"Hi, Gee." The man who owns the stand is of Venezuelan descent and I can't pronounce his name so like most people I call him Gee.
"Wanda my friend, what can I get for you today?"
"Just these two thanks." I pick up a fitness magazine and Celebrity Goss then hand him some money.
"Only one copy?" he asks when he sees Celebrity Goss tucked under my arm.
"Yes, I can only read one you know."
"Just thought you might want a few extra copies to send home to your family."
I look curiously at him before checking out the front cover and sink as I see my own, none too flattering, face looking back at me. The main cover shot above the photo of me is Ethan Caldwell with the headline 'Hollywood's New Star - Bad Boy or Coward?'
I release the breath I've been holding and steady myself before searching the pages. I come to the piece about me first. 'Tiger Training—What You Need to Know' There is a picture of me from the gym and two small insert photos of Madeline Harvey and Ethan. It begins by telling the readers about my lack of experience but to my surprise there is also an interview with Patsy. It reads: 'Wanda Mikos is a natural talent and being newly qualified may mean less experience but also means she has been trained with the most up-to-date science and information in the world of fitness. As you know, people in LA love to be first with the latest trends and our Hollywood royalty want to be trained by someone who has current information on the latest training research. We are lucky to have such an amazing trainer as part of our team.'
I find myself grinning at the page and can't believe poor Patsy has managed to deal with yet another of my situations.
Unfortunately, the high corners of my mouth drop as I continue to read. The article goes on to say : although Wanda has earned a degree in Sports Science, her former boss, Karen Lester, has reservations when it comes to any form of training that has taken less than three months to invent. 'Most new training methods have been borne of many hours of studying various other styles of activity and must then be carefully analysed over a few more months to assess its viability and whether it presents any danger or risk of injury to the participants'.
I must point out at this juncture dear readers, the fact that there has already been at least one casualty of Tiger Training—Jessie Rayburn. This certainly begs the question, Is it negligent on the part of Move Makers and Miss Mikos to let this tiger loose before it has been fully trained?
I can't believe that bitch is out to ruin me. And what the hell was that crap Karen came out with? I bet she loved every second of it. Probably licking milk off her catty whiskers about now. Bitch!
I snap the magazine shut and stand staring at the ground for a moment.
"You look pale Wanda, you need to sit?" Gee gives a man his change and offers me a chair.
"No, I'm fine thank you. I need to get back. See you later."
Gee waves a hand whilst serving another customer and I get back on my bike to leave. I'll read the piece on Ethan after a strong coffee.
Once back in my apartment I dump my rucksack onto the sofa and make myself a coffee before pulling Celebrity Goss magazine out of my bag. I begin frantically swiping the pages until I find the article on Ethan. There are a couple of recent pictures and an insert of Ethan when he was younger with two other boys; one I recognise as Jimmy. The picture of Ethan has been circled in red. I read whilst holding my hand over my heart to make sure it stays in my chest. The whole piece is about the robbery as told by a reliable source. The article starts with Ethan's change of face—I fleetingly wonder if his wonky nose was deliberate—real name, Nicolas Gilcrest, and what happened on the day of the robbery. The 'reliable source' also mentions how Ethan ran away to leave his friends to take the fall.
Ethan said he would call me today so I take my phone out and check the screen.. As I rehearse what I'm going to say, my phone rings; it's Ethan.
I'm not sure whether to answer the phone or not. Ethan is either calling to talk and tell me he wants to kiss me again or, more likely, his publicist has called to tell him about the article in Celebrity Goss. It occurs to me at this point I should have checked the newsstand for any other magazines, which may have similar stories. They may not have the one about Ethan because I think ABS got the scoop on that but there could be another one on me and Tiger Training. I decide to answer the phone.
"Hi Ethan, how are you?"
"Hello Wanda. Have you seen Celebrity Goss?"
Oh poo, he's seen it and he sounds pissed. "No why?"
"Because the story I told you in confidence is now spread over two pages and the front cover of Alison's gossip magazine. Did you tell her anything?"
"No I did not!"
"Well did you tell anyone else?"
I touch a cool hand to my burning cheek. "No of course not."
"So you didn't tell Rolo?"
Crap, I can lie like the best of us but it's much harder when someone asks you a direct question. "Well I did ... I mean he asked ... I mean he already ..."
"So you told him and God knows who else he told!"
I shiver as a frost rushes through me. "No I'm sure he wouldn't ..."
"He could have told Izzy and she thought she would make some money."
"You're wrong, I don't think she would do anything like that."
"And by the way, were you ever going to tell me you have only been a trainer for a few months?"
"Nope."
"Well at least you're honest about that."
"Look, how do you know it wasn't Jimmy who ratted you out to Alison?"
"Because he was at my house last night. That was why I had to leave."
"Oh my God he's in LA?"
"Aye and he wanted to be 'friends' as he put it."
"So he didn't blackmail you?"
"Oh he did. He just did ney put it in so many words. Said he needed a loan and he would pay me back. Said he wouldn't breathe a word to anyone about the robbery."
"So you believe him but not me?"
"I gave him ten grand to keep quiet and you told Rolo so who do you think I should believe?"
"So what does Louis say you should do?"
"Says I need to agree to an interview and clear the air before the movie launch."
"Probably best."
"Anyway I have to go; Louis is at the door."
"Okay but can I just say I'm so sorry Ethan and if you let me explain about Rolo—"
"No need. What's done is done. I'll be in touch next week re training."
Ethan hangs up before I can say anything else. I'm assuming he is not planning on kissing me again any time soon.