The Love Raffle

Chapter 4

Levi felt a flicker of annoyance as the makeup artist forcefully shoved a brush against his cheek to even out the foundation she’d applied moments ago. His eyes widened as he glanced at his heavy makeup in the LED vanity mirror and he reached for his phone on the table. He envisioned the screams and cries that would erupt once he stepped out on set. Rachel and Oscar had not hesitated to share the positive response from Love Raffle fans and the public alike after the announcement of his guest appearance. Apparently they had to rent a bigger studio for this episode.

It usually boosted his self-esteem to know that so many adored him but these days, he didn’t have the energy to react. Except for that ridiculous club outing with Nick, he had been a couch potato for the past three months. Was he ready to step back into the spotlight? This wasn’t even acting. He’d have to march onto that stage as himself: the bright charming version of him was what people knew from interviews. Right. No one wants to see what I’m actually like.

As his hairstylist combed through his locks, he closed his eyes and pictured his living room, not sure of what was right. Was this good for him? Was getting back out there what he needed or was it in his best interest to keep hiding? Hiding. Was that what he’d been doing?

“Okay, so you’re a bit more prepared, I’ve brought you some photos.” Rachel’s heels clicked on the floor as she waltzed into his dressing room. Oscar had opened the door for her. He stepped in once she was inside.

Levi thanked the stylists when they were done then turned in his chair. “Oh, photos of the girls?” He needed to find a way to bail out of this date. Putting on an act for hundreds was one thing but doing so in an intimate setting with a stranger was something else entirely.

“Yes,” Rachel said quickly. She wore an earpiece for calls and looked as polished as ever. Her black hair was always done in a neat bun and her suits never failed to be ironed. Today she was decked out in white for some reason.

Levi was handed four pictures. He looked at the first blonde girl. He knew it was wrong to judge based on looks but this girl had something superficial about her. Can’t say that out loud though. He didn’t know these people. They probably think I’m superficial too. Or they were fans who saw no flaws in him. He didn’t know which was worse.

Rachel tapped her finger on the picture. “That’s Patricia Punting. She’s the one everyone’s rooting for. They like that she’s a model and blonde like you. And by ‘everyone’ I mean the fans who are not overly possessive of you.”

Oscar nodded. “Yeah, according to our research, it’s looking like a lot of your female fans are mad about this. They don’t want to give you up, I guess.” He snickered. “You’re like the lead in a pop boy group or something.”

Levi rolled his eyes at his teasing. “That doesn’t matter since I don’t intend on getting into anything serious with any of these people.” He switched to the next picture.

“Diane’s a musician. She’s kind of an underdog in this game but I think she’d look nice on your arm.” Rachel was suddenly swiping her thumb on her phone screen. The makeup artist and hair stylist were packing up their things. Soon, a crew member would come in to request Levi’s presence on set. Filming began at seven p.m. It was already six thirty.

Oscar shook his head and took a seat on the couch against the wall. He crossed his legs. “Your fanboys don’t like her. She’s some kind of ultra-feminist on Bluesky.”

Levi raised an eyebrow. “And there’s something wrong with that?”

Rachel snapped her fingers. “Perfect response, Levi. The ladies like a feminist.” She patted his cheek. “Just don’t say that when they’re rolling.” She pulled out the next picture for him. “Oh, that girl’s name is Amber, but I don’t know much about her. I think she’s a waitress. A nobody, essentially.” She hummed. “If she won, I guess the relationship might be endearing. Small-town girl and hotshot celebrity. You might score humility points. I like it.”

Levi’s eyes widened in recognition. It was the girl from the other night. The same Amber he didn’t dare think about. Why did she agree to be on this show? Would she acknowledge that she knew him?

When his thoughts had finally calmed down, he opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. Rachel doesn’t know about Amber’s second job. She doesn’t know that I know Amber.

Rachel was oblivious to Levi’s inner turmoil and already onto the next girl.

“…she seems air-headed but sweet. Your male fans like that she doesn’t seem too opinionated.” Rachel laughed briefly. “Dating any of them for a while can get people talking but there are expected negatives to doing such a thing as well.” She put her phone on the table and folded her arms.

Levi perked up. “Negatives? If the bad outweighs the good, then I think it’d be wise to…” He darted his eyes to Oscar. “ Not date these random girls who’ll probably only like me for my money?”

Rachel waved at him dismissively. “A negative is that your female fans will be enraged and plot her demise.” She tapped her chin. “There’s also the risk of ridicule for dating someone from a game show, but eh. Oh, and Oscar mentioned some sort of power imbalance that liberals on Bluesky were talking about?”

Levi’s eyes followed the stylists as they left the room. “Liberals?” All these demographics and opinions were throwing him for a loop.

Oscar sat closer to the edge of his seat. “Yeah.” He whipped out his phone and pointed at the screen. “Y’all remember what happened with the winner of season one, episode eight?”

Levi did not. He was not a fan of this show. “Who did she win a date with?”

