Page 7 of The Love Raffle

Amber sighed. “I know, but to hop from shoe commercials to this is aprettybig leap.” She rubbed her hand against her stomach. “And I don’t even know if it’s the right move for me.”

“Trust me, anything you can get, take it.Tonsof hotshot actors started on game shows.” Elouise patted Amber’s knee. “I think this is perfect. You’ve struggled way too long.”

Amber managed to smile before sighing. “They usually get models on that show though. Wonder how they wound up choosing me.” She let out a snort. “I don’t want to be considered the ugly contestant. Do they have those?”

“Ah, shut up, you. From what I’ve seen on Bluesky, the fansdolabel certain contestants as ‘ugly’ and make fun of them but you’re not going to be one of them. I mean, look at you. Do younotown a mirror? Ms. Zendaya 2.0?” She nudged Amber with her shoulder. Amber supposed there was some truth in Elouise’s comment on her looks. She had to be attractive to get a gig at the club she worked at.

Amber could feel her face turn red. “Zendaya?” She wheezed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“No.You’regorgeous. Things will be fine.”

This was the most optimistic Amber had ever heard Elouise.She must be happy for me.So maybe it was time to be happy for herself.

For too long, Amber had allowed self-doubt and fear to overshadow her dreams. She had watched others pursue their passions with unwavering determination, while she remained stuck in the shadows, too afraid to take that leap of faith. Elouise’s unwavering support and infectious optimism in this current moment, however, at least reminded her that she deserved happiness too.

As she sat there contemplating her own worthiness of joy, a wave of realization washed over her. Life was too short to hold onto the shackles of self-doubt. It was time to embrace hertalents, to celebrate her achievements, and to fully believe in her own potential.

Amber took a deep breath, the weight of uncertainty slowly lifting from her shoulders. She allowed herself to envision a future filled with success, fulfillment, and genuine happiness. No longer would she allow fear to dictate her actions or hold her back from pursuing her dreams.

Chapter 3

Four girls, four producers, one table.

Amber wasn’t sure how to act. She had initially crossed her legs after taking her seat, but was growing increasingly uncomfortable as time passed. When she and Elouise had gotten to the building, a guy at the door had asked Amber to state her business. Once that had been revealed, a guard in black led her to the elevator. Elouise was told to wait in the lobby, so Amber told her to just go home. She didn’t want her to waste her precious time off from the restaurant waiting for her. She had hoped that Elouise would be allowed to come further with her for moral support, but she supposed in the name of secrecy, that couldn’t happen.

The single table stood solemnly across the room, its surface cluttered with stacks of papers and bottles of water. Seated behind it were the executives, or perhaps they were the producers—it was hard to tell amidst their weariness and disillusionment. Each person seemed to be more disenchanted than the next, their expressions etched with resignation. One woman wore her glasses perched on her head as she drearily flipped through some sheets, while a man furrowed his brow in deep concentration. The other two men in the room shared the same air of apathy towards their profession, their faces bearing the weight of years of industry experience. It was as if they allbelonged to the same age bracket, somewhere between forty-five and fifty-five years old.

The room itself did little to uplift the energy. Its walls were painted a dull shade of gray, contributing to the overall sense of isolation that hung in the air. The lack of furniture added to the starkness, amplifying the feeling of emptiness and detachment. Apart from Amber, her fellow contestants, and the producers, the only other human presence in the room was the guard stationed at the door. He seemed disinterested in his surroundings, engrossed in whatever his phone had to offer. Amber couldn’t blame him, really. If her job was to stand around in such a tiny, quiet space, she too would find solace in the distraction of a glowing screen.

As she took in the scene before her, Amber couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. There was a tinge of frustration and impatience as she yearned for something more vibrant and fulfilling in her career. Yet, there was also a spark of determination within her, a fire that refused to be extinguished. She knew deep down that she was meant for more. Her talent and passion deserved to be recognized and celebrated in a way that transcended the confines of this sterile room.

