Then Emmett makes good on his promise.
And it only takes one hand.
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OFFICIAL MEMO
To: Richard Wadsworth
From: Teri Baker
Subject: Fifth Elimination Ceremony/Unexpected Departure
We postponed our elimination ceremony due to a conflict at the rodeo. Emmett has officially eliminated Akira. Her father’s disapproval during the meet and greet made this the obvious choice.
Due to that same conflict Emmett was unable to meet with Evelyn’s family so she has been awarded an extra one-on-one date to make up for that lost time.
This development caused tensions to boil over between Jada and Evelyn.
Jada confronted Evelyn about being a “producer plant” based on how things played out last night with Emmett clearly refusing to redo the take and the producer interference that followed.
Jada packed her bags and left despite my and the night producer’s assurances that she’s important to Emmett. We are now down to two daters: Catherine and Evelyn.
I do believe some of the footage can be massaged and used for television if we get creative.
We may want to film this week’s one-on-one dates as though she hasn’t departed and then have the outburst be after Evelyn’s date and before hers. Making it appear as though it was time alone with Emmett that set them off rather than any accusation about the show itself.
Catherine has stayed quiet and clear of the drama. She might be the perfect balance to Evelyn as we head into the final. Will he pick the bitch or America’s sweetheart?
Jada’s unexpected departure leaves a hole in the schedule, though. My suggestion is that we give the cast and crew a two-day weekend before heading into the final week of recording.
One last observation: I had noted that Emmett and Julia were on the outs, but now I’m not so sure. He is back to searching for her off camera, and I have a sinking suspicion there is still something going on there, given his refusal to move forward with any physical contact. As of this writing, he has not come back to his cottage on set since yesterday.
We may need to increase outside pressure to keep him motivated through these final weeks.
Please advise on the best next steps.
Sincerely,
Teri Baker
Story Producer
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CHAPTER 35
Emmett
“NO, NO, NO, no, no. You put her harness on. And where the fuck are those mics? We’re losing good light here, people!” Richard barks from the side of the shot. He’s been on a tear for days and is clearly still seething over me fucking up the rodeo scene he tried so hard to produce.
The one where Evelyn was set to leap into my arms and kiss me in front of a crowd. And her family.
We had to rerecord the elimination ceremony a day later thanks to my early departure. And based on the way Richard has been treating me since, I would say that I’m still very much in the doghouse.
Pretty sure I’m going to be paying for that snub for the foreseeable future.
“The cameras are already rolling, for fuck’s sake! And none of you thought to bring backups? How long can it possibly take to fix such a simple piece of technology?” He rages on, waving sheets of paper in the direction of a frazzled-looking crew member who is handling the mics with shaking hands.
I grind my teeth and try not to turn my scowl on poor Catherine. After all, it’s not her fucking fault that Dick Wad is, well, a dickwad.
“May I?” I ask, gesturing to the harness, acutely aware of the fact that Julia is also on set watching. After all, there was an endless number of waivers for shooting at a zip-lining adventure.
“Yeah, sure, that’s fine,” Catherine says, with a soft laugh, indicating that she also finds this to be fucking absurd.
But Richard isn’t giving us much leeway. Since I refused to do a retake of that shot with Evelyn at the rodeo, I’ve been on his shit list. And he’s been finding every chance to get me to touch someone or stage moments where creative camerawork can tell a story that’s not true.
So while there may not be any kissing or any truly sexual contact, I know what he’s doing. He can create something out of nothing as long as I get down on my knees and make sure that Catherine is strapped in right.
I hate it. I suspect Julia hates it, but she’d never tell me.
She is grinning and bearing it at every turn. And when I ask her if I should stop, she always tells me to just keep going, that we’ll make it through. That she trusts me.
As I crouch and fall to my knees in front of Catherine, I hold out the harness for her to step into before pulling it up her waist and situating it neatly above her hips. I avoid as much actual physical contact as possible.
I try not to freeze up when Catherine’s fingers play with the neckline of my simple white tee. The contact feels a touch too familiar. Especially now.
“Hurry the fuck up!” Richard snaps as he storms over toward his staff member.
Then I sneak a peek at Julia, who’s wearing that same matching workout set she did the day she hiked Prickle Point by herself—and ended up bent over my kitchen counter.
Our eyes meet for a beat. Her expression is blank. She might be better at faking it than I am, because I’m certain my expression right now is pained.
Forcing myself to focus, I look back at the buckle before me, finishing the task at hand.
From above me, Catherine giggles.
“Something funny?” I mumble as I continue working at the straps. As soon as I’m done, someone professional will check them for actual safety, but I’m still putting on a good show of it.
“Yeah, what’s funny is that everyone seems to think you’re going to be able to pick a winner for this show when you’re clearly in love with her.”
Catherine doesn’t look at Julia, but she gives a subtle tip of her head in that direction.
I glance up at her, and shock must be clearly written across my face because she laughs again. Her voice is so quiet that I wonder if I misheard her. We may not be mic’d up right now, but the crew is all around us.
“Oh, you poor thing,” she whispers. “I do not envy you in this position. I’ve read about some sad shit, but this? This might be the saddest.”
I drop my eyes and groan out a pained chuckle because she’s on to me, and there’s no point in denying it. Plus, she doesn’t seem all that upset by the development.
“Sorry,” I say lamely. But I’m not sure what to say to a girl who spent weeks living on my family farm, doing daily activities, all to have me possibly fall in love with her—or at least choose her as the winner.
Catherine smiles. “Don’t be. It’s been… kind of a privilege to watch this whole thing develop. I spotted it early on and thought to myself, how unique to be on a show where we’re all looking for love, and there you are, finding it where you least expect it. That’s just how the world works, isn’t it?”
I stare at her dumbstruck. There’s a thoughtful, tenderhearted vibe about the woman, and I find myself flattered that she’s noticed the connection between Julia and me for so long.
It strikes me that maybe Catherine noticed before either of us did.
“Well”—I dust off my hands—“I don’t know what to say other than that I very much appreciate your mature approach to my being a fucking mess.”
She throws her head back and lets out a hearty laugh before dusting a bug off my shoulder, which I’m sure the cameras will twist into something far more than it is.
“Happy to be of assistance. Now, should we try these things out?” she says, tugging at her harness.
