Chapter 29 #2
‘One hundred per cent,’ I confirm, turning to Amber. ‘Hey, Amber, Eugene told me that Winston told all the guys that he is ready to make a commitment and settle down with you. I guess you two have really hit it off. I knew you would.’
Amber looks surprised. ‘Really? Oh, okay then. I guess that changes things.’
‘Things were discussed,’ I say, trying to hint that we have a new set of instructions. ‘Ahead of tonight’s recoupling.’ I mouth the word ‘Porscha’ as I hand them a glass each.
Amber and Mimi are getting my drift and raise their eyebrows subtly to let me know they know that I know.
Job almost done. One more person to tackle. Right on cue, my phone pings.
Meet me in the PANTRY. Now!
I put the phone back in my pocket and switch my mic back on.
‘Is that a text?’ Amber asks.
‘Probably just confirming my top three picks before the firepit. Back soon.’
I make my way to the PANTRY just in time to see Porscha slide out from behind the secret door. She looks furious.
‘Your mic pack. Give it here! Have you fiddled with it?’
‘No,’ I say, handing it over. It’s all I can do not to smirk. ‘You look tired,’ I say. ‘Is everything okay?’
Her beady eyes bore holes into mine.
‘I guess it must be exhausting being on call 24/7. It’s bound to have an effect on your skin and hair.’
Porscha self-consciously pats her flame-red locks. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway. Eugene is picking you tonight.’ She stands back, expecting me to argue.
‘Fine. We really like each other. I think we can go all the way to win this. The public seem to adore me, and Eugene is your typical squeaky-clean boy next door. We make the perfect couple. Besides, I am really into his vibe now. He’s going to steal a kiss from me later round the firepit in front of Destiny. What do you think?’
Porscha is looking stunned. ‘But I thought you hated… Anyway. Whatever.’ I can see her mind whirring. She is despising this new development. ‘At least it will stop you obsessing over Cameron. He’s way out of your league.’
I pretend to look confused. ‘Honestly, there’s nothing going on there. He told me he was in a relationship anyway, so there’s no point fancying him.’
I feel a stab of guilt at what I’m doing because she genuinely looks hurt.
‘I know,’ she says abruptly. ‘I heard it from someone else. Who cares anyway? I was never that interested but he should have come clean and not led me to believe it was you he was interested in. Men!’ she says, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
‘Do not touch that microphone! I’m still watching you.
’ She turns at the last moment. ‘And if you think a Brit is going to win this show, you have another think coming. Just go out there and do as you are told.’
‘Oh, just one last thing,’ I say to her. I pull out my phone and open the email attachment that Cam has just sent through. I hold it up so that she can see herself blackmailing me to stay on the show and threatening to ruin Cam’s career.
Her face drains of colour. ‘How did you get this?’ She can’t believe the audacity.
‘Does it matter?’
‘Who else has seen it?’ she hisses.
‘Everyone. You might not be as popular among the crew as you think.’
‘I’m the boss. I don’t get paid to be popular.’ She tries to swipe the phone from me.
‘If you continue to bully me or any of the contestants, I’ll make sure this finds its way on to the internet.’
‘You wouldn’t dare.’
I stand my ground. ‘Try me.’
We lock eyes. I have never felt so confident. She nods silently, holds up her hands and disappears backwards through the door.
And my work here is done.
* * *
We gather round the firepit: Mimi, Amber and me on one side of Destiny; and Giovanni, Henri and Carlton on the other.
‘New Islanders, it is time to make your decision. Out with the old, or in with the new?’ Destiny says dramatically.
As the sombre music is piped out from the loudspeakers, we watch Destiny zone out once more and the camera operators slide the camera back round to the new Islanders.
They have all been instructed to look like their lives are hanging in the balance.
First up is Eugene. ‘I’m choosing this girl because she has a kind heart, and she rescues animals for a living in her spare time as a hobby. She’s someone that I can see being a great stepmom to my fur baby.’
Don’t get me started, I’m not even going there.
‘If she was a dog she’d be a chow chow. The girl I’d like to couple up with is…’
Mimi and Amber are exchanging confused looks.
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Porscha hovering by the camera operator.
She is pressing her earpiece and looking at her notes.
She nearly has a kitten when he says Mimi’s name.
I swing my eyes back to see Mimi scream with excitement as she leapfrogs the firepit to get to Eugene.
She reminds me of the flying squirrel I saw earlier.
She clamps on to him until it becomes embarrassing for everyone involved.
Destiny is quick to move on to the next contestant which greatly vexes Porscha, by the way she is staring at her.
I can see the Cameron rumours may have driven a wedge between them.
When Amber gets picked by Winston, and two of the new girls opt to pick Giovanni and Carlton, it’s time to say goodbye to the remaining Islanders, including me.
Over half of the new Islanders burst into noisy tears.
‘Cut!’ yells Porscha, charging towards us. ‘What is going on? Why are you all picking the wrong Islanders? Where the bloody hell is Cam?’
Destiny takes the opportunity to power down while the Islanders start accusing one another of being two-faced traitors and race over to Porscha to beg her not to dump them from the island.
Amid the chaos, Porscha swivels round to point at me. ‘You. It’s you, isn’t it?’
I smile serenely back with a shrug.
I will leave karma to do the rest.