Chapter 1
I silently stand back in the crowd, blending in, and watch the wonderful starlets make their way down the Red Carpet. In my line of work we're taught that you never get too attached to your assignment; the assignment meaning whomever it is at the moment that we're putting under the microscope, metaphorically speaking. One looking in from the outside would just assume that I was another obsessed fan or worse, a member of the paparazzi, neither of which are true. No, I in fact am whoever you want me to be. I can be your dream come true or worst enemy; however, the sad truth of the matter is that I am never allowed to be myself. I get paid to be someone else in order to find the shocking truth about another person that I would not ordinarily find out. My profession is deception, or as those of the less cynical nature refer to it, a Private Investigator.
I can see in the distance her curly blonde tresses bobbing back and forth coming closer into view of my camera lens. The black material is clinging to her body in just the right places and leaving much to the imagination. She stops to have a word with several annoyingly nosy reporters on her way down the carpet. The men and women are mesmerized by her seeming perfection. The reporters seem to be taken away by her eloquence and grace with every word she speaks. On any ordinary day I probably would never admit this but even I am captivated by her appeal. She strides down the red carpet as if she owns it.
"Paige Michalchuk, is it true that you have beaten Manny Santos out of at least three categories this evening?" a brunette from OK! Magazine asks.
The woman can not be over 24 years old. In fact I can almost guarantee her passion in writing is not really the celebrities, but is sadly aware that political affairs will never bring the big dollars in. She could at least have the decency to not call her Paige, whether that is in fact her name or not. Ms. Michalchuk is the talent and therefore you treat her as so. You do not treat her as if she is the girl next door or your best friend from high school.
"Yes, that is correct, but I would not say that I have beaten Ms. Santos out of anything. Manny is a phenomenal actress. I would just say that luck has been on my side."
"What is that like for you Paige?" Okay, for the love of God could you be a bit more professional?
"Excuse me? What is what like, ma'am?"
"You and Manny Santos were best friends in high school. Is that correct?"
"I am sorry. I do not like answering questions about my personal life." She steps further down the carpet.
One would have thought that the young woman would have taken heed in Ms. Michalchuk's words, but I guess she failed to receive the memo that the blonde meant what she said. She continued to yell out obscene questions but the blonde woman disengaged in anything that she had to say.
"Ms. Michalchuk, what is that you're wearing today?" A young woman with Auburn hair asked.
This young woman appeared to be the kind of girl who in high school was top of her class in both academics and popularity. She probably knew what the latest style or fashion trends were and critiqued anyone who did not follow under wing accordingly.
"It is actually something that a friend of mine made. You may have heard of him: Marco Delrossi."
I hear quite of people begin to whisper to one another in desperation. The mention of Mr. Delrossi's name has definitely hit a nerve with the crowd. There has been a slight rumor in the tabs that Ms. Michalchuk and Mr. Delrossi have been quite the lovely pair for over a year, but neither has confirmed it. I personally think that there is a something more than meets the eye. The two of them appear to compensating for something and I, Alex Nunez, have two months to find out exactly what that is.