Page 80 of Protecting Hailey

Christian and Sam stepped forward to follow, but I held them back. “I’d like to speak to Kendra alone first. We’ll call you when we’re ready.”

Both Sam and Lisa argued, but Kendra held up her hand. “I won’t kick her ass without someone recording it. So, y'all can chill for now.”

Kendra sashayed down the hallway into a small board room. There were six black leather chairs and a black table in the middle. I sat down at the table and Kendra took a seat beside me and crossed her arms and legs.

Okay. Not the best start, judging by her body language.

“Kendra, I’m not sure where to start. But I guess maybe from the beginning. I’ve always been a big fan of your music.”

She crumpled her nose as though I’d opened a can of rotten tuna. “Really?”

“Really,” I assured her.

“That’s not what you said.” She leaned forward and got up in my face. “You said I was a two-buck artist with no talent or taste.”

What?!

I pointed a finger at her. “That’s what you said about me.”

“After you started it!” she shouted back.

I inhaled a calming breath and counted to five in my head.

“I know. I know. Let me explain.”

She tightened her fingers around her arms but didn’t argue. Instead, she dangled her foot, impatiently waiting for my reply.

“Recently, I found out that my social media manager wanted to hurt me. She’s been planning to ruin me for a while now and when she got tired of trying to kill my career, she tried to slit my throat.”

Kendra blinked. “Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

She pursed her lips. “Well, that’s pretty heavy. But what does that have to do with me?”

“You see, I don’t even know the passwords to my social accounts. I never posted those things. She did. She used my profile to send you those messages and to stir shit up on the net.”

Kendra stared at me. Her expression was blank. My heart sank. “You don’t believe me?” I didn’t know how else to prove it to her. “I swear it’s true.”

She rubbed her lips together, then said. “No. I believe you.” Then looked away, her foot still bouncing in front of me.

“What is it? Are you still mad?”

She shrugged. “Nah. I’m not mad. I didn’t write any of those posts, either. My cousin takes care of that stuff. She just tells me what’s going on and then I get pissed off and tell her what to say back.”

I sighed. “So, you get it.”

“Yeah. But girl, you need to hire family. You know, someone you can trust.”

I tilted my head, considering her suggestion. I thought of my cousin Anya and wondered if she would be up for it. “That’s not a bad idea.”

She nodded and uncrossed her arms. “So, we’re calling quits on this feud, then?”

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve never had a problem with you, Kendra. I love your style.”

She smirked. “Yeah. I’m pretty dope.”

I laughed and stuck out my hand. She stood and pulled me up along with her. “I like you. You’re straight up. And you have guts meeting me here.”

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