The following day…
Shonee’s POV
“Thank you.” I gave the waiter a broad smile as he set my order of a cold glass of pineapple juice in front of me.
It was a bright Saturday morning, a little after 10 am. I’d just dropped Mirasol off at a friend’s birthday party and sent both Jordin and James a text to meet me here, at the Tropical Palm Hotel, one of the oldest five-star hotels in New York.
The Tropical Palm Hotel has long been a favourite among New Yorkers and tourists alike, popularly known for its luxurious accommodations, impeccable service, and breathtaking views of the city skyline. But what truly set it apart from other hotels was its reputation as a celebrity hotspot. Located in the heart of Manhattan, the Tropical Palm Hotel usually played host to countless celebrities over the years. From Hollywood A-listers to famous musicians and athletes, it seemed like everyone who was anyone had stayed at the hotel at least once. And everyone knew why.
It was virtually a hide-out for celebrities who had some shenanigans up their sleeves. With its discreet and exclusive services, the Tropical Palm offered a sanctuary away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.
But not for a small team of spies.
“Hey, Shonee!” Jordin greeted me with a wide grin, sliding into the seat across from me.
“Hey.” I sat up, excited to see my friends after a long time. “Glad you two could make it.”
“Like we’d pass up the chance to check out a celebrity hang-out spot from the inside,” James remarked before settling down beside Jordin. “I even managed to get a picture of Demi Lovato entering the pool area, look.” He held out his phone, displaying a photo of the one and only Demi Lovato in a plunging black swimsuit, flashing extreme cleavage. “If I wasn’t gay, I’d totally hit that.”
“Yeah, in your dreams,” Jordin mocked and James playfully swatted her arm.
“Alright, alright, enough celebrity gossip,” I interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “We’re here for a reason, remember?”
“Oh right.” Jordin perked up. “What’s up? You sounded pretty urgent in your text.”
“Yeah, you guys might not like this, but I really need your help.”
“Does this have anything to do with what you told us last night?” James queried. “About Avril cheating on Vincent? Shocker by the way.”
“I know right?” Jordin nodded in agreement then turned to me. “Do you know who it is?”
“Not yet. But that’s why I invited you guys here.” I scooted closer in my seat. “This morning, I overheard Avril talking on the phone and I think she’s meeting whoever it is here, in the hotel’s restaurant.”
Immediately I said it, all three of us glanced around the expansive hall. I’d deliberately chosen a table in a corner, at the far end of the room. That way if Avril entered and decided to take a look around, she wouldn’t be able to spot us without paying close attention.
“Oh fuck,” James mumbled. “It could be anyone.”
And he was right. The restaurant wasn’t exactly filled to the max, but there were several people occupying about twenty per cent of the hotel’s tables.
“Didn’t she include a specific time for them to meet?” Jordin turned back to me.
My eyebrows dipped in thought. “She probably did, but I didn’t get to hear it. I had to take off before she caught me eavesdropping.”
“Wait…” James stretched his neck. “Isn’t that Vincent’s assistant?”
“Michael?” Suddenly, I was on red alert. “Where?”
“There.” James pointed at him. “He’s the one strolling in.”
Truly, Michael with his brown wavy locks, walked into the restaurant with a pep in his step as he buttoned his jacket.
“What the heck is he doing here?” I whispered as if he could hear me.
His eyes glazed over the setting and I quickly pushed on my sunglasses. I couldn’t afford to let him blow my cover so soon.
Thankfully, he found whoever he was looking for and smiled as he approached a gentleman seated at one of the front tables.
“Oh my God, it’s Damien Jones! The action-movie star!” Jordin fangirled, readjusting her glasses to get a better look at the celebrity. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice him earlier.”
“He must’ve come in after we did. Probably to meet Michael. But if he’s here, doesn’t that change things for us? I mean, what if Avril sees Michael and suddenly asks her lover to meet her somewhere else?” James directed the question at me and the wheels in my head began to turn.
“I don’t know, I didn’t think about that.” I tapped my chin. “We’ll just have to keep an eye out for—holy shit it’s her!”
Avril, in all her fashionista glory, waltzed into the restaurant with someone I remembered all too well. Cheyanne, one of her bride’s maids, trailed behind her in a large fluffy coat. The two women walked straight up to Michael and Damien, greeting the guys with hugs and kisses on the cheek.
“Oh,” Jordin relaxed in her seat. “I didn’t know Michael was in a tight-knit group with Avril and her friends.”
“He’s not,” I quickly interjected, confusion running rampant in my voice. “What in heaven's name is this meeting about?”
I wished we were close enough to hear whatever they were laughing about, but just as the thought crossed my mind, the four of them started making their way out of the restaurant and into the reception.  
“We need to follow them.” I suddenly jerked out of my seat.
“Whoa, Shonee wait!” Jordin called out, but it didn’t stop me from manoeuvring past tables.
“Shonee!” She quickly grabbed my arm.
