This is going to be one long chapter. Have fun.
Chapter Six:
Reid combed his hair and adjusted his collar as a cameraman watched. There would be time for a voice-over later. He took a calming breath and then looked out the window. His life was about to get complicated in ways he knew he could not begin to predict. He waited a second and then left the room. It was time to put on a show, one that he hoped would lead to love.
…
Faye, Shawna, Macy, the other producers, and a number of technical crew members were assembled in the war room in the basement of the mansion. They'd be monitoring everything from all angles via flat screens. There was all a white board and profile pictures of all the contestants. Food was brought in along with champagne for the first episode.
"Let the limos arrive!" Macy declared through the radio.
Faye took a seat. "Where's the list of whose coming in the first limo?"
"It's a surprise," Macy said.
"You know I hate surprises," she grumbled.
"Which is why I love them," she said.
Then they watched as a woman in a red silk dress appeared. She walked up to Reid confidently and offered her hand.
"I'm Allison," she said. "I work as a chef."
He shook it. "It is a pleasure to meet you Allison. What do you like to cook?"
"I like seafood," she said. "Now can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he said.
"Can I touch your hair? It just looks so soft on TV."
"Okay," he said slowly.
She stroked it. "Oh wow!" she moaned. "It so luxuriously soft!"
"I'm going to kill the producer who suggested that stunt," Faye said.
There was snickering in the war room.
"Thanks," he said awkwardly. "I'll see you later."
"Bye," she waved.
Reid watched her leave. Once she was gone he pulled out a comb.
Macy clapped. "Money shot!"
"Next contestant please," Faye said.
She wore an opera ball gown and had her hair up in elaborate curls.
"Hi," she said. "I'm Samantha, and" she raised her voice and sang. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Spencer."
He clapped. "Bravo!"
"Thank you!" she sang and offered her hand.
"I look forward to seeing you later," he said.
"Count on it!" she sang and walked away.
He straightened the cuffs of his jacket.
Faye placed her head between her hands on the table. "Please don't let this one be a nut."
She wore a simple black dress. "I'm Victoria," she said. "I'm a middle school teacher."
"Great," he said as he shook her hand. "Your accent is Southern. Are you from Georgia?"
She beamed. "Right on the money!"
"Great, I'll see you later."
She waved as she left.
"Boring," Macy said.
The next woman came out dressed in a witch's costume.
"I'm Star," she said. "I'm a grandmaster of the North-Eastern Dungeons and Dragons Tournament."
"Resmond?" he said.
"You know me?"
"You're also working on the rules for next edition. Everyone I know hates the current one."
"I know," she said. "We're trying to fix the level system."
"We'll talk later," he said.
"I can't wait," she said.
"His nerdiness knows no bounds," Shawna said.
Next came a woman in a print dress.
"I'm Mel," she said.
"Just Mel?" he said.
"Yep," she said. "My parents wanted a short and sweet name."
"What do you do Mel?"
"I'm a civil rights lawyer."
"I look forward to discussing that later Mel."
She nodded and left.
"Keep a camera on her," Macy said. "We want her on the show long-term."
A woman in a gray silk dress appeared. "I'm Irene. I'm a florist."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Irene," he said pleasantly.
"I also have a kinky side," she said pulling a small rolled-up whip from the back of her dress. "You might need this later for when I get drunk and frisky." She put the whip in his outer suit pocket.
"See you later," Reid said.
Drake Rolland appeared. "That was the end of the first limo," he said. "How do you feel?"
"I suppose it gets easier with time," he said nervously.
"He looks like he wants to throw up in a bush," Faye said.
"It will," Drake said soothingly. "I promise."
The next limo pulled up. A woman in a Hawaiian print dress appeared with a flower behind one ear.
Aloha," she waved.
"Aloha," he said. "Pehea ʻoe?"
She looked delighted and said something back.
Macy rolled her eyes.
"Of course, he knows Hawaiian!"
"Aloha Halia!"
"Aloha Spencer!"
A woman in a Grecian red dress appeared.
"I'm Mika," she said. "I'm a social worker."
"In what field?" he asked.
