already a huge star, and her name is in the news if she so much as sneezes.
Just to be a bitch? While that idea has some merit, it still doesn’t add up. Why would Eve ever want to risk her reputation if someone found out? Which begs the question, why the fuck did she hire me? She has to know I’m going to eventually put two-and-two together.
Finn’s angry words to Layla this morning scream at me. “He’s a drunk with a shady past that you know nothing about.”
He's done his homework. Of course he has. I guess I expected that, considering I was hired to be in the same company of the biggest singing star in the world. They would have to know everything about me to let me within six miles of her. And it’s not too hard to Google my name and see it connected to the shooting and plenty of drunken bar fights over the past year.
The security guards unlock the door, and I inch my way closer to Layla’s table as hordes of fans come into the lobby screaming and making a beeline for her table, attempting to get in some sort of line without killing each other.
Obviously, I don’t have the best reputation around town. I’ve done what I can to clean up my act, but stories and rumors still follow you around no matter what you do. Out of all of the private investigators in this town, let alone the whole world, why in the hell would they hire me? I know for a fact I am damn good at my job, and I don’t stop until I get to the bottom of something, but they don’t know that. Going by what you read online, and depending on who you ask, I’m still a drunk with anger management problems that likes to pick fights and leave my brothers in the Navy high and dry because I only care about where I’m going to be drinking another bottle of Jack or what stripper is going to be riding my cock next. I know all of that is a thing of my past now that I have Gwen and Emma in my life, but Eve wouldn’t know that.
Why would she ever hire someone as shady as me unless she only did it for show? Maybe there really was an initial threat to Layla, and she couldn’t just ignore it or she'd look like an uncaring bitch. She probably thinks that by hiring me, I'll be completely oblivious to what's happening, and she can get away with doing whatever the hell she wants, including keeping up the stalker farce. Hell, maybe she orchestrated this whole thing with the letters and the attack. Is she really low enough to throw a brick through her own daughter’s bedroom window though?
I think back to the way Eve berated Layla during her sound check and how she cared more about a photo shoot than her own daughter’s well-being, and I know I already have my answer.
I watch with a careful eye as fan after fan steps up to Layla’s table. I see a small hint of a spark in her eyes that I’ve only seen a few times, and it’s an amazing thing to witness. She is gracious and friendly to each and every person in line, and she talks to them like they’re old friends. She makes eye contact, happily agrees to take as many pictures as the person likes, and signs whatever they hand her without hesitating. She asks them about babies and family members and shares smiles and hugs with each and every one of them.
As I stare in awe at the public figure side of Layla Carlysle, I realize that I’m witnessing something I haven’t seen much of the past few weeks: happy Layla. She is genuinely enjoying herself and her fans, and she's grateful to each and every one of them for coming out and supporting her. She doesn’t care if she’s going to be here for hours; she will spend the same amount of time and give the same amount of attention to each and every person.
The fans adore her. Of course they do. She isn’t fake with them. She isn’t a diva that never makes eye contact or barely says two words to them before scribbling her name on a CD or poster and shoving it back in their hands. She’s real and she’s vivacious, and I suddenly want more than anything to make