Free Duchess by Nikki Wilson Page A

didn’t care what people thought. For some reason, that sold music.
    “Why the mystery? Why not just tell us who you are?”
    Again, she was ready for this one. “Everyone loves a good mystery. Why not give them one?”
    The anchor didn’t seem satisfied with this answer. “Yes, but eventually we want to solve the mystery,” he prodded.
    “Maybe you will,” she answered with a wink.
    “What about the rumors that you’re really British royalty, but can’t reveal your true identity?”
    That question definitely wasn’t on the list.
    “What about it?” She tried to deflect the question. She could feel the sweat rolling down the back of her neck.
    “Is it true?”
    “It could be,” she said coyly. She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt at the moment.
    “What about the rumor that you’re another musician in disguise? Many people say your music style reminds them of Lady Gaga.”
    “Really? You’re asking me if I’m Lady Gaga in disguise?” Duchess threw her head back and laughed. “She’s already in disguise every time she goes on stage. Besides, I’m much more sophisticated than that.” She groaned inwardly, knowing there would probably be a tabloid headline tomorrow about a feud between Duchess and Lady Gaga. Perfect.
    “Is your British accent real?”
    Seriously? Was this guy going to use any more of the questions the PR team spent nights preparing?
    “That information is top secret. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” She winked again. The movement suddenly caused a slight shifting feeling on her face. Panic began to take hold as she realized her nose had moved.
    “Was that a threat?”
    Holy cow! This was getting out of control. She needed to finish this interview before her nose fell off in front of all of America.
    She turned to the camera and thought about her fans and what they wanted. They wanted drama, so she would give them drama. Turning back to the anchor, she put on a sickly sweet smile. “Only if you want it to be. I prefer to think of it as a joke, but maybe you Americans don’t have a sense of humor. But then again, maybe it’s just you.”
    “It’s actually quite difficult to tell if you’re joking or not, with that robotic-sounding voice of yours.” The news anchor gave her a pointed look, and Duchess knew she was in over her head. They never should have agreed to this interview. “What’s the point of the mystery?”
    Katie plastered a smile on Duchess’s perfectly painted face and hoped her smile would push the sliding nose back up. “The point is that anyone could be Duchess!” The news anchor looked confused, so she went on. “It’s freeing to be someone else, if only for a time. That’s why everyone loves Halloween so much. Why not be that person you are too afraid to be?”
    “Are you saying everyone should go around wearing wigs and makeup and disguising themselves?” He made sure the very thought sounded distasteful.
    “I’m saying that I could be anyone. The lady in the grocery store with her screaming child, the school teacher you had a parent/ teacher conference with, or the telemarketer you hung up on. The point is that everyone wears a mask. What are you hiding behind that pearly white smile and perfectly combed hair?”
    The news anchor got uncomfortable for a moment, then turned away from Duchess and looked into the camera. “It’s time for a commercial break. Thanks for coming, Duchess. It was . . .” He paused for a moment before finishing. “Enlightening.”
    She waited until someone yelled “cut” and then put her hand over her nose and exited the stage quickly. She stalked down the hallway, but the platform shoes made it difficult to do so gracefully. Kyle began walking next to her. He stayed quiet, and she didn’t trust herself to speak right then. She waited until they got into the limo. She slammed the door behind her, then let her nose slide off into her hand before she reached up and pulled the mic off