though.”
As she turned and left, she thought she saw a pained expression briefly cross Remi’s face, but Nicole didn’t stick around.
She went back to her desk, opened up her Internet browser, and googled The Rag. It brought her to a celebrity tabloid website with literally dozens of stories all over the page, most of them with horrible, demeaning headlines.
Kim Kardashian’s Lip Injection Nightmare Continues!
When Will Miley Cyrus Fall off the Wagon Again?
James Spader’s Weight Gain…Beach Pics Click Here
And then the worst one, the one she’d been hoping against hope was not on the site:
Red “The Mogul” Jameson Goes Slumming!
And when she clicked the link (against her better judgment), it took her to a page with the full story, including pictures of her and Red together. A picture of Red picking her up at her apartment, stopping for gas, and even pictures of the party itself at her parents’ house.
She read every word with mounting horror.
We at The Rag were pleasantly surprised yesterday, when a lovely tipster alerted us that Red Jameson was back in action with a new lady on his arm. We’ve always admired his beautiful black curls and his even more beautiful six-pack abs.
So when we heard that he was now seeing a “special someone,” The Rag had to have a look for ourselves at just who this wildcat was! After all, Red’s been spotted canoodling with the likes of Jenna Jameson, Charlize Theron, Kate Hudson, and many more. We know the aloof adman loves his ladies and we were certain this new girl would be a sultry sex kitten.
Imagine our surprise to find that his latest crush was just a regular ol’ gal like one of us! In fact, word on the street is, they met at the office. Can you say harassment? Out of court settlement?
Okay, fine. Maybe we at The Rag are just getting cynical in our middle age, but it was a little disappointing to see Red driving out to the wilds of upstate New York to get his BBQ on with a bunch of local yokels. If we want to see fat guys in Yankees caps grilling hotdogs and drinking Budweiser, we just go home for the holidays.
We want our celebs to be exciting! So Red, could you at least make a stop at Jay-Z’s crib next time? Or better yet, call Katy Perry up—we hear she’s a fun date on a Friday night!!
When Nicole finished the piece, she felt as though she’d been punched in the stomach repeatedly. She was sick—sick from shock. They’d made a mockery of her relationship as well as her family. And how on earth had they even known about the party in the first place? For god’s sake, Nicole had only told her parents.
She didn’t know how the tabloids had found out, and she supposed it didn’t really matter. The bottom line was that this was going too far. Her family couldn’t be made to be a laughingstock because of Nicole’s relationship.
Furious, Nicole hurried to the private elevator and was taken up to the top floor. She stomped to Red’s door and knocked loudly. “It’s Nicole,” she said.
“Come in.”
When she opened the door, he was alone at his desk, and he greeted her with a wide smile. “This is unexpected.” And then he saw her face and the smile died on his lips. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know where to start, actually.” Her fists were clenched and she was sweating, clammy, and shivering. “I’m pretty upset right now.”
“I can see that.” He rose from his chair and came toward her.
“No. Stay there. I can’t be close to you right now.”
She saw the look of hurt cross his features momentarily. “Fine. What seems to be the problem?”
“The tabloids know about us.”
He shrugged and walked towards the bar. “I guess it was only a matter of time before they caught on. I’m surprised they found out so quickly, but, it’s what they do. Their specialty, I suppose.”
“Haven’t you read the story? They make us into a joke. Seems I don’t hold a candle to Kate Hudson or your other famous conquests.”
Red turned and looked at her. “Don’t read that stuff, Nicole. It will only make you crazy.”
“How can I not read it? I heard people at the office laughing about it, mocking me. Apparently Casper’s got nothing on me when it comes to pasty white skin.”
Red’s expression hardened. “Tell me their names.” He walked to her. “Tell me so I can…” He worked to control himself. “So I can have a chat with them.”