Real As It Gets (17 page)

1.
From the start, Maya makes it clear that she doesn't cover stories this “real.” Do you think she should've stuck to her usual gossip, or was it truly a situation where “her voice” was needed?

2.
Maya is dead set against Travis and Sheridan getting together. Why do you think she was so against it? Whose side should she have taken when the two of them fell out?

3.
Maya was always giving Sheridan a hard time, but she was in the dark about Sammy. Do you think she let things slide? What were some of the things that should've made her ask more questions?

4.
Why do you think Sheridan was so blinded when it came to Travis?

5.
Maya never wanted to get caught up in the drug scene. Why do you think she was so determined to “just say no”?

6.
Sheridan told Maya, “You're supposed to be my girl. How could you not have told me about Angel?” However, when Maya first tried to tell her, Sheridan wouldn't listen. Should Maya have tried harder to come clean? Why or why not?

7.
Should Tamara and Dexter have stopped Maya from going undercover? Do you think they had some responsibility as her employers to make sure she didn't do anything dangerous?

8.
Margarita seemed to love her lifestyle with Nico. Why do you think she was the one who ultimately decided to turn him in?

9.
Sammy took the blame for everything, letting Travis off free and clear. Why do you think he did that?

10.
In the end, Travis almost came clean with his uncle, but Maya convinced him not to do it, saying everyone deserves a fresh start. Do you agree? Should Travis still have told his uncle about his involvement? Why or why not?

I
couldn't stop smiling as I watched the commercial with white sandy beaches, crisp blue water, and hot-bodied people walking up and down the beach. In just a few days, that would be me. Of course, I would be a lot cuter than that busted-looking chick in this commercial.
Oh yeah, it was about to be on!

“Stand by,” my director, Manny, said, snapping me out of my daze.

I turned back to the camera to get my shine on (not that it ever left), but I got into serious focus mode when the camera turned on. As the popular host of the hottest celebrity gossip show—not just in Miami, but in the country—I always had to bring my A game.

“And we're back in five, four, three, two ...” Manny pointed to me as the
Rumor Central
theme music came up.

“What's up, everybody?” I began. “It's your girl, Maya Morgan, and we hope you've enjoyed today's edition of
Rumor Central.
You'd better believe that we're all over this latest story about Usher, and you'll want to make sure you keep it locked here to get the latest scoop. But you'll have to tune in two weeks from now because your girl is out! That's right, I'm heading to Cancún, Mexico, for a little fun in the sun, rest, and relaxation, and an all-around great time at the world famous Spring Break Fling!”

This weeklong event had been going on for a few years, but in the past couple of years, celebs started going and that took things to a whole other level. Granted, I was going with my senior class, but I wasn't about to tell my viewers that. I didn't need the world to see I was getting excited about a high school thing. But make no mistake, I was excited.

Manny gave me the cue to wrap, so I said, “Yours truly will be all up in the mix, so enjoy the break. I know I will. Until next time, holla at your girl.”

The theme music came up again as the credits started rolling. I couldn't get my earpiece out of my ear fast enough.

“Bye, Manny,” I called out, not bothering to wait for a reply. I was so ready for a vacation. Since I'd started as host of
Rumor Central,
I had become a workaholic, which wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't seventeen and in the prime of my teen years. But hey, you couldn't be on top—and stay on top like me—by being a slacker. As Diddy says, “I'll sleep when I die.” So, I wasn't making plans to sleep in Cancún, but I
was
going to kick it. Even though my girl Kennedi didn't go to school with us in Miami (she lived in Orlando), I'd managed to finagle her on to this trip. (Hey, when you were a rich chick like me, you made your own rules).

Anyway, between Kennedi and my other BFF, Sheridan, this was going to be nothing but fun.

“Looks like somebody is ready to go,” my executive producer, Tamara, said, approaching me as I speed-walked down the hall back to my office.

“Well, that's the understatement of the year. I am so ready to get out of here,” I replied, stopping to face her.

