Chapter Eighteen

I watch from the raised dais where I stand with my daisy as Luca stares at the final two contestants. Tiara Kate is already crying, practically begging him not to let her go. Riley clutches her hand and looks over at me, Hannah, Shelby, and Ashley F.

"Kate, we've had so much fun, and I've loved getting to know you. You're insightful and smart."

She's bitchy and admitted that she was surprised at the ending of Titanic. Luca's being generous with the praise.

"Riley, we've connected on such a nice level. I truly believe we're friends and will continue to be so."

Hannah squeezes my hand, and I realize she's way more emotional at the prospect of Riley going home than she is of being out herself.

It's so nice that we've made good friends somehow. Even among all the craziness and chaos, there's still solidarity and friendship to be had.

"Riley, will you take this daisy and remain in the running to be my queen?" Luca asks.

Relief seems to pour through Riley, and she drops Tiara Kate's hand in a heartbeat. She has that daisy and is stating a happy yes before rushing over to hug Hannah.

"You're making a mistake." Tiara Kate pulls the tiara off her head and faces the king. "Not a one of these women are right for you. You think we can't all see who your favorite is? She'll be a disaster."

"Cut." Joe steps onto the stage. "Hey, you know we don't talk about what happens off camera, Kate."

She shakes her head. "We all know. He tries to hide it, but he looks at her all the time. I think he's sneaking into her room somehow because I swear I hear sex sounds coming from there. Don't try to deny it."

Luca's gone still, and I swear all the blood has left my body. How could she hear us? My room is all the way down the hall from hers. And we try to be quiet. Mostly. He does this thing with his tongue that makes me forget where I am and who I am and pretty much everything but what he's doing with his tongue.

"You've already picked Hannah," Tiara Kate accuses. "That's why you're keeping her best friend over me. It's not right."

I'm sure my jaw has hit the floor, but I simply pick it up and school my expression to an appropriately dramatic what-just-happened look.

Because I'm still trying to figure out what's going on.

"You think I've already selected Hannah?" Luca asks, as though weighing each word. "I can assure you I have not. Nor am I visiting her room at night."

"I share a room with her." Riley stands up for her best friend. "No one sneaks in. She wouldn't do that."

"Sure she wouldn't." Kate takes the tiara between her hands and cracks it in two. "You're all fools if you think something isn't going on. I guess I'll see you at the reunion show. I'll have a lot to say."

She storms off.

"Did anyone get that?" Joe is looking around at the camera operators, who all give him a thumbs-up. "Perfect. Someone go make sure she gets into the limo all right. Keep driving her around until she gives us what we need. Let's get the last shot so we can wrap for the day."

I'm feeling a little numb as we all hold up our champagne glasses and toast the fact that we've made it through another round.

"I'm the last bitch standing," Shelby says with a smirk as she passes the glass back to the PA. "That means I'm going straight to the final two."

"She's not wrong about that." Ashley F steps out of her shoes and bends over to pick them up. "The producers will want as much tension as possible. They'll want the viewers freaking out that he'll make a horrible mistake."

"Horrible is a lot," Shelby argues and then she sighs. "Look, guys, I know I'm being over the top. It's for show. Mostly. I mean, I actually kind of like some of you."

I glance over to where Luca is talking to Joe, both men with their heads down as one of the producers approaches. They all look serious, like Tiara Kate…I guess she's just Kate now since that tiara is currently being swept up by another PA…has sent them into a frenzy of conspiracy theories. Or they're trying to figure out how much of it to use.

"Does everyone think I'm sleeping with Reg?" Hannah sounds horrified.

"Of course not," Riley assures her.

Shelby rolls her overly mascaraed eyes. "Absolutely not. Though apparently you have a lot of nice dreams because I've heard some sounds, too. Look, Hannah, no one thinks you would try to cheat at this game we're playing. You're very trustworthy. Personally, I would bet you're a virgin."

"Am not," Hannah says with a frown. "I mean it depends on the definition."

"Nope." Riley takes her hand. "We're not talking about this. Good night, everyone. See you in the morning."

