Early October, 2017, New York.
I'd gotten off the flight fairly quickly and throughout the ride to the hotel that Hailee gave me, I kept trying to get more information about Cara's friend. Hailee continued to be stingy, giving me little one-word answers.
Then I dug into my memory. Cara had a lot of girlfriends, but I didn't think Kendall Jenner would be of such high importance that her name couldn't be said over text. Ashley Benson didn't seem that important either. No offense to either of them, but Hailee treated Cara's friend like the president or the queen.
I kept thinking hard until the driver stopped in front of the hotel. I gave him a thank you and put my shades back on. I never worried about getting caught by Paparazzi when I was alone, mostly because I looked like a regular Joe Schmo. I entered the building Hailee described as a luxury hotel and saw Hailee sitting in the strangely empty lobby with her head down on her phone.
When I say the lobby was strange, it was like a horror movie aside from the barren amount of sunlight peeking in through the shudders. There was no one at the receptionist's desk and again, the only person in the room aside from me was Hailee. She clearly didn't notice me open the door.
"Psst." I whispered with my hands in my pockets.
"Shit!" Hailee jumped and stared at me like I wasn't the man she was just texting.
"It's me." I said after removing my hat and glasses.
"Jason!" Hailee kept her voice down as she moved towards me for a hug. She wore a comfy-looking brown jacket over a plain black shirt and blue jeans. Her long and lovely brunette hair smelled like strawberries and her makeup was done in a simple yet sexy, catlike look.
"Glad you could make it. Sorry for the whole... incognito thing but it was absolutely necessary that we keep this whole thing under wraps. You took an Uber right?" Hailee asked.
"Yes." I answered.
"Good. Very good." Hailee turned from me and pulled her phone from her pocket, thumbing away with her bright pink nails tapping the screen.
"So... what's the deal?" I asked.
"Ok," Hailee turned to face me. "I would love to tell you who's coming, but Cara's waiting in the hotel room."
"That wasn't my question. I mean what's up with the spooky shit? There is no one here?"
"Oh, this is just a secret spot. Kinda weird but no Paps even come around this neighborhood. We're expected a few blocks away so that's where they are. This specific hotel is sort of a... a fake." Hailee grinned at the absurdity.
"Is that legal?"
"Not really... but money talks. Besides this isn't the first decoy place you've been in. Look at Los Angeles." Hailee explained as she guided me to our room.
"It's just... this seems like a lot of secrecy."
"Says the guy who lives in the middle of nowhere." Hailee quipped. I kept my mouth shut on asking about the secret person. Hailee knocked at the door with light taps.
"H?" A familiar voice called through the door.
Hailee knocked again. The door clicked and Cara opened it with just a crack.
"Hi Jason." Cara said warmly.
"Cara." I nodded.
"Come in." Cara opened the door all the way and I was taken aback by the room. Even if the lobby and hallways were spruced up, it was like a completely different place. The place looked like a luxury Venice hotel with deep red carpet and walls and a massive couch in the center of it all. At the edge of the couch was a small black backpack.
The single window providing the only light in the place gave everything a dream-like feeling.
"She'll be here in twenty. That means we have time to prepare you." Cara said, quickly tossing her phone to the floor with a thump. Cara wore a simple white tank top with baggy khakis and white sneakers. Her long blonde hair fell straight down her shoulders and her face was makeup-free.
"Wait," I put my hands up. "Who is it?" I asked. Hailee and Cara looked at each other. Hailee's face was curled into a shy grin and Cara's was its usual angry look.
"Have a seat." Cara asked politely.
"Seriously. I don't know if you two are messing with me, but I'd like a little more details considering I flew all the way across the country." I said sternly.
Then there was a rhythmic knock at the door. Almost like it was a code.
"What the fuck?" Cara spat under her breath. She zoomed towards the door and opened it. Then it hit me. I knew why Hailee was being so secretive.
Taylor Swift was standing there.
I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a huge fan, but I rarely dabbled in the music business anyway. Sure I've directed some videos and I've been to the Grammys as a favor, but this was different. Yes, I've met other singers who seemed nice enough, and I met Katy Perry at a party, but this was Taylor Swift.
"You said you'd be here in twenty!" Cara spat in a hushed voice.
"I know, I know. I thought Marco was gonna stop for gas." Taylor said, her voice floating through the room like it was coming through an overhead speaker.