"So Drew," Alexis said, jumping right into the character of her favorite nighttime TV host of all time, Davey Denton. "What was this experience like?"
I studied the paper for a second before reading, ”It was amazing. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Alexis tsked. "Could you possibly say that with less of a monotone and with a lot more enthusiasm? If we’re going to sell viewers on watching another season of this show, we need to make it look like they won't be wasting their time. They want excitement, fun, and most of all,romance. Let them know they're in for the experience of a lifetime if they watch your season. You're theBillionaire Bachelor. Sell it like you sold your app."
No pressure there.
I cleared my throat and tried again. "It was amazing!" I emphasized the words. "A once-in-a-lifetime experience."
"That was better," Alexis allowed, scribbling a note onto her script. "Let's try it one more time."
I sat up straighter as she read the same question again, and this time, when I answered, I thought about the zip-lining date through the Amazon that I’d gone on with Gwen. She'd been scared to death of heights and screamed the whole way down. But the rush of adrenaline that had shot through me as we'd flown through the trees was something I'd never forget.
"It was amazing! A once-in-a-lifetime experience."
"Much better.” Alexis clapped. “I almost believed you that time."
I slumped in my seat, picking up on thealmostin her sentence.
I was going to ruin the show before it even started airing.
"Next question," Alexis said. "Who did you pick?"
I silently read the answer.(Drew chuckles) You know I can't answer that. But I will say this: I'm really happy with the way things turned out.
But was I?
"Do you see the answer?" Alexis looked at me expectantly.
"Yeah, sorry.” And I said the words on the page.
Alexis drew in a breath and released it before speaking. "Are you even trying?" Frustration oozed in her voice.
I rubbed my cheek with my hand and shrugged. "You said yourself I was a crappy actor." I thought for a moment then said, "Here, I'll take this home with me and practice. We can try again later."
"Okay, make sure that you do.” She nodded, rubbing her temples with her fingers. “Your first interview is only four days away and those interviews better go off without a hitch. I will not have my ratings take a dive because you can't answer a few questions."
My mouth went dry. I really was going to be the worst bachelor in all ofFinding Your Soulmate's history. And any credibility my app and I had in helping other people find love would go down the drain with the show.
Dion, one of the other producers, knocked on Alexis's door. "Do you have a moment?"
"Sure, Drew and I were just about finished."
Dion stepped inside and shut the door behind him. "I just got some bad news."
Alexis leaned back in her chair. "What do you meanbad news?"
Dion cleared his throat and took the chair beside me. "Drew's handler just quit."
Alexis's eyes widened. “Colton quit?"
"Apparently, he has issues with our bachelor."
I shook my head. Of course Colton blamed it on me instead of owning up to the fact that he'd taken a job withFinding Your Soulmate'sbiggest competitor.
"What are we going to do?" Alexis asked. "We're already short-staffed as it is. Drew has a bunch of appearances. It's not like you or I can just drop everything and make sure he gets to his interviews.”
Dion angled toward me. "Don't you have a personal assistant who can do all this for you?"