They walk off, and I think Hannah's started to cry.

"Hey, you could be nicer…" I stop because I'm talking to Shelby and that's like talking to a brick wall.

Shelby frowns my way. "I thought I was being nice. I told her she was all trustworthy and shit. I said I like some of you. You're not all boring."

I groan because I am not arguing with her tonight. "You know what, keep doing you. I'm sure it works out great."

I'm done for the night. I kick off my shoes and look over and Luca is still talking to the producers, though Joe seems to have left the scene.

I'm tired and still anxious from thinking we've been found out. The accusation opens a pit in my stomach, but I also know that when he shows up this evening, I'll welcome him.

And be very, very quiet, though with the dramatic exit of the contestant formerly known as Tiara Kate, I'm by myself in the west wing, a long way from the room Riley and Hannah share, and even further from Ashley F and Shelby.

"Anika, could I speak to you for a moment?"

I turn and one of the many producers who are all over this production is standing a few feet from me. I don't know his name because they kind of all look alike. They're all thirty-something dudes in suits that cost more than I make in a year. They're the guys who got the job because their dads or uncles are the executive producers or studio heads. One of these guys I recognize as Jessica's great nephew.

"Yeah," I reply, though all I want to do is run up to my room and wait for Luca because we need to talk.

After he does that thing with his tongue. I'm a little stressed.

He glances over as though trying to make sure no one is listening in. He gestures for me to follow as he walks over to a far corner, away from where the crew is cleaning and resetting the ceremony space.

"My aunt wanted me to talk to you," he says.

Ah, now I know who I'm talking to. Thad Wallace, Jessica's third and current husband's brother's youngest son. It's a lot, but knowing the hierarchy is a PA's best friend. "I haven't been able to talk to her. I can't exactly ask the director to break sequester."

"She doesn't want you to. She's seen the dailies and is thrilled with how the project is going," he says quietly, his hand in his pocket. "You're doing great, Anika. You're the perfect counterpoint to Shelby."

"I would think that would be Hannah."

"Oh, no. Hannah's got innocent-girl vibes, but you're like the girl everyone wants as her friend," he explains. "It's going to be a great finale. We'll tease the hell out of it that Reg chooses Shelby, and the whole world will be relieved when he picks you."

"He's picking me? Uh, I thought we didn't talk about stuff like this." Now I'm the one making sure no one's listening in.

He waves that off. "You're in the business, not one of these wide-eyed know-nothings. You know how this works. Anyway, she said she had a project for you and wants an update in the morning. She's insistent. She's checking out Helms, isn't she? She's going to give him the new franchise?"

If she hasn't told him, I can't. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He sighs as though he knows he's hit a brick wall. "I think you do, but you're one of those rules followers, aren't you?"

"Your aunt is the one who set the rules, so yes, I'm going to follow them," I reply. "Is she coming to the set?"

He pulls out a tiny cell phone. "She's in Sydney negotiating with one of the studios there. She wants to hit the ground running as soon as Helms is done with this project. If I'm right, he's going to hand everything over to us and the editors and take his place at the head of the biggest production Pinnacle has ever backed. Is that going to be a problem? I don't know what my aunt is doing, but I get the feeling you have some say in it. Which is weird because you're nobody. At least you were until this show. I guess now you're going to be the queen of Ralavia."

"That hasn't been determined yet." I take the cell and slip it into the bodice of my dress since no one thought I needed pockets. "So she's going to call me?"

"Before the shoot starts in the morning," Thad affirms.

At least I'll be able to give Jessica what she wants. Harper has tried to get Joe to hit on her, and he didn't go for it. He's been perfectly professional with me and all the other contestants. He kind of treats us like his kid sisters or daughters. Joe is seemingly kind and thoughtful.

"I'll take care of it," I promise.

"Good, and keep taking care of the king," he says with a weird smirk on his face. "He's going to be a star. It'll be worth the seven million to have exclusive rights to the royal wedding."

He turns and walks away.

