Page 49 of As They Are
“I did that. And they’re willing to sell. I’ll cover it like I did the mansion. The network just pays the reno cost. And ... travel for employees.”
Her eyes cut to me. “You should cover that, considering this was all your idea.”
“I’ll cover it formyguys,” I answered. “The ones I work with regularly. Whoever you bring, you need to cover.”
Last season, they’d doubled my team. It wasn’t just contractors. It was personal assistants, a filming crew, and evenactors who were designed to pretend they were working on the mansion.
Madison narrowed her eyes at me. I was pushing her, and I knew that, but the show itself washerthing.
“We’ll split it,” she said slowly. “But this better be the best season yet.”
“Once people see this place, they’ll love it. I know they will.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line and she nodded. “Send me the offer once you have it. And tell me who you’re bringing.Notthe one from season one.”
Last summer, Madison had a tryst with one of the best men I worked with. He was a notorious ladies’ man and was very clear upfront that he didn’t want a relationship with her.
Madison had hoped for one anyway.
Not having him here would suck. He was great to work with professionally.
“Will do.”
“I’ll get Jude and we’ll film your reunion first thing.”
“R-reunion?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Do I need to remind you that it looked like hecheatedon me?”
“Even if he did, you still miss him. You’ll hug and kiss before doing an interview about how you’re angry but are willing to work on it.”
“Once again, I’m not kissing someone who cheated on me,” I said slowly through clenched teeth.
“You said you would cooperate. This is what that means. I know what will sell, and you two are it.”
She was gone before I could say anything else, and I had to ignore the rising panic.Fuck.I should have known she wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie with this thing with Jude.
Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about it long, because someone was running up to me.
“Oh my God!” Kerry looked like she’d just won the lottery. “Who was that? Why was she looking at the old library?”
I blinked back into focus. “I don’t know if I can share yet.”
“Please!Is this about the show? She looked so official!”
“It ... might be, but we’re still working stuff out on that.”
“Kerry, I swear!” Tammy had followed her. “Not only did you make me run, but now you’re hounding the poor woman!”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m sure it’s big news.”
“If you’re gonna be fixing that old thing up, you’ll be under a lot of stress. And Kerry here wants to know too much.”
“This isn’t a bad topic this time,” Kerry said with her hands on her hips.
“You and the rest of the town are on thin ice after starting a betting pool in the town square.” Tammy narrowed her eyes.