Dexter, the show producer, stood next to her smiling mischievously. Dexter was Tamara's partner in crime and ever since they had canceled the reality show,
Miami Divas
, which I starred in with four other people, and given me my own show, they were always conspiring with one another.

“Uh oh,” I said, my gaze darting back and forth between the two of them. Whenever Dexter got that look in his eyes, something was up. It meant his mind was churning.

I glanced at my watch. I had fifteen minutes before I was off. So I didn't need his mind to be churning with anything concerning me.

I decided I wasn't even going to ask question. “Umm, okay then, I'll see you guys in two weeks,” I said, trying to step around them.

“Hold on,” Tamara said, following me. “We're going to walk with you to your office.”

I looked back and forth between the two of them. “I'm off in fifteen minutes.”

“This will only take ten,” Dexter said, giddy like he was hiding some big secret.

“Okay, what's up?” I said. I walked in my office and started gathering my things. I would listen, but I didn't want to stop and make them think I was giving them too much of my time.

“Well,” Tamara said as she exchanged glances with Dexter. “We know you're about to head to Cancún with your friends and Dexter and I were talking ...“

Dexter was so excited that he couldn't even let her finish. “And we think now would be the perfect time to take the show on the road.”

“Excuse me?” I said, finally stopping and giving them my undivided attention.

“Think about it,” he said. “Maya Morgan in Cancún with young celebrities from all over the country? Oh, that's some good juicy material waiting to happen,” Dexter said.

I couldn't believe they were going there—again. When I'd first started the show, it was bad enough that I had to turn my back on my
Miami Divas
co-stars. My BFF, Sheridan, had since gotten over it. But the others—Shay Turner, Bali Fernandez, and Evian Javid—were still salty about it. So, I felt bad about that (for a brief minute anyway), but then I'd had to sell out my friends for ratings and that had created major drama. Now here they were, asking me to do it again.

Tamara must've been able to tell where my thoughts were headed because she said, “You talked about wanting to go international. This is the perfect opportunity.”

“This is supposed to be my vacation!” I protested.

“Sweetie, do you think Beyoncé takes a vacation?” Dexter said.

“Ummm, as a matter of fact she does,” I replied.

“No, trust and believe, I assure you she's still working even while she's on vacation,” Dexter said.

“We're not trying to take away from your fun. We're just saying now would be a perfect time to have a camera crew go on the road,” Tamara interjected.

I shook my head. I was so not feeling this idea. “I just want to relax and have a good time.”

“And you can,” Tamara said. “If we send a camera crew, we're footing the bill.”

I looked at them sarcastically like
that
was supposed to be enticing to me. I could foot my own bill. As a matter of fact, this trip had already been paid for.

“Everything's already taken care of,” I said.

“So, you have the penthouse suite at The Intercontinental Presidente?” Tamara asked matter-of-factly.

“How do you know where we're staying?”

“Honey, we know everything,” Dexter said, folding his arms and flashing a sly smile.

“Well, no, I don't have the penthouse suite. We tried to get it, but they told us it was unavailable.”

Both Tamara and Dexter smiled. “It's unavailable for normal people. Not for a network like WSVV,” Tamara said.

“So picture yourself in the penthouse,” Dexter added. “I mean, you're already the ‘It' chick and I'm sure you have a very nice room, but we've booked the whole top floor of The Intercontinental Presidente. The penthouse suite just for Maya Morgan.”

That made me raise an eyebrow.

“We'll make sure you have a driver, unlimited food and drink—non-alcoholic of course—everything at your disposal. We know you can do all of this yourself, but why bother? Let us do it for you,” Tamara said.

I narrowed my eyes. “And all I have to do is agree to let you film the trip?”

“That's it,” Dexter said with a smile. “Let us film it and
Rumor Central
gets the scoop.”

“And we'll even give you your free time,” Tamara added. “Just get us enough for a few stories and the rest of the time is yours.”

I wasn't feeling this idea because I really was looking forward to just relaxing, but images of the penthouse suite, a driver at my disposal, and an all-around good time on someone else's dime, made me say, “Fine, I'm in.”