Page 91 of Playing With My Heart Strings

Hushed voices catch my attention on my way to the dressing room, and I strain my ears to listen.

“He hasn’t seen her all week,” a male voice mumbles.

“Good. Make it happen. Do whatever you have to do.” I recognize Colette’s voice immediately.

What the fuck is going on?

I’m not able to eavesdrop any longer as heels start to click across the floor. I dart away, closing the door to the dressing room before anyone can catch me.

37

baylor

Snake in the Grass

The futureof my job still hangs in the balance. Now that my identity has been exposed, I’m not sure what Colette wants to do. It doesn’t look great on the production company that an employee was cast on the show, even if I wasn’t necessarily a plant like Aspen accused me of being. Colette expected me to keep my identity a secret and—wait a second.

Last week when I ran into Colette in the hallway, she brought up how important it was that no one found out my identity. She said it herself, it would becareer-ending. And she came out of nowhere. There was no reason for her to be in that hallway at that moment. The timing was too convenient.

Like sheknewDaniella was going to talk to me about Aspen.

And earlier tonight when she was talking to the producer. I thought I was imagining things, but maybe she really was talking about me.

There’s no way.

There’s a chance Daniella will be asleep or not even in her room, but it’s a risk I need to take. I sneak down the hallwayuntil I get to her door, softly tapping my knuckles against the wood grain. A few seconds later the door opens and I slip inside her room, immediately heading to her bed to sit on the edge.

“What’s going on?” she asks with a yawn.

I draw as much air into my lungs as I can before blurting, “I think Colette set me up.”

Her eyes narrow as she frowns, but she doesn’t say anything so I continue.

“The day you told me about Aspen being on one of SSP’s prior shows, I ran into Colette in the hallway. She said some cryptic things that I took as her just being her usual self, but I think she knew Aspen recognized me. I mean, she sees all of the footage. She would have known Aspen was gunning for me and once she realized my relationship with Dusty wasn’t going to end anytime soon, she used that knowledge to her advantage.”

“Wait.” She holds up a hand to stop me. “You think Colette brought Aspen to Atlanta to expose your identity?”

“I’m almost certain that’s what happened. When she ran into me, she said I must feel good about myself and she hopes Dusty makes the right choice in the end. Then when I started to walk away, she told me I need to keep my identity a secret or it would be career-ending. And she brought up that I have big goals for myself. She knows I’m not going to be here forever, and I think she used Aspen revealing my identity as an excuse to fire me. She was hoping Dusty and the viewers would send me home.

“I didn’t get a solo date this week, and Alex mentioned that she’s been on everyone’s ass when I saw him in the hallway back in Nashville. Probably because I wasn’t sent home and she’s doing everything she can to get me eliminated tomorrow.”

“Holy shit, Bay. I hate to say it, but you might be right. I thought it was weird that Aspen was in Atlanta, and it’s even more strange that she had such easy access to the stage. That shouldn’t happen.”

“During my solo, Colette was on the phone with someone. I saw her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. But I’m not going to let her get away with it. I need to talk to her.”

I storm down the hallway until I’m at Colette’s door. She doesn’t answer when I knock, so I start banging on it. “I know you’re in there, Colette! Open the door!” I was going to approach this in a well-mannered way, but clearly she’s not operating like that. I should have known better. She’s always been a bit venomous, especially when it comes to me.

Heels click on the other side, and the door opens to a frowning Colette.

“Go back to your room, Baylor, it’s late.” She gives me a dismissive wave and starts to close the door in my face, but I grab it, holding it tight enough that my knuckles turn white. She tucks her chin and purses her lips before opening the door again. “What issoimportant that you can’t wait until tomorrow morning?” Her tone drips with condescension, but I can’t bring myself to care about what she thinks.

“I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”

“Well, come in, then.” She rolls her eyes.

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