Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
S ybil
“Nothing like trial by fire, huh?” Arden says with a cheeky grin, and I give her an exasperated nod. “Well, if anyone can do this, it’s you. You’re great with people.”
We’re in her living room, our feet kicked up under us as we lounge on their couch. I’m hiding from the responsibilities waiting for me in the penthouse next door and told her as much.
They say learning by doing is best, but learning the ins and outs of producing a reality show while we’re doing it has been exhausting. Luckily, Perry hired a great team.
“The biggest thing is gathering enough content,” I say. “The editors will pick apart and piece the puzzle together in post, making sure what actually gets aired is interesting to enough to keep the viewers hooked.”
“From what you’ve told me so far, I think you guys are going to be fine.”
Arden’s good about bringing levity to a stressful situation.
She’s one of the most logical and levelheaded people I know.
Now that she’s with Ethan, I can see why they work so well.
I used to think people needed their opposite to balance them out, but I feel differently these days.
They can better support and accept each other since they understand each other so well. It works.
“So tell me about school?” I ask. “How’s the computer science degree coming along?”
If you ask me, that sounds like the most boring and complicated degree out there, but I’m not her. Arden loves this stuff. She has a number’s brain and insists that coding is fun.
She smiles, her amber eyes lighting up and the spattering of freckles on her face crinkling. “It’s so good.” She sighs. “I love the program. It’s hard, but I’m up for the challenge.”
She’s at Columbia, finishing out her bachelors. Initially, she was going to work for Laurence, but she’s decided to forge her own path. She plans to find a normal coding job after graduating. I wish I could see her in our offices every day, but I admire her for sticking to her convictions.
She waves me off. “Enough about school. I want to hear more about the show. What’s drama? I’m dying to know what’s going on over there.”
I snort. “I thought you and Ethan wanted to stay out of it.”
That was one thing they were adamant about when Cooper told them about the plan.
“I never said I didn’t want the tea. These are famous people, right? They’ve got to be interesting.”
I sink further into the couch. “I don’t even know where to start, and I am supposed to keep this a secret.”
“From who? The general public?”
I nod.
“Well, I’m not going to say a word to anyone about anything.” She tosses a pillow at my face. “Spill it!”
“Fine, fine.” I giggle, hugging the pillow to my chest. “No need for violence here, sister. ”
“Oh, God,” she shakes her head. “I’m still not used to that.”
“You and me both. Okay, well, first of all, the hockey player and the supermodel hit it off.” I snort.
“They were making out in the hot tub by day two, and they’re already sleeping together.
Which would be fine, except the movie star is also super into Gloria.
Oh, and Gloria loves the attention, so of course she’s entertaining the flirtations with a new man. ”
Benton doesn’t seem phased, but I’m pretty sure he’s putting on a front.
“And the pop star and the politician’s kids don’t get along. They agree politically, but other than that, they’re so different. Audra is kind of a punk and says whatever she’s thinking, and the politician kids have media training and keep everything above board.”
Arden grins. “Sounds juicy.”
“And then Dane, the politician’s kid, got dumped on camera by his longtime boyfriend last night.”
She frowns. “Poor guy.”
“There’s more, but those are the highlights.”
“You guys have a lot to work with.”
“We do. We haven’t had to do much to produce drama; they’re doing it for us.”
It’s made my job easier than I expected. I check in on my cast often, but they don’t need a lot of advice or direction.
She stares at me deadpanned. “I never would’ve guessed putting six super famous, super hot, and super opinionated celebrities in a house together would create drama.”
I snort. “Who’d have thought?”
She gives me a wicked grin. “But this hockey guy… He’s the one you were sleeping with, right?”
“Yes.” I smirk, remembering the fun times Benton and I have had together.
“You’re not bothered he’s with the supermodel now?”
“Not at all,” I say, surprising myself. I chew my bottom lip for a second. “Actually, I haven’t slept with anyone in months. My sex-life has been nonexistent lately.”
Of course, that is the moment Ethan pops his head into the room, having gotten home from work. “Didn’t need to hear that.”
“Then don’t eavesdrop, you creep.” I chuck the pillow at his head. It grazes his perfectly styled dark hair and his blue eyes spark. “It’s not like you need to worry about getting laid, Mr. Newlywed.”
Ethan shrugs. “What can I say? We’re supposed to be naked as often as we can be, and actually, it’s good you didn’t come over after I got home or else you’d probably would’ve interrupted.”
Arden is beet-red and jumps from her position on the couch, waving her hands around in surrender. “I don’t care if you guys have known each other forever. We’re not talking about what I do in my bed.”
“Yeah, it is a little weird,” I relent.
“Fair point, baby.” He grabs her round the middle and lays one on her. “Our sex life is all yours.”
She giggles, and that’s my queue to leave.
“I’m out of here. Text me later and let’s get lunch?”
She nods before turning to make out with her new husband.
I head across the hall to check in on filming.
We’re doing one-on-one interviews today, so I’m able to slip inside without causing an issue.
Those interviews are filmed in the individual bedrooms and not a confessional room like what is done on most reality shows.
Perry says the bedrooms add personality to the characters, letting the audience see them in their private environments.
We don’t normally have cameras in the bedrooms, for obvious reasons, so these confessional interviews are some of the only times we get access.
Obviously, the set was not designed by the cast, but they’ve all made their spaces their own.
Once in the penthouse, I zero in on Ricki arguing quietly with someone in the kitchen.
My hackles immediately rise.
It’s Lance Vale.
