Chapter Five
Eden
“Breathe. Just breathe.”
I lay a comforting hand on a tall blonde contestant’s shoulder and made soothing sounds to her to try and calm her down. Her name was Hayley, and she was one of Candice’s girls, but Candice was in the middle of dealing with a dress crisis—apparently someone had cut up a gown belonging to another contestant—so she was currently unavailable, and it was up to me or the other producers to help.
Hayley was freaking out because of the big group event which was about to start—the first cocktail party. There was always one at the start of a new season, and it was a lavish affair where all the women would dress up in designer gowns (again) and have the chance to get some one-on-one time with the Stud. Expensive champagne was always flowing freely at these parties in order to encourage loose lips and drama, but apparently, no amount of champagne promises could give Hayley the courage she needed to deal with the night.
“I just can’t do it,” she said, her voice wavering. “I don’t know why I ever signed up for this show. All these cameras everywhere, watching everything I do….I just can’t go into the party.”
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “I know you can do it. Just be yourself.”
She shook her head. “I can’t! You know, before I arrived, I watched a documentary about how they make reality shows, and it said that the producers always try to create drama. I just know that someone’s going to set me up to do something horrible.”
She was right, that was exactly what a lot of producers did. They’d manipulate their girls to say or do something in order to create a tense or dramatic situation, because it was a cheap way to get good ratings. I didn’t personally do that, though. I’d always found that manipulation wasn’t necessary—if you stick twenty-four women in a house with no phones or internet and pit them against each other to gain the affection of just one man, they inevitably get bored or competitive enough to create their own drama.
I crouched down so that Hayley was slightly above me in her seat—I’d found that this technique helped people like her feel as if they had control. “You know, you’re right about that,” I said. “Some shows and producers are like that. But that’s not going to happen to you on this show, okay? You’re a sweet girl; no one wants to set you up.”
She sniffed. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“I’m still worried about the cameras following us absolutely everywhere.”
“Would it help if I told you about the layout of the first episode?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Each Stud episode is forty-five minutes long, and for the first one, at least fifteen whole minutes of that screen time is focused on the introduction videos we’ve already filmed. Then there’s another five minutes of general shots of scenery or the whole group. That leaves twenty-five minutes of screen time for the girls at the party tonight, and there are twenty-four girls. So in this episode, you’ll only get about a minute or so of screen time dedicated to you. Maybe even less. So unless you really screw up or do something dramatic or bitchy, the cameras will barely be on you.”
Usually we would never tell a contestant how little screen time she’d be getting in the first few weeks of the show (seeing as most of them craved attention like the rest of us craved oxygen) but Hayley really seemed to be worrying, and I knew it would make her feel better to know that every single second of her life wouldn’t be broadcasted.
She nodded. “That actually does help. Thanks. I don’t even know why I’m freaking out so much. I knew exactly what I signed up for.”
“I know, but it’s one thing to simply think about being on camera, and another thing to actually do it,” I replied. “A lot of contestants get freaked out in the first few weeks.”
That was true. I’d dealt with enough teary breakdowns to know.
“Yeah, I just worry that I’ll trip over or do something else really dumb, and that’ll get captured,” Hayley replied.
I gestured down at her five inch high heels. “If you’re that worried about tripping, lose the heels. You’re already tall; do you really need them tonight?”
She gave me a watery smile and shook her head. “No, and they hurt like hell to wear. I’m just wearing them because everyone else is.”
I leaned in close. “Here’s a tip for you. The Studs always notice the women who are different and unique in some way. If everyone else is wearing heels and you aren’t, he’ll notice, and he’ll probably start to see you as a more down-to-earth kinda gal. He might even talk to you more than the other women, because he’ll see you as more relatable. That could give you an edge.”
She nodded. “I didn’t even think of that,” she said. “Thanks, Eden. You’ve been really helpful. You’re not at all what I pictured when I was thinking about what all the evil, manipulative producers might be like.”
I smiled. “Glad to hear it. Now, are you ready to go into the party? It’s only just started, so you haven’t missed anything yet.”
“Sure. I’ll just go change my shoes first.”
As she walked upstairs, I headed into the ballroom on the ground floor of the mansion. It was already starting to fill up with contestants, all dressed to the nines as usual, and crew members were also circulating around, making sure everything got off to a good start. Across the room, I could see Troy surrounded by cameras and four women, all fawning over him, and I tried to ignore how good he looked. I didn’t want to admit it, because it was him, but damn…the man could really fill out a tux. I could hardly stop staring.
“Eden?”
I turned to see Cailin standing behind me, a concerned look on her face. “Hey, what’s up?” I asked. “You should try to talk to Troy; get some conversation time in with him for the cameras.”
“I will. I just wanted to make sure that the hors d’oeuvre on the table over there…”
“The food is all peanut free,” I cut in, giving her a smile. “Don’t worry, go and party!”
She smiled and headed off, and my gaze returned to Troy. This time, he was looking right at me and ignoring all the women around him, and I abruptly turned my head away as my cheeks filled with lusty heat.
How could this be happening? After all this time, the prick could still make me melt with just a single glance. I couldn’t show him that, though.
I quickly left the ballroom and headed up the spiral stairs to find Hayley, wanting to make sure she’d found her new shoes…or at least that’s what my excuse would be if anyone asked why I wasn’t at the party. Truthfully, I just wanted to get out of the same room as Troy, before he noticed how he was still affecting me.
My train of thought was interrupted by a shrill scream coming from one of the contestant’s bedrooms, and my pulse began to race as I realized I recognized the voice.
Blair.