Falling Into Love with You (The Hate-Love Duet 2)

“Good morning, ladies,” I say brightly, determined not to let my tone betray the near-panic I was feeling a moment ago. As my pulse comes down, I give both women a kiss on their foreheads and begin pulling up a chair next to Laila’s. But when I notice Mimi’s facial expression as I take my seat, I get the distinct impression I’ve interrupted something.

“Oh. Would you two like me to step out while you finish your conversation?”

To my surprise, Mimi nods, while Laila looks sheepish and apologetic.

“Not a problem,” I say quickly. I address the caregiver on duty now—a sweetheart of a woman named Felicia—the one who always relieves Stuart in the early morning hours. “Let me know whenever Mimi is ready for me to come back. I’ll be in my room.”

“Yes, sir.”

My heart thumping, I return to my room and jump in the shower. And that’s where I let myself wallow in the full extent of the dread and pain I’ve been feeling since my conversation with Sasha last night—the one in which my cousin told me Mimi is ready to go. I didn’t want to believe it when Sasha said that, but, just now, I could see it in Mimi’s eyes when she told me to leave. Sasha was right. Mimi would never tell me to leave any room, ever, unless she felt she was saying something urgent and confidential. Which, in this instance, must have been Mimi giving Laila some sort of advice about me.

Finally, after I’ve stayed in the shower for far too long, I get out, dry off, and get dressed. Grabbing my phone off the dresser, I head to my bed, intending to text Kendrick the latest about Mimi. But when I pick up my phone, I’ve got a missed call from Nadine Collins, the executive producer of the show. Damn. What’s she doing up so early in LA, during the break—and why the hell is she calling me?

“Savage!” Nadine says, answering my call. “Thanks for calling.”

“You’re up early on a day off.”

“No rest for the wicked,” she says brightly. “I’ve got a conference call with the entire team in an hour, so I’m getting ready for that. Oh, how’s your grandmother?”

“Hanging in there. Thanks for sending that link. I’m going to watch the show with her today.”

“Wonderful. Enjoy. Listen, Savage, there’s something important I’d like to talk to you about. We’ve got a couple options, in terms of the direction we want to go for the remainder of the season. A few storylines we’re considering. Some of which depend on you.” She pauses. “Can you tell me if you’re planning to earn that bonus with a proposal in the finale? Have you come to a decision on that yet?”

I don’t hesitate, even though I’m not technically required by my contract to give Nadine a firm answer on that, in advance. “I’m not going to propose in the finale,” I reply flatly. And I have no doubt it’s the right decision as I say it. Mimi was the primary reason I was considering doing it. But now that Laila and I have already told Mimi we’re engaged, what would be the point? In fact, I can’t imagine anything more cringey-ass and embarrassing to me than getting down on bended knee in front of my actual girlfriend and fake-proposing to her on a reality TV show.

“Is there any way I can entice you to change your mind about that?” Nadine asks. “Maybe sweeten the pot to get an affirmative commitment from you right now?”

There’s nothing Nadine could say to change my mind, but, still, I figure I’ll hear the woman out. “What do you have in mind, Nadine?”

“What if I told you there’s a jeweler who’s willing to supply a ring to you, in a value up to half a million bucks, in exchange for a sparkling shot of the ring during the proposal and a post on Instagram afterwards by you and Laila. All you have to do is remain ‘engaged’ to Laila for six months after the finale, and the ring is yours. When you and Laila ‘break up,’ you can sell the ring and keep the proceeds! Split them with Laila, if you like, or keep them for yourself. Totally up to you.”

She’s high if she thinks this scenario sounds even remotely attractive to me. “Not interested,” I say simply.

“Okay, then. I’ve got authority to add another quarter mill to the bonus we’ve already put on the table—which brings our offer to a half-million bucks, if only you’ll agree now, in writing, to commit to making the proposal in the finale. All we’d require is that you and Laila continue playing happy couple for six months after the finale, including making daily social media posts, and after that, you two can do whatever you want. Date whoever else. Or ride off into the sunset for real, if that’s how you’re feeling. At which point, you’ll have a ring to keep or sell and half a million bucks.”