Chapter 57
Fifty-Seven
S ybil
We wrap filming , and for the next month, life gets a little easier. I work closely with Perry and the network as the editing packages come together, but it’s not the same time suck as being on set.
Marketing started last week, and now I’m certain the show will be a hit.
People are excited, and they have every right to be.
Post-production is going to edit together one of the most entertaining reality television shows in modern history.
That might be wishful thinking, but my gut says this is going to be huge.
When it’s time for the premier party, I’m ripe with anticipation as I step onto the red carpet, Cooper at my side. My heart pounds in tandem with the flashing lights of the cameras.
We stop for photos and then make our way inside the theater.
We’re nobodies compared to the stars, and I don’t expect us to end up in print, but this moment is thrilling, nonetheless. This is it. The premier of Top of the World .
We did it.
I’m dressed in a long fitted red gown, my hair professionally styled in swooshing curls, and my makeup smokey and glam.
Cooper wears a perfectly tailored black tux, and he looks amazing. He’s easily the most handsome man here tonight. I can’t take my eyes off him.
“You’re the most beautiful woman here,” he whispers against my ear. “You know that, right?”
I laugh. “I literally had thought the exact same thing about you seconds ago. Are you reading my mind?”
He grins. “Maybe.”
We make our way to the large theatre lobby that’s been transformed into a party venue.
The room is packed with both familiar and unfamiliar faces, several of Hollywood’s and Manhattan’s elite, and of course lots of influencers who we are expecting will jump on the live social media feed aspect of the show once they see how it works.
A young woman stops me and Cooper. “You’re the producers, right? Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say, introducing myself to the woman who turns out to be from the network’s marketing department.
“This is going to be huge,” she gushes. “The buzz has been incredible. You made my job easy.”
We thank her and continue on, soaking in the cumulation of our hard work. It’s fun to see it coming together, to celebrate.
I search the crowd for Benton, certain he’s going to be a breakout star after what’s airing tonight, but a little nervous for the rest of the season. He never should’ve hooked up with Gloria, and I’m pretty sure he knows that now.
“There you are.” Perry approaches, his smile brighter than I’ve seen it in months.
“This is kind of insane,” Cooper remarks, looking around the party. “I see the appeal of your career now.”
Perry chuckles, and it reminds me of when we were young, his joy almost childlike. “I know, right? Pretty amazing. What will be even better is when we’re ranked number one for rating.”
I give him a hug. “You should be so proud.”
“I am, and you should, too. Enjoy it. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go mingle.”
By mingle , he means network. He’s about to become the talk of the town.
Despite all the stress I’ve been under lately, I can’t let this magical moment slip away. I take Cooper’s hand, prepared to enjoy every second of tonight, and not worry about how it looks that we’re together. We’ve followed all the rules given to us by the network, but tonight, rules be damned.
He pulls me to him, one arm around my waist and the other on the back of my neck. Our eyes meet for a long moment before he dips his head forward, claiming my lips. We don’t care who’s watching. We kiss like we’re the only two people in the room.
All too soon, Perry interrupts us with an announcement over the microphone.
“Thank you all for joining us tonight, and many thanks to our cast, crew, sponsors, and the network for making the dream of Top of the World come true.” Cheers ripple through the crowd.
“Without further ado, please turn your attention to this sneak peek of our pilot episode. You’ll notice something special for the show—a live social media feed on the right side of the screen, highlighting real-time reactions from at-home viewers. ”
A projector lights the screen on the far wall, and the house lights dim.
The promo opens with a sweeping drone shot of the Manhattan city skyline at sunrise, hazy golden light bouncing off glass and steel.
The camera speeds up, zooming in on one of those buildings.
I instantly recognize it as Cooper’s, and my heart soars.
Cooper squeezes my hand and gives me a boyish grin.
The floor to ceiling window is shaded, the viewer unable to see inside, but the drone passes through an open door, revealing six young New Yorkers——our inaugural cast.
A deep and catchy voice speaks over ambient music.
“Some people live on top of the world. Their lives, careers, relationships, and futures are brighter than most. Who are these people? They’re the rich and the famous, the privileged and elite, and for one hot summer, six of them will live together under this roof.
” The voice deepens. “Who are they underneath the fame and money? For these six lives, everything is about to change.”
The image flashes to Justin, smirking as he runs lines in front of a mirror. “Everyone loves him on the silver screen,” the voice over narration says, “but can they handle the real Justin Mercer?”
Then on to Gloria, working out in the gym. “Her looks made her a millionaire, but perfection comes at a high price. And her love life? That’s anything but perfect.”
Onto Audra Mason, strumming her guitar, sitting cross-legged on the rooftop. “She’s spent her life being the good girl pop star, but is she actually a bad girl looking to reinvent herself?”
Cut to the siblings, playfully arguing with each other over the dinner table. “These siblings are political royalty, but are they tired of playing it safe?”
Finally, a shirtless Benton dips into the hot tub, sending a ripple of feminine giggles through the crowd. “And what about the playboy who scores on more than just the ice? Is he ready to take a shot at true love?”
A montage of footage flashes across the screen, from dinner parties, to wine glass clinks, steamy hookups, tearful confrontations, and the carefree bonfire on Nantucket.
The promo ends with the six of them standing on the penthouse roof, overlooking the city, and the title flashes across the screen.
The voice over finishes with, “Top of the World, where the dreams are big, but the egos are bigger.”
The screen goes dark, and the crowd explodes into thunderous applause. Not for the first time, I know what we’ve done here is going to work. Clearly, I’m not the only person who can’t wait to watch the first episode.