Page 52 of Sway

“No, gracias.” Shit. Hey, that’s a good idea. “I mean cbacibo nyet. Ah, privet. Eta Olga—Genya’s sister,” I say in my best fake Russian accent. Not for nothin’ I’ve been hanging out with Russians my whole life. “I was wondering if there is back entrance to hotel?”

“Of course. I will send the bellman up to escort you.”

Like hell you will. “Nyet. I don’t want to bother you. Could you tell me donde damn, uhm gde?” I’m pretty impressed with myself. The front desk guy is totally buying this.

“Sure. You can take the staff elevator to the parking level and go out of the service entrance. Are you sure we can’t escort you?” Why is this guy hounding me? He must be one of Perez’s spies.

“Oh. I don’t want to be problem. Sbacibo bolshoy.” I try to throw in couple more Russian words for effect.

“You’re welcome. Please call us if we can be of any more assistance.”

I gather my dance bag and can’t help placing my face on Genya’s pillow. It still smells like him. Then I text my driver to meet me in the service garage, and I head for the door, taking one last glance in the mirror. Oh, good Lord—I still have the towel wrapped around my hair! I reach up to take it off but stop myself—I look like a babushka just in case anyone sees me. The towel stays.

I poke my head out of the room and look down both sides of the hallway. Coast is clear! The Mission Impossible theme song plays in my head as I slink through the door. Super quick, I run to the staff elevator and press the button. A maid is heading my way. Hurry up, elevator . . . Luckily it comes up fast and I hop in, pressing P. Safe.

But my celebration is short. When I get to the garage, my driver isn’t in sight. I text him again, hoping the voices I hear around the side of the building aren’t the paps. But of course they are. Driver, where are you? The cameras start going off as my limo cruises down the parking ramp. I run to the car while it’s still moving and pound on the door for the driver to unlock it.

“Damn girl, you trying to get yourself killed?” he asks.

“That would be one solution.” I scramble into limo and reach for the Jack Daniels bottle. It’s only ten a.m., but I need it. “Sorry about all that. Just take me to the studio. Fast. And try to lose those guys on our tail.”

“Aye, aye, boss!” He squeals the tires bustin’ outta there, yahoo-ing for good measure. I leave the glass in the rack and just chug from the bottle.

Oh Lord. What am I going to say to poor Iza? I didn’t want her to find out about us yet. She never did anything to me. And she’s been a mess since Genya dumped her.

I get another text. It’s from my sister Ruby asking if I’m back with Genya. Oh lord. I hope she hasn’t told my parents yet. They want me to date someone with a respectable career like Ruby’s businessman husband.

The driver turns on the street at the studio. Dammit. There are more paps at the studio. I almost tell him to take off again, but I don’t know if I could survive another mile with this Mario Andretti-wannabe. Breathe, Sal. You can do this . . . I put on my oversize Chanel sunglasses and open the limo door before the driver can get there.

Immediately a TMZ reporter shoves a camera in my face. “Salomé, are you having an affair with your best friend’s fiancé?”

Best friend? Iza has never even been my friend let alone my best friend. Where do they get this stuff?

I push past him to the steps. A hundred feet more and I’ll be safe.

A Star writer blocks the entrance. “Salomé, Salomé, is it true that Izabella walked in on you and Genya having sex backstage on the show?” Are you kidding me? “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Fuck you! That’s what I have to say. “Uhm. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Genya and I are just friends and we’ve known each other for over fifteen years. Please leave me alone.”

It takes all my strength to plow through the front door. The girls are sitting on the couch in the lobby, in matching blue and white dance shorts and halter-tops, like a trashy version of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Nicole has her arms draped around a bawling Iza. Jenny and Diana are also sitting close, trying to comfort Iza. Strangely, Vika has removed herself from the drama and is at the other end of the couch.

Jenny hustles over to me. “Did you get our texts? Stupid tabloids.” She puts her arm over my shoulder and ushers me away from the paps in the window. “Don’t worry, Salomé, it’ll all blow over. I told everyone it’s not true.” She winks at me. Jenny always has my back. “Perez just has an overactive imagination.”

Time to come clean. I don’t want Jenny to have to lie for me. “Iza, I . . .” I still have my sunglasses on. I can’t face Iza. “I . . .” Oh, God, she can see right through me. I can’t lie to her face. “I . . . I’m sorry but it’s true.”

Iza lets out a yelp. Jenny steps from my side and faces me.

“Genya told me that you and him weren’t doing nothing,” Iza says, getting up from the couch and walking straight at me. “He said he was breaking up from me because of Playbunny. That was all lies?” When I don’t answer right off, she rips my sunglasses off my face, setting off a barrage of camera flashes outside the window. “Look at me in the eyes. Was it all lies?”

I stand there with no clue what to say . . . so I don’t.

She flings my glasses at my hands. “Fuck you, Salomé.”

“I’m so sorry!” I burst into tears worse than Iza’s.

“I love how you’ve been a friend with me lately. Comforting me because I am so upset about Genya. I thought you were cool.” She stabbed her finger at the paps smooshing their faces against the window to see us. “I actually defended you to the sleazy reporters. Thanks for making me liar, friend.” She straightens up and sets her jaw. “You’re so stupid, Salomé. Genya just wants you back so he can break your heart like you broke his. His mama blames me for losing so he thinks he can compete with you so his mama will stop nagging him. You should have heard all the things he used to say on you when we were together. Fat. Stupid. Ugly.” Every word is like a rock to my head. “Do you hear me, you . . . you . . . you and that stupid towel on your head!” She starts sobbing again.

I watch her balling, and I feel even more awful. I never wanted this to happen. Nicole gets up and gives Iza a hug. Jenny sneaks out of the lobby, motioning Diana to escape with her. But Diana stays put on the sofa with Vika at the other end, both seemingly hypnotized by the drama.