“What?”
“You need to slow down,” she spoke up. “I don’t know what Avril said this morning, but I’m beginning to think that you may have misheard whatever she was saying. Avril isn’t meeting up with her lover, she’s just meeting up with friends.”
“Uh guys, they’re leaving the reception.” James prompted and without wasting a moment, I dashed past him, ignoring Jordin’s groan that I wasn’t listening to her.
Misheard whatever she said, hmph! I scoffed in my head. Jordin didn’t know what she was talking about. I knew what I heard, and I was a hundred per cent sure that Avril was meeting him here.
As we followed them discreetly through the reception, I watched the group carefully. Avril and her entourage headed towards the elevators, their laughter echoing through the grandiose space.
We had to act fast if we wanted to find out what was really going on.
Damien pushed the button for the seventh floor and they all piled in the moment the elevator arrived. As the doors closed behind them, I made a split-second decision.
“We’re going up,” I announced, stepping past the plant we’d used to conceal our presence.
Jordin and James exchanged a look but followed me anyway as I made my way over to the elevator and pressed the button for the next floor.
“Shonee, look,” Jordin began. “I think you’re being paranoid about this.”
Ignoring her, I walked into the metallic box. We had come this far, and I wasn’t about to let them slip away now because Jordin thought I was overthinking this.
When the elevator doors opened on the seventh floor, we hurriedly dashed out, just in time to spot Avril, Damien, Michael, and Cheyanne entering a suite at the end of the hallway.
“And you said I was being paranoid.” I shot Jordin a look.
She ruefully rolled her eyes. “Ok fine. They all entered the suite together, but it still doesn’t tell us who Avril’s lover is.”
True. My eyes darted back to their suite door. If we wanted to hear whatever was going on on the other side, we needed to draw closer. Thankfully, the hallway was quiet so we strolled out and quickly sought cover in a corridor that branched off to another section of the floor. Now, we were just two doors away from their suite.
“Oh, this is so exciting!” James chimed behind me. “I already feel like James Bond, except I’m missing a gun.”
“Sssh! Now is not the time,” I reprimanded him. “We need to get closer.” Just as I was about to step out, their door creaked open and Michael appeared in my line of sight.
I quickly moved back.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m on my way.” He scurried past our hiding place, phone plastered to his ear. “No, I just stopped by the suite briefly but I’m heading back down…Alright, I’ll see you soon.”
The moment Michael disappeared into the elevator we all stepped back out into the hallway.
“Ok, what’s the plan?” Jordin quizzed in a whisper.
I turned to the suite door. “Eavesdrop.”
“What? That’s too risky!” She snapped. “What if Michael comes back and sees us?”
The question, though good, didn’t stop me and James from approaching the door and gently pressing our ears against it, straining hard to get something from inside.
Jordin moved beside us; unease written all over her face. “You guys…”
“Ssh! Hear anything, James?” I asked.
He shook his head.
Neither could I. It was as if the door was made out of soundproof wood. Then an idea struck me.
I peeled my ear off the barrier and rapped my knuckles against it.
“What are you doing?” James shot me a curious look and I shushed him to knock a second time, harder.
“Room service!” I announced in a cheery voice.
Both James and Jordin shot me looks of bewilderment.
I almost thought it wouldn’t work until we heard the sound of shuffling feet approaching the door. With a quick glance at Jordin and James, we all bolted back to our hiding place right before the door lock clicked open.
Out stepped Damien Jones, shirtless with his belt in his hand and his fly open, revealing the waistband of his checkered boxer shorts.
“Holy co-” Jordin squealed and James had to clump a hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t give up our location.
Damien’s eyes flew around the hallway, in search of the non-existent room service until a familiar voice called out, “Babe! Where are you?”
My ears perked up. Avril.
“Coming,” Damien threw the response over his shoulder and quickly dashed in to pick up the Do Not Disturb label which he hurriedly fixed on the door handle, before retreating into the suite and locking the door.
There was a minute’s pause as all three of us tried to wrap our heads around what we had just witnessed.
“Well,” James remarked, breaking the silence. “That was…certainly something.”
“I can’t believe it.” Jordin slouched onto the floor. “I can’t believe Damien Jones, my celebrity crush, is Avril Payne’s lover.”
“Well, you better believe it.” I took my sunglasses off and pushed them into my coat pocket. “Cuz it’s your reality right now. C’mon, let’s get out of here before someone sees us.” James and I quickly helped Jordin back onto her feet.
Damien Jones was known for his roles in action movies, but he was also notorious for his off-screen romances with high-profile women. It made sense for Avril to choose someone like Damien, someone who could keep up with her glamorous lifestyle and provide her with the excitement she craved. The excitement Vincent wouldn’t give her.
As we made our way towards the elevator, I felt a sense of triumph wash over me as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. We had uncovered Avril’s love affair, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she realized that her secret had now been exposed for the world to see.