Finally, she looks at me. Her expression is difficult to read, but at least she’s not yelling. “And you have no idea what he’s going to do?”
I shake my head. “None. I’m sorry. Don’t you?”
“He wouldn’t say. He’s being very suspicious. It’s driving the network wild. That’s the problem with live TV. We never know what’s going to happen. But in all my years working this job, this is the strangest situation I’ve ever been in.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
Lisa sighs. “You don’t have to keep apologizing. It’s not your fault you fell for each other.”
“I thought you were going to be angry.”
“I am. And I’ll be furious if he makes the situation even worse. But I stand by what I said. It’s not your fault. Or his. I just wish he’d handled it better.”
I nod, and Lisa turns back to the stage. I’m not sure if her speech was designed to make me feel any better, but all it does is cause my stomach to swirl and my heart to thud. Even if I told Kayden he didn’t have to tell me what he was going to do, now I’m starting to regret it because I really have no freaking clue.
“How are the contestants?” I murmur.
“They’re not contestants anymore,” Lisa says. “They’ve left the show, seeing as there’s no need for them. But they’ll be fine. All of them have industry contacts. They’ll get brand deals and TV deals and all kinds of deals.”
“I bet they can’t believe he chose me.”
I’m probably talking too much, but I can’t help it as I stare at the stage and wait for them to announce Kayden.
I risked a look online earlier and saw the crap storm Kayden had caused when he left the show and chose me. Now everyone is wondering what the next move is going to be, and some are even speculating he’s going crazy.
“If you both truly care for each other,” Lisa says, “it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
I risk a laugh. “I can’t believe you’re being so nice.”
She smiles tightly. “This is Lisa, the person you’re talking to. If your man messes this up, you and Lisa the producer will be having a discussion.”
I lower my gaze, trying to fight away the nerves, the doubt, the curiosity.
What the heck is Kayden going to do?
I don’t know what he could possibly say to salvage this, especially since the contestants have left the show.
But with no other choice, all I can do is wait.
Lisa gives me a significant look when the lights begin to dim and everyone goes quiet. I try not to cringe under her gaze, even though she’s staring at me like she’ll happily cut my head off if this doesn’t go to plan. I offer a tight smile, even if I have no idea if I should be smiling.
Part of me regrets not pressing Kayden harder to tell me what he was planning but it’s too late to try and get an answer out of him.
The director counts down, and there’s a final warning for everyone to remain silent. I couldn’t talk if I wanted to now.
I bite down, tension gripping me, as I wonder what Lisa is going to do if Kayden ruins this.
She made a comment before about how she used to work in the movies on the west coast, and how she still has a bunch of connections out there. All the while, she was giving me the same look she just did.
It’s an I can end your whole life sort of look.
Finally, the lights finish dimming, and new lights flash up on stage. They’re red, hidden beneath the rose petals, making them appear as though they’re glowing on the floor. The intention is clearly for some kind of romantic scene, and treacherous feelings rush to my mind…
I thought he was done with the contestants, so what’s with all the romance stuff?
Maybe he’s going to tell the viewer this is what he was trying to aspire to, but he couldn’t go through with it.
I push those thoughts away.
I know Kayden.
Maybe I doubted us in the beginning when it all seemed so crazy. But we’ve spent too much time together, shared too much, fused our bodies as well as our souls.
I trust him.
So what the heck is with the romance?
Kayden walks onto the stage.
He always looks handsome, but after the night and the morning we shared, he provokes an even fiercer response in me.
My heart drums, my palms sweat, and my belly aches when I take in the sight of him. He’s wearing his classic steel-colored suit, his hair neatly styled, his emerald eyes staring starkly at the camera.
Past the camera, I realize… right at me.
It’s like I’ve been arranged to stand directly behind the lens.
I glance at Lisa. She was the one who beckoned me over here when I first arrived. And she never hangs around with me when we’re watching the show. It’s like she wanted me in this specific position.