Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I storm off set and go to my trailer while fishing my phone out of my pocket. My manager, Keith, is on speed dial, but it’s ten o’clock at night, so of course he doesn’t answer. Keith is the type of manager who only answers for his most profitable clients at random times of the day. I leave an irate phone message and then make my way to my car.
I have ten contestants left in my group. Where are ten people supposed to stay at my house? I have five bedrooms and the guest room, but they’re full of queen and king beds. I’m fairly certain forcing contestants to share beds will break some sort of law.
I need to fix this.
Halfway home, Keith calls back, and the Bluetooth picks up in the car.
“What the fuck is going on?” I growl into the phone.
“It’s in your contract.”
“Did you tell me that?” I’m not a complete moron. I know to read over contracts before signing them, but all the legal jargon goes over my head, and I skim. Keith is great in the sense he tells me the important stuff in layman’s terms so I understand. He’s usually great.
“I told you it was an unlikely possibility that they would film at your house because it was one of the things other networks would try to contest. Rip off of The X Factor, I think.”
“And it wasn’t contested?” Of course it wasn’t. None of it actually got blocked. We still have all the stupid gimmicks, and our show is put together with a million different elements to make one big Frankenstein’s Monster of a production.
“They also said they only had it in there as a possibility but were probably not going to take that angle.”
“Mm, convenient. Please sign this so it could possibly maybe definitely not happen. Oh, look at that, it’s in the contract, and we changed our minds?”
“Tomorrow, you’re culling your team by half, and the remaining contestants will stay at your house. It’s four days. They’ll only be sleeping there three nights.”
Three nights where Mason will have nowhere to go.
“I don’t have enough room for five people in my house. I have four spare bedrooms. This is a massive invasion of privacy.”
“You’re not really in a position to be demanding things, Denver.”
“What does Alondra think about this?” I ask.
“As far as I’m aware, she’s on board. You’re the only one who threw a hissy fit at a production assistant.”
Wait, what? “I did no such thing. Where did you hear that?”
“You know people talk in this industry. Diva-like behavior doesn’t stay quiet for long.”
“Yes, but I said one whole sentence to a PA asking if it was in the contract, and now suddenly I’m a diva.” Fuck, I hate this part of my job.
“Put your head down, do as they ask, and just … don’t play into any drama, okay?”
I end the call with him, and by the time I get home, I’m pissed off, upset, and nervous about telling Mason he has to go. I want him to stay, but I know he won’t.
I amble inside, my defeated mood sending Mason’s protective instincts into gear. What does it say about me that I love it? God, I’m a masochist.
“What’s wrong, what happened, why does your face look like that?” There’s the Mason who always had my back. Always worried. Always cared.
“Why does my face look like what?” I deflect.
“Like you sucked on a lemon.”
Ugh. I have to tell him. I can’t keep quiet and hope he doesn’t notice the cameras next week.
Can I have a shot of tequila for courage first?
Ugh, no. I shouldn’t.
I hand him over the papers the PA gave me. “They’re using my house for the show.”
Mason’s dark gaze skims over the details. “Oh.”
“I’m guessing you don’t want to be here for that.”
“You’d guess right.”
“But you don’t really have anywhere else to go, do you?”
“I can afford a hotel.”
“Can you?” I figured there was a reason other than wanting to reconnect with me that he decided not to stay at a hotel originally, but I didn’t want to bring up the subject of money with him. I’m not stupid.
“Nothing fancy, but definitely doable. All my money is tied up in my family’s land. I think I also have some stocks somewhere. I have to contact my accountant.”
“You don’t really want to stay at a cheap motel, do you? What if you’re recognized? Imagine the headlines then. I hate to say it, but you kinda need to keep up appearances.”
“Shit, good point.”
“You could stay at Harley’s?”
“No,” he says quickly. “I’ll … I’ll think of something. It’s three nights. Three nights in a five star won’t break the bank.” Then he keeps reading over the schedule, and I see his mind turning over. Problem-solving Mason at work. “Although, we could totally work around this. They’re only filming on days one, three, and four, with day two being a solo mentor day, whatever the fuck that means. And they’re giving each contestant one hour. That’s only five hours. Plus, one hour for area shots.”