Page 130 of Christmas at the Castle
Epilogue
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Eight weeks later…
In the conferenceroom at Ever After Productions, Brad Hammond tapped his pen against the table. He’d chosen a seat that didn’t face the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunny Southern California weather made being inside difficult.
His film crew—Conrad, Dylan, and Wes—sat around the table. All the chairs had wheels. Any minute, Brad feared the three men might start playing bumper chairs. That was what happened when the day started with a dozen donuts to celebrate their episode’s most recent ratings.
“Let’s get this meeting going so we can head to the beach to grab lunch.” Brad readied his tablet. “Can you hear me, Emily?”
Emily White von Rexburg was taking the call in Alvernia where she lived with her husband Prince Luc and ran his charitable foundation. A former advertising executive, she’d made Ever After’s last two reality TV shows—Honeymoon in ParadiseandA Search for Cinderella—a success due to her ability to cast the right contestants. She also had a killer instinct for content.
After much prodding from Brad, Emily agreed to be a consultant onEver After.He was thrilled to have her continue on the team. Not only was her access to royalty proving to be invaluable, but she was also a cool chick.
“I can hear you fine.” Emily sounded like she was smiling. She’d been at the royal wedding in December. Marriage suited her. “How were the numbers for Princess Sophie’s episode?”
“Great.” Brad scrolled through his notes. “The ratings exceeded network and sponsor expectations. Happy, smiling faces all around.”
“Does that mean we get a raise?” Dylan asked.
Wes snickered. “Your raise was the donuts.”
“I like donuts,” Conrad said.
Brad ignored his crew. “Key demographics watched, and a significant percentage engaged with social media posts. Two of which went viral. They’ve requested similar type episodes be put into production.”
“Congratulations,” Emily said.
“Thanks.” Brad referred to his notes again. “The key draws were the newborn puppies, Christmas-themed royal wedding, castle setting, and the newlywed couple’s two older brothers.”
Conrad laughed. “Emily, do you know any royals who breed dogs and are planning a Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, or Halloween royal wedding?”
“I’ll have to ask around at the next cocktail party,” she replied.
“We’re too late for Valentine’s Day, but Conrad’s not so far off,” Brad said. “The Crown Prince of Alistonia and the Marquess of Darbyton both tested positive with focus groups and received high rankings for likability. Either could carry one or more episodes. Though this time around, we need full access to wedding planning, the ceremony, and the reception.”
Wes swiveled in his chair. “The Search for Cinderella 2starring Crown Prince Guillaume.”
“The Search for a Queen,” Dylan suggested.
Wes nodded. “OrThe Future King Takes a Wife.”
“The Tiara Chase,” Conrad offered.
Brad cringed. “Catchy, but too pageant-sounding.”
“You’re all too late,” Emily said. “Prince Gill proposed to the American vet who delivered the puppies, was a bridesmaid, and caught the bouquet.”
Bummer. But Brad wasn’t deterred. “So no courtship show, but another royal wedding would be a ratings hit. Put a bowtie on the prince’s dog, and you’ve got a cute, four-legged ring bearer.”
“What’s the holiday angle?” Conrad asked.
Brad pulled up his calendar. “Has a wedding date been set, Emily?”
“Spring or summer is being discussed, but no official date has been selected,” she said. “Just remember, you’ll have to deal with Queen Louise again.”
Brad thought back to the video footage they had of her and grinned. “No worries.”
