Lauren Conrad - The Fame Game

“Tell me it wasn’t another Playboy request,” Philip half hollered. “I’ll kill Hef with my bare hands if they ask you to be naked in that magazine one more time.”

Carmen flushed. “Ick!” she said. “No, the offer from PopTV.”

“You mean PopTV Films,” Philip said.

Carmen’s stomach fluttered. Had he really forgotten the conversation they had had about it just last week? Or was he trying to pretend that it hadn’t happened? “No, Daddy,” she said. “PopTV. You know, Trevor Lord’s new show?”

Philip’s brows furrowed gently. “Trevor Lord? Why does that name sound familiar?” he asked.

“He produced L.A. Candy,” Carmen told him. (For the second time.)

“The reality show?” He said “reality show” as if they were dirty words. Kind of like Drew had when she’d first told him.

Carmen glanced through the spray of lilies at Drew. His green eyes were full of sympathy already. He just wanted what was best for her. (And sometimes Carmen couldn’t help but wonder if he simply wanted her. There had been a few moments in the last month or so—some extra-long hugs, a bit of hand holding, and one awkward, sweet kiss . . . But now wasn’t the time to think about that.) She smiled at Drew and looked back at her father.

Before Carm could respond to him, though, Philip’s cell phone buzzed and he slipped it from his pocket. He glanced at the screen and looked apologetically at Cassandra. “I have to take this.”

“The music business is twenty-four/seven.” Cassandra rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and smiled.

“Well,” Carmen said when her dad had left the room, “so far so good.”

“You think?” her mother replied.

“I was being sarcastic.”

“Give him a chance,” Cassandra said gently. “Believe it or not, he does trust you.”

Drew reached out and moved the flowers to the antique credenza behind him. “There,” he said, “now I can see the future star of The Fame Game.”

“Seriously, you guys,” Carmen said. “You have to help me out on this one. Be, like, supportive.” Help me show the world I’m not Little CC anymore, she thought but didn’t say.

In a moment, Philip returned to the table. As he tucked his phone back into his pocket, Cassandra shot him a pointed look.

Philip smiled at his only daughter. “Carm? You were saying something about PopTV?”

Carmen took a deep breath and began. Again. “Trevor Lord is doing a show about people trying to make it in Hollywood. He said he needed a talented actress, and that I was his first and only choice. He said the network probably wouldn’t even pick up the show unless I agreed to do it.” She’d felt a rush of pride when her new manager (her dad made her get a manager after she got cast in The Long and Winding Road) told her that part. She knew it probably wasn’t true; she’d seen her father stretch the truth before, hadn’t she? That’s just how it went in Hollywood. You told people what they needed to hear so they’d do what you wanted them to do. “Daddy, I said I’d take the part and I really want you to be happy for me.”

“But why on earth do you want to do a reality show?” Philip looked genuinely perplexed. He exchanged another unreadable glance with Cassandra. “Those girls have no values. No talent! You’re not like them. You’re an actress.”

“I told you,” she said, feeling herself getting upset, “it’s not like that.” She hated when her father used his I’m disappointed in you tone. “It’s about people trying to become successful doing what they love. It’s a good opportunity.” Carmen twisted her watch around her wrist.

“For what? To go to clubs and get in fistfights?”

“That’s Jersey Shore,” Drew clarified helpfully. “This will be more like catfights—open-handed combat, drinks thrown. . . . It’s completely different.”

Carmen kicked him again. “Not helping!” She turned to her dad. “There aren’t going to be any fistfights or catfights. It’s going to be about the business and how hard it is to make it—in my case, even when your parents are, y’know, you guys.”

“Famous,” Drew added, as if that were necessary. Carmen contemplated kicking him again but decided against it. It didn’t seem to make a difference.

“Are ‘us guys’ going to have to be on this show?” her dad asked. “A Very Special Meet the Curtises episode?” He was joking, but Carmen could tell he wasn’t into the idea at all.

“If they need that, they can just splice in scenes from the brilliant, amazing Cassandra’s Back documentary,” her mom offered teasingly. (Every time she mentioned the title, she shrugged and turned her head over one shoulder, mimicking what she had decided was the hilarious poster for it, what with its nod to the title’s double entendre.)

Philip took a sip of wine and sighed. “Carm, I’m not going to forbid you to do what you want. I just want you to be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Eyes wide open, right?”

Carmen nodded. “Eyes wide open.”

Her dad looked at her—really looked at her—and Carmen, who could usually tell when her dad was about to soften, couldn’t read his expression. “Okay,” he said finally. “Well, I guess that’s settled then.”

Carmen let out a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. She faced forward again and found Drew staring at her, his eyes . . . wide open.

“Shut up,” she said, and kicked him once more.

“Ouch! You were supposed to save the violence for dessert, remember?”

Cassandra laughed. “Next time,” she said, “on a Very Special Episode of Meet the Curtises: Violent dinners. Savage Salmon. Brutal Broccoli. And—”

“Killer Cake!” Philip yelled. He grinned boyishly. “Chocolate, perhaps?”

“We’re not having cake, Tubs,” Cassandra said fondly, using the nickname he loved and hated in equal measure. After all, Philip Curtis wasn’t at all fat; he just had a little . . . girth.

“Nice try, Mr. Curtis,” Drew said.

“Sadistic Sorbet?” he asked hopefully.

And then everyone cracked up. Carmen breathed a sigh of relief—the worst was over now. But she really, really hoped that Trevor Lord wouldn’t angle for a Curtis family episode. They were just way too weird.

Chapter 4 - Hardly Star Treatment Chapter 5 - Your Rock ’n’ Roll Side Chapter 6 - Making Nice Chapter 7 - Basically a Native Chapter 8 - Struggle. Drama. Meltdowns. Chapter 9 - People Like Us Do Not Wait in Lines Chapter 10 - More Than Just a Story arc Chapter 11 - All Grown Up Chapter 12 - Carmen Cupid Curtis Chapter 13 - A Little Old for Stuffed Animals Chapter 14 - The Best Idea You Ever Had Chapter 15 - That Was Awkward Chapter 16 - Walk with Me Chapter 17 - The TV-Ready Next Big Thing Chapter 18 - Sparks Chapter 19 - Think Beautiful Thoughts Chapter 20 - Secret Lovers Chapter 21 - Little Miss Hollywood Chapter 22 - Bad Romance Chapter 23 - Keep Tabs on Your Costars Chapter 24 - Talk About The End of Love Chapter 25 - Everyone Wants to Be Famous Chapter 26 - The Good Ol’ Days Chapter 27 - Good Times, Good Times Chapter 28 - Part of a Larger Plan Chapter 29 - Lucky Girl Chapter 30 - How This Hollywood Stuff Works Chapter 31 - The Best of Friends Chapter 32 - The Birth of a Star Chapter 33 - Empty Chapter 34 - So Damn Catchy Chapter 35 - Nobody Loses Acknowledgments Books by Lauren Conrad Copyright About the Publisher Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.