Beneath the Fame (WAWG Studios #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

VANESSA

“Hey friendssss! Welcome back to In The Zone with Arizona and Arnez?—”

“I love how you just switched up our whole title to put your name first.”

“My name should’ve been first, aesthetically and alphabetically.”

“Okay, but it wasn’t, because it doesn’t roll off the tongue.”

“And you’re real familiar with what rolls off the tongue, aren’t you?”

“As a matter of fact I am, now what?”

“Oop!”

Everybody on the couches broke into a peel of laughter after that, gleefully reacting to the banter between Arnez and Arizona.

Or Arizona and Arnez.

Either way, their fun vibe was one of the primary reasons I’d agreed to attend a recording of this spin-off of their main show. Only slightly more serious, Arnez and Arizona was more of an interview-style show, intermixed with their own celebrity gossip updates. The show had been going so long that this spin-off— In the Zone— felt like a natural next step and was more laid back.

And frankly… messy .

Did I mention the alcohol?

It was a natural hallmark of the show, and honestly with the semi-tropical vibe of the set – lots of big leafy accents and moody lighting, like an island night club. And we’d been asked to dress for the occasion. Colorful fabrics, bared stomachs, and bronzy makeup.

“Today, we have everybody’s favorite bad bitch and everybody’s future husband on the couch—that’s quite the combination,” Arizona added, putting a little shimmy with her words.

Laughing, I looked over to where Alec was seated a few feet away—looking slightly nervous, but handsome as always.

He – or maybe his stylist – had chosen a simple white co-ord set that popped against his skin, and an appropriate chain around his neck.

Okay. Maybe a little better than handsome. Just flatout good.

“A little odd, but not exactly random ,” Arnez chimed in. “These two are both stars in the latest hit series from WAWG studios, Kinfolk. And let me tell you—that shit is fiiiireee. ”

“And y’all haven’t even seen me and Vanessa really go at it on the screen yet,” Alec said with a grin, wording that prompted a tongue wag from Arizona.

“Y’all be fucking on the show?! Is that a spoiler?!” she gasped, and Alec’s eyes went wide as I spoke up to assure?—

“Nah, that’s not what he means.” I laughed. “Only two episodes have been aired for everybody so far, and in just those episodes, it’s obvious that our characters don’t really fuck with each other. Well, all that…blows up,” I said. “I can’t remember which episode, but it’s coming soon, so I need all my baddies on the lookout.”

“Yesss,” Arnez said. “You better tell those fans to tune in, because baby, the acting? You’ve really been giving it to us, miss ma’am.”

Arizona nodded. “Right?! Giving Janis, Trecel, Ms. Morris herself ,” she said.

I forced myself to keep a smile on my face, knowing it was absolutely supposed to be a compliment. Those just weren’t exactly actresses I… admired.

Not because they weren’t talented; they had that in droves. They were just also consistently used as eye candy, to the point that it was part of damn near every role.

The exact type-casting I was trying to steer far, far away from.

“You know, I’m glad you’re here, chile, ’cause I’ve been dying to talk to you about this. Last time you were here, we talked to you as an artist—you told us you rapped for the bad bitches,” Arnez said.

“I did and I do,” I agreed.

“But here you are, sitting next to your award-winning co-star for a major role, on a major television show,” he countered. “Babe…make it make sense.”

I laughed. “Well…as I’m sure Alec experiences as well,” I started, trying to make sure the focus for this whole thing didn’t end up on me. “We’re never only interested in like… just one thing. We’ll have something we’re known for, sure, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have other passions to pursue. I was lucky enough to have the chance to audition for the show, and it just felt like the right thing to do.”

“So it didn’t have anything to do with you needing to put some distance between you and a certain scanny-scandal between you and another rappity-rapper?” Arnez asked, and my eyes went wide.

“Oh, we’re starting early then, I see?” I laughed, choking down a gulp of my drink.

