Page 24 of Most Eligible
“Ladies, how are we?” Lainey asks.
I take a sip of my drink to buy myself time. Philippa feigns a smile and swallows her cherry. “I’m great,” she says. “This diet of only alcohol and bar snacks is really doing wonders for me.”
I cough and splutter, liquid dribbling down my chin. Turning away, I take the square napkin that Kevin wordlessly offers me from behind the bar.
I can’t believe Philippa would be so brazen. It’s one thing to quietly complain about the conditions, but to say it to Lainey’s face is as good as begging to be sent home. In the real world, I’dwant to be friends with Philippa, but here, her energy is a little toojust-here-for-the-free-vacationfor my comfort.
Lainey’s smile gets, if possible, wider, something evil glinting in her eyes. “I’m so glad to hear it. You know we only want you girls to be looking your best.”
Philippa, refusing to cower, stands up straighter, running a hand over her long box braids.
Lainey turns to Chloe next, her eyes wandering from the plunging neckline of Chloe’s dress to the cutouts at her waist.
“Maybe a more modest dress next time, dear? It’s a little too much exposed skin. Especially when you’re so pale.”
Chloe’s red lips fall open as her chin begins to tremble. I want to reach out, pull Chloe into a hug, and then stab Lainey in the face with the heel of my shoe. But Philippa acts first. She sets her empty glass down on the bar and faces Lainey.
“You asshole,” she says calmly.
Chloe grabs her arm and whispers, “Phil, don’t.”
“Yes, Phil, don’t,” Lainey parrots.
“All we’ve had to eat today was salad, yogurt, and, hmm, what was the last thing?” Philippa looks up to the ceiling like she’s trying to remember. “Oh right. Alcohol. Seem healthy to you? I thought you wanted live women to date Roland, but if he’s into necrophilia, who am I to judge?”
Lainey smooths down the front of her shirt and purses her lips. “We will be providing dinner after the ceremony tonight,” she says. “Now stop wasting my time. Georgia? Can we have a little chat?”
From the grimace on Philippa and Chloe’s faces, you’d think I was being led to my execution. I leave my glass at the bar, knowing I need my wits about me as I enter the wolves’ den.
In a hot and stuffy room off the hallway, I sit down on an uncomfortable wooden stool for my first moments alone with Lainey. No other producers. Just us.
My pulse is racing as Lainey perches herself on the edge of a huge armchair, smiling warmly at me.
I square my shoulders. I need to know if there’s any truth to the rumors, the macabre accusations of hours in a room with Lainey, only let out when she gets what she wants.
She leans forward and turns on the camera in front of me.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have you back to the party soon. Just a quick interview.” She settles back in her chair. “So, Georgia, how are you doing?”
Okay, easy start. Trying to loosen me up.
“I’m great,” I say. “I’m really excited to talk to Roland tonight.”
“Can you tell me about your first kisses with him?”
I take a deep breath and widen my eyes. As Serena said,Wide eyes mean love.
“They were amazing,” I gush, but Lainey cuts me off.
“Set the stage, Georgia,” she says. “Don’t say ‘they’—tell me what you’re talking about.”
“Right, sorry.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.
“No problem. Whenever you’re ready,” she says, smiling. Her expression is maternal and almost… kind. Butkinddoesn’t seem to be in Lainey’s normal wheelhouse. This must be how she lulls contestants into a false sense of security.
I meet the camera’s gaze. “The kisses were magical. It felt like everything was meant to be.” I pause, take a dreamy breath, then continue. “I can really see a future with him—he’s everything I want in a partner. He’s kind, compassionate, talented, smart, and, well… he’s a really good kisser too.”
Though not as good as Rhett. The thought sends my nails digging into my palms, and Lainey’s eyes flick to the movement. She misses nothing.
