Page 39 of Out of the Shadow

Kaitlyn takes me aside. “I want you to continue sparring with Angie. The camera eats that shit up. Besides, it seems to be the natural state between you two. Try to fluster her.”

Fluster her, huh? I know exactly how to put her off guard. I nod and watch as Kaitlyn steps away. She whispers something into Angie’s ear, and I have to wonder if she’s telling her the same thing.

Kaitlyn walks us over to my desk, where I sit and Angie takes a chair across from me. “Not liking this,” the director says after a moment. “Let’s take it over by the windows.” We move and wait for the cameras to get into position.

“And, Go!” Kaitlyn says.

Angie stares at me, her warm brown eyes overlaid with steel. “Congratulations. But don’t get too used to it. There are still plenty more challenges ahead.”

I nod. Operation Fluster, here we go. I reach out and rub a strand of hair in between my fingers. “That’s true. But there will never be another chance with the Dansons.”

Angie sucks in her breath, so I know she’s not immune to me, but she also tilts her head up. I’m at least a half-foot taller than this diminutive brunette. Wouldn’t know that by her attitude, though. A smile crosses her face. “Beginner’s luck.” Her eyes glance downward. “It’ll be interesting to see if you’re more than a one-hit wonder.”

My hand falters and I drop her hair. Did she seriously just challenge my manhood? Oh, this game ison.

Angie

SEVERAL DAYS HAVEpassed since King won that stupid contest for the Dansons, and he’s been strutting around ever since. The power suit that Shelley in Wardrobe gave me yesterday is laid out on my bed in preparation for today’s shoot.

We’re going to a seller’s house and presenting our strategies to market it for sale. The actual Open House will be Sunday—five days from now—and the winner of today’s episode will be filmed on site. I’m more than ready to rub King’s face in my win, despite the tentative truce we’ve maintained since that day at the beach.

Sliding the red skirt over my hips, I tuck the cream blouse in and zip up. I play with my wedding rings on my left hand and step into my nude heels.I’m doing it, Dante. We’re going to be Number One.

Poppy, who? Sure, she’s bound to make another appearance on camera to needle me—and because she does want to be on camera no matter how often and loudly she says otherwise—but I can’t worry about her. Or Geoff.This show is going to put us on the map.

Grabbing my briefcase, I head down the stairs. My cousin walks into the office as I sit down at my desk. “Hey, Marlene.”

“Hi. How are you doing? Get enough of King’s gloating yesterday?”

“Did I ever.” Lifting my arms and flexing them, I drop my voice into a low register. “I worked out this morning for two hours before taking Lita and Gil to the houses I picked out for them. They ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ all day. How amazing is that? Kaitlyn couldn’t believe how well the taping went and we didn’t have to redo much. She says I’m a natural.”

Marlene giggles at my impression of King and piles on. “Did I tell you how Lita fawned all over me? I could steal her away from Gil like that.” She snaps her fingers.

Laughing, I reply, “It’s just so hard being this insanely good-looking, you know? Without an ounce of body fat anywhere.” I rub my hands up and down my curvy torso.

She points to her arm. “And my tattoo. Selected for maximum impact. The ladies can’t keep their hands off me.”

At this point, we’re both doubled-over, sucking in air. I wave my hands. “Stop! Stop! I can’t!”

For her part, Marlene shakes her head. “No more.”

Except we promptly burst into gales of laughter again.

“Okay, that’s it. Enough,” I try again.

“You’re right,” she snickers. “Although, I will personally kick your ass if you don’t win this contest today.”

I rub my hand over my ample butt. “Ouch. I guess I better not lose, huh?”

We both spin around when the bathroom door clicks shut and King walks out in all of his post-workout glory. He’s wearing shorts that hang off his hips and a skin-tight T-shirt, his tribal armband tattoo peeking out. Mouth open, I look at my cousin and whisper, “Do you think he…?”

She shakes her head once.

“Ladies,” King says as he walks to his desk and tosses a garment bag over the guest chairs in front. “Thought I’d get in early to prepare for today’s shoot.”

“King,” I reply, my voice sounding strangled. He busies himself with some papers, and I lead Marlene back to my desk.

Marlene’s eyes dart to my co-star as she straightens up my already tidy desk. “I hope you’re ready to give Let’s Do It! a huge Open House for this challenge. Pretend you have a bank account with ten million in it.”

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