Page 1 of Beneath the Fame

ChapterOne

VANESSA

“Hey friendssss!Welcome back to In The Zone with Arizona and Arnez?—”

“I love how you just switched up our whole title to put your name first.”

“My name should’vebeenfirst, aesthetically and alphabetically.”

“Okay, but it wasn’t, because it doesn’t roll off the tongue.”

“And you’rerealfamiliar with what rolls off the tongue, aren’t you?”

“As a matter of fact I am, now what?”

“Oop!”

Everybody on the couches broke into a peel of laughter after that, gleefully reacting to the banter between Arnez and Arizona.

Or Arizona and Arnez.

Either way, their fun vibe was one of the primary reasons I’d agreed to attend a recording of this spin-off of their main show. Onlyslightlymore serious,Arnez and Arizonawas more of an interview-style show, intermixed with their own celebrity gossip updates. The show had been going so long that this spin-off—In the Zone—felt like a natural next step and was more laid back.

And frankly…messy.

Did I mention the alcohol?

It was a natural hallmark of the show, and honestly with the semi-tropical vibe of the set – lots of big leafy accents and moody lighting, like an island night club. And we’d been asked to dress for the occasion. Colorful fabrics, bared stomachs, and bronzy makeup.

“Today, we have everybody’sfavorite bad bitch and everybody’s future husband on the couch—that’s quite the combination,” Arizona added, putting a little shimmy with her words.

Laughing, I looked over to where Alec was seated a few feet away—looking slightly nervous, but handsome as always.

He – or maybe his stylist – had chosen a simple white co-ord set that popped against his skin, and an appropriate chain around his neck.

Okay. Maybe a little better thanhandsome.Just flatoutgood.

“A little odd, but not exactlyrandom,” Arnez chimed in. “These two are both stars in the latest hit series from WAWG studios,Kinfolk.And let me tell you—that shit isfiiiireee.”

“And y’all haven’t even seen me and Vanessa really go at it on the screen yet,” Alec said with a grin, wording that prompted a tongue wag from Arizona.

“Y’all be fucking on the show?! Is that a spoiler?!” she gasped, and Alec’s eyes went wide as I spoke up to assure?—

“Nah, that’s not what he means.” I laughed. “Only two episodes have been aired for everybody so far, and in just those episodes, it’s obvious that our characters don’t really fuck with each other. Well, all that…blows up,” I said. “I can’t remember which episode, but it’s coming soon, so I need all my baddies on the lookout.”

“Yesss,” Arnez said. “You better tell those fans to tune in, because baby, the acting? You’ve really been giving it to us, miss ma’am.”

Arizona nodded. “Right?! Giving Janis, Trecel, Ms. Morrisherself,” she said.

I forced myself to keep a smile on my face, knowing it was absolutely supposed to be a compliment. Those just weren’t exactly actresses I…admired.

Not because they weren’t talented; they had that in droves. They were justalsoconsistently used as eye candy, to the point that it was part of damn near every role.

The exact type-casting I was trying to steer far,faraway from.

“You know, I’m glad you’re here, chile, ’cause I’ve been dying to talk to you about this. Last time you were here, we talked to you as an artist—you told us you rapped for the bad bitches,” Arnez said.

“I did and I do,” I agreed.

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