Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
MIZZ ZURI
“ O h no!” Jack exclaimed as soon as the light of day woke him. “Come on, we’ve got to get up. Now, Zuri.”
Zuri’s head shot off his shoulder as she rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes.
“What? What is it?” she asked.
Jack was already up on his feet and motioning for her to be quiet. He unlatched the door and cracked it just enough to peer out its gap.
“What is it? Is the cameraman still there?”
Out in the library, Jack saw people passing in a flurry of commotion. “No,” Jack whispered as he kept watch, “but everyone’s awake, and I think they’re looking for us. Zuri, this is really bad! Tae was sleeping over in my room. By now, he’s told Thomas I was gone when he woke up…”
“And the other girls know I didn’t come back last night.”
“Thomas will think I was with you.”
“So what? You were. Aren’t you more worried about what this will do to the show? To Mick?”
“Why do you not care if I die at the hands of your kin?”
She playfully took a shot at his ribs and said, “I think you’re overre?—”
“Shh! It’s Dani.”
Zuri leaned down to share the very limited opening beneath him. Out in the library, Dani - dressed in her shunning rags - was talking to someone out in the hallway, though he couldn’t see or hear who it was.
“No,” Dani said, “I already told you I haven’t seen either of them. Well, come find me when you do, but I’m not just going to stand around outside like a dullard waiting for them.”
With that, Dani grabbed the closest book from the bookshelves, collapsed onto the couch, kicked up her feet, and started reading. Her tone seemed harsher than normal, but it was understandable. If she thought the all-night absence of Jack and Zuri was an indication they’d been out together all night - which it was - she had every right to let jealousy and anger bleed into her tone of voice.
“What do we do now?” Zuri asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe the windows open up, and we can…”
Suddenly, Jack saw Tae entering the library, still holding his pillow for comfort. He was by himself. Jack cracked the door a little more and thought hopeful thoughts. Maybe he hadn’t had time to tell his dad about waking up alone.
“Do you know where my dad is?” Tae asked Dani.
“No. Sorry.”
“I looked everywhere.”
“Like I said - I’m not sure.”
Tae’s eyes started welling up as he tried once more to secure some sympathy and help.
“I’m just scared,” he said as his little voice cracked.
Jack found himself on the verge of exposing every secret to keep his little buddy from crying, but he wasn’t sure if that was the selfless thing to do. Was it selfish or selfless to extinguish Tae’s fears when Avi’s secret, Mick’s show, Zuri’s good standing with the other women, and Thomas’ naivety were all on the line? Either decision came with self-serving positives. Altruism was hard, but nothing seemed more challenging at that moment than watching his nephew suffer in fear. Still, he knew Dani. He knew she’d do the right thing and help Tae so he wouldn’t have to.
“Listen! I’ve got enough on my plate without having to worry about babysitting some annoying little muppet, okay? So why don’t you just…”
Before Jack had time to process Dani’s betrayal, let alone react, Zuri stood and shot through the hidden door. In her seething, she didn’t bother closing it, so Jack pulled it nearly closed and commenced spying from inside the hidden room just before Dani turned around to see him.
“What did you just say?” Zuri asked in an aunty’s rage.
Tae ran to her side. She picked him up and held him close without breaking her ferocious gaze.
“What the…? Where did you come from? Everyone’s looking for you.”
“ What… did you just say?” Zuri asked again.
“Oh stop, deary. The cameras are off. Jack’s not here. You can stop pretending.”
“I oughta knock the everliving piss outta you.”
“Haha. You wouldn’t. And you want to know why?”
Zuri didn’t answer.
“Because I know…you know…what I know. You've known Jack since you were little kids, correct? Well, then that means you must also know he’s filthy, stinkin’ rich.”
Without warning, Jack felt shattered and lost. Not only had the contestant he felt closest to successfully concealed her cattiness, but she’d also concealed her motives.
“Come on, Zuri,” he whispered to himself, “knock the everliving piss outta her!”
Dani continued, “Like you, I’ve known him since I was little, too. Well…maybe not little little…but since I was a teenager. He and his dad came into my work every winter throwing around five-hundred-pound tips like they were pence. We practically fought over winter shifts when we knew the Adamson boys were coming to town. Small world, huh? I had no idea he’d be on the show, but once I recognized him and remembered the big surprise for the winner, I - like you - knew I better play my cards right. That’s how I know you know you have millions of reasons not to lay a finger on me, not even for this darling…little…mupp?—”
Like a flash of night lightning, Zuri dropped Dani with a devastating right hook.
“Daaaaaaaaannnnnngggg!” Jack hollered before covering his mouth, hoping Dani hadn’t heard.
