Chapter 10 Ripley
Ripley
It feels like everything has led up to this.
We’ve got the rooms ready, the production team is here, Garrick is as wrangled as he’s going to be and, finally, the girls are arriving.
Garrick won’t see them until tomorrow, when we do the welcome shoot.
But these are his top ten matches. That’s the new gimmick for this app.
You’re supposed to be able to find your match in ten clicks or less.
And OK, sure, these girls aren’t exactly his perfect matches.
There were only so many candidates to choose from.
It’s not like most parents let their kids leave for three weeks over Christmas.
Plus, this is first and foremost a reality show.
And the intentions of the type of people who apply for these kinda things are usually the same.
I’m not saying that every girl here is looking for their five minutes of fame, but I’m not not saying it.
We live in an influencer-obsessed social media world, and there’s a lot to gain from upping those follower counts.
Hell, that’s really all Beeloved is after, too. We want the views, so people in turn will download the app, which increases revenue. This is nothing more than a business transaction – as much as Mom, deep in her heart, would like to think it’s about true love.
For such a smart, accomplished woman, I don’t know how she let love hoodwink her so deeply. Someone in this family needs to have their eyes open to see the truth, and since Anna and Mom aren’t up for the task, it has to be me.
So, the girls arriving today are the best we could get. But does it matter? I doubt anyone’s actually watching this show for that; they’re just tuning in for the drama. Why else do people watch reality shows? Still, if it gets Mom’s app downloads when it launches, that’s all I care about.
The van arrives from the hotel a few miles away, where the girls were dropped off by their parents.
I see the shadows of people moving in the back.
On board are the contestants, interns acting as handlers, and production and camera crew.
We want the show to seem as natural as possible, so we will have set dates and interviews mixed in with scenes of the girls just relaxing and chatting.
Those less scripted scenes are where they’re hoping the drama happens.
They picked girls from different schools so they wouldn’t already know each other, but given social media and multi-school sports events, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them have had some contact.
While the girls are free to visit each other whenever they want, and have monitored access to their phones and the internet, we did want to limit the time Garrick spends with the girls off camera, just in case the magic moment happens.
I might think love is a sham, but even I know that doesn’t seem like the best way to produce natural chemistry.
My stomach somersaults – why am I nervous?
Maybe because I need this to go well, and also I want it to be over. All this true love crap is giving me a headache. I glance at my tablet and scroll through the dossier with the contestants’ pictures and bios.
Licking my lips, I square my shoulders and put on my fakest smile.
To be fair, I’ve been told it’s my only smile, but sometimes I don’t think there’s much to smile about.
The girls clamber out of the van, with lots of chatter and squeals as they look past me to the castle beyond the backstage entrance.
I’m not sure where Garrick is – he’s supposed to be somewhere out of sight. We want the first time he sees them to be a grand reveal on camera. He pitched having a life-size cut-out of himself here to welcome them, and I’ve never seen Mom veto something so fast. It really made my day.
‘OK, ladies,’ I yell, motioning for them to come toward me. ‘If you’ll line up and give me your names, we’ll get you to your assigned rooms.’
With a list in hand, I’m in my element as the first girl approaches, and then Mom shows up.
‘Make sure you’re checking them off,’ she says, like that wasn’t what I was already going to do.
‘I know.’ I push my hair behind my ears. Trying my best to ignore her, I look up at the girl standing before me with an eager grin. ‘Name?’ I recognize her because I’ve memorized them all, but just to be sure, I let her say it out loud.
‘Harmony Kim. This is so freaking cool.’ Her black hair is twisted into cute spirals on top, secured with pastel butterfly clips.
‘Totally.’ I knew they’d be excited, but their enthusiasm is drowning me in stimulation. My head feels like it’s swimming and, despite the cool air, I’m sweating under my Beeloved sweatshirt. I find Harmony Kim and check her off.
Harmony Kim (she’s allergic to gluten! Remind food staff!)
Age: 16
Career Aspiration: CEO
The next contestant is a girl with a half ponytail of voluminous curls and a neon green scrunchie. ‘This place is bigger than it looks on videos.’ Her brown eyes drift to the roller coaster visible past the apartments and bare trees.
Kahoa Finau (has an adorable ginger-colored dog – also named Nathan lolol)
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: Mechanical Engineer
‘Don’t worry, everyone gets a map in their welcome pack,’ I assure her.
