Thanks for the support!
Chapter Twenty-One:
It was past midnight when Shawna met with Macy and Faye.
"What the HECK is going on?" she yelled.
"Where do you want us to start?" Macy asked.
"When did you decide to create a decoy special?"
"When I was confronted by 'Ava' and 'Mel,'" Faye said. "They demanded to be the final two under the threat of blackmail and criminal prosecution. They never asked to be the real final two."
Shawna spun around. "Really?" she said. "And Sam signed off on all of this?"
"He's actually thrilled," Macy said. "I managed to pitch this whole situation as a special Lonely Hearts: Covert Edition."
"It's a working title," Faye said.
"And what about Spencer? When did he get clued in?"
"Our special consultant has been in contact with him," Faye said. "We managed to get a message through our Hawaiian. She going to be our heart next season by the way, in exchange for her cooperation."
"What about Leah?" Shawna said. "He broke her heart and she took it hard."
"The plane ride," Macy said. "There was a slight mix-up in the seating arrangements."
"What about Mel?" she asked. "She hasn't confessed anything yet."
"According to my sources, Ava is singing like a canary about 'Melanie,' and the other contestants who turned out to be members of a group that wanted to recruit Spencer."
"So, what next?" Shawna said. "Do I have a whole new series of dates to schedule?"
"I set the schedule before we left," Faye said. "Spencer will be touring another town in Puerto Rico, followed by dinner and second trip to the observatory with Leah. He and Bella are going cliff diving the next day followed by a performance of a local music group and dinner."
Shawna sighed. "Why didn't you two consider cluing me in?"
"Someone needed to keep running the show while we were playing spy games," Faye said.
"You are also getting a raise for all your troubles," Macy said.
"One more thing: How are we going to explain that half of the main group is in jail?"
Macy was glowing. "We're starting the show early," she said. "We're pre-empting Celebrity Talent Show. We've already started the editing in LA and are working with the FBI to create a narrative."
"Wait, the FBI is on board with helping to produce the show?"
"They got a terror group, out of this," Faye said. "They're happy to cooperate as long as we keep certain elements confidential."
"You've got five hours to sleep," Macy said. "Then the dates start again."
"Yes, Ma'am," Shawna said.
"So how mad are you at us?" Faye asked.
She yawned. "Between the raise, additional help with production, and this being the least boring season of Lonely Hearts ever, I'm only slightly pissed."
…
"I'd be embarrassed to even try my high school Spanish here," Leah said as she and Reid walked the streets of Fajardo.
"They have a basic understanding of English here," he said. "Spanish remains the most common language here despite attempts to change it. Puerto Rico is considered multi-lingual."
"Kind of like you in some ways," she said. "You're multi-lingual yet are also stuck in certain habits."
"Like what?" he asked.
"I have yet to have a conversation with you where you don't talk about the FBI," she said. "I've been waiting for you to bring it up."
"The FBI is, or was my life," he said. "I still don't know what I'm going to do without it."
"Maybe you don't have to leave it behind," she said. "Could you consult?"
"Possibly," he said.
"I know you can write," she said. "All the stories you've told me, they'd make a fantastic book."
"Thanks."
"The views are amazing," she said. "I can't believe I'm here."
"I can," he said softly and stopped. "And what I see here is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen."
Leah turned red. "You're too kind."
"You're incredible," he said and kissed her.
She leaned in and hugged him as they kissed with a stunning view behind them.
…
"All these stars," Leah said. "They make you feel so insignificant in the grand scheme of things."
"They can," Reid said. "But look at it from another perspective, we are as unique as each of these stars because we are what stars are made of."
"You make science sound so incredible," she said. "I have so many regrets among them maybe is not trying harder to care about our world beyond the gossip magazines and pulp paperbacks."
"It is never too late to start," he said. "We all have the capability to move forward with a new perspective of everything."
She stared at him intently. "Yes, we can."
He took a step closer. "Would you like to stay the night?" he asked softly.
"Please," she said in return.
…
"So, did you fix the cameras in Spencer's room?" Shawna asked.
"There was no room in the budget," Macy said as she worked from her tablet.
"Really?" she said with a laugh.
"It's the story I'm sticking to," Macy said.
Shawna merely smiled and walked away.