I was going to really need it if things were already going down this particular path.

Would I say I had regrets about my filthy affair with a recently divorced rap-legend who’d aged like fine wine since his time as a poster on my teenaged-bedroom wall?

No, not at all.

We were both good and grown, and good and single.

Did I hate the way the world found out something that was absolutely supposed to be just between us?

Yes.

Yes, I did.

Despite us both being violated by the “leak” of the hidden cameras his ex had “accidentally left behind” in his house, social media had turned against…well, mostly me.

The narrative became that we must’ve been messing around before his divorce, but I legitimately was not that type of bitch, and I rapped about it often.

And still, the internet believed what it wanted.

For the years I’d spent being the voice of the supportive homegirl in everybody’s head, suddenly I was just a slut, and all I did was show my body and rap about my pussy, blah, blah, blah.

Honestly…I did want a break from it.

But more than that, I wanted to prove that wasn’t all I was, by a long shot—there was real talent in me in other areas, and I was gonna make everybody who doubted me feel it.

“Sooo…?” Arizona urged, and I stalled a bit by sipping from my drink again.

“I’ma be honest,” I said, shrugging off the urge to deflect. “I did want to give people something else to talk about, you know? Everybody was making that situation seem like something it wasn’t, and it was pissing me off. Mostly because I don’t even get down the way it portrayed, and the fact that the lie was so easily believed…it made me feel like maybe I hadn’t done a good enough job letting the world know who I really was.”

Arnez nodded. “What is it about this that’s going to make them see you differently?”

“Mostly? Proving that I don’t have to fuck my way to the top, like some of these blogs swore must be the case,” I said, keeping it candid. “If my music career is at the end over some bullshit, that’s cool, because I’m gonna be good regardless. I’m a great rapper, but I also write, I sing, I act, I make pottery, and I’m good at all of it. And even if I wasn’t, my family and my real friends? They got me. Everything else is extra.”

“Oop. She told y’all bitches,” Arizona chirped. “’Cause I been a baddie, still a baddie, gone be a baddie, ’til the wheels fall off.”

“There’s a baddie in all of us,” Alec spoke up, for the first time since earlier, making everybody turn to look. To more than just my surprise, he held up his drink for a little toast. “To the baddies.”

“I know that’s right, you better support your co-star,” Arnez yelled, then took a sip. “We on yo’ ass next though, bookie.”

Arizona’s head bobbed as she agreed. “We sure are. ’Cause um…speaking of trying to switch up public opinion, sir, who told you it was okay for you be on prestige TV being grown?!”

“Right?!” Arnez exclaimed. “Cussing and drinking and hunching that on that random lady from the club in episode one . I saw that and looked at Arizona like I know that ain’t who I think it is! ”

“You did more than look like it—you yelled it at the screen at the premiere, didn’t you?” Alec asked, and Arnez waved it off.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, I would not behave that way in public. And we not talking about my behavior anyway, we’re on you .”

“That’s fine,” Alec shrugged, “I’m ready for whatever you throw at me.”

“You make it sound like we’re messy ,” Arizona gasped.

“Because you are, but it’s okay,” Alec countered, sipping his drink. “That’s what makes it fun, right?”

Right.

I was glad to see that Alec got it—I’d been a little concerned about him when I learned that they’d booked us as a duo to come on and promote the show. Alec’s reputation as clean cut, never in trouble, etc, it…didn’t really “go” with the show vibe.

He was holding his own, though.

It was one of many things I’d learned about him—and liked about him—since working with him on Kinfolk . He’d been one of the peers I was most nervous about, being easily the most recognized name on the cast list.

And yet…he was… cool.

Never frazzled.

Even with the invasive-ass questions Arnez and Arizona were asking, he never seemed bothered—which, of course, could’ve been bolstered by liquor.

By the time the show was kinda winding down, we were both easily on our third or fourth drink, and Alec’s eyes were super low.

