Page 214 of As The Shifter World Turns

“I disagree, there wasn’t enough,” an omega named Rodney added. “And my pillow was too hard.”

Daire gave me a “Help me” look. He and Micah had a budget for food which they divided up between each pair. But when one couple spent their entire daily budget on one meal the day they arrived, we’d ordered in yesterday.

“I’ll email you menus and you can choose your dinner for this evening,” I told everyone. “Rodney, I believe there are extra pillows in the closet.”

Daire clapped his hands. “Right. Let’s get started. You’ve all seen your rooms and yesterday should have devised a rough plan of how you’re going to renovate.”

“We didn’t,” an alpha informed Daire, “Because my ex mate was busy texting his newfriend.” He folded his arms and glared at his partner who was peering at his phone.

“I’d forgotten why we separated,” the omega hissed, “But now I remember.”

I caught a glimpse of Nate filming all the interactions. “Audiences love this,” he whispered to me. “Often on a reality show it’s all manufactured BS, but this is ratings gold.”

I was beginning to regret my offer to work on the project. While Archer was a huge fan of reality TV, I’d seen a few episodes of various shows now and then. Maybe I should offer to look after Elune, Jasper, and Charlie, and Archer could do my job. He’d probably revel in all the drama.

“Show us what you’ve got,” Micah interjected. Poor guy, he looked like I felt and it was only 9:15 in the morning of Day 1.

“What? Nobody told me I had to get naked?” one guy said. Daire had pointed out the shifters in the group and that omega was a bear, like my friend.

Micah’s face was red and his clenched fists show'd he was about to explode. “Your plans. Show us what you’ve come up with. We’ll come to each room and you can give us a rundown.”

“I need to make a coffee run,” Daire said under his breath. “My usual morning brew is not strong enough to deal with this crap.”

“I’ll get it.” I patted his shoulder, got Micah and Nate’s orders, and took off. On my return, all the contestants were in the rooms they wererenovating, and with the doors open, there were raised voices and one pair was pulling the carpet off the floor.

“Michael, I don’t think bringing bamboo canes into the room and attaching them to the wall will provide a relaxing atmosphere.”

“But we’re going with a jungle theme,” Michael informed Daire and his mate nodded in agreement. “I was thinking of having a soundtrack of jungle noises play every time someone lifted the toilet lid.”

Nate could barely contain his giggles and the camera was bouncing slightly as he attempted to film. I had my camera slung around my neck and needed to take still shots for promotion so I walked into the next room where Micah was examining a plan that had a huge circle in the middle of the room.

“What’s this?”

“A bath,” a wolf shifter named Shelly replied. “We thought it would be romantic if couples could take a bath and look at the view of the courtyard. I mean, when the courtyard has been renovated.” Right now it looked as it did the night the Sunshine Manor family stayed here.

“But there wouldn’t be any space for a bed or beds,” Micah told her.

“We were thinking of two hammocks hanging from the ceiling.” I took a couple of photos as Nate filmed over my shoulder.

“What are you doing?” a voice yelled from the next room.

Nate, Micah, and I raced in to find the pair who were no longer in a relationship arguing. The alpha had taken a sledge hammer and broken a hole in the wall and the teenager in the next room had poked his head through. “Sorry,” the alpha said. “I was letting off steam.”

“Is it time for lunch yet?” Micah asked as he covered his eyes with one hand.

“Will coffee do?” I handed him a cup.

A scream from another room had us discovering that one couple had removed the toilet and someone smashed a water main. “Stop what you’re doing, everyone,” Micah yelled. He swore as he raced out to shut off the water valve and call a plumber to fix the problem. “Will this day never end?”

Three rooms flooded and everyone downed tools for the day giving Micah his wish, though not in the way he wanted.

Only Nate was excited. “I have enough material for an hour’s TV. I’ll do a rough edit this afternoon and include the plumber fixing the water main. And you can give me your opinion,” he told Micah and Daire. “We’ll need to add a voice over, but honestly guys, viewers will lap up this stuff. You’re sitting on a gold mine.”

Micah wiped dust from his brow. “I’m wondering if Archer should take my place. I’ll look after the kids and he can wrangle this lot into some sort of order.”

“I was thinking he could do my job if he wanted,” I told him.

“Damn, everyone wants my mate.”

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