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Again, that was prior to them seeing Lily in action. Who eventually ducked into the privacy tent where she’d been made up, likely to do last-minute touch-ups before the taping began.
“Here’s your chance, Bay,” Scarlet urged her forward. “You know what to do.”
Bayli drew in several deep breaths, then rounded the back of the cantina and headed toward the tent. She slipped through the opening, the material silently falling back into place, not disturbing the other woman.
Bayli quietly crept up on the vanity with a large mirror attached to it where Lily sat, dabbing red lipstick on her already perfectly painted mouth. Her signature scent filled the moderate space. It had once been a pleasant aroma to Bayli. Now it made her stomach roil.
Lily started when she caught sight of Bayli in the reflection and let out a small shriek.
“Good Lord, Bayli!” She pressed a hand to her chest. “You nearly scared the life out of me.”
Serves you right.
But Bayli kept that thought to herself.
Instead, she said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just came to say thanks for warming up the crowd and for helping out today.”
“Sure, sure. It’s no problem at all. I’m happy to do what I can. But … why are you here?” Lily capped the tube of lipstick and stood. “Shouldn’t you be in bed? Rory said you fell asleep on the sundeck at the house and suffered heatstroke. That must have been so awful.”
“Yes, it was pretty terrifying.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay. And you look fantastic.”
The stylists had secretly returned to the house to primp Bayli after they’d worked on Lily. She wore a sleeveless turquoise dress that had a bejeweled neckline and a low blouson waist that complemented the tight skirt and short hem. Her raven hair was sleek and angled at her collarbone, the strands currently defying the heat and humidity with the mass quantity of products used to keep any frizzing at bay.
Lily took her in from head to toe and said, “Wait. Why are you all done up? I’ve got everything under control here. You should be back at the house resting.”
“Luckily, I’ve made a full recovery. So thank you very much for agreeing to stand in if need be—that is so far above and beyond the call of duty, Lily. I know you have other responsibilities to—”
“‘If need be’?” Her brow crooked.
Bayli smiled as congenially as possible. “Yes, in the event I couldn’t make it today. You’re a wonderful understudy, really.”
“Understudy?” A hollow laugh fell from Lily’s lips. “Rory all but begged me to fill in today. He wants me as his hostess, Bayli. I’m so sorry, but—”
“Actually, he doesn’t,” Bayli said, starting her full-court press the way Scarlet had coached her earlier. “You were a last resort so that we didn’t have to cancel the taping again. Nothing to worry about there, because I’m feeling much better and completely prepared to do my job.”
“No, Bayli.” Lily’s tone held a distinct edge and her manicured fingers curled into her palms at her sides. “I’m the one who’s prepared to do her job. I’m the one who primed the crowd. I memorized all your notes. I’m dressed and ready for this, and … Rory chose me.”
“That’s because he wasn’t sure I’d be all right after you locked me out of my suite and left me to fry on the
balcony. I didn’t fall asleep by the way.”
Lily’s laugh was a sharper one this time. “I locked you out? That’s absurd!”
“So is trying to convince me that Rory would pick you over me to work with him.”
“You can’t honestly think that I’m just going to walk away from this opportunity?” Lily’s voice dropped an octave. “Not a chance in hell. After all I’ve done for the company, and for Christian, I deserved the chance to audition for this show. I earned the right. And just because he fell for your legs or your sugary sweetness doesn’t mean shit. This is my turn to prove what I’m capable of, to be in the spotlight. Nobody’s going to take that away from me.”
A chill ran through Bayli at Lily’s icy gaze and menacing tone.
Yet Bayli managed to say, “You’ve decided to usurp the lead performer, but I’m on to you, Lily. You’ve lost the element of surprise and—”
“If you think spiders and heatstroke are bad, trust me when I tell you I can come up with far worse, far scarier than that.”
“So it was you.”
“Yes, it was me!” she erupted. “I warned you to stay away! I even told you and Christian that it was dangerous to keep you involved with the taping when you were under fire. Did anyone listen to me, heed my warnings? No. But I can assure you, Miss Styles, that if you don’t back out of the show I will make your life a living hell. And if you breathe one word of this to Rory or Christian you’ll be checking under your bedcovers and inside your shoes every night and day in fear of what I might have waiting for you. Let’s not forget … accidents do happen.”
