AN: I am terribly sorry for the slow pace of my update. I just want you to know that I do have valid reasons, and since I am anonymous on this site, I shall share those reasons. For one, I have lacked inspiration to write, mostly because for the last month now, I have been distraught. I was on the verge of losing my house. I'm only eighteen, working a part-time job while attending college full-time, so I was only able to help with what I had. My parents used my money, and that got us by, I worked as hard as I could to get more hours at work, and I allowed my grades to suffer because of that.
It was so hard, waking up and checking my bank account to see that my parents had taken out more money. But, I am extremely lucky! My mother found a job that shall keep us afloat!
I was surprised that my last chapter was so long! Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
EPOV
"What? No! Absolutely not." I crossed my arms across my chest and hoped that it would show just completely serious I am.
Tyler did not seem at all phased by my reluctance, and instead talked with a gleam in his eye.
"I know you're not overly fond of Tanya, Edward, however I do believe that she is great for reality television. She can do great things for the ratings." And then some, I knew he implied. I had come to find out that the women in the game show were more than eager to get their time in the spot life, even if it's just for a bit- or if the cost was the degradation of their character.
"Look, Tyler, I just can't allow her to stay on this show. She's completely off-putting to me. There's no way I would be able to feign any sort of indifference and especially won't be able to pretend that she's got a chance." I had to stand my ground or Tanya would be stuck on this show. Who knows, at the rate of the favors Tanya pulls for Tyler, she may be a finalist! That simply cannot happen!
Tyler rolled his eyes and stood up. "Edward, don't eliminate Tanya this round. She needs to be in it for television purposes. You can get rid of her soon enough. Eliminate one of the shy girls." He said with a shrug and then turned to leave. "You're on in twenty so start getting ready."
"Edward, do you know who you plan on eliminating yet?" Alice asked excitedly. I was not used to this level of energy radiate off of anyone, really.
"Yeah." I was going to eliminate Brittany, who said practically nothing that I liked about her.
"Ooh! Who?" Alice laid out some dress pants, a crisp white utility top, a green tie and a blazer for me to change into.
"I'm not supposed to share-" I started but then Alice looked at me with wide eyes and a slight pout.
"Look, Edward, I would just tell her. She could get confessions out of anyone." Rosalie said lightly, looking adoringly at her friend.
"Okay, well I want to eliminate Tanya." I started and they both agreed. "But I can't- they won't let me. They say she is great reality TV, plus she does some stuff for Tyler that makes him think she is worth keeping on the show."
"Ew. What a whore." Rosalie said with disgust as she began to do my makeup.
"That's terrible!" Alice concurred. "Why would you keep someone with such low morality on the show? Well, I suppose I know why, but that's still disgusting! So… who are you going to eliminate in her place?"
"Brittany. Her answers were airy." I was relieved to be able to talk about my frustrations while I was here.
I was surprised about the relief in their eyes- maybe they just didn't like Brittany?
Before I could question the reason behind their reaction, Alice pulled me up and looked at the outfit she pulled together and nodded to herself.
"Okay, you look perfect! Go to the living room to make your first elimination!"
BPOV
I was standing with other women that were considered my competition in a sparking green dress. I would have never picked it out in a hundred years due to the fact that it had a deeper V than I felt comfortable in and clung to my body like a layer of skin.
Oh, how did I get it then? One might ask. How do you think? Freakin' Alice and her unstoppable nature! I swear, when I put my suitcase down earlier that day, I had nothing but the clothes I had chosen to wear. There were items that I had bargained with Alice to allow me to take to the competition, all pieces she agreed to. And yet, after the blind questions, my suitcase was replaced by clothing articles that screamed Alice.
It was truly stupid of me to believe that Alice might have actually allowed me to get my way about anything really, much less something as vital as a wardrobe.
I suspected that she paid one of the camera men to switch it out. Then again, the clothes could have miraculously changed just simply because Alice was Alice.
I focused on my balance, wearing heals that were not as extreme as Alice could have gone. I tried not to be thankful for her considering my clumsiness, but instead focused on being angry with her trickery.