He's kind of a jerk, but that's how producers are. And I want to be one, why? I walk down the hall, my shoes in hand and cell phone nestled against my boobs wondering why I want to do this.

Because since I was a kid, they were the people with the power. I grew up in this industry. Surrounded by it. It's all I know, and production has the power.

I want to be a different producer than the ones like Thad, who care nothing about the story they're telling or the people they're working with. It's not like there aren't great producers out there, but there are an awful lot of Thads.

At least Joe turns out to be a good person to work with. I round the corner to make my way to the residential portion of the mansion. Soon this will all be over, and Luca and I will have some time to figure out if this can work.

I'm starting to believe it can.

"I told you I don't want to do that," a familiar voice says.

I can barely hear him. It's Patrick, I think, but he's trying to keep it down. I wonder who's pissed him off this time. I feel for whoever it is.

"Stop," he says, and this time he's louder, and I can hear genuine distress in his voice.

I move toward the production office.

"You can't say you don't want it," another voice says. "After all, it's not like it's the first time, Pat. You know what happens if you don't do your job."

A chill goes up my spine because I know that voice, too.

Sometimes rumors get twisted. We see what we think we should see and forget that anyone can be a target. Not only women. No. We're equal opportunity sexual harassers in my industry.

So I do exactly what I would do if one of the women were behind that door. I throw it open and let Patrick know he's not alone.

I never realized how big Joe is, but seeing him with his hand around Patrick's throat makes it clear that the power imbalance goes far beyond their jobs. He's got Patrick backed against the wall, and I can't miss the sheen of tears in the PA's eyes. I also can't miss the fact that his hand is on Patrick's belt.

"Hey, are you okay?" He's not and I know he's not, but I can't think of anything else to say.

We've all been in this position. Every woman I know has had some man put his hands on her when she didn't want him to. From mild annoyance to outright rape, this is something women deal with on an everyday basis, and my heart aches and I'm also angry at myself because never once did I think that the person who Joe was harassing was a man.

Patrick doesn't deserve this, and I was sent here to make sure he doesn't have to put up with it a moment longer.

Joe's face is a florid red when he turns, his hands coming up as though he can show me he isn't dangerous. Except I've already seen behind the mask. "Everything is fine. We were just discussing tomorrow's shoot. Right, Patrick?"

Patrick is shaking as he nods. "Yeah. Tomorrow's shoot. I'm going home now to get some rest."

He rushes past me, his eyes not meeting mine.

"Anika, should we talk?" Joe asks me.

What is there to talk about? I saw what I saw, and I'm going to report it. Me standing here with him only places me in danger. I know when to retreat. I also want to let the monster stew in his own anxiety about what I'll do. I give him a smile. "Not at all. Sorry I interrupted."

He unleashes an audible sigh. "Sorry. My wife and I have an odd relationship. It's open, so if you're thinking about telling her, she won't be surprised."

Oh, she's not who I'm telling. "It's your business, Joe. On set affairs happen all the time."

I need to appease this man or I'm worried what he'll do to me. Tomorrow I'll have my talk with Jessica, and we'll have a new director shortly after that. I won't have to deal with him again, so I'm willing to say anything to get from point A, where I'm alone in a room with him, to point B, where I will never have to see this man again.

"I'm glad you understand. You've been in the business long enough to know how these things go. I have certain needs my wife can't fulfill."

"Because you're gay. Which is not a big deal in our business, so I'm not sure why you feel the need to hide it."

"I'm bisexual, and my wife understands my needs," he explains. "I come from a conservative, very wealthy family. If my parents find out, I'll be disinherited, and it will cost me a hundred million dollars. I've kept the secret this long. I might as well wait the fuckers out. Until then, I have nice casual relationships with men like Patrick."

It hadn't looked nice. He'd said no. "So you tend to hook up on set. That's a popular activity."

He stares at me. "Yes. Yes, it is. You should remember that."

Something about the way he says the words feels threatening, and I'm done with small talk. "Well, good night, Joe."

"Good night, Anika." He watches me leave.

When I hit the stairs, I run up them and down the hall to my room. I lock the door behind me. I really need a shower.