She must not have because instead of looking in his direction, Dani crawled away from Zuri. Holding her already swelling and bleeding nose, she screamed, then shot up and ran from the library. Once she was gone, Jack cracked the door enough to wave Zuri over.
“Oh my gosh! That was ama?—”
“How could you?!” She asked with a fury that made Jack worry his nose was next. “How could you hear all that and just stand idly by - hiding?”
“I…Zuri, I wanted to help, but…”
“But what? Didn’t want Thomas to find out about us and hate you? For what, defending his son?”
“No. For going behind his back. Listen, it’s not as simple as you’re making it. There’s a lot of moving pieces to this thing, and…”
“Just save it.”
“Look. What do you want from me? I told you I’m not perfect.”
“And I don’t expect you to be. But what good is trajectory without movement?”
Jack let out a defeated sigh but found nothing more to say.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she said as she took Tae and walked away.
But as she neared the doorway of the library, she was stopped by an approaching commotion. A hoard of cast and crew filed into the library with Dani in the lead just as Jack -once again- cracked the hidden door just enough to see out.
“There she is,” Dani said.
“Zuri, is it true?” Mick asked.
Dani answered for her: “All I did was confront her about being out all night gaining an unfair advantage with Mr. Adamson, and she just hauled off and clocked me!”
“She wasn’t out all night with him,” came Avi’s timid voice from amongst the group. They parted like the Red Sea, making room for her to step forward. “I…I guess her work knew where she was staying, and when they couldn’t get ahold of her, they called the estate. I went and brought her back here. I needed to go to bed, but I felt awful about sending her off all alone at night, so I told her that after the phone call, I had an extra bed she was welcome to.”
“Well...still!” Dani said. “The real offense is physically assaulting another contestant. Mick, kick her off the show!”
“I’m fine with that,” Zuri said - piercing Jack’s sternum.
“I…uh…I…I need to consult with our lawyers.”
“What!? Are you joking?!” Dani asked.
“I’m sorry, my dear, but I just don’t know the details of what you all signed up for and legally agreed to. If no stipulations were spelled out regarding physical altercations, it may be out of my hands.”
“That’s absurd!”
“I know it sounds that way, but I also know plenty of reality TV shows where no one gets kicked off for assault. I’m just not sure if this is one of them.”
“But…”
“I’m not saying she won’t be expelled from the premises. I’m simply saying the proper course of action must be taken.”
“But…”
“That will be all. Thank you. I’ll get on the phone with them and figure this all out. While I’m doing that, ladies, I need you all outside and in position for when we find Mr. Adamson.”
“I saw him out back…reading,” Avi lied once more.
“You did? Oh, thank goodness. Would someone go round him up so we can start rolling as soon as possible?”
As the large group left the library, Avi stayed behind. Once they were in the clear, Avi grabbed a book from the shelf and hurried into the hidden room with Jack.
“Here. Take this.”
“What for?”
“You’re outside reading, remember? Climb out the window and down the stone wall. Hurry!”
“Thanks, Avi. I owe you.”
“Yes, you do,” she said with a troubled expression. “I hate lying.”
Jack did what he was told. He made his clumsy descension and sat down on an outdoor bench. Then he opened the book and turned it right-side up just as some of the crew came around the side of the house looking for him. The show was safe. More importantly, it seemed as though Thomas was none the wiser to any of their overnight exploits.
After accompanying them to the northern field, Jack noticed Dani visibly upset with Mick, which seemed to indicate Zuri was staying. Though it was unlikely, he hoped the morning’s challenge involved a to-the-near-death showdown where Dani was pitted against everyone else. It was far too harsh a sentiment, especially since Zuri had already served her swift justice, but he couldn’t help but think it. She was exactly the money-hungry, conniving piece of evil he’d come on the show to avoid, and from the beginning, he was daft enough to make her his favorite. Now that he saw through it, her mask was obvious. As soon as she noticed him, Dani put it on over her true ugliness and waved the witchiest witch-practicing-witchcraft wave he’d ever seen. Oh! How he wished Zuri would wipe the floor with her in the challenge! Zuri had to win! And not just so Dani would lose. He needed to talk to her and make things right: cameras rolling or not.
“Alright, ladies,” Mick said, “today’s challenge needs little explanation.”
Jack was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t recognized the row of archery targets set up on the lawn.
“As you all know, archery was a pastime practiced by upper-class ladies during the Regency era. Today, you’ll need to be an upper-class markswoman to win this challenge. At the center of each archery target, you’ll notice a heart-shaped bullseye representing the heart of your gentleman suitor. On my mark, you will commence raining down the arrows of your love upon your target until one of you pierces the heart of Mr. Adamson. Would you like to know what you’ll be playing for?”
“Yeah!”
