Chapter 15
The house is chaotic as the women get ready for the rose ceremony. I’m surprised at how nervous everyone seems. I haven’t seen one woman who’s shown any sincere interest in our beastly bachelor, but none of them want to go home. I can’t blame them. Soon will be the destination dates where the remaining contestants will be jetted off to surprise locations around the world. If it didn’t mean staying on the show for weeks, I’d kind of want to stay for that round, too.
Not all of them are in it for the world travel. Some of them love the attention and are hoping to launch modeling or acting careers after this, and most of them simply see dollar signs. I guess most women can put up with a lot for the chance to marry a billionaire. I think a few of them just want to win the competition for the sake of winning. I’m pretty sure Bridget wants all of these things. She’s convinced she’s going to get them, too. She’s strutting around the guesthouse dressing room acting like the queen of the castle. Snarking at everyone, bossing them around, belittling them. I really hope she gets booted tonight.
“All right, Vivian,” Tina calls out, patting her empty chair. “You’re up.”
I grin as I hop into her chair. “Make me beautiful.”
Tina smiles and starts blowing out my damp hair. I had to shower after my workout. So did everyone else who stayed back from the date today, which is why everyone is scrambling. We don’t have a lot of time. I’m the only one not freaking out to some extent, so I volunteered to go last.
“So you want to look beautiful?” Tina asks once my hair is dry, and I can hear her. There’s a teasing glint in her eyes. “Are we falling for the grumpy bachelor already?”
I ignore the nagging voice in the back of my mind that says I want to look nice for him and shake my head. “Marguerite Dubois said she’d watch the season to see my style. I’m wearing one of my own gowns tonight. I have to look as stunning as possible.”
“Something elegant, then,” Tina says, tapping her comb to her lips. “A classic updo. Braided back into a loose chignon with a few wispy tendrils around your face.”
“Sounds fabulous.”
After Tina works her magic on my hair—she’s a goddess—Sadie demands I put on my dress so she can match my makeup to the color, style, and overall vibe of the gown. I didn’t realize makeup could match a style of dress. Learn something new every day.
My gown is gorgeous. I picked my favorite one for tonight, since it’s the only rose ceremony I’ll participate in. It’s emerald green to complement my red hair. It’s an off-the-shoulder satin dress with a sweetheart neckline and low back. The bodice sweeps across my body, gathering on one side, accentuating my waist to show off my minimal curves as much as possible. Then at the hips it falls loosely to the floor. There’s a deep slit high on my thigh that shows off my leg. My legs are my best physical features, if you ask me. They’re toned from so much dancing.
“Stunning,” Sadie says. “Definitely calls for some smoky eyes. Gold will look great.”
I sit in her chair with a grin. “I trust you.”
When I’m finished, I might just look the best I ever have in my life. I beam at my two friends in the mirror. “You guys are amazing.”
Sadie grins. “Sebastian’s going to love it. Rumor around the crew is he’s totally smitten with you.”
Tina nods. “I heard you two got pretty cozy in the limo last night.”
My eyes bulge, and my face flames. “We did not.”
“Cuddling was the word Kevin used.”
Kevin is the main camera man for James’s crew. He was the one filming us at the ball last night. I can’t believe he was talking about me. Oh, wait, yes, I can. This show is so gossipy, and the crew is not immune to it. They even place bets on which contestants will be sent home each rose ceremony.
“Oh, my gosh, it was not like that. I just had an amazing night. I was all floaty.”
“Amazing because of Sebastian?” Tina teases. “James said you danced. A lot.”
I throw my hands in the air, huffing in exasperation. “It was a ball! That’s what you do there.”
The two women burst into laughter.
“You guys are mean. And anyway, I’ll be done after tonight. They said I only had to stay until after the ball.”
“Pity,” Sadie says. “You’re the best contestant.”
I shake my head. “I think Emma will be the victor in the end. She’s too sweet not to be.”
“She’s too quiet,” Tina disagrees. “They would go weeks without saying a word to each other. My money’s on Jalisa. She’s bold, but not conceited. She’s fun and nice. Beautiful and smart.”
“Like you,” Sadie says to me. “And my money’s still on you. Sebastian will totally give you a rose tonight.”
“No, he won’t. He knows I don’t want one. He’s not that much of a jerk. Plus, for whatever reason, I think he really needs to find a wife. He needs to pick women he actually has a shot with.”
Both women sigh. “You’re no fun,” Sadie says.
“As long as he doesn’t pick Bridget,” Tina mutters. “I want that woman gone.”
“Don’t we all?” I agree. “Well, I guess I’d better go await my fate with everyone else.”
Tina and Sadie give me careful hugs and wish me luck. I don’t need it. I’m not getting picked tonight.
* * *
Rose ceremonies are the worst. They take hours, and we have to stand still the entire time. And we’re all in heels. At least my gown isn’t skintight like some of these ladies’. I’m not sure how they haven’t passed out yet.
We’re set up in the mansion’s large living room. The furniture has been removed and they’ve brought in a set of risers so they can line us up in two rows. There are currently fifteen of us, and after tonight we’ll be down to nine. Then there’s another round of dates, and it’ll go to five for the destination dates. After that, the top four do Meet the Family visits. One goes home after that. The final three get overnight dates with Sebastian, and then it’s down to the final rose.
