Page 104 of House of Deceit

“Which round of musical chairs did Mateo lose in?”

I buzz, beating out both guys. “Five.”

“Oh, no, I’m sorry Charlie. Yes, Jayden?” He directs his gaze away from me as Jayden gives the correct answer of round four.

I start picking at my nail polish as nerves threaten to overtake me. Heading into another quick break, I picture Alec sitting in his chair in the interview room.

“You know this stuff, Price. You’re really going to give up on me? After everything we’ve done to get you here? Where’s the girl I picked from her application?”

As we come back, I settle down and ready myself for a comeback.

Commercial breaks come and go and suddenly, we are on the final question.

“Jayden, you lead by five hundred points with 20,500. Charlie, you are currently in second with twenty thousand, and Parker, you are in third with ninety-five hundred,” Jacob says, still looking powder dry.

Dramatic music plays over the speakers and the lights all come down. “Last question, Deceivers, and this one is for all of you. As a reminder, you will wager up to the amount of points you currently have. If you get the answer correct, you will win that amount. If you answer incorrectly, you will lose that amount. Understood?” We all give verbal consent per the attorney’s instruction.

Jacob readies to ask the final question of the season.

“What is the combined age of all the house guests at the time they left the house?”

I begin writing furiously on the tablet that has been provided for the purpose of this last question.

Jacob turns to the camera and speaks to the audience. “As our contestants answer this final question that stands between them and half a million dollars, let’s take one final break. Make sure to stick around to find out who will win season ten of House of Deceit and half a million dollars, live!”

As we go to commercial once more, we lock in our answers, but when I go to write down my wager, I hesitate. Looking at my board, I try to decide the number of points I want to wager. Jayden will probably assume I’d bet everything. If Jayden and I both get the answer wrong, but I wager under a thousand points, I would still beat Parker, no matter what he puts down. And if Jayden wagered enough, I could still win. But if I do that, and we both get the answer correct, he will win.

I wish Alec was here to tell me what to do. To go with the safe answer or bet everything and pray. We are told to lock in our wagers as we are counted down to the end of the commercial break.

With my heart in my throat, I put down my life-changing number.

Jacob Jacobson welcomes the viewers back as my stomach knots and I mentally chant, I will not pass out from nerves. I try to think through all the birth dates of the contestants once more. There were a few birthdays during the production schedule, but I’m wracking my brain to remember if they happened before or after the specific person left. I check my answer one more time, even though it’s too late to change.

This money could make my life easier for the foreseeable future. It’s more than I needed to avoid living with my parents when I came into this house. Combined with the product partnerships that will hopefully be waiting for me, I could walk out of here without a care in the world.

But even being so close to solving all of my problems, all I want to do right now is see Alec.

Before I’m ready, the lights come back on and Jacob holds our fate in his hands.

“Hello, deceivers. Congratulations on getting this far. Your answers have been reviewed and the final points totaled. In my hands, I have the results of the competition.” He shows us a heavy, dark blue envelope. “In just a moment, you all will exit this house for the first time in twelve weeks, one of you half a million dollars richer! Are you ready to see who has won?”

“Yes!” all of us chorus together.

“Please, make your way to the entryway.”

I take a moment and look around the backyard for the last time. Turning from my podium, I hold my hands out to the guys, wanting us to walk out of here together.

Walking through the mansion that has become home, my eyes get misty as I take it in once more.

Two production assistants dressed as butlers open the doors.

“Jayden, Parker, Charlie,” Jacob Jacobson says, his voice filtering over the speakers as he’s moved to the front of the house for the post-game interview, “the winner of House of Deceit season ten is—” he takes a pause that lasts a year.

My heart races a mile a minute while a bead of sweat inches its way down my spine.

I bite my lip as the front doors to the mansion open for the first time in three months.

And then Jacob is saying, “Charlie Price!”

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