Stupid, unfair, magical pixie…
I was grumbling to myself when the theme music of the show began to play and the lights were adjusted to ensure the best view of our cleavage. I wasn't over the top in my dress compared to the others. But that didn't make me feel any more comfortable.
The girls squealing alerted me to Edward's arrival as he descended down the stairs.
He looked as handsome as ever.
I realized that I was not at all nervous, completely prepared to be eliminated right off the back. I stood tall and prepared my loser speech to get the cameras afterwards.
"Good evening, ladies." Edward said, cutting off my rehearsal of my loser speech. His green eyes shined under the lighting and green tie. I noticed that we matched in color and wondered how on earth Alice managed to pull that off. "I must say that it was amazing getting to learn a little bit about you all. I found some things you said quite enticing." His eyes had stopped on mine when he said that, a smile dancing in them.
Was he hinting something?
No, all this light was playing with my head. I decided when his eyes continued to glance to each other girl.
"I can't wait to get to know all of you just a little bit better in the next round. But, for now, we must dismiss a friend so I can be closer to finding my Mrs. Right." Edward's eyes landed on mine yet again. I flushed. Was he warning me that I was the one he must eliminate? If so, it's very considerate of him- to allow me to gather my thoughts and prepare myself mentally for the humiliation. I straightened just a little bit more.
"Tonight, I will be handing all but one of you a white rose." Edward explained as the set crew discreetly moved a vase in front of him and then lunged out of camera view. "The first girl I am giving a rose to is the one whose answers intrigued me the most. I feel that we share many similar interests, and I am hoping that we will be able to explore that more." He grabbed the first rose, "Isabella. You may by my Mrs. Right."
For some reason, my name on his lips didn't register. I hadn't expected to be called at all, much less first! So until Angela and Ilianna on either sides of me nudged me, I had not reacted.
When I did, it wasn't very graceful.
I stumbled just a bit, enough to cause the camera staff and the women behind me to snicker. I flushed and met Edward under the dramatic spotlight. He gave me a charming crooked smile before handing me the rose.
I tingled in all the right places. Hey, don't judge! I am a woman after all.
I went over to the spot where we were directed to go in case of being called. I stood there alone, seeing the clear hatred in the other women's eyes. It was something I had expected to happen, but I never thought I would be on the receiving end.
I was the first person to receive the rose.
I was a threat. And they all knew it now.
"The next woman I'm about to call…" Edward continued to call names, one by one until there were only two women left on the other end. Brittany and Jessica.
I didn't know either of them well enough to have a preference of who should stay. So I listened to the others whisper amongst each other about who they believed was going home.
"Could Jessica and Brittany please step forward?" Edward asked and the girls complied.
They both looked terrified. Perhaps I was glad that I wouldn't be going home tonight.
"Both of you are extremely beautiful," Edward explained, ensuring that he look at both of them an equal amount as to not tip any viewers. "But one of you believed in things so drastically than I do, that I could never imagine you as my Mrs. Right. So, with that… Jessica, go ahead and join your friends." Jessica let out a gasp of relief and scurried over to us. Brittany's eyes widened and her lip quivered. "I'm sorry Brittany, but I don't have a rose to give you. You cannot be my Mrs. Right. Please pack up and leave the House."
She nodded, tears now flowing from her face and she went to our rooms.
Edward turned towards us. I could finally see his full expression, and what I saw shocked me. There was no cockiness in his look like most of the contestants. He did not find satisfaction in sending a girl home in front of hundreds of viewers. He seemed, dare I think it, regretful.
If his eyes weren't so full of emotion, you couldn't tell that he was distraught. He plastered on a fake smile for the camera that could have fooled anyone not looking into his eyes.
"Congratulations, ladies. I cannot wait to spend more time with you. Get some rest tonight because tomorrow you will face your first real challenge. Goodnight." He walked off his little pedestal and strode to his room.
For Christ's sake, even his walk was beautiful.
AN: I know you all have been waiting way too long for such a short chapter. But I realize I needed this chapter to go this way so I could create the perfect story for you all! I will update soon since my best friend/beta has given me a brilliant idea for the next chapter!
Leave me your thoughts!