“What are you doing?” he asked.
I was forced to stop, debating whether I could get around him and make a break for the exit, but the cameras already had us surrounded on all sides as they closed in on me. An intense wave of panic crashed over me. I sank to the ground and cradled my head in my hands.
“I can’t do this,” I repeated. “I need to get out of here.” I rocked back and forth, willing myself to disappear.
“Okay, back off now!” Brady barked at the cameras. “She needs space.”
His hand found my arm and I let him tug me upright. The camera operators had at least backed up a few feet, giving me room to breathe.
“Here.” Brady opened the door to one of the interview rooms and helped me inside. Once we were closed in, I wrapped my arms around my body and took deep breaths, urging my rattled body to calm down.
“That’s it, Calla. Just breathe,” Brady cooed.
“Please get me out of here,” I said, choking on a sob. “I can’t go back out there.”
“Because you’re scared?”
“Scared?” I choked out. Scared didn’t begin to cover all of my swirling emotions. I blew out a long breath before attempting to continue. “Look, there’s been a mistake. Mysister never would have signed me up forthisshow. She knows everything I’ve been through—why I can’t just move on.”
Brady’s expression oozed sympathy, though I couldn’t determine its authenticity. “Or maybe she signed you up because she knew this isexactlywhat you needed after everything you’ve been through,” he suggested.
I shook my head violently. “She wouldn’t.”
He sighed. “She did. And now you’re here, and you’ve signed a contract.”
I balked. “A contract that didn’t share the whole story.”
“A contract that stated you would participate in the show, barring a medical emergency, or you’d be required to pay a modest fine.”
My jaw dropped. “A fine?”
He raised his hands. “Nothing crazy, just enough for the show to recoup the costs from casting you. But do you really want to pay that? Your sister mentioned you aren’t in the best financial situation right now.”
I blinked at him, in disbelief that he could threaten me while simultaneously pretending to be concerned for my well-being.
“Plus, if you stay, you’ll get exposure. I know you were here to write, but the show will still help your career. This will be great publicity for your book. And you raced out before Rita could finish explaining the rules. There’s a fifty-thousand-dollar cash prize to whichever contestants America believes have shown the most growth over the course of the show.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Forget it. I’ll pay your fine. Just get me out of here.” I refused to let him force my hand. It wasn’t worth my sanity.
Brady’s eyebrows shot up, clearly shocked I hadn’t taken the bait. “Calla, be reasonable,” he said it as if I was acting like an immature preteen.
“Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.” I emphasized each word.
Brady dug through the fanny pack around his waist before pulling out a phone. I sighed with relief at the sight of it. One call on that and I could be on my way.
“I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.” He pulled something up on the phone before handing it to me.
I took it from him. He already had a contact queued up for a video chat.
Piper (Calla’s sister)
“What—”
“Call her,” Brady said. “Maybe I can’t convince you to stay, but you should at least hear her out. Ask her why she signed you up for this in the first place.”
I didn’t reply as I stared down at the screen.
Brady stepped toward the door and opened it. “I’ll give you a few minutes.”