“The lucky winner will accompany Mr. Adamson via limousine along the English Channel until you reach Worbarrow Bay. There, you will find a completely private beach…a picnic…a spa tent…and two…white…camarillo horses at your behest for the remainder of the day. Shall we get started?!”
“Yes!”
“Alright then. Are you ready?”
The women all picked up their bows.
“Are you set?”
They simultaneously pulled an arrow from the baskets at their feet, nocked them, and pulled back their bowstrings.
“Go!”
All at once, their arrows flew through the air at varying speeds, all except Zuri’s. She had tossed her bow to the ground as soon as Mick said go . Jack knew her defiant protest of his stupidity, cowardice, and selfishness was warranted, but at what cost? He was changing. He knew it. Thomas knew it. Mick knew it. So, why didn’t she? Obviously, they knew things she didn’t, but she, too, was privy to things they were not. Would she really give up a whole day with him just to drive home a point she’d already made?
“Whoa! Naia! What a shot!”
Naia jumped up and down, then ran to Jack, jumped into his arms, and waited for him to spin her around. His reaction was a tad delayed, but he snapped out of his funk fast enough to use at least some of her momentum to perform a partial spin.
“I’m so excited!” she said.
“Me too! Me too. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Zuri was already making her way back to the house.
“Uhh…listen, why don’t you go get ready while I say goodbye to the rest of the girls, and then we’ll be on our way?”
“Great! I shouldn’t be too long,” she said as she ran past Zuri.
Jack ran up to the other girls and gave them microsecond hugs. He even managed to give Dani one without gagging. Then he ran after Zuri.
“Zuri!” he called out.
She just kept walking. He knew a cameraman would be trudging along just behind him, so he had to make it quick.
“Zuri,” he said as quietly as possible, “talk to me, will ya? I’m sorry. I was a knob. I…”
“Oh! Good morning, Thomas!” she said.
Jack looked up and saw Thomas coming towards them with Tae and Talia. Jack immediately threw on a happy face and stopped dead in his tracks.
“Good morning!” Thomas replied as Zuri rushed by him.
Thomas looked a little confused and asked, “What was that all about?”
“Oh, I…I think she hurt her finger while she was shooting arrows. I was just running after her to check and see if she was alright.”
“Jack! That’s very kind of you! You’ve really taken to heart what I said about letting up on her, haven’t you?”
“Definitely. Anything for you, mate.”
“And I couldn’t be more grateful for you taking Tae last night. Talia and I slept like babies! Sorry for sleeping in and missing the challenge, though. How’d it go? What’d I miss?”
Jack’s date with Naia went…fine.
Other than Naia, it had been nearly twenty-four hours since Jack saw any of the girls without either shunning rags and cosmetic dirt or pasta dangling from their faces. It was nice. Even nicer was knowing exactly who he was going to eliminate while feeling absolutely no guilt for so doing. The best part was her overconfidence. Dani clearly thought she was guaranteed a puzzle piece, and Jack couldn’t wait to watch her expression morph when he didn’t call her name.
Zuri looked gorgeous; still a little perturbed…but gorgeous. Jack would have called Zuri's name first if it weren’t for the morning events, which probably raised some suspicion amongst the other girls. Instead, he settled on an end to the night that Dani would never forget.
“Naia,” he said as she stepped forward to claim the second to last puzzle piece. “Naia, I don’t know what I enjoyed more on our date: the bay…or the boo. Will you accept this piece of me, boo?”
“Yes.”
Mick stepped forward and said, “And then there was one. Ladies, this is tonight’s final puzzle piece. Jack…”
The stage was set. The smug smirk he’d always misinterpreted as healthy confidence was bigger than ever. Dani’s twisted admission from hours earlier still echoed in his head, but he wondered what satisfying sound would soon be replacing it. Screams of anger? Sobs of sorrow? The thud of her fainting head bouncing off the floor when she realized she’d never see a pence of his money? Any would suffice, but more than anything, he couldn’t wait to hear Zuri say yes . Jack then turned to take her in.
He didn’t even care if Thomas noticed his enamorment with his little sister. She was too beautiful not to look. But …looking came with an unexpected revelation…she was absolutely miserable. Just as she’d virtually always been anytime he had anything to do with her. And he couldn’t bear it. A flood of mean pranks, hurtful words, and innumerable images of the very same face she was yet again making drowned his mind in sorrow and regret. He’d always struggled to know what selflessness looked like in any particular situation, but in that moment, he finally understood.
“Dani.”
Jack didn’t take his eyes off Zuri, not even as Dani threw her arms around him and took the last puzzle piece. He studied Zuri’s non-reaction, and in it, he found the incredibly painful truth - he’d made the choice she wanted.