After Bella and I have been situated at the pool long enough to flip over twice, not conversing at all, the cameraman takes a break, giving us a moment alone.
“So how did part one of the plan go?” I ask, keeping my voice low as I turn my head in her direction but not moving otherwise.
“Great. We never left my place. He stayed over. We gave the cameras a little show and had fun with it. Milo was such a gentleman. He made me feel comfortable when I was freaking out. I’m pretty sure there’s no way people won’t buy it.”
“Perfect.”
“What about you?” Bella’s voice is hesitant. I know she has feelings for Lennon, the main reason I want them to choose each other in the end, but it won’t be easy for her to hear about him with me. Especially knowing she’s still concerned he’ll choose me over her.
“The same except he didn’t stay over. I was a hot mess by the time we said goodnight. I cried in the bathroom for almost an hour before I pulled myself together.”
“Why?”
“Because I know Jace will see us making out, and I know that’s going to hurt him.”
“Don’t worry about that. You’ll explain what we’re doing, and we all have your back, including Lennon. Everything is going to be fine, and we’re going to pull the rug out from under the producers. It’s going to be epic.”
“Courtney came to see me,” I quickly say when I spot the cameraman headed in our direction. “She knows I know and threatened me. I played dumb, but she didn’t buy it.”
Bella grins at me before closing her eyes and pretending to be asleep as the cameraman hoists his camera back on his shoulder, pointing it directly at us. I place my hand on Bella’s shoulder and act like I’m shaking her awake, asking if she wants to jump in the pool. She bats her eyes a few times, feigning sleepiness, and then agrees.
We spend the rest of the afternoon in the pool, hanging close to the cameraman, fawning all over the guys as if we are in love and nothing is going to change our minds.
Selling our stories.
It’s actually kind of fun. Until it’s not anymore when Claudia breezes through the gates with a look of hatred on her face directed at me.
“A moment of your time, Presley,” she seethes.
“Of course,” I reply, chipper than ever.
It’s not until we’re back at my villa, behind closed doors, that she says anything else.
“What did you hear?”
How do I want to play this? I could tell her the truth and blackmail her to let the chips fall where they fall. Which will be exactly where we want them to. Or I can bribe her for more information. Or I can do what I did yesterday with Courtney and play dumb.
I wasn’t able to convince Courtney, and lying isn’t my specialty, so I opt for somewhere in the middle.
“Enough to know that Jace was eliminated without cause.”
“He was eliminated because of his actions.”
“So, it had nothing to do with a trending hashtag that in turn caused decreased ratings because the show had become predictable?” I counter, challenging her statement.
“No. He broke the rules, and we removed him. I won’t lie and say it doesn’t help our ratings now that the finale is up in the air.”
“Tell me what he did and I’ll drop it, pretend I didn’t hear anything.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t keep my mouth shut about how this show is rigged.”
“You can and you will. You signed a non-disclosure agreement.”
“An agreement that ends the second the cameras stop rolling. Or did you forget that we were all given permission to discuss the show after it was over should anyone be interested in contacting us for interviews?”
Claudia opens and shuts her mouth quickly, surprised I’m aware of the fine print of my contract. Not that I read it. Lennon may have been whispering details in my ear last night while he pretended to kiss my neck.