Her mind wandered, envisioning a future where she would step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, where she would command attention and captivate audiences with her performances. She longed for the day when she would be surrounded by a team who shared her enthusiasm and drive, who believed in her talent and were willing to take risks to showcase her abilities.

“Okay.” The woman lifted her head and removed her glasses. Her skin was pale, and her hair was graying. She wore a plaid blouse and blazer.

Amber saw her eyes move from her to the girls beside her. Her anxiety was back. It not only twisted her stomach but chilled her palms.

“You all submitted your headshots to be here, and we did our research to choose you. Congrats. You were the most interesting out of thousands of air-headed nobodies who wanted to be on this show.” The woman displayed a smile that was anything but genuine.

A balding man beside her stretched his back and then clasped his hands on the table. “So, remind us of your names again?”

Amber had thought that the papers in front of them would have that information.

“My name is Patricia,” the girl on the far right started, her voice filled with a confident allure. With her cascading blonde hair that gleamed like strands of gold and striking blue eyes, Patricia commanded attention effortlessly. She was dressed simply in light denim boyfriend jeans and a white crop top that revealed her abs. She stood tall above everyone else in her heels. Amber couldn’t help but be captivated by her presence; her features reminded her of a familiar face she had seen before. Was it on a billboard or in a fashion magazine? The puzzle pieces of recognition danced at the edge of her memory.

As Patricia introduced herself as a model, Amber’s curiosity deepened. What was a successful and glamorous model doing in this humble gathering? The room was abuzz with whispers and sidelong glances. The other women were clearly intrigued by Patricia’s unexpected appearance. It seemed she was not one to shy away from seizing new opportunities, even if they took her far from the glamor of the runway.

With a self-assured smirk, Patricia added, “You won’t be seeing the last of me on screen.” Her words dripped with ambition, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that she wasdetermined to make a lasting impression. Amber found herself admiring Patricia’s boldness.

“I’m Diane, and I’m an up-and-coming musician,” the girl beside Patricia said with a warm smile. Her black hair elegantly framed her face, and her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with a playful glimmer. As an Asian girl with a petite stature, Diane stood in contrast to the statuesque Patricia, but her beauty radiated a charm that was all her own. She had intricate tattoos that wound up her arms and disappeared underneath her short-sleeved shirt.

“And I’m Kate. I just want to be famous.” This girl looked South Asian and had radiant dark skin. Her long hair reached down her back. She was dressed in a vibrant yellow dress that illuminated her skin. Her honey-brown eyes were wide with wonder. Amber could guess this was exactly the kind of work she had been dreaming of. She had thought that Kate was trying for a joke with her comment on wanting to be famous, but it seemed that Kate was very serious. Amber couldn’t blame her. Anything had to be better than trudging along through life not being known.

Amber smiled to herself and then felt the penetrating gazes of everyone in the room. Even the security guard. She gulped and then raised her hand in a wave. “I’m Amber Sheridan. My dream is to act but I’m happy to start here if it’ll help me get there one day.” Her voice nearly broke in the middle of her words. She cringed internally.

The producers hardly reacted to any of their introductions. “Okay, good,” the woman said, flicking through her papers. She held the edge of her glasses to her mouth. “Anyway, you know the show, you know the rules. In the first round you answer questions about Hollywood, and whoever gets the most points gets a head start on the next round, which will be ‘Paint the Heartthrob’ where you get a photo of a celebrity to paint inten minutes, and our celebrity guest ranks you. The last round changes every episode. We can’t tell you what it is, but you just have to hope that it’s in your favor.” She picked up her water bottle and unscrewed the cap. “Just look pretty and smile.”

“Yes, andpleasebe entertaining. Tell jokes, dance, say something quirky, and make it a good show.” This came from the guy sitting at the end of the table. He seemed weary of this meeting already. “When we meet up for sound check you’ll get more directions on that but just know that the only way you’re going to make an impression is by giving this show life. You’re all getting the chance to be on TV. For some of you, it’ll be your last appearance, but for others, it’ll be the first of many to come.” He looked each of them in the eye. “That all depends on the impression you make here.”

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