Page 21 of Cuts like a Knife
“F— me, you’re so lucky,” she says. “Do you know anything about the show? Have you even read the press releases?”
“I’ve skimmed them.” I start rifling through the papers on my desk, plucking out the ones that obviously have to do with Hot Slice. There’s one from the network, another that talks about the hotel, and a third that quotes the producers. “See?” I say, waving them at Dani.
“Not those. There’s way more. There’s a whole package about this cycle’s contestants and everything. It came to me. You know, because I’m the actual Entertainment editor.” She shakes her head. “I never thought Lars would shell out to actually send any of us to the Bahamas. It’s wild.” She sighs heavily. “But if you’re the one going, I suppose you should have it.” She digs through the mess on her desk until she finds a fat green folder with three gold-embossed logos on the front — the TV network’s, the show’s, and the hotel’s. “Take it. You can bone up on the plane.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking the folder. I’m pretty surprised that she’s actually helping me. It’s a classy move62. Journalists all have a scarcity mindset. We’re all always worried that there isn’t enough to go around — not enough prestige, not enough money, not enough clout. There aren’t even enough ideas. As a result, journalists are always out for themselves.
But here’s Dani, openly jealous, and yet helping me. For no good reason63.
So … she probably isn’t the mystery emailer. That’s something, I suppose. Unless she’s trying to divert attention from her real motivations?
I look into her big brown eyes. Could it be her64?
“I actually have to leave,” I say. “It’s Claire’s baby shower tonight.”
“He real shower? Or for the show.”
“For the show,” I say.
“That husband of hers is so damn gorgeous,” she sighs.
I laugh. People always say that about my brother-in-law, Adam. He is pretty good looking, but I’ve known him for so long and he’s been with Claire for so long, it’s impossible to think about him that way. Way too creepy.
“Believe it or not, I don’t lust after my sister’s husband,” I say.
“I would. I’d probably try to steal him from her.”
“Dani, you would not.”
She just shrugs, her expression sullen65.
“You b—. I can’t believe you’re going to the Bahamas. You have all the f—ing luck,” she finally says.
I don’t, but I’m not going to correct her.
“Go visit Zander in IT, Dani,” I say, as I pack up my bag. “Cheer yourself up.”
Chapter Six
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By the time I arrive at Claire’s (which takes forever, and requires me to take a bus, then a subway ride, then another bus, then a 15 minute walk on foot), I’m late.
The shower is already in full swing and I can see the huge portable studio lights the network always sets up at these things beaming out through the front windows of the farmhouse.
Claire and Adam bought this place when it was a falling down little hobby farm66, but even before the show, they were fixing it up, and it’s been completely transformed. It’s still small — and quaint — but completely overhauled. No more loose boards and squeaky floors and falling down gutters. It’s become “aspirational” — the epitome of the whole modern farmhouse thing67.
A PA with a headset clocks me the second I turn up the driveway and immediately reports my arrival to someone inside.
“I’ve got the last one now,” she says into the mic on her headpiece, which seems to be attached to some sort of walkie talkie system. Then she adds, “yeah, the one who’s always late.”
I am not.
“Honestly,” I mutter under my breath. I’m not always late. I’m just not super focussed on all things Madison, thankyouverymuch68.
“No, the other one’s already here. This is the snooty one,” says the PA.
Wow. Okay then.
