Page 114 of House of Desire

We begin moving everything around, decorating the table with all the creations Courtney and I worked so hard on. By the time I was putting the last cupcake on the table, Ryan was making her way back toward us.

“Sorry about that,” Ryan says as she hurries back over.

“That’s okay. How does it look?” I say, stepping back from the table and admiring the best display I’ve ever made.

“Perfect,” she says, clapping her hands and squealing. “I have to get back to it. Here’s your check.” She thrusts the slip of paper into my hand. “You can expect to be very busy in the new future. Dominic, here’s my card for that tour. Or anything else.” She hands him a plain black card, and I think my brother is about to pass out on the floor in front of me, despite looking collected.

“I’ll call you,” he says, giving her a wink.

My mouth almost drops open at his suave flirting, but I don’t want to embarrass him. Once she’s gone, I turn toward him, smacking his arm.

“You better not fuck this up or I will kill you. And her fans will hate you.”

“I have no intention of fucking it up. Don’t you have some event to get to?”

I look at my watch and my heart rate picks up. “Shit! I’m going to be late.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll take Courtney with me and she can clean up the kitchen,” he says, knowing I’ll never be able to relax if my bakery is in disarray.

“Hold on, now,” Courtney says.

“Parker’s waiting for her,” Dom says, sharing a look with her and she smiles.

“I’ll clean up,” she promises. “For a fee.”

“You got it,” I say, grabbing Dom’s keys from his hand and run for the car.

“Parker, it’s so great of you to join us tonight. I know a lot of the fans at home are hoping for an update on your happily ever after since Anastasia’s rejection,” Jacob Jacobson says, the camera and bright lights on us.

The last episode of the show just finished airing and the first hour of the party will be live where various contestants will be interviewed.

“It’s great to be here. All I can say is I hope my happily ever after starts tonight.”

“Care to share a hint of what we can expect?”

“It’s going to be a surprise,” I tell him, itching to take off my suit, the tie almost strangling me.

“Alright, folks, you heard it here first. Parker is hopeful following the devastating ending of House of Desire where Anastasia, a crowd favorite from the beginning, turned down his proposal. We’ll be back after this commercial break.”

“And we’re out,” says the production member behind the camera. The red light flicks off and the tension in my shoulders drops.

I stand up from the chair, tucking my hair behind my ears as a production assistant removes my microphone.

“It was good seeing you, Jake,” I say once I’m free. Zoey walks up, her hair now a deep red.

“Zoey, how are you?” I ask, wrapping her in a friendly hug.

“I’m great. It’s good to see you. I’d ask how you’re doing, considering the rejection the country just watched, but the look on your face tells me everything I need to know.”

I smile at her. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Tell her to find me later, yeah?” I don’t even waste my breath pretending to not know she’s talking about Anya.

“Will do,” I say, taking note of Charlie as she walks down the stairs. “Will you excuse me?”

“You look gorgeous,” I say, holding my hand out to help her down the last few stairs. Her golden dress makes it seem like she glows in the dim light.

“I would tell you that you look good, but I don’t want to inflate your ego. Where’s Anastasia?”

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