Page 6 of The Final Rose

I sigh. He’s nothing like I thought he was going to be. I put my clipboard to the side, crossing my arms over my chest. When I heard about Sebastian Riggs for the first time, I thought he was going to be too much of a gentleman to be entertaining. I thought we wouldn’t have any story to show. What kind of character arc is one supposed to construct when he’s perfect already? But now I see a different angle altogether.

“What kind of media training were you given?”

Sebastian rolls his shoulders back. “I know how to behave at a dinner, or how to be discreet in a busy restaurant. But I’m not used to watching my mouth all the time.”

“So, you’re picture perfect, not camera ready?” I arch an eyebrow.

“Sure.”

My lips twitch. “Why are you here, Sebastian?”

“Pardon?” He asks for the third time, and I realize it’s a crutch. It’s the polite word he says to avoid asking people to shut their mouths.

“You heard me. Why did you decide to be part of our show?”

Doris finishes with his hair right in time, glancing at me before stepping back to get the makeup cart. I’m left watching Sebastian, waiting for a sarcastic reply. But I’m left waiting, when he flashes me a look and says, “I want to find someone.”

This takes me by surprise. “Do you?”

He shrugs. Turning to the mirror and avoiding my eyes. “I like the idea of settling down. And whatever way I’d try to meet someone would be unconventional, anyway.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because I’m a bloody Riggs, aren’t I?”

“Tell me what that means,” I ask, and it’s not because I’m being nosy. Suddenly, I really want to understand how wemanaged to get someone like Sebastian on our show. It’s more than publicity with him, I can tell.

“I thought you wanted to keep the messy parts to show on camera.”

“Maybe I need a taste–.” I correct myself immediately, “A warning! So we know what to expect, of course.”

“The women back home already know my name. I can’t be on a dating app. I can’t meet someone at the gym like normal people. When I go on dates, it is with friends of friends, or worse, friends of the family. It’s all very… stiff and arranged. So why not? It doesn’t matter at this point. We won’t have a meet cute walking in the park with our dogs—”

“You’re looking for the plot of101 Dalmatiansin your future wife?”

He doesn’t even entertain my question. “I’m happy to be here. My apologies if I gave you the wrong impression.”

I click my tongue, tilting my head to the side. It’s like I have three versions of the same man. One has a dry humor that won’t necessarily translate well on camera. The other is distant and way too proper. But this new one right here? This one is for real.

To make it on TV, you need to connect with people. And you can only do that if you’re vulnerable. His handsome face will get him through a couple of episodes, but soon the audience will want something else. They want to watch a show about an English aristocrat to see him falling in love with a peasant.

People want to keep the fairy tale alive.

Doris comes back with the makeup cart, starting with his skin and I watch them for a second, my head running a mile a minute.

“Be Prince Charming for me.” I finally say. “Let me sell that and I’ll get your princess.”

Sebastian turns his gaze toward me and gives the most minuscule nod.

We have a deal.

“What do you think?”

The mansion is too busy, so we are at Anya’s trailer, which is actually the production’s trailer, but it’s a pit because Anya doesn’t believe in picking up after herself.

“He’s the same as all of them.” She grunts.

I sip my coffee and smile at her. Sebastian is nothing like any contestant I’ve ever seen.

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