Page 10 of Fan Favorite

Silence.

Peter propped his head in his hand and squeezed his eyes shut. He pulled at his hair for a point of distraction.

“Are you really this stupid, Peter?” Carole said finally. “Why didn’t you lead with this? This isperfect. This is exactly whatthe show needs—a real person falling in love. This is what I want, Bennett engaged to his high school sweetheart. It’s the saccharine, homegrown fantasy of every woman’s dreams. Make it happen.”

And with that, Carole Steele hung up.

Fuck.Peter dropped the phone and collapsed face first onto his desk. How in the ever-loving fuck had he just pinned his entire future in television on some premature cat lady he’d never even met? How could he be so fucking stupid? Peter banged his forehead against the particle board. He’d just sold the impossible to Carole Steele. It was animpossiblelove story. There was no way a guy like Bennett Charles was going to get engaged to a girl like Edie Pepper. Especially with all these supermodels around. Is this what would finally defeat him? Some copyeditor fromChicago?

Peter refused. Just flat-out refused. He sat up and poured another handful of Tums into his palm. Peter chewed and considered. Maybe she could be… spruced up?

Fuck.

BENNETT CHARLES PLAYS “TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY”

Added by TheEllenShow

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[ELLEN]

Alright, after the biggest tabloid scandal of the summer,The Keyis making its comeback with our next guest. Please welcome activist, entrepreneur, adventurer, and all-around hunk, Bennett Charles!

[MUSIC: “ALL AROUND THE WORLD” BY LISA STANFIELD]

Been around the world and I-I-I-I can’t find my baby

I don’t know when and I don’t know why, Why he’s gone away

[AUDIENCE]

(applauding, cheering)

[ELLEN]

Hi, Bennett Charles.

[BENNETT CHARLES]

I’m onEllen! What a trip! Can you believe this?

[AUDIENCE]

(applauding, cheering)

[ELLEN]

Now, tell me, how are you still single? You don’t look like you’d have too much trouble getting dates.

[BENNETT CHARLES]

Aw, that’s so nice! But it’s harder than you might expect—

[ELLEN]

—because of the muscles?

[AUDIENCE]

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