Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
S ybil
Cooper makes it to them first. “Dad, Amelia, what are you doing here?” Even though his voice is calm and collected, I can tell by his ridged posture he’s pissed.
Conrad gives a condescending smile. “Glad to see you two on set today. This is an important day for you both.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Cooper says, crossing his arms.
“We’re here to make sure our money is being well invested,” Conrad says coolly.
Mom steps forward, her eyes narrowed. I didn’t even know she was in Manhattan. She’s normally at the family residence in Greenwich. Hayes is finishing his senior year, and then she and the boys will be in Nantucket for the summer.
“ I’m here to make sure that nobody sabotages this project.” She shoots Conrad a pointed glare. I know exactly what she’s thinking; I’ve worried about their intentions as well. Despite everything Conrad and Cooper have said, this show’s failure would still give the Kings a win.
Cooper’s spine straightens. “I assure you, Amelia, you have nothing to worry about. This is our project, and my father has already agreed to be hands off.”
Mom raises a perfectly groomed brow at Conrad. “Then tell me why I walked into the lobby to find this one already waiting for the elevator?”
Cooper and his father stare at each other for a long moment, something unspoken passing between them that makes me uneasy.
“Fine,” Conrad says, his eyes bouncing between me and his son. “You two have got it handled, and Perry knows what he’s doing. I’ll be off, but I trust if things start to fail, you will let me know immediately.”
“Of course,” Cooper and I say in unison.
Mom pats me on the shoulder. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I shake my head. “No, go home. I’ll see you at Hayes’s graduation in a few weeks, and then you should go to Nantucket like you planned.”
Her face pales, but she agrees.
Nobody says what we’re all thinking—none of us have been on that island since the accident. I can’t say for sure about Cooper and Conrad, but I’d bet my life on it.
“I’m off,” Conrad says, quickly turning on his heel and striding out of the apartment.
“I’d better get going, too.” Mom gives me a quick hug. “You’re right, I need to get home, but can I stick in town for a few days?”
I know she wants to spend time with her daughter, so I can’t say no. As busy as I am, I love spending time with her as well, and I know that makes me a lucky daughter.
I turn on Cooper. “Do you think your dad actually went upstairs?”
Cooper winces, and I quickly pull out the walkie-talkie Ricki gave me earlier.
“Ricki,” I say into the comm, the whole thing feeling a little surreal. “Do you copy?”
“What’s wrong?” Her voice comes through quickly.
“Nothing, but watch out for Conrad King. He’s an older version of Cooper. He said he was leaving, but you may have to intercept him.”
“Got it,” she says with an annoyed clip, signing off immediately.
Okay, that was way faster than using a phone, so I get why they use walkies on set now.
“Have you seen the screening room?” Mom says, giving me a bright smile. “It’s amazing what technology can do.”
I follow her into one of the two guest bedrooms that’s now been transformed into our screening room.
There’s a sense of excitement in the air, and the person in charge enthusiastically introduces himself by the name of Roland.
We shuffle to the back of the room to let the professionals do their work, and everyone gives us a wide birth.
I can’t help but wonder if word got around about the set dresser. I’m sure. If there’s one thing people love, it’s good gossip.
We’re standing against the windows, which are currently covered by curtains.
The other side of the room has been turned into a wall of televisions mounted to the wall to show the different camera feeds upstairs.
Not only are there three camera people up there, but there are several permanently mounted cameras all over the shared living spaces.
Some of the show’s content will be staged interactions we get to watch play out, like putting people around a dinner table together and seeing what they talk about. But a lot of the content is going to come from the cameras set to catch everyday interactions.
Conrad strides into the room with his arms over his chest and a little line between his eyebrows.
“I thought you were leaving,” Cooper says.
“I was,” he clips. “But I wanted to go upstairs first, and some tiny woman with purple hair yelled at me.”
I snort, and Conrad frowns. This man is never chastised. I make a mental note to give Ricki a high-five next time I see her. She’s such a badass. If I were gay, I think I’d already be in love.
“Alright people, it’s go time,” Roland announces, and everyone quiets down.
Our attention turns to the television with the camera feed facing the front door of the penthouse. Anticipation vibrates through my veins and doesn’t let up until Sloane and Dane McGuire step through.
They’re beautiful, wholesome-looking blonds with giant blue eyes and huge, enchanting smiles. America’s sweethearts or America’s demons, depending on which side of the political spectrum you fall under.
Their family has deep roots both in democratic politics and in the state of New York. As children, they grew up in the governor’s mansion, constantly in the spotlight, and now Top of the World is introducing them to the world.
“Wow,” Sloan gushes, turning to her brother and pulling him into a side-hug. “Isn’t this place incredible? Oh, and that view! Reminds me why I love this city so much.”
Dane strides toward the floor to ceiling windows. He smiles, dimples popping in his clean-shaven cheeks. Dane is an out and proud gay man, and definitely gorgeous enough to have women all over the country crying that life isn’t fair. Once again, the gays won this one.
“You’re right Sloany-bologna,” he says. “This is going to be fun.”
Cooper snorts. “Sloany-bologna? That’s cheesy as fuck.”