They parade us into the room and make us stand there while they adjust the lighting. They set up three different cameras to get different angles so they can get different women’s reactions when the names are called.
Aaron comes in with his salesman smile and does his spiel about the rose ceremony and how it works. After he leaves, Sebastian enters the room. All of the women snap instantly awake. Most of them start to preen. It makes me smile.
Sebastian comes to a stop in front of us, standing next to a podium that holds nine roses. He’ll hand out the roses one by one to the women he wants to stay. If you’re not holding a rose by the end of the night, that’s it. Your bags are packed, and you’re out of the house the same night.
Aaron says a few more words to Sebastian before handing the show over to him. Sebastian waits until he’s got the green light from James and then picks up the first rose. The women collectively hold their breaths, except for Bridget and Calista. They’re both holding their chins high and smiling smugly. I’m going to laugh so hard when neither of them are picked first. I’m sure at least one of them will make the cut tonight. Sebastian gets to make the final decisions about the top nine, but I’m sure the show producers bullied him into keeping at least one of them because they need the drama.
James points to Sebastian, signaling that he’s good to go. Sebastian looks down at the rose, scans the crowd, then waits a breath, making everyone sweat. I’m sure it’s all part of the show. Finally, his gaze locks on one woman. “Jalisa,” he calls.
I smile my approval. Jalisa is great. It’s also funny to watch Bridget glare at Jalisa like she’s trying to explode her head. Jalisa looks surprised and genuinely pleased as she makes her way to Sebastian to collect her rose. After she accepts it, she gives it back and goes back to her spot. Sebastian has to call her again after they reposition the cameras so they can get shots of him calling her name. It takes fifteen minutes from when they call Jalisa’s name to when they’re ready to let Sebastian pick his next victim.
Katie is next, then Willow. I breathe a sigh of relief when he calls Emma’s name. I really want her to win. She seems to be sincerely looking for love. Calista is next, causing several eyerolls, and when Bridget is after her, there are a few scoffs and groans. The show is going to have a field day with this footage. After Bridget is Selena and Laurel.
There’s only one rose left, and everyone without one is really starting to look scared. Several are fidgeting, or worrying their lips in their teeth. One woman is holding her breath and starting to turn red. I scan the remaining women. I have no idea who it will be. Everyone I like has already been picked. The two drama queens are still in the running. The only women left are the totally bland women that haven’t stood out in any way.
Sebastian picks up the last rose and studies the women. His eyes linger on a pretty Asian woman, and then they turn on me. I frown. Why is he looking at me? His stare turns intense, his eyes saying a thousand words. He can’t possibly mean to choose me. We talked about this. I shake my head, but the man keeps his gaze locked on me. “Vivian,” he says, loud and clear and confident.
The bastard.
I can’t stop gaping at Sebastian, but I can feel the camera zooming in on me. I’m sure the look of shock on my face will make headlines when the show airs. I can’t help it. I can’t believe he did this. “Vivian,” he calls again when I don’t move. He shakes the rose in his hand, prompting me to come and take it.
Jalisa, next to me, gives me a gentle nudge and whispers, “Go, girl.”
Sebastian is still watching me, his face giving nothing away of his thoughts. Anger burns through me. I stomp down from the back row of the risers and march with my hands clenched into fists up to Sebastian. He holds the rose out to me. “Vivian, will you accept this rose?”
In all my years of watching this show, the bachelor asks the same question to every woman, and not once has anyone ever answered with a no. Well, there’s a first time for everything. “No, thank you.”
His brows climb his forehead. He glances toward James, unsure what to do. James twirls his finger in a keep going gesture. Sebastian looks at me again, and a hard determination takes over his face. “You have to. You signed a contract.”
So, I guess we’re having this conversation in front of all the other women. That’s not going to cause drama in the house. “Jeremiah said I could quit after the ball.”
He holds up a finger. “If I let you go.”
I think back on that meeting and try to recall exactly what was said, and damn it, he’s right. Jeremiah said I could be done after the ball only if Sebastian sends me home. I was the moron who just assumed Sebastian wouldn’t want to keep an unwilling contestant around. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Sebastian wiggles the rose at me again.
“Why?” I hiss.
The jerk shrugs. “I want you to stay.”
That might be considered romantic, if he weren’t being so stubborn and arrogant.
“Take the rose, Vivian.”
I can’t believe this. He’s got me backed into a corner. Why is he doing this? He has to know I’ll hate him for this. Did the show bully him into keeping me? What’s he getting out of it? I guess it doesn’t matter what his motives or incentives are. Either way, I have to play his game.
When I snatch the flower from his fingers, a flash of relief washes over his face. It’s there and gone in a blink, but I definitely see it. It makes no sense. Why does he need me so badly? We stare each other down for another long moment. I lose the battle and stomp back to my place on the risers. Every woman present is gaping at me. Aaron and the crew are, too. If my face weren’t already flushed with anger, I’d blush. I’m going to have a lot of questions to answer tomorrow.