“Alright. We’re going to go over a few ground rules for filming before taking you all back for your individual bios. We also need you to sign fresh NDAs that are a little more in-depth than your original contract,” he says as men appear almost out of thin air, flanking us from all sides, then handing a stylus to each person and having them sign on the iPad.
When it makes it to me, I lean forward and squint to read better. The intense sun is doing me absolutely no favors, though, and the man is clearly irritated.
“Please sign,” he says stiffly.
“Sorry, I’m just having a hard time reading. What’s different to the last NDA?” I ask.
He rolls his eyes like he’s irritated, and Alex steps forward.
“Problem?”
In an instant, all eyes are on me, and I want to shrink into myself.
“No, I just… I was always taught to read before you sign. The sun is making it difficult.”
Alex watches me carefully for a moment before a charming smile practically oozes off him. “No trouble. We can get a paper copy sent to your room later today. How does that sound?”
I look around to see everyone else has already signed, and they’re all looking at me with small traces of irritation because I’m holding things up.
Way to make friends day one, Courtney.
Despite my better judgment, I scribble my signature across the line before the man all but snatches it away and hurries off the patio.
Alex claps his hands. “Perfect. Now, a few guidelines to go over. First, no leaving the island. This one is obvious but, of course, crucial. The show has yet to be announced, so any mention or even hint of production to the outside world could force the producers to pull the plug early. Obviously, we don’t want that.”
“We’re stuck on this island? For how long?” a girl whispers to a guy in front of me.
“So glad you asked.” Alex smiles. “Your time here will vary. Make the most of it while you can. We recognize keeping you isolated on an island in the middle of nowhere is daunting, but don’t worry. This place has everything you can dream of and more.”
Several heads nod as Alex continues rattling through a list of rules and guidelines we should follow. Ridiculous things like everyone must be groomed at all times because you never know when the next scene will be shot. Apparently, cameras will literally be on us 24/7. I feel like I didn’t read anything about that when I signed the initial contract. Don’t reality TV shows give their contestants… I don’t know, a break from time to time? A day off? Or is that delusional?
“Finally, as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, your cell phones are not on you. We took the liberty of collecting them upon your arrival, and they will be returned to you on your departure.”
“Wait, so we won’t get them back this whole time?” the blonde girl from before whines.
He gives her a patient smile. “Unfortunately, Savannah, no. We do have phones for each of you, though. All of the contestants’ phone numbers are programmed into them, and you’llhave full access to the camera to capture your time here on the island.”
“But we can’t make outside calls or texts?” I clarify.
Alex nods. “Exactly.”
Another unsettling detail I wasn’t made aware of. I can’t go that long without talking to Lily. I’m going to have to talk to someone about this.
“If there are no other questions, let’s get you all mic’d up, and we’ll start grabbing you all one by one for your intros. In the meantime, hang out, relax, get to know one another. For the time being, guys will be in the east-wing common room, girls will be in the west wing. Julia will show you all the way. Once the mixer begins and for the rest of your time here, just pretend like the cameras aren’t there.”
Several cameramen emerge from different access points onto the patio. My head turns from side to side as Luna shoots me the same suspicious gaze.
“Where the fuck did they come from?” she whispers to me.
I shake my head as a few women emerge from the sliding doors of the mansion, heading towards us all. One by one, they slip necklaces onto each of us. They’re simple, white and nothing special.
“This is your microphone. You’re to wear it at all times. They’re waterproof, so no worries about the shower or the pool,” one woman says as she slips one onto Luna before coming to me.
“You want to listen to us shower?” I ask.
She cuts me a sharp look, and I suddenly realize I may be coming across a touch too bitchy. I’m not meaning to be, but that’s a bit far, right?
“Not particularly, but it’s a reality TV show. You never know when dialogue or drama will hit. We can’t pause in the middle of everything to get you all mic’d up.”
