I hope you're having fun.
Chapter Seven:
Faye returned to the war room.
"Nice work," Macy said.
"How are things with the women?" she asked taking a seat.
"Getting ugly," Shawna said and flipped the monitor.
"Trust me," Francine. "He is not a tighty-whity guy," she said. "I mean can you imagine being shot and having your pants ripped off revealing those!"
Just then Reid and Drake appeared. The room went dead quiet. Faye screamed.
"Ladies," Drake began. Reid put hand on him.
"I'll take it from here, Drake," he said. "Francine, I'd like you to leave."
"But we're just having a little fun, aren't we?" she said.
"No," he said. "We are not."
"But these are things everyone in America wants to hear about!" she said wildly. "Not your brains. What is under the hood is all that matters around here."
One of the women lunged towards her but two held her back.
"She's not worth it," Reid said. "But thanks. Francine please leave now before security escorts you out."
Francine walked up to him. "I can tell you're not well built down there anyway," she said and walked out of the mansion.
Faye looked to Macy. Macy looked to Betty, one of the producers.
"You're fired," she said.
"I didn't tell her to emasculate him!" she cried.
"You planted the idea in her head and I am sure we have the video to prove it."
"She's an orc!" Star shouted.
Reid turned around and laughed. He laughed hard. The women joined him.
"I don't even know what one is but I bet she is the queen of them!" one of the women said.
"It's actually a patriarchal society, in Dungeons and Dragons" Lena said.
They all stared at her. "What? You're not only geek in this crowd Star. I am also a level five priest."
Macy poured herself a glass.
"Whoever recruited the witch is getting a cash bonus tonight."
"How much?" Leon asked.
Faye watched Drake looking slightly jealous.
"I'll double whatever she offers."
"Ladies," Drake said. "In just a few short hours Spencer will be sending five of you home. Now is your time to have fun and get to know Spencer."
Ava appeared in front of him.
"How about we have that drink?"
"Just a glass of champagne," he said.
They walked to the garden and sat in front of the fountain.
"Feeling better?" she asked.
"A little," he said. "So, I never asked: What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a PI," she said.
"What did you do before that?" he said.
"Don't want to know what I do while on the job?"
"I know what you do," he said. "And I know a lot of people choose PI work when they can't do what they loved."
"I used to be a cop in Dayton," she said sadly. "Then I had an affair with my partner and when it became public I was done."
"It must have been hard," he said. "Leaving what you love over a mistake."
"It sounds like you know the feeling."
"I didn't lose my family though," he said. "I have a team of friends who stood by me."
"Even after they heard you were going on a dating show?" she said.
"Even after they found out I chose to look for love on a dating show," he said.
"Cool," Ava said. "Now I'll let the other ladies put their hooks in you."
"I'll see you around," he said.
Star appeared. "Can I send you through a temporal warp to hang out with me for a few minutes?"
"Sure," he said.
"Just to be clear," she said with a laugh. "There is more to me than Dungeons and Dragons."
"I knew that," he said. "It's game of skill and it invites creativity and builds companionship."
"You really are special," she said. "Most guys are either obsessed with the game and don't care about me or think I'm weird."
"What else do you care about?" he asked.
"I find foster homes for Pitbull dogs," she said. "I know most people think I'm probably a crazy cat lady but I am big advocate for the animals."
"They're a fascinating breed of dog," he said.
"Aloha," Halia said. "May I borrow him?"
"Sure," Star said. "Have a good night."
"So, where did you learn Hawaiian?" she asked.
"I like languages," he said. "I like to learn…"
Macy sighed contentedly.
"I really don't care who he picks now," she said. "He didn't run. Now whoever else has some crazy ideas to put in their women's heads, should really re-think that strategy. If I have to replace the whole production crew I will. This guy is different. Am I being clear enough?"
Everyone nodded.
Reid was talking to Mika about her watch.
"That is lovely," he said.
"Thank you," she said. "It was a good luck gift from my father. He had it specially engraved."
She took it off and presented it to him. He read the engraving a look of surprise came across his face.
"It is stunning," he said.
"Dad will be happy to hear that," she said.
"My turn," a woman said and put her hand on his shoulder. It was Bella, the bride.
"You know I just did this to get your attention," she said.
Reid was only partially listening. The message on the watch read: "Hotch will be watching."
…
"Ladies," Drake said. "Five of you will be sent home as twelve of you continue on the quest for Spencer's heart. Spencer, are you ready?"
"Yes," he said and the heart keychains were presented to him on a table.
"I think we all know who the first one is going to be," he said with a nervous laugh. "Star, thank you for being my hero, will you stay?"
"Absolutely," she said and hugged him.
"Leah," he said. "I really want to get to know you."
"Thank you," she said tearfully.
He then picked: Sarah, Mika, Lena, Kayla, Mary, Ava, Mel, Bella, Alison and Halia.
"Thank you all for coming," he said. "Today was a very special night that I will never forget. To those leaving, I hope you remember me as being a gentleman. I don't like hurting people and I just want to find love, so know that my heart is in the right place."
To those, who are staying, let the journey begin," he said.
There was much toasting and eventually the women were escorted to rooms. Faye found Reid sitting on a couch looking exhausted.
"You did good tonight," she said.
"I get to start up again tomorrow," he said.
"Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow," she said. "You conquered your first cocktail party with dignity and grace. And the producer responsible for Francine has been fired as a warning shot for everyone else."
Reid didn't say anything.
"It is going to get easier! You also looked like you had some real fun. Remember that while you sleep."
"Thanks Faye," he said.
"Any time Spencer," she said.
She left Reid with his thoughts.