“Musician Kenny Karter.” Oscar scrolled down to a picture of the guy in question. “This is an article on what the winner had to say about her date with Kenny. They went out for a couple of months before she left him.” He stretched to hand the phone over.

Levi took it to see for himself. He read a few paragraphs with quotes from the winner. She seemed to believe that being a fan of Kenny had created a power imbalance in their relationship. She described how controlling he could be and how he’d only enjoyed dating her because she practically worshipped him and didn’t call out his flaws at first. He was a douchebag. “Huh…” Levi scratched his jaw.

Rachel snatched the phone from him. “Well, that was one girl with a bad experience.” She skimmed the article quietly then handed the phone back to Oscar. “We already mapped out our pros and cons list and the pros outweigh the cons. Hence,” she tapped Levi’s arm, “you’re here. My little superstar. Or big superstar. It’s been a while since you were little.” She smiled with her red lips.

Her last sentence brought back a wave of memories, memories that transported Levi to the early days of his acting career. It was Rachel who had been there from the beginning, his loyal and dedicated agent since he was a wide-eyed kid. He vividly recalled the first time he walked into her office with his mother by his side. His father was absent as usual. Her supportive presence filled him with a sense of comfort and anticipation.

As they approached Rachel’s desk, Levi remembered the firm handshake they exchanged, a gesture that sealed their professional partnership. In that moment, he had caught a glimpse of something in Rachel’s eyes, a glimmer of ambition and determination that was impossible to ignore. It was as if she held all his dreams and aspirations in the palm of her hand, ready to sculpt his future and make him someone to be remembered.

Levi couldn’t help but recall the exact words that had emanated from Rachel’s lips, words that had resonated deeply within him. “I’m going to make you someone people remember,” she had said with unwavering conviction. And he believed her. From that day forward, he knew he was in capable hands, guided by a force that believed in his talent and potential.

He turned his seat back to the mirror and looked at his reflection.

Rachel put her hand on his shoulder, and he saw her face too. She carried this glow of pride whenever they interacted. Levi could see it in the warmth of her eyes and the wideness of her smile. “Thinking of the possibilities?”

Levi placed the photos on the table and picked up his phone. He checked the time. “I don’t get why this is necessary if my ratings are always up.” He spread the headshots across the makeup desk.

As he scanned the faces, Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s for relevancy. Plus, studies have proven that having a partner in the spotlight makes you more appealing. You should know. I mean, you haven’t dated many women in the spotlight but when you did you were even more likable. People like talking about celebrity couples. There are always the angry fans as we discussed but people who are not insane and delusional enjoy watching from afar.” Rachel patted his head.

Levi only heard her as background noise.

He hummed as he went down the line of pictures, pausing at Amber. She was beautiful. Waitress and worked in a club, huh? A nobody. He understood what Rachel meant but this felt like a cheap way to get a girlfriend. It’s just a date anyway. I don’t know why Rachel expects it to be anything more. A date that he had not planned to attend. Ugh, she looks so happy. He glanced at the woman in his reflection. Rachel was now on a call.

He groaned and massaged his eyebrows. Fine, I need to make peace with going on this date. But he would leave it at that. As Rachel had mentioned, he’d had girlfriends in the public eye. Nothing ever lasted. And although Rachel loved when the whole world scrutinized his relationships, Levi hated it. Having every godforsaken human being marking his every move was excruciating. Everywhere they went would bring paparazzi, reports, and viral social media posts. Privacy was out of the question.

Levi held the side of his head as recollections of his first public girlfriend swelled in his brain. He was eighteen and filming a movie. She had been the daughter of the director. Seventeen. At first, the girl had been fascinated by all the attention but after a while, things had gotten out of hand, and she couldn’t handle it. And so we broke up. He pushed aside the images of her crying face.

Just then, a crew member wearing a headset emerged from the door. “Mr. Marks?”

Levi cursed for not doing his facial warm-ups. He couldn’t go out there all doom and gloom. “Yeah.” He tapped his cheeks and hopped off his chair.

“Here we go.” Oscar rose from the couch and met Levi on his way to the door. He placed both hands on his shoulders. “Look alive, big man. The people are waiting.”

Levi put on his best impression of a charming Hollywood actor and stepped through the door.

* * *

Amber sat nervously in the makeup room, her heart pounding with anticipation. The soft hum of chatter and the scent of various beauty products filled the air, heightening her excitement. The mirror in front of her reflected a mix of emotions on her face—excitement, nerves, and a touch of disbelief.

As the makeup artist brushed a light layer of foundation onto her skin, Amber fidgeted in her seat. “Am I really here?” she murmured to herself.

The makeup artist, a kind woman with a gentle smile, chuckled softly. “Yes, Amber, you’re really here,” she reassured, her hands expertly applying a hint of blush to Amber’s cheeks. “You’ve got a shot on The Love Raffle fair and square, and now it’s your time to shine.”

Amber’s lips curled into a nervous smile as she watched her reflection come to life. “It’s just… I never thought something like this would happen to me,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

The makeup artist paused for a moment, meeting Amber’s gaze in the mirror. “You know, sometimes life surprises us in the most unexpected ways,” she said, her tone filled with wisdom.

