Page 36 of Date The Billionaire

“I can’t, no. This is all just so weird.” She waved her hand around. “I signed up for this on a whim, and it’s changed my life so much in such little time. It’s kind of overwhelming, isn’t it?”

“It is. A lot, actually. I’ve never really been in love before, and now I can’t seem to get away from it.” I let the air blow out from my cheeks as I thought about it. “He’d better not mess this up, that’s all I have to say.”

“What will you do if he chooses Arabella? I know they’ve put him under a mega amount of pressure to do it.” Her eyes probed my features, looking for an honest answer.

“I really don’t know. I don’t know if they’re going to cut and paste this all together, how they’re going to try and make us all look. Maybe I’ll barely get a minute of airtime, but it’ll be hugely humiliating, won’t it?” I paused to think about it. “More than that, though, it will break my heart. Even if it is fake and he came and asked me to go out with him, choosing Arabella will mean I can’t trust him, won’t it?”

“I think that’s a really tough choice to have to make. For both of you, and I don’t envy you at all, right now.” She shook her head, those red curls bouncing around her head. “I think you’re both in a tough spot.”

“You’re right. There’s so much going on that we aren’t told about, and we all know these stupid shows end up in divorce. None of it’s real, and as soon as the real world intrudes, attitudes change. Faults that weren’t exposed come to light.”

I could see I’d hurt Kelly with my thoughtless words, and I rushed to comfort her. “Oh honey, I didn’t mean to hurt you! I’m sure you and David will be fine, we can all see you’re both soul mates. I was just trying to talk myself into not being so hurt if Jake chooses Arabella over me. I’m so sorry.”

She gave me a wobbly smile that soon straightened. “You’re right, Laney. We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but I can tell you this. Jake really does adore you. It’s written all over his face the moment you walk into a room.”

“I guess that’s why I’m not really worried. That and the hangover. I know Jake.” I stopped before I revealed too much. I’m sure there were cameras in here too.

“I think you do. Come on, let’s head down to torture chamber A.”

I laughed, the makeup and hair room was very much like a torture chamber.

An hour later we both emerged, hair done in another elaborate upsweep with a million pins and enough hairspray to ensure that even after the pins were out our hair would not move, and our makeup was expertly applied. We were herded into another room, torture room B, where our dresses were hanging on dress forms. I stopped in my tracks and my heart thudded to a stop for a full second.

Wedding dresses!

What kind of bullshit was this?

“Oh my God, look at mine, Laney!” Kelly ran to the one with her name on it, an A-line confection in ivory silk and lace that would suit her perfectly.

I looked at the dresses and couldn’t help but think what a cruel joke this was. Whoever wasn’t chosen would look like a jilted bride and the audience would eat it up. With a deep breath and a sigh, I walked up to mine. I could do this. I had to.

I touched the crisp white lace of a classic ball gown, a sweetheart neckline made modest with a lace overlay that formed the shoulders and sleeves. It was really beautiful and the butterflies flitting down each side to leave the middle bare really was breathtaking. This was not a cheap gown. It was the kind of princess gown I might have chosen myself when the time came.

I just stared at it and reality finally intruded. Jake very well might humiliate me tonight. Then again, he might make my dreams come true. Either way, it would all be over soon. I just had to get through this part.

“Oh my God, I’m going to look so beautiful for Jake!”

I heard that voice and knew who it was before I even glanced around.

Arabella, in all of her dark beauty, was there with her hands to her mouth, faux shock mingled with even more faux tears as she stared at the silk slip that was meant to be her gown. It looked more like an ivory nightgown, silky and shimmery, designed to fit her frame perfectly. She was already shuffling off her clothes and putting on the lingerie set out for us.

By the time she was in hers, I was barely able to get my corset on. An assistant had to come and help me tie the back up. She was right, though, she did look perfect in her gown. You couldn’t even tell she had undergarments on they all lay so flat. I tried not to look at her, to wish I had a gown like that, but I did steal the occasional glance. I stepped into my own and heard gasps all around the room. There were five of us left, and each had an assistant, so 9 gasps filled the air, and one snarky hmph. I didn’t have to look around to see who that was from.

The assistant had placed a frail-looking tiara on my head as a finishing touch and I looked around the room.

“You really were meant to be a princess,” I heard my assistant say. I looked around and saw confirmation in the eyes of everyone but Arabella.

“Thanks, you’re all beautiful too, you know?” I meant it too.

We were all taken out one by one to do a final interview before we were paraded out for the men and it was finally my turn.

The same droll little man with his camera and monotone voice greeted me in a room paneled in white and dark wood. A single ornate chair sat in the room, red velvet and gold paint made the chair look royal.

“What do you think is going to happen tonight?” he started, abrupt as usual.

“I think some hearts are going to break and others will soar.” Poetic, but it was how I saw it.

“Right. And your heart?”