I spent last night finalizing them with Melika, so they were ready to hand to the girls when they arrived.
Along with maps and filming schedules, it tells them their room assignments and where the hangout lounge is.
It’s a converted apartment the team fitted with cameras so they could record group chats more easily, without a production person having to be in the room.
Melika helped deck it out with games, comfy seating and Christmas decor – they even have a hot chocolate machine with all the toppings.
‘Do we get our own rooms?’ the next in line asks before I can say anything. She’s got on a red silk shirt and green corduroy pants. Red and green glitter dots the pale skin of her neck and clavicle. Apparently, she got the Christmas memo.
‘If you read your welcome pack, you’ll see there are four girls to an apartment.’ I mark her name off without asking for it.
Desiree Sinclair (wants a green juice shot delivered fresh every morning to ‘perform well’ – assign job to Brett)
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: Life Coach/Actress
‘You must be Ms Ripley.’ Desiree’s attention slips from me to Mom. ‘I just want to say what an honor it is to meet such an accomplished woman like yourself.’
Mom smiles politely. ‘Thank you, you’re too kind.’
Desiree places her hand over her heart. ‘I, too, am a woman with a plan. I’ve studied acting since I was three and really pride myself in my craft. So, if you need someone with a thespian background to take the lead, just know I am more than up to the task.’
I press my lips together to stay quiet as Mom says, ‘I will take that into consideration.’
Looking a little distraught by the dismissal, Desiree moves along.
‘I brought some treats for the crew,’ says a girl with deep-set eyes and pronounced dimples. ‘I hope that’s OK.’ She holds out a gift box wrapped with a bow.
‘What a lovely gesture.’ Mom takes it and hands it to Brett, her shadow. She raises her eyebrows at me and gives a subtle nod of approval. I guess we already have a front-runner.
Arianna Stefanopoulos (watch 1st name spelling. Crew keeps forgetting an ‘n’)
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: Pastry Chef
The following two girls are polar opposites of each other.
A tall girl with a killer embroidered denim jacket and velvet boots – which seem impractical if it snows, but I appreciate the commitment to a look.
And a very petite white girl with the most extensive bangle collection I have ever seen on someone’s arm.
It goes to her elbow – she must be able to lift a ton after all that.
Zoya Gupta (show her the horses! She’ll love it)
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: Vet
Sophia Hume (Sophia no.1. Sophia H for the show)
Age: 16
Career Aspiration: Influencer
The next girl is a model and is working the short distance from the bus like she’s on a catwalk. Tyra Banks would be proud. Despite the cold weather, she’s wearing a short dress, showing off her long, tanned legs. She even adds a hair flip at the end, her blowout nearly hitting me in the face.
Sofia Lima Alverez (Sofia no.2! With an ‘f’. Call her Sofia A)
Age: 16
Career Aspiration: Model or Miss Universe
A Black girl with round yellow glasses gives me a high five as she approaches, before taking my hand and offering a gentle squeeze. Her purple nail polish sparkles in the sun as she whispers, ‘So, when do we meet the prince?’
‘He’s a knight, actually. And soon, I promise.’
Maya Hall
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: FBI Profiler (dying to hear more about this!)
The second to last girl is lugging three giant suitcases. She’s also wearing a crossbody bag and a backpack. I do love a lady who comes prepared for any situation. But I’m worried she might pass out, all flushed cheeks and panting breaths.
Riya Fong (has CPR training – good to know just in case!)
Age: 16
Career Aspiration: Pediatrician
And thank god, we’ve reached the final contestant.
She hands me a travel-size tinted lip gloss from her bag.
‘I never come without gifts. This color will look stunning on you. Trust me.’ She’s wearing a Black Girl Magic T-shirt I recognize from the collab she did with a major beauty brand a few months ago.
I take the tube with a surprised, ‘Thank you.’
Ellie Burton
Age: 17
Career Aspiration: Beauty YouTuber (she’s already one and has a massive following. Will bring a much-needed boost to the episodes!)
‘Let me just make sure you got it all in there,’ Brett says, taking the tablet.
I let out a steadying breath through my nose. ‘Shouldn’t we get them inside, just in case Garrick is peeking?’ Knowing him, he most likely will be.