“It’s cute,” I counter.
Sloan turns on her brother and points at him. “Don’t you dare use that nickname around the others. Last thing I need is those hot men thinking of me and bologna in the same sentence.”
I laugh to myself, already loving this girl, and Mom elbows me.
“This might work,” she whispers, giving me a wink.
I sure hope she’s right.
What we just witnessed was something enduring and sweet, and I loved it, but we need more. Enduring and sweet is not going to make good reality television. It’s important to balance the softer moments with juicy drama, at least that’s what Perry told us.
I have to trust this is all going to work out.
“Let’s go find our rooms,” Sloan says, and the two head off to explore the apartment, finding their bedrooms on separate floors. Hers upstairs and his on the main floor.
Explore is an operative word, considering they’ve already been here. The camera follows the siblings, getting their reactions, but I’m sure most of this will be cut from the episode. This is the boring part. The fun stuff comes next.
Five minutes later, someone else walks through the door.
“Let’s see if your guy was worth all that money,” Cooper says under his breath, nodding to Benton’s ruggedly handsome face filling up the screen.
Mom whistles low, and I suppress a grin. Benton is gorgeous. He’s got that I-will-beat-up-my-enemies and steal-their-girlfriends swagger, and he strides into the apartment like he owns the place just like I told him to… not that he needed me to tell him how to look good.
I catch Cooper glaring daggers at the screen. He’s like a big dog who marked his territory, and another big dog has come to play.
“Relax, will ya?” I place my hand on Cooper’s upper arm. “Benton called me this morning super nervous. He’s putting on a front like he usually does. I told him to exude confidence. Doesn’t mean he’s feeling confident right now.”
Cooper tenses even more, and I can’t help but notice how nice and large his bicep feels under his dress shirt. I bet it would feel even better without the shirt.
Wait, what? I immediately rip my hand away. Don’t even go there, Sybil. You know better.
We’re right that Benton and the McGuire siblings fake it for the cameras, acting like they’re meeting for the first time. They compliment Benton on his hockey accolades, and he compliments them on their father and asks them about their own interests and accomplishments.
Things are practically normal until the front door opens for a third time, and the Italian supermodel walks in.
“Now we’re talking,” Cooper remarks, and a streak of jealously burns through me.
Dumb. What do I care?
This woman is hot, and everybody knows it.
Especially Benton.
Benton also knows his way around a woman’s body, and right now he’s looking at Gloria Ricci like he’s about to know his way around her body, too.
The attraction between them is instant and electric, and the cameras pick up on it immediately.
This is exactly what we were hoping would happen.
Introductions are made, small talk continues, rooms are explored, and then it’s Justin Crawford’s time to shine. He walks in, and it’s obvious why he’s a movie star. The man sparkles on camera. I don’t know how else to put it.
He’s a stunning, mixed African American man with an athletic body, endearing smile, and the kind of sultry bedroom eyes that have captivated an entire generation of women. The light caramel color of them pop on camera.
“Woah,” Mom remarks. “Can’t wait to meet him in person.”
Make that two generations.
Conrad throws her a scathing look. “Way to act your age, Amelia. He’s what, twenty-five?”
She sticks up her nose, not even bothering to look at him when she replies. “Last I checked, you’re the one who married a woman half your age. Twice.”
I snort. That’s true. After Victoria passed away, Conrad married a younger woman a few years later, divorced her not long after that, and has remarried yet again. I don’t even know their names. I lost track.
“She’s got a point,” Cooper whispers to his dad playfully, and I think I might die of shock. I’ve never seen him tease his dad, and I gotta say, seeing this looser side of Cooper gives me hope for his future. I have to bite back a smile to keep from giving myself away.
“I have more important places to be,” Conrad says, exasperated.
I can’t help but notice his red cheeks. He leaves without another glance, pulling out his phone to check his calendar on his way out of the room. He’s CEO and founder of a media empire. He probably does have more important places to be, but I still find his exit hilarious.
“It’s okay,” Cooper whispers in my ear. “I know you want to.”
We turn to each other and bust up laughing.
Mom heads out a few minutes later, but Cooper and I stay at the back of the room, watching the film come in.
I make a mental note to add seating here, so I don’t have to stand. If the last hour is any indication of how this is going to go, I’ll be in this screening room as often as I can. It’s fascinating to watch this unfold, especially knowing these people are only a floor above us.
These are some of the most influential twenty-somethings of our generation, and they’re going to be living together for three months. It’s going to be the ultimate form of people watching.
What do famous people do behind closed doors? How do they act? What are they really like? I didn’t think I cared that much, but now I’m dying to know. They’re putting on a show for the cameras now, but nobody can put on a show for three months straight. We’re going to see the real them soon enough.
Just when I think it can’t get any better, Audra Mason, the world’s newest and hottest pop star sensation and the Grammy’s latest best new artist award winner, struts into the penthouse with more confidence in her pinky finger than most people have in their entire bodies.
She’s got diva written all over her, from her head-to-toe black leather outfit to her long sleek raven hair. This is a woman who is hungry for her star to shine even brighter, no matter what it takes.
Bring on the drama.