Amber took a deep breath, letting the woman’s words sink in. She knew she had to embrace this moment and make the most of it. This was her chance to showcase her talent and passion to the world.

As the makeup artist finished her work, Amber admired the transformation in the mirror. Her eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence, her features enhanced with a touch of glamor. She felt like a completely different person, ready to take on the world.

With a final pat on her shoulder, the makeup artist smiled warmly at Amber. “There you go, my dear. You’re all set to go out there and dazzle them.”

Amber grinned back. “Thank you so much,” she said with sincerity.

The makeup artist’s smile widened. “You’re welcome, Amber. Now go out there and show them what you’re made of.”

Feeling a surge of determination, Amber stood up from the chair, her heart pounding with renewed energy. She took one last glance in the mirror, taking in the transformation that had taken place. With a deep breath, she turned and headed towards the backstage area, ready to embrace the spotlight and seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

Moments later, Amber stood on the edge of the stage, her eyes squinting under the blinding lights that illuminated the set. The word on the block had been true—they had indeed rented a bigger studio for this episode of The Love Raffle , and the grandeur of it all was overwhelming. Beca, ever the chatterbox, had been unable to contain her excitement, sharing every little detail she could about the new set and the larger audience capacity.

With only three minutes left until showtime, Amber felt her heart pound in her chest, its rhythm echoing in her ears. Her gaze remained fixed on the rows upon rows of people filling the audience, their faces a blur in the sea of anticipation. The energy in the room was palpable, a buzzing mix of excitement, nerves, and curiosity.

Amber took a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the flurry of activity. She had already gone through the rigorous process of having her hair and makeup meticulously done by the talented stylists provided by the show. The transformation had been surreal, making her feel like a true celebrity. As part of her preparations, she had also recorded short reels for The Love Raffle ’s Instagram page and filmed videos for TikTok to share glimpses of her journey on the show.

Amber’s mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts. Would the audience like her? How would Levi react when he saw her? He might not even remember her. The mix of nervousness and excitement threatened to consume her, but she was determined to stay focused and make the most of this opportunity.

As the countdown to showtime began, Amber felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins. The lights grew even brighter, and the anticipation in the air became almost tangible. This was her moment to shine, to capture the heart of not only Levi but also the audience watching at home.

“Try to look a little less like you’re going to throw up,” Patricia said from beside her. They were all lined up behind podiums with a buzzer in front of them and wearing nametags on their clothes.

Amber couldn’t even summon a response. She had been on sets before but only small ones. Very small ones. One of them was in someone’s garage. This whole thing was bigger than she imagined. At least Elouise and Conner could make it, though she couldn’t see them in the sea of guests.

The producer woman from that cramped room was up front giving the crowd instructions on how to react to the show. Amber was familiar with reality game shows, but she hadn’t known the work that went into them. Even the crowd had to be coached. This really wasn’t her thing. I’m not a character. I’m myself. She took a deep breath.

“Alright, girls.” A man in black walked across the stage holding a clipboard. He stood in front of them while another crew member led a guy in a buttoned shirt and leather pants to the curtains near their podiums.

Amber heard Kate let out a squeal and caught collective gasps from the audience. She noticed the smiles growing on her competitors’ faces and grew confused. What’s happening?

“Levi!” someone from the audience shouted.

Amber now registered what the commotion was about. She glanced back at the buttoned-shirt guy and her jaw dropped. He looked even better under the studio lights.

Levi Marks was smiling and waving at the crowd on his way to the curtains, which hung in a ring around a small tube about ten feet from Amber and the other girls.

“He’s mine,” muttered Patricia. Her voice had grown gravelly. Almost like a demon.

Amber was startled by Patricia’s words. She whipped her head to her left as Levi Marks was concealed behind the curtains. He stuck his head out to wave at her and the other contestants, but Amber couldn’t say a thing to him.

Briefly, his eyes met hers and Amber stood frozen.

“Hey, hey.” The man who had been addressing them snapped his fingers in front of Amber.

Amber caught sight of the host in her peripheral vision. The host was famous too. These were all the people she had only seen on TV. Yet here I am, standing with them. These blinding lights, cameras, and hushed conversations were not helping her case. Come on, Amber. This is your shot. Focus! She shook her head.

“… so like we practiced. Smiles, smiles, smiles and charisma, charisma, charisma. We don’t want the energy down for a second, okay?” the man said. He pointed his forefingers at the corners of his lips and pulled them to form a grin.

Amber was a little disturbed at the way it came out. His aura oozed franticness and irritation. As he marched backstage, one camera guy held up his hand asking if everyone was ready.

Amber stood straighter and flipped her hair off her shoulder. She saw that the other girls were already putting on their best TV faces, so she followed suit. Make this count. She didn’t care about the prize like Beca did. She wanted to be seen. To be liked and hopefully booked for her energy. Yes. That’s what’s most important.

The cameraman’s fingers went down one after the other as he counted. “Three, two…” He pointed and the show began.