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Maire tilted her head and bit her lip, looking long and hard at Camille. “Lily of the valley, I think,” Maire finally said. “You’re a psychiatrist, right? It symbolizes discretion.”
Camille nodded. “That makes sense. Although, lily of the valley is toxic, am I right?”
Maire shrugged. “Lots of beautiful things are.”
Ouch, thought Camille. This might be her most formidable opponent in the game. Seemingly unassuming, docile, sweet, but not to be underestimated.
There was an awkward silence as Fern slipped back into the room with a man. The final contestant? Camille wondered. If Fern looked flustered, the man accompanying her looked frazzled.
“Everyone,” Fern said. “I’d like for you to meet the director of One Lucky Winner, Alfonso Solomon. Mr. Solomon is a world-renowned director, and I know we will all be in good hands with his vision and expertise.”
Alfonso nodded and gave a harried little wave. “Nice to have you all here. My advice: Be yourselves and pretend the cameras aren’t here. The crew will be as unobtrusive as possible. This show is about you and the competition. It will be intense, brutal even. I don’t even need to tell you how high the stakes are with One Lucky Winner.”
With that, Alfonso leaned over, whispered something in Fern’s ear, then exited the room.
“Everything okay?” Camille asked when he was gone.
“It’s fine,” Fern said, but her tight expression said otherwise. “Just the usual beginning of production scramble. We are still waiting on our final contestant to arrive but expect her shortly. I trust you all had a chance to meet one another?”
“We have,” Senator Crowley said, draining the last of his wine and setting his glass on a table. “But, Fern, I’m curious, how’s this—” he swept his arms wide “—all going to work?”
Camille was curious as well. The information sent to her about the format of the competition was big on hype and short on details.
“I’m glad you asked, Senator,” Fern said, robustly. “You’ve all seen the other reality competition series out there. Like those, our competition will have physical tasks, races, puzzle solving, teamwork, alliances, but One Lucky Winner is unlike anything anyone has seen before.” She sounded so rehearsed, so affected, Camille thought. “We’re used to getting our fix of reality TV in predictable doses—same night, same time—but at One Lucky Winner, we do things quite differently. All around the world, potential viewers are receiving cryptic messages and links inviting them to watch at a moment’s notice. An alert will go out, compelling people to stop what they are doing and tune in live. When they do, and it can be at any time, day or night, they will not be able to look away.” Fern paused to meet everyone’s gaze before continuing.
“Throughout our time together, you will complete several challenges that will push you to the edge. During the challenges, your goal is to finish first. If you do, you win what we call a Super Clue, a tidbit of information that, once put together with all the other Super Clues, will help you solve the overreaching mystery of Bella Luce. Also, along the way you may find a Game Changer. A Game Changer can come in many forms, but each will come with very specific, very important directions. Along with the Game Changer there may be a tool—” Fern’s voice lingered on the word “—that if you choose to use, has the potential to steer the game in your favor.”
A zip of anticipation went through Camille. These Super Clues and Game Changers would be crucial to winning the money.
“The winners stay and the losers will be sent home,” Fern continued. “Except—” she raised a finger “—if our viewers vote for you to stay. Your fate is in their hands. At the end of fourteen days, one lucky winner will be crowned and will walk away with ten million dollars.” Fern’s eyes shone with excitement.
Camille looked around at her fellow competitors. Samuel was nodding, the senator rubbed his hands together, and Maire worried at her forget-me-not on the chain. Everyone was focused intently on what Fern was saying. They were all as determined as she was to win that money.
Camille scanned the room. There, tucked into a shelf among all the books, was what she was looking for. A tiny red light. A camera. They were being livestreamed. The game had already begun.
She looked around for more telltale red lights. There was one in each of the corners of the coffered ceiling, and she spotted one in a vase of flowers. She figured there had to be more.
“Quick question,” Camille said. “Where do we sleep? I thought we were going to stay at the Diletta.”
“Yes,” agreed the senator. “I was really looking forward to a vinotherapy session before we started.”
“Ah, the Diletta.” Fern nodded. “I know that was what you were expecting, but we needed to keep the location of the competition under wraps for as long as possible. In reality, the Diletta was a decoy so work could be done behind the scenes here. It’s the perfect locale. I think you will find it very comfortable.”
“I’m sure we will,” Camille said. She didn’t really care where they were staying. She was only fourteen days away from ten million dollars and then she could stay wherever she wished.
“Because this is a game,” Fern said, “there are rules. Number One, no contact with the outside world. If for some reason you reach out to someone outside the estate, you will immediately pack your bags and be sent home. Number Two, if you leave the property, for any reason, you are out of the game. Number Three, if you enter a restricted section of the property, you will be sent home. Any questions?”
Camille mulled over the rules. She didn’t like the fact that she would be out of contact with her patients, but the requirements seemed reasonable. She caught the look on Maire’s face. She had kids. It must be excruciating not to be able to talk to them. Don’t get involved, Camille reminded herself. She would not get emotionally entangled with these people. She had a job to do.
“Okay, then,” Fern said. “There is one last thing I want to show you before you retire to your quarters for the night,” she said. “Follow me.”
A tingle of excitement slid through Camille. She had summed up her rivals and, honestly, they weren’t all that impressive. Samuel was clearly the most physically fit of the bunch and obviously smart, but not as smart as Camille. The senator appeared capable, but she knew she could handle him. She could be ruthless when she wanted to be. And Maire, well, Camille wasn’t quite sure yet. She had an edge to her that was simmering just below the surface. As for the fifth and final contestant, they had yet to arrive and were an unknown entity. In the end, only one of them would win and Camille, without a doubt, was going to make sure she was the last one standing.
FIVE
THE ASSISTANT
Fern looked out at the contestants, their faces lit up with anticipation. “I’m going to take you to what we like to call The Vault,” Fern said.
