Page 69 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

True to Javier’s roots, parts of the show were shot vlog style, with either his cameraman or, as he was doing at that moment, Javier himself wielding the camera.

In this case, he held a GoPro at the end of a selfie stick, the lens aimed so that it captured him, Tessa, Mark, and the gondolier.

“Riding a gondola through the canals of Venice is like traveling through history,” Javier said. “This city has endured sieges, military takeovers, and the Black Death, and it’s still here for all to enjoy.”

He swung the camera around dramatically, then stopped recording.

“Okay, you can relax,” he said, his infectious smile still as bright as it had been when taping. “I’ll get a few B-roll shots of the water and the boat, then take a few more of us as we near our stop.”

“Sounds good,” Mark said.

“I can’t believe I’m sitting here with the two of you. It’s like a dream. Thank you so much for joining me today.”

“Are you kidding?” Tessa said. “I’m a big fan. I was watching you long before EDC snapped you up!”

“You were?” Javier said, genuinely surprised.

“Absolutely. Every time my husband and I plan a trip, I check to see if you’ve been there, and if you have, what restaurants you recommend.”

Javier put a hand over his heart. “I’m having a bit of an out-of-body experience at the thought that superstar Tessa Tweed watches my show.”

“Oh, stop it. I’m just like anyone else.”

“You are most definitely not just like anyone else.”

“You know what I mean.”

“If I may interject,” Mark said. “Maybe you should save the fangirling and fanboying for when the camera is rolling. The viewers will love it.”

“Good idea,” Tessa said, then smiled at Javier. “When I say it again later, pretend it’s the first time and react the same.”

“I won’t have to pretend anything to react the same,” Javier said.

Tessa reached forward and squeezed his arm. “Aren’t you a charmer.”

Mark peeked ahead. He could see the film crew waiting at the edge of the canal, fifty yards away. “I think we’re almost there.”

Javier twisted toward the front. “Oh. Then I need to get back to work.”

The host busied himself with camera duties, then as they neared their disembarkation point, he, Tessa, and Mark smiled for the camera that was taping their arrival from the walkway.

After exiting the gondola, Javier led them over a bridge and down a side pathway toward the home of a chef friend of his, who would be making them lunch.

Though the area wasn’t one of the higher-trafficked parts of the city, there were still plenty of locals and tourists walking around. The locals mostly ignored the cameras, while the tourists craned their necks to see what was going on. A few appeared to recognize Tessa and Mark, but production security did a good job of keeping them from getting too close.

While they were passing through a particularly narrow section, Mark noticed Vesna walking toward him. As she passed him, she slipped a folded piece of paper into his hand, which he promptly put in his pocket.

It was another twenty-five minutes before he was able to excuse himself to use the restroom, where he could finally read the note.

Check your messages

His phone had been on silent while they’d been taping, so he’d missed several texts from Vesna.

The first read:

Heard back about Schmidt.

The second had been sent five minutes later.

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