“Huh? Um. Yeah, okay.” He nodded.
“Then we’re set. Let’s make magic people—follow me.” Charles beckoned to all of us with his hand and started walking towards one of the side rooms.
I was in. Regardless of how strange the situation was, it was going to happen.
It was very clear from the way Charles directed traffic that he was still very much in charge, even if he named a new host to start the show. I had never seen an episode of Seven Roses start with such a strange twist. It was going to be one of those moments that defined the show going forward or completely destroyed it. Charles was taking a huge risk with his plan. I couldn’t believe he had managed to get the team on board with producing it. The show was such a major success that messing with the formula seemed crazy. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but it was a bit strange. I followed Charles towards the room he was walking to and the rest of the group followed. I could see apprehension spread across most of their faces. When we got to the room, I noticed it was different than I had seen in previous seasons. A lot more furniture had been added and there were television screens along the wall. Once we were inside, he turned towards us with a smile etched on his face.
“This will be the base of operations.” He waved his hand around the room. “Unlike previous seasons, it won’t just be the audience that gets to see the dates—every moment will be broadcasted for the rest of the contestants.”
“So, they get to see all our tricks?” Markus let out a disgruntled huff.
“Everyone here already knows your tricks, Markus.” Adrian stepped towards him. “We saw you strike out the last time you were on the show.”
“No secrets this time.” Charles hit a button on a remote that showed all of us in the room from different angles. “We’ve gotten hidden cameras everywhere. You’re always on the show, except when you sleep.”
“Why? I don’t get it.” Dawson looked at the television screens.
“This arrangement makes us family.” Charles hit a button on the remote which showed the various rooms. “If we’re all going to love Lyn for the beautiful goddess she is, we can’t have any secrets.”
Beautiful goddess?
“This s
how is all about secrets. I saw the shit they said about me last time.” Markus smacked his teeth against his lips. “I wanted a shot at redemption.”
“You can get redemption this time.” Charles turned towards Markus. “This arrangement will create unity.”
“I’m on your boat, captain.” Markus gave Charles a mock salute. “Just don’t drive us into a fucking iceberg.”
“You’re all on board with this?” I looked around the room. “This is pretty crazy.”
The group was hesitant at first. Charles was obviously fine with the arrangement since he was the one who came up with it. Markus seemed more enthusiastic than he should have been, and I wasn’t really sure why he was so willing to cave to everything Charles suggested. Dawson was tuned out, but nodded in agreement with my question. Adrian had a similar response. The two of them seemed more obsessed with taking pictures in front of various icons leftover from the previous shows—they were obviously planning on posting them on social media when they were allowed to start their personal media blitz. There was a lot of nervousness in John, but he shrugged. That seemed to be the most authentic answer he could give. Brando seemed fairly nonchalant about it, but he kept his eyes darting around the room like he expected danger to pop out at any instant. Anders sulked—that was the best expression I could compare to his downtrodden look. I had no idea what was up with him, but he seemed to be less interested than the rest.
HENRY BENNETT DID SOME promotional work before we ended things for the night, and I found out my first date would be with Markus. Even with the strange situation I was faced with, it was hard not to get excited about going on a date with him.
When we wrapped up all of the promotional work, I was extremely tired and I was happy to have some alone time. The day had been emotionally draining and it didn’t seem like I was going to get much of a break.
Once I was in bed, my thought shifted to Markus. He was the kind of man I could dream about, play out naughty fantasies about, and know none of them could ever come true. It seemed that my fantasy was going to crash with reality the next day. I had no idea what he would have in store for me. The last time he was on the show, he was the one I rooted for.
Even with the butterflies in my stomach, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Chapter 6: Markus
Here I go again.
The last time I was on Seven Roses, I didn’t come prepared to play a game. The politics of a reality show, the alliances necessary to get to the finals, and all of the drama that went along with it annoyed the shit out of me. Over the course of the seven days we spent with the woman we competed for, it was my naivety that got me to the finals.
When the others realized I was in the lead, they started telling the contestant, a beautiful young woman named Janie, that I would never be there for her. They used my occupation against me, even though it was their asses I was fighting for when I put on my uniform. After watching the show, I wanted to pay each of them a visit and show them I was more of a man than they would ever be, but I let it go. I did another tour of duty, put a few more souls in the afterlife to spend eternity with whatever deity they believed in, and returned home to an empty apartment—just like always.
When Charles Montgomery called me and said he had a second chance for me, I accepted without hesitation. I didn’t have much time to prepare, but I was used to that as a SEAL. I planned to make the game my bitch the second time around.
But now the game is different—it isn’t a game anymore—it’s a new kind of arrangement that is unlike anything I’ve ever heard of.
I wasn’t sure how seven men could ever put aside their egos to love one woman. I made it my mission to react enthusiastic when I heard the twists. Some of them had made me look like a deer stuck in the headlights the last time they came rolling my way. There was a lot of uncertainty once my mind actually processed it, but I tried to react the way I had rehearsed on the ride over. I was glad to be the first man chosen to take Lyn on a date, but I wasn’t sure it would matter with the structure Charles outlined. We weren’t competing for exclusivity, we were competing for a prize I wasn’t sure I even wanted to win.
After hearing why Janie didn’t choose me, I had understood her decision, even if I thought it was bullshit that she reached the conclusion because the other guys played dirty. It had weighed on my mind. Was I really the kind of man that a woman wanted? Was it fair to leave a girlfriend, and one day a wife, behind while I served my country? Guys did it every day because it was necessary, but there was no guarantee I would ever come home. I had witnessed firsthand the heartache that caused.
Fuck it—all I am going to focus on is giving Lyn the perfect date.