One To Watch(38)

“If we see a steady decline, what?”

“Let’s just say it won’t be good for either of our careers.”

Bea’s expression hardened. “Okay. What do you want me to do about it?”

“The truth is, there’s been some backlash to your perceived attitude toward the show—and toward the men.”

“Backlash?”

Lauren sighed. “Bea, it’s hard for the audience to believe you could actually fall in love here. And since that’s the whole reason they’re watching …”

Usually, the leads come here looking for love. But you didn’t. Asher’s words still echoed in Bea’s mind, a constant, accusatory thrum threatening to dislodge what little confidence she was clinging to in the wake of the past week.

“What am I supposed to do?” Bea struggled to maintain composure. “The other women who come here are living in a fantasy, but you keep putting me in these nightmare scenarios.”

“I literally had you drinking champagne on a luxury yacht off the Malibu coast surrounded by handsome men,” Lauren snapped. “If that’s not a fantasy, I don’t know what is.”

“Men who objectified me at best and humiliated me at worst!” Bea shot back. “If you want the audience to buy what we’re selling, you have to stop assuming that I’m going to experience these dates the way you would. I don’t live in your body. Men don’t treat me like they treat you.”

“What about Luc, then?” Lauren narrowed her eyes. “He was wonderful to you, but watching the footage back, you seemed like your mind was somewhere else.”

Bea closed her eyes and nodded.

“You’re right. I don’t know, maybe I was still upset about the boat.”

“Or maybe,” Lauren said shrewdly, “you don’t actually have the stomach to pretend to fall in love with someone you don’t have feelings for? Because if that’s the case, Bea, you and I are both in a lot of trouble.”

Bea swallowed hard. “I’ll do better this week. I promise.”

“Good, then that’s all we need to say about it.” Lauren’s expression softened, and she looked a little pained. “It’s pretty unfair that all the good stuff is pretend while the bad stuff is completely real, huh?”

Bea laughed softly. “When you put it that way, I guess it kind of is.”

“Keep your eyes on the prize, okay, Bea? Your future. Your career. You’re not doing this for a man. You’re doing it for yourself.”





TEXT MESSAGE TRANSCRIPT, MARCH 10:

RAY MORETTI & MARIN MENDOZA


Ray [8:34am]: Hi, Marin. This is Bea’s friend Ray—we met at her birthday a few years ago? Sorry to bother you, I dug up your number from an old group thread. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her, but none of my texts or emails seem to be going through? I don’t know if you have any way of reaching her while she’s filming, but I really need to talk to her. So if it’s possible, can you give her the message?

Ray [8:35am]: Thanks. I really appreciate it.

Marin [8:39am]: You have a lot of nerve to text me.

Marin [8:40am]: Please don’t do it again. And please leave Bea alone.

Marin [8:40am]: She deserves so much better than you.





Half an hour later, Bea walked onto the lushly dressed garden party of a patio where she’d shoot her rundown with Johnny. But when she stepped outside the mansion, the person she saw literally jumping for joy wasn’t her toothy host—it was Marin.

“What the hell?” Bea asked before she could stop herself—Marin was already rushing toward her and clasping her into a vise-grip hug, and it felt so good to get a moment of genuine happiness.

“I’m really here, can you believe it?!”

Bea laughed—part delight, part confusion. “I can’t! What is this, what’s happening?”

Johnny clearly wanted to get in on a group hug, but as that would have been very weird, he gave a little fist pump instead. “Best friends, reunited!”

Which is when Bea noticed that the cameras were already rolling.

“Oh wow, we’re getting right into it, huh?”

Johnny smiled broadly and escorted Bea and Marin to a table set with tea and scones. “Marin and I have some fun surprises cooked up for you this week, Bea—but first, can you tell us about Marin? How did you two meet?”

“We were roommates freshman year at UCLA,” Bea answered. “We were completely different—she was always out partying, and I just wanted to stay home to study and watch old movies.”

“It was so sad,” Marin piped in good-naturedly.

“Marin, do we have you to thank for getting Bea out of her shell and turning her into a star?”

“Nah, she did that on her own.” Marin smiled proudly. “I just dragged her to idiotic frat parties on occasion.”

“They were the worst,” Bea groaned.

“Listen, no one’s saying frat parties are good, but the frat guys wanted girls to make out with other girls, and I wanted to make out with other girls, so our interests were temporarily and powerfully aligned,” Marin explained as Bea cracked up.

“Speaking of making out,” Johnny said, reaching for a segue, “Marin, do you want to tell Bea what you’re doing here?”