Page 132 of No Headlines Please

Sloane Hayworth?

Her, I knew – and not only because her family was famous. Over the years, Mom had only mentioned Sloane and her mother like a million times – and never in a good way.

The reporter's eyes gleamed as she added in a more ominous tone, "But given their explosive history, some people are already assuming the worst."

My jaw dropped. The worst?

As in what?

He'd killed her?

I didn't believe it.

Heck, I didn't believe any of this. And forget Sloane Hayworth.

What I'd just learned about Maddox remained firmly on center stage. Trying to process it, I murmured, "Maddox McGuiness? Real estate mogul?" I stared at the screen until it went to a commercial for life insurance.

I looked back to Walt. "How much did I miss?"

He snorted. "A lot. I told you to hurry."

I was still reeling. Honestly, I would've been less surprised by the moose.

Walt picked up the remote and lowered the volume before turning back to say, "Huh. I wonder why he was going by Cal."

I was wondering a lot more than that. "So you didn't recognize him?"

"On the TV?" Walt gave me a funny look. "Yeah, I recognized him. It was the guy flashing your picture – the same guy you dumped dirt on." He stared like I was missing the point. "Why do you think I called you over?"

I sighed. "I meant back in Chicago. You seriously didn't know who he was? The way they were talking, he's a pretty big deal."

Walt shook his head. "I thought he was a guy named Cal." He perked up. "But everyone knows Sloane." His expression grew thoughtful. "Wasn't her dad almost vice-president?"

"Yup." He sure was. Of course, that key word – almost – had made Mom smile when the results were tallied, even though it was her own political party that had lost.

I looked back to Walt's TV, which was now showing a commercial for heavy-duty work trucks. But in my mind, I could still see the image of Maddox surrounded by reporters. The whole thing was beyond surreal.

I returned my attention to Walt. "Never mind Sloane. How could you not know him? You live right there in Chicago."

"Forget Chicago," Walt scoffed. "Apparently, the guy's famous everywhere." He pointed at me with the remote. "How come you didn't know him? He's a lot closer to your age than mine."

"But what does that have to do with anything?"

"I dunno…don't you have Twatter or something?"

I blinked. "Wait…you mean Twitter, right?"

"Twitter, Twatter, it's all the same to me."

It didn't even matter. The name had changed to X, anyway. But Walt did have a point. I should've known.

That's what I got for living under a rock.

No doubt, Tessa would've known Maddox right away.

Unlike me, she always knew the names and faces of important people.

And Maddox was definitely important.