Page 57 of House of Desire

While he seems to be giving me a choice, it’s only for appearances. I have no choice. This was in the contract.

“Let’s get this over with,” I say, making to grab for the door handle, but he stops me.

“We would prefer more of an excited, ‘so happy to be here’ kind of attitude.”

“Got it.”

The sun is bright as I open the door, and head inside the high-end jewelry store. It’s empty but for the associate behind the counter. And the camera people.

And the members of production.

Really, it’s just empty of other customers.

“Hello, and welcome to Timeless Jewels,” the associate says, holding her hand out for me. She reminds me of the associate who helped Alec find a ring for Charlie, but where Alec was calm and excited, I’m a walking panic attack.

I walk over to her, a smile on my face for the camera. Maybe if I fake it, eventually the calmness will filter to my insides.

“I’m Parker,” I say shaking her hand. “Thank you for having us.”

“It’s our pleasure to mark this momentous occasion in your life. We’ve preselected some rings for you to review.” She pulls two black velvet covered trays, three rings on each one. “This one is for Carmen and this one for Anastasia,” she says, indicating, first the left and then the right.

But I didn’t need any help determining which set was for which woman. The ones for Carmen are large and flashy while Anastasia’s are more intricate and unique.

Letting go of Leslie at the last elimination was difficult, but ever since the first night, I knew it was going to come down to these two ladies. While I’m ring shopping, Philip told me they are both trying on various gowns for the finale.

The associate goes through the rings for each woman. There’s a lot of ‘emerald cut’ this and ‘pave band’ that and it all begins to blend together.

Without much thought, I pick out a ring for Carmen I know I’ll never give her.

I look at the rings for Anastasia and there’s something about them that, while beautiful and something I could see her wearing, I know they aren’t really her.

The one on the right keeps pulling my attention. I know it’s the right choice out of these available options.

“This one,” I say, pointing to it.

“Stunning choice, sir. Whichever lady you choose will be incredibly lucky.”

I wipe the sweat beading on my forehead and thank her for her time, all but running out of the store.

My fingers tremble as I try to tie my bowtie for a third time. My day started at three in the morning when I decided sleep was not in the cards for me. Could I see myself with Anastasia? Yes. Absolutely. She’s smart and funny and caring and I would be lucky to call her mine.

A camera moves to catch me untying the tie again.

What if everything I like about Anastasia has been for the show? I pause before starting my fourth attempt. Worry seeps into every crevice and strangles any other thought.

What if Anya has been pretending this entire time? I think about each of our times together, and how hard it is to deliver all the lines production requires of me. If she’s pretending every time we are together, I’m almost impressed by her ability.

But the Anya I saw at the Desire Suite date was the same one I’ve seen the entire show. Other than the time with her family and at the bakery when she was telling me everything about her craft, that was the most relaxed I saw her.

Bowtie finally tied, I pull the ring box out of my pants pocket. I have opened it five hundred times since I picked it out yesterday.

There are so many things that could go wrong today. So many reasons I shouldn’t be doing this. But I have to. It was in the contract. An engagement at the end of the show is required.

They don’t care if it will last.

They don’t care how either of us feel about it.

They don’t care.

---