Page 2 of Playing With My Heart Strings

I exchange a panicked look with Daniella, and we both put our heads down in embarrassment.

Coletteisloud, though, that’s just the truth. There’s no denying it. She commands every room she’s in, although I’m not sure if it’s because she’s respected or feared. Most likely the latter.

“As I was saying…” Colette shoots us a glare that has everyone avoiding eye contact. “Dusty will be here this afternoon. We’ll need to get some preliminary shots of him, he’ll do some interviews with the PR team, and then we’ll go from there.”

No one says a word or dares to move until Colette barks out, “Dismissed!” Then everyone disperses to continue on with whatever task they were doing before Sergeant—I mean, Colette—called the meeting.

“So, Dusty Wilder.” Daniella nudges me with her elbow as we walk through the studio. “I hear he’s quite the heartthrob.”

“I’ve heard he’s quite an asshole.” I shrug her off. I have no interest in a country singer, much less Dusty Wilder. I’ve seen all I’ve needed to in the media. Dusty Wilder is the type of man who thinks he’s God’s gift to the Earth.

As we pass by my desk, I grab a notepad and pen to prepare for interviews later this afternoon.

When I graduated with a public relations degree from Auburn, I never imagined I’d be working on reality dating shows. In fact, it was thelastthing I was hoping to do. I imagined my path would be more aligned with politics on Capitol Hill, not rich influencers looking for their fifteen minutes of fame on prime-time TV.

I applied for the job with Sparks Studio Productions a few years ago because, let’s face it, I was desperate. I’d spent monthstrying to get a job in Washington with no success. In my defense, I didn’t know I would be working on reality TV. I assumed I would be doing public relations for movies or, I don’t know, a show likeCSIorHouse of Cards.Perhaps that was naive of me, but I needed a job and the company promised a competitive salary. Besides, maybe if I do good enough work here, I’ll have credible references and the ability to move on quickly.

“What? You don’t think he’s even a bit attractive?” Daniella raises her brows.

“I mean, sure, he’s easy on the eyes, but?—”

She’s smiling at me in this Cheshire Cat sort of way. “So youwoulddate him!”

I scoff, shaking my head. “I definitely did not say that. Besides, I value my job way more than a date with some country singer whose music isn’t even that good.”

“If you say so, Baylor. Me, on the other hand? I’d totally snatch him up if I had any kind of musical talent.” She winks as we get to the set where the crew will film the preliminary shots for the show.

Large windows stretch floor to ceiling in the studio, and although filming is closed to the public, it doesn’t stop fans from crowding the glass to see whatever so-called heartthrob is in front of the camera.

Camera crew members are already walking around to set up equipment, and designers fly by with racks of clothing. Pearl snap shirts, suit jackets, racks and racks of…cowboy hats. Who the fuck needstwelvecowboy hats? Apparently, he’s not only an asshole, he’s a pretty boy, too.Great.

“Marshall! Sommerfeld! Get over here!” Nails on a chalkboard scrape through my ears.Oh wait, no, it’s just Colette’s voice.

Daniella rolls her eyes at me before we head in her direction.

“What’s up, Colette?” Daniella asks. When Colette calls you over by name, she’s either delivering fantastic or horrible news. There’s no in-between.

“I need one of you to take the lead on interviews with Dusty. The other one will move over to the social media team for now,” she instructs, thrusting binders into both of our arms. When we open our mouths to ask her who she wants to do what, she makes a gesture with her hand to cut us off. “I don’t care who takes what, I just need it done!”

Fantastic news: neither of us are getting fired for our disruption during the meeting. Horrible news: there’s a chance I’ll have to work directly with Dusty. Translation: Daniella will try to make me take the lead on interviews with him as some kind of matchmaking scheme.

“I already know what you’re going to say,” I mutter as I look at her. She’s practically beaming.

“Nope, actually. I think you should take social media on this one,” she replies, and I’m immediately suspicious. Daniella is always trying to set me up with someone, and I wouldn’t have thought this situation would be any different.

“Hmm…okay.” I won’t argue with her, as skeptical as I am.

“Listen, babe, you said it yourself. You wouldn’t date Dusty, so why on Earth would I pass up the opportunity to spend time with him? Right?” She tries to justify why she volunteered to take the job I didn’t want, when normally she would be metaphorically throwing me to the wolves. I love our friendship, cherish it more than any other friendship I’ve made here in Nashville, but she can be a lot sometimes.

“All right, Dani, whatever you say.” I swap binders with her, taking the one that saysHeart Strings Social Media Guide.

The job is easy enough. Write copy for socials, make sure the photos the photographers get to us are good, and take B-roll footage for stories. When I was in college, I was the social mediamanager for several different companies throughout Alabama. When I first moved to Nashville, my job was social media focused, and then a year ago, I took this job. Long story short, this is my bread and butter. It’s what I’m good at, so maybe that’s why Dani let me take the reins on this. But at the same time, she has the same, if not more, experience than I do with two additional years in the industry.

I’m sure she has some kind of ulterior motive—usually she’s pushing me toward a celebrity who she deems “hot” in the hopes that sparks will fly between us—but I can’t worry about that right now. Reality TV doesn’t stop for skeptics like myself. Personally, I wouldn’t attempt to find love in front of cameras with the entire country watching, but to each their own. And yes, I sayattempt. Because, realistically, how many of these relationships actually work out? Not that many.

With a crew of over two hundred members,Heart Stringsis no small production. Especially with how the show will be run, all hands are needed. Episodes air the same week they’re filmed to allow for live viewer voting. If the team can pull this off, I’m sure the show could take off.

My thoughts are interrupted by squeals from some of the hair, makeup, and wardrobe girls followed by cheers and claps from the camera crew. I look to my left toward the hallway Daniella and I had just come through to find Dusty Wilder walking in our direction.

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