“Okay, friends—lightning round time,” Arnez said, smirking. “Ten questions—five each. Truth or drink. Does everybody understand the rules?”

I looked to Alec, giggling over how laid back he looked—eyes low, legs open, arms draped across the back of the couch we shared—before I nodded.

He nodded too.

“Okay—let’s begin,” Arizona said. “And I’m gonna warn you now—we coming straight off the ropes.”

Alec shrugged. “That’s fine.”

“I’m glad you think so, handsome, ’cause the very first question is for you. Out of all the people you’ve worked with, on any project, given the chance…who would you fuck?”

Well damn , I thought, just before my face started getting hot.

I looked up to see Arnez and Arizona both with their mouth open, and Alec…grinning straight at me.

“Oh, shit,” I said aloud, then clapped a hand over my mouth, wishing I could take that reaction back. It was just…it genuinely caught me off guard—I’d expected him to do like most guests did during this part—just get hella drunk instead of actually answering the controversial questions.

Clearly, I was wrong.

“Y’all see this right?!” Arizona asked the camera. “Alec Everett wants a bite of the baddie. And personally…I would like to see it. I would like to watch.”

“You and me both,” Alec replied, making my eyes go wide.

“ Oh my God !” I laughed. “You don’t take another drink, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied in a low rumble, biting into his bottom lip in a way what made me feel it right between the legs.

My mouth dropped open. “Cut the cameras. Deadass.”

Everybody started laughing, knowing I wasn’t serious.

Well.

Maybe halfway.

It was definitely getting a little hot under the studio lights, and I was about to break into a damn sweat.

“ Vanity ,” Arnez sang. “Same question to you, boo.”

I didn’t waste a moment bringing my fresh refill to my mouth for a sip. “No comment.”

Arnez pursed his lips. “You trying to tell us the attraction isn’t reciprocated?”

I took another drink. “No comment.”

“Now hold on, that wasn’t even a question though!”

“Sounded like a question to me,” I countered. “Cool, only three more then. Great .”

I couldn’t front—the rest of the night flew by because we were having a blast. I’d bet money Alec would be feeling the adverse effects of getting as lit as he was later, but I also got the impression he didn’t kick it like this often.

He probably needed the change of pace.

“Okay, laaaast question,” Arizona chimed in. “I have to ask, Van, I’m sorry, but the world needs to know…you got your turn in the saddle with the man of my dreams, rhymes decadent like ice cream,” she sang, matching the cadence of one of his hooks. “I gotta know. Was it good?”

I took a deep breath, debating what I wanted to do. One more sip of that drink was honestly going to be the difference in a regular hangover and one from hell for me, I could just tell .

But did I really want to stir that shit up again?

I put the glass to my lips, ready to just suffer the next day, then…changed my mind.

“Yes,” I answered simply.

No elaboration.

Arnez and Arizona both screamed.

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it,” Arizona shrieked happily—tipsy as hell too. “Okay, let me calm down, so I can ask Alec his last question. Okay. Whew . Okay, I’m calm.”

“Are you?” Arnez questioned, laughing, and she nodded.

“I am. I’m good,” she assured. “Okay. Alec…you already said you’d bust down Miss Get Down on Your Knees and Pledge Allegiance to this Pussy, which…who could blame you, look at her,” she said. “But what I wanna know is…with your chance, and of course, her consent…what would be the first thing you’d do to Vanity?”

I made the mistake of looking at him while the question was asked—when he shifted his gaze to me, as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t look away.

To somewhere neutral.

Nope.

I was fully entranced as he ran a tongue over his lips, eyes brimming with lust as he unquestionably undressed me with his gaze, and then…smirked.

And took a drink.

“Oh shit, that means it’s too nasty for TV!” Arnez bellowed, sending a fresh wave of laughter over everybody.

This time, when my face got hot, I knew it wasn’t because of studio lights.

Alec Everett had made me blush .