"I work mostly with veterans."
"That is a very interesting specialty," he said. "I look forward to getting to know you."
A woman in plunging purple dress appeared.
"I'm Ingrid," she said and leaned and licked his cheek. "And you taste good."
"Thanks," he said nervously. "I'll see you later," he added quickly.
Faye rolled her eyes. "This is getting painful."
A woman in a bright orange dress appeared. "I'm Sarah, I work as a vet."
"What specialty?" he asked.
"Livestock and if you force me to make a joke about horsing around I'll leave," she said.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he said with a smile.
"See you later," she waved.
A woman dressed in a wedding gown appeared. Faye opened a bottle of champagne a poured herself a glass.
"I'm Bella," she said. "I'm a wedding planner and your future wife."
She kissed him on the lips.
Faye gulped her drink.
"Okay," he said. "See you later."
He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the kiss off quickly.
A woman in a black and white dress appeared.
"I'm Ava," she said. "And you look like you could use a drink. I wish I had something on me."
"It's fine," he said. "It is just a little more exhausting than I thought."
She patted him on the shoulder. "Hang in there. We'll talk later."
"Bye," he said.
Roland Drake appeared. "One more limo left. Do you think you've seen anyone you like yet?"
"I'm just trying to take things in as they come," Reid said.
"You'll be fine," he said. "I promise."
A woman in a pink dress with capped sleeves appeared.
"I'm Mary," she said sweetly. "I'm a teacher's aide in a developmentally delayed class."
"It is nice to meet you Mary," he said. "You look lovely."
She curtsied slightly. "Thank you!"
"We'll talk again soon," he said and waved.
A woman in a shiny green dress with a plunging neckline that revealed her voluminous cleavage appeared.
"I'm Leah," she said. "I work as waitress, and—and I'm not remotely in your league," she said sadly.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because I'm a waitress and twenty-eight years old and that is all I'm good at doing!" she said and began to tear up. "I thought by improving my looks someone would like me but most people just want to touch and feel everything."
"A woman stroked my hair today," he said.
She laughed. "But you're smart too! I really shouldn't be here, you deserve better than me." Leah turned around.
"Wait! Leah," he said urgently. "Let me be the judge of that."
"I really think you're special know that?" she said turning around. "You're better than everyone."
"But I'm not perfect," he said. "Please stay so we can try to get to know each other."
"Okay," she said.
"See you later," he said softly.
"See you later," she said and left for the mansion.
Shawna poured herself a glass. "He really is too good for this world."
A woman appeared in a gold dress.
"I'm Lena," she said. "I love numbers."
"Me too," he said.
"I know the odds are stacked against me but I hope you'll still consider me," she said.
"We'll see what happens Lena," he said. "See you later."
A woman a blue and white chiffon dress appeared.
"I'm Francine," she said. "I'm a lingerie model and I can tell from the way you standing-"
"I have excellent posture," he offered.
"And you wear—"
"Let's discuss that, later shall we?" he said.
"Of course," she said and walked away.
Faye clapped. "Good save!"
A woman in a black dress with sparkles appeared.
Fayed darted up the stairs.
"I'm Kayla," she said. "I manage a homeless shelter."
"Where?" he asked.
"Dallas," she said.
"That sounds rewarding and exhausting," he said. "We'll talk later," he said.
"Definitely," she said and walked away.
Drake approached him as Faye stepped forward.
"Let me talk to him for a second okay?" she said.
Drake looked annoyed but didn't say anything.
Faye pulled Reid aside by the shoulder. "You need to perk up. You look very drained."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I just feel like half these women aren't right for me and you're expecting me to date some of them."
"Yes, you're going to date some crazies but you're also going to have fun. I made sure we picked some good ones. People think the final two is the hardest, but honestly I have always thought this part was."
He didn't say anything.
"Close your eyes and take some deep breaths, Spencer. Focus on the ones who made your heart flutter and those who piqued your curiosity. Relax, open your eyes, and get ready to party."
He did as instructed. "I can do this," he said.
"I know you can," she said.
"Thanks Faye."
She walked over to Drake. "Your turn."