From: Unknown

To:  talia.walker

Subject: The Fall of a Queen

You may want to see this.

Gossip Queen's Walk of Shame

The Gossip Queen, Talia Walker, was seen leaving Zee Jaxon's home in the same dress as the previous evening. A picture below shows Talia shoving panties into her purse, smudged lipstick and a clearly disheveled appearance. You can see clearly the handsome A-lister standing in the background in just a towel. Now, we at the Rag know Talia isn't the normal choice for Zee. We can't help to wonder if this was Talia's plan all along. Was the story she got her moniker of Gossip Queen real? Or was it just a ploy to jump into the A-lister's bed. Time will tell. However, pictures are worth a thousand words and none of those words have Talia Walker as the Gossip Queen any longer. Maybe Queen of Lies is more appropriate.

***

Talia slammed her laptop shut. Her head was spinning from the night before. She'd been at an after party for the newest super hero movie. It wasn't her usual scene but since her story about Gwyn Smythe, Zee Jaxon and Gina Bartholomew she had been going to a lot of scenes she wasn't used to.

Last night was like all other parties. She had a glass of wine. Wandered through the party saying hello to people she knew. Found a piece of empty wall space and observed. This was what made her good at her job and dangerous to celebrities.

The wealthy and spoiled wandered between people who could help with their careers. Fake laughter and whispered conversations floated between notes of techno music. Smoke, sweat and obnoxiously strong perfume permeated the air. Talia's eyes watered when one particular model walked by.

Talia watched as others looking for more important people slid their eyes right past her. They were looking for the next It person. Not the person who made them do damage control. She was an expert at being a wallflower. However, last night she wasn't hidden as well as she had thought.

"Well, if it isn't the Gossip Queen." A deep masculine voice caressed over her skin.

Talia ignored him. She was probably the only woman at that party capable of doing so. Her gaze panned through the party. It landed on her best friend, Jeremiah Jones. He was dancing with two hot models. Jeremiah loved coming with her to these parties.

"So, you're just going to ignore me, Lil Lia?"

Talia gritted her teeth. She hated that nickname. The only person who ever called her that was Zechariah Rodgers, her brother's best friend. He also happened to be the A-list star, Zee Jaxon.

"What do you want, Zeke?" Her eyes drifted away from her best friend and to the irritatingly handsome star next to her.

He squinted at her. "Oh Lia. How I've missed you."

Talia sighed and went back to watching the party.

Zee took a sip if the drink in his hand. "Looking for the next sucker whose life you are going to ruin?"

"What bug crawled up your ass, Zeke?"

"Well, you are here at my party and you didn't feel the need to apologize to me?"

"Apologize for what?"

Zee leaned down toward her. She took a step back but bumped into the wall.

A smirk crossed his handsome face. "I think you know."

Talia rolled her shoulders hoping to ease the tension. "Apologize for doing my job? That's a joke."

"You ruined my relationship and put my job on the line. All so you could conjure up a fake story to get your fifteen minutes of fame."

"What the hell are you drinking, Zeke? I didn't put your fiancée in the lap of your manager. She did that. She did it out in the open for anyone to see. None of that is my fault." Talia crossed her arms sloshing a bit of wine on her hand.

Before Talia could wipe it off, Zee took her hand and licked the drop off. His tongue slid against her skin.

"What the fuck are you doing?" She ripped her hand out of his grasp.

He shrugged finishing his drink. "I figured I'd throw you a bone. Seeing as you've never felt the touch of a man. Now, you can say you have."

"Ugh! You are a disgusting human being. No wonder, Gwyn found someone better."

His face contorted. "Why do you have to be such a bitch, Lia? You could have come to me before printing that fucking story. We've known each other our whole lives. Did you even think how that story would affect me? No. You don't think of anyone but yourself. I want this to be the only party I host that you are at. If I catch you here again, I will get your ass thrown out."

Her face flamed. People nearby had stopped their conversations to stare at them.

Before Zee could walk away, Talia spun toward him. "You're such a dick. I wouldn't want to come to one of your lame ass parties."

"Lame huh? What are you doing here then?" He squinted at me.

Talia stayed silent.

"That's what I thought. Just staking out your next target?" Zee bowed at the waist with a flourishing hand movement. "Long live the Queen Bitch."

Talia looked at the faces staring at them. Jeremiah had stopped dancing with his models and walked toward them.

The embarrassment was too much. She stormed away. Laughter followed her as she went to the bar. Grabbing the first available drink, vodka on the rocks. Looked like she would be going home with a man named Smirnoff.