What the heck is he doing on set? He hasn’t been here once, and every time we have our Friday morning meetings, he’s more interested in lobbying for CEO with me than what I’m actually doing.
That board meeting he was worried about?
Didn’t go his way when the board agreed to interview more candidates and reconvene in August. To say he’s not happy about it would be an understatement.
“Everything okay?” I question, sliding between Lance and Ricki.
She turns on me. “Your boss thinks we’re going to cause bad press for Laurence International,” she says hastily. “He threatened to pull funding.”
My stomach drops.
“Is this true?” I turn on Vale.
“We need to talk,” he says gruffly. “Is there somewhere we can go, or should we head to the office?”
He’s looking at me like I’m still the child he met years ago and not the capable adult I’ve become.
I’m immediately annoyed as my lips press into a thin line.
I give Ricki a “don’t worry” look and lead Vale downstairs.
“This is our crew headquarters,” I tell him.
Craft services has just finished preparing lunch, and it’s busier down here than it was upstairs.
Maybe we need to find another place.
I’m tempted to take him into Cooper’s bedroom, but the last thing I need is a rumor that I was seen going into a bedroom with the boss.
“Are you hungry?” I ask. “Looks like it’s a deli spread today. We could grab some food and find some place to talk.”
“No.” He gives me a pointed look, and I sigh.
The third bedroom has been set up for hair and makeup, but since the stars mostly use their own people, this room isn’t in play as often as the others. Sure enough, it’s empty when we go inside.
I still leave the door partially cracked.
“What’s this about pulling funding?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest and standing up to the man who might one day be able to fire me.
“We’re not in the business of skeezy reality television,” he states. “Leave that to King. If they want this show, then by all means, they can have it, but I still don’t think it’s good for us.”
“We’re weeks into filming and have a contractual obligation.”
“I looked at the contract and think there’s a way out of it, but I came here today just to be sure of my decision, and after meeting the cast, I’m certain we need to distance ourselves from this asinine project.”
My mouth pops open. “Are you forgetting why you and everyone else agreed to do this show in the first place?”
“That five percent is not going to make or break us. We should be putting the company first.”
“We are putting the company first.”
“That five percent is your family’s problem; you’ve made it the entire company’s problem.
What happens when this thing airs, and an embarrassing scandal breaks out?
What happens when our shareholders demand answers?
I’m the one who has to answer to them, not you and not your family. Not anymore. It’s going to be on me.”
The reality of his words sinks in. He doesn’t view my family as important to Laurence anymore.
“But like you said, you’re not the CEO,” I remind him, trying to sound as calm as possible even though I’m seething. “So it won’t fall on you. And anyway, the show is going to be a huge hit and make us a lot of money.”
His eyes narrow. “I’m not the CEO yet, but I will be.”
I can’t believe this guy.
“Listen, I told my mom you had my full support, so you’re welcome. You should be talking to her about it, not me.”
Suspicion dances behind his eyes. “Do I have your support? Because she, in fact, did not recommend me for the position.”
My entire body prickles. I thought for sure she would, but I didn’t get confirmation. I’m the only Laurence currently working at the company; it’s my butt on the line with Lance fucking Vale.
“Wait…” My eyes narrow. “Do you want my projects to fail?”
Is pulling funding some sort of sick revenge?
He releases a long breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. The guy looks like he’s aged ten years since my father’s death. He didn’t ask to be burdened by the company fallout, but that still doesn’t mean I’m okay with him screwing me over.
“I apologize, Sybil. Of course I don’t want your projects to fail.
I’m worried what this show is going to do for Laurence, I truly am.
For both of our not just mine.” He straightens his suit and takes a deep breath.
“This has been a hard year for Laurence, and not only because your father passed away. Fiscally, it’s been tough.
There’s a lot on the line. If this show is a failure, I can’t say what will happen.
I know it may not sound like it, but I’m honestly looking out for us both. ”
I nod. I get his fears even if I disagree with his approach.
“Please understand the more drama this show has, the more money we’re all going to make. As much as the shareholders love their reputation, they love money more. Everything is going to be okay. You’ve got to trust me on that.”
“I hope so. And what about your work with the foundation? That’s not slipping, is it?”
He clocks my hesitation immediately.
“A little behind,” I admit, “but I plan to make it up. I care deeply about my job.”
“Which one?” He looks pointedly around the room.
It throws me off, as if I don’t care about the foundation because I’m here instead of at the office. “You know how important the charity work is to me, even more important than this show, but I’m only one person and?—”
“I’ve been asking you to hire an assistant, and you still haven’t done it,” he interrupts. “Have you even posted a job or taken interviews?”
I wince. He’s got me there.
It’s been busy and nothing I’m currently doing is something I want to give to an assistant.
It’s one thing to have help hosting an event, but it’s something else entirely to have someone else doing my job for me.
They’d have to talk to our donors and charities, and I don’t like that.
I’ve never been good at sharing control.
“I thought as much. Well, lucky for you, my brilliant nephew has finished at Vanderbilt and needs a job. I’m giving him the assistant job on your behalf. Make sure you’re in the office on Monday to go over his duties with him.”
I blink rapidly, lost for words. Lance Vale leaves, brushing past me and out the door.
That’s when Cooper walks into the room. “What was that about?” His question is sharp and defensive.
The truth spills out of my still shocked lips. “Vale is worried about the show and about me doing my job well. He doesn’t think I can hack it.”
Furry lights those dark eyes. “Vale’s an idiot. Don’t worry about that guy.”
How can I not? Because at least for now, Vale is my boss.