Page 110 of Passenger Princess

I stare at her in confusion. “I’m off the case. I was pulled this morning at the request of the pageant. At the request ofyou.”

Regina’s face morphs into utter confusion. “Why would we do that? That makes no sense.” She looks at Landon in his Five Star shirt. “Who are you?”

“I’m the replacement that Five Star sent out, ma’am. I wasn’t herebecause she”—he points at Anne—“told us there was an emergency in the event space, and we ran to check it out, but it was nothing.”

“Yes, but why are youhere? Why is there a replacement?”

Landon’s face gets even more confused, and I actually feel bad for the kid.

“My boss told me you insisted he send someone out to replace Jaime before this event because of the article that came out about him being with Ava.”

“That’s insane, why would…” There’s a pause as something starts to click in her mind before her head snaps up to Anne. “Anne.” It’s a single, chiding word, but when I move to look at the red head, I see it. She’s gone pale.

“If he was around, I knew my plan would never work! So I called up Five Star and pretended I was you and told them if they didn’t remove him right away, we wouldn’t sign a long-term contract.” She shrugs. “Honestly, it’s a shitty security company if they don’t even have any kind of verification process.” No one can argue that point, not really. But that explains some of the parts that weren’t adding up, at least.

“I’m sorry. Can we go back to the beginning? I feel like I’m missing a few chapters,” Cara asks, her arms crossed on her chest.

“Someone has been trying to intimidate Ava for months—since before the crowning event—to quit,” I say. “It seems that person has been Anne.”

"But it didn’t even work because shedidn't quit, and shecheatedand stole my crown!" Anne whines.

"How did I cheat?" Ava asks.

"I don't know!But you did. No one would have voted for you—you're a loser! You're a nobody! You're not even pretty!"

"I won because I'mpersonable, Anne. I won because people like me, I'm kind, and I don't act like I'm better than everyone else.”

"Of course you don't, because you'renotbetter than everybody." Jesus, this chick is really missing the whole point. "Miss Americana isn't supposed to be likable. She's supposed to beenvied. Perfect.Unattainable. But then you cameand cheated and won. And then I made it my mission to make you quit." She crosses her arms on her chest with a small smile.

"So you wanted to make me quit and got your little boyfriend here to write a bunch of scathing articles?"

"And you trashed Ava's hotel room," I say, jumping in on a hunch.

"That was local—" Regina starts, but Anne cuts her off.

"It was me. But you guys came back too quickly, and I didn't even have time to write a note, so it didn't work."

"And the guy at the Georgia event?"

"She hit that poor man, and everyone cheered for her! How is that pageant queen behavior!?" Regina's eyes go wide, and suddenly, it's clear she didn't realize how much was going on. "He was a fan of mine, and I promised him lunch with me if he just made Ava uncomfortable while her bodyguard wasn't there. I just wanted her to feel unsafe and not want to do this anymore!"

"Anne!" Regina says. "Is that why you threw a fit, wanting Mr. Wilde to accompany you?"

Anne rolls her eyes. "Obviously. He's up her ass all the time. I tried a few things before that, but it didn't work because he's annoyingly good at his job."

"No, it really is kind of annoying, trust me," Ava grumbles, and I glare at her.

"Not the time, Princess."

"Oh, my god, he calls you Princess," Miss Oklahoma whispers, and Ava smiles.

"So the presentation thing? That was..."

"That was supposed to embarrass you," Anne says, pouting. "You were supposed to be unprepared and embarrassed, and then it would goviralbecause you were so boring and stupid. Then it went viral because you did your stupid little self-defense thing. Which is blasphemy because that's, like, theleastpageant queen thing yet! I don't get it. I kept trying and trying and trying to make everyone hate you, and somehow, every time, it backfired!"

"That's because I'm a decent person, Anne. You should try it sometime."

"What else did you do?" I ask, trying to change the subject. What about the death threats sent to the office?"

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