Stardoom 3: Chick Lit/Romantic Comedy Series, #3

By Sophia Kingston

Lauralie Shaw is relieved that she’s been cleared of the murder investigation of he childhood classmate, but could think of a lot of ways she’d rather celebrate than setting off for Saint Thomas Island to finish filming a reality series with her estrangedboyfriend, Ford Miller.

The trip becomes even more unbearable when she discovers that her ex, Colton Dixon, and his new girlfriend are coming along as their pilots.

To Lauralie’s surprise, she finds herself falling for Ford all over again as they film their show on the island. But will Colton and two scorned women threaten the couple’s new-found happiness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophia Kingston
• Release date: Apr 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533745668

Book preview

Chapter 1

Idiot! Idiot!

Lauralie marched right to one of her jet’s over-sized leather seats and plonked herself firmly down on it. Her unpleasant phone conversations with Colton, which ended with that bastard hanging up on her, one week ago kept replaying in her mind. Like a broken record.

She balled her hands into fists. She was still seething with anger, and smoke was coming out from both her ears — anyone with bionic eyes would see it. Her heart was slamming so hard against her chest that she thought she might die of a heart attack.

Just when Lauralie thought it couldn’t get any worse, that Colton was totally out of her life and she would never ever see him again, the amazing duo — Colton and Gloria — were going to fly her for this filming trip to St. Thomas in place of Frank and his co-pilot. According to Colton, Frank had met with an accident. Was it coincidence? Bad luck? Or....? This must be the baddest luck ever on earth.

For the next few hours, they were going to be on the same plane. They would be at over thirty thousand feet above ground, and there was no escaping. The thought of being in a confined space in the air with them unnerved Lauralie. How could she bear to be in the same plane with them? She couldn’t.

Ughhhh! Lauralie shook her head hard. How she hoped this was a bad dream that she’d wake up from. She thought the harder she shook her head, this bad dream would flee a thousand miles from her. But she only got dizzier. And this was no dream at all. It’s real.

OK! Calm down now. Close your eyes. Calm. Down. Now. Breathe in..... Breathe out..... Breathe in............ Breathe out..........................

Instantly, Lauralie felt much better. Thanks to a series of videos she’d watched from a guru about calming and relaxation techniques.

Lauralie had suffered anxiety attacks after she got involved in a murder case. Over the last few weeks, Lauralie had been considered the prime suspect in the murder of Vivian Harris, a woman she’d gone to boarding school with. They weren’t on good terms. Her anxiety attacks got so bad that she had sleepless nights because of it. As a result, she was, and looked, like a walking zombie during the day. It scared the wits out of everyone around her. Rachel had recommended she watched the videos by this particular guru. And it worked wonders.

Sometimes Lauralie wished she had started watching the videos earlier — from the time she knew Colton. But it’s better late than never, right?

Anna and Bob stepped into the cabin, and looked cautiously at her. They crept silently to the soft leather couch opposite Lauralie, as if afraid to wake the sleeping monster, and sat themselves down gently.

Lauralie opened her eyes and looked at them. They tensed. For a moment, the couple thought the volcano was going to erupt and destroy everything in its path.

Lauralie gave a faint smile. Both Bob and Anna heaved a sigh of relief. No volcanic eruptions and nothing would be destroyed.

Lauralie, how are you going to get through this? Anna whispered sharply, her eyes fixed on the cabin door, as if afraid that the amazing duo would appear anytime. She wouldn’t want them to listen in on their conversations.

It won’t be too bad, Lauralie replied and shrugged nonchalantly. After we land in St. Thomas, they, referring to Colton and Gloria, will go their way and we’ll go ours. I don’t have to care whether they’re here or not. Lauralie gave a weak smile. Who needed that jerk anyway?

Did you see the look on Gloria’s face just now? Anna rolled her eyes. Now she was angry. The more she thought, the angrier she became. She seems awfully happy to be making you so uncomfortable. I wanted to wipe that smug grin right off of her face. Anna made a face. She couldn’t stand the sight of Gloria’s smug face. She imagined herself pouncing on Gloria and tearing off that stupid face. She grinned wickedly.

Lauralie was grateful. Anna had always been supportive and protective of her.

She walked over to Anna and squatted down in front of her. Lauralie took both her hands in hers and looked gently at her. Thank you for always standing by me, Anna, she said. Let her grin however she wants. She’s with Colton now, and being able to flaunt it in my face is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to her. Lauralie smiled.

But deep inside, she was very hurt.

Images of the night she and Colton had shared one week ago came flooding back. Everything was so perfect, and she thought that they were getting back together. After a passionate night, she’d woken up to an empty house and a short note from him that told her they were never meant to be.

I’ll do my best to behave myself, Anna half-joked. But I’m not making any promises. If she crosses the line, I won’t be held responsible for how I react. She huffed and crossed her arms.

Bob placed his arms around his wife’s shoulders. Now baby, Bob soothed, no one has anything to gain by reacting. There are consequences to how we react.

Anna thought for a while and concurred. She nodded slowly and smiled.

As if suddenly remembering the filming at St. Thomas today, Lauralie sighed. She stood up and walked back to her leather seat.

Anna and Bob looked at each other, then back at her.

What’s wrong, Lauralie? Anna asked, a look of concern crossed her face.

I can’t believe I agreed to do this stupid show. What in the hell was I thinking? Lauralie shook her head. Nobody could be stupider than her.

Nobody knows how things would turn out. You thought that Ford was a nice guy, and that the show would be a fun and easy way to make some money. And help your reputation, Anna reminded her.

Yeah... well at least I was right about the money. Lauralie nodded. Not that I even need it, she added.

Well, think of something worthwhile to do with the money, then. Anna encouraged her. Maybe if you could do some good with the money, you won’t regret doing the show so much.

Anna was right.

I guess I could always put it into the Foundation. I haven’t been able to do much fund raising for the Foundation, Lauralie said sadly. This reality show and the investigation had sucked whatever time and energy I had left.

Because of the tabloids’ attention on the murder case, Lauralie had distanced herself from the Lana Shaw Foundation. Until the case was solved, she hadn’t wanted her bad publicity to soil the Foundation’s reputation.

Day and night, the investigators and the cops had been hunting down the killer, and yet, they did not realize that the killer was so close to them. When Vivian’s killer was caught, everyone was shocked. Even now.

Vivian’s murderer was an employee of the Foundation. He was a stalker, and was so obsessed with Lauralie that he had killed Vivian to protect her. Lauralie still shuddered whenever she thought about it.

I hope the Foundation is in good shape when we get back, Anna said. Rachel has been working overtime to do damage control after what happened.

I think she and Marcus will be able to get things under control, Bob chimed in, a wide grin crossed his face.

Marcus was a private investigator whom Lauralie’s father had hired to help solve Lauralie’s case. He, like Rachel, was a capable, take-charge kind of man. Thanks to the murder case — not that the murder case was good, but it was good for Rachel and Marcus? — love had blossomed between them. Everyone was excited and happy