Page 66 of The Love Rematch
jake
“It was fucking irresponsible,”Jake fumes, his gaze on the computer screen frozen on the shot of Cooper and Emily galloping out of camera range. The sight of it puts him into a rage, puts him back in that moment and those minutes where he had no idea where she was or if she was safe or what the hell was happening to her.
By his side, Nina scoffs.
They’re in Trish’s hotel room, reviewing the daily footage.
Jake forces his gaze away from Emily’s disappearing form and turns to his coworker. “You don’t think it was irresponsible? I don’t give two shits that the guy grew up on horses. This was a new animal that he had no experience with and a new place that he was unfamiliar with, and he still said fuck it to the waiver he signed. Emily could have been hurt. She could have fallen. She could have broken her fucking neck.” He pauses to take a deep breath, aware there’s too much emotion in his voice.Turn it around. Turn it around.He swallows, regaining his control. “And if the lead gets hurt, the show is over.”
Nina arches a brow and pointedly turns her gaze to the second computer screen, currently frozen on the passionate kiss the camera crew interrupted when they finally caught up to the little runaways. “She seemed fine to me.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“Everything turned out okay, but it might not have. What he did was dangerous—for all of us, but especially for Emily, who we signed a contract to protect.”
“News flash, Jake. If that’s dangerous, sign about ten million women across America up, because it was also fucking hot. It was everything our show is supposed to be, the sort of scene entire seasons are built around.”
“We can’t control him anymore. He needs to go.”
“He’s our F2. He’s staying.”
“He’s a liability.”
“He’s a leading man.”
“He’s—”
“Children,” Trish interrupts and they fall silent. “You’re both right.”
Jake’s mouth falls open. Nina’s does the same. They glance at each other, brows furrowed, as Trish turns to face them.
“What he did was reckless and dangerous, and it could have put the entire network in jeopardy. But it was also the best fucking play I’ve seen after ten years working on this show. So here’s what we’re going to do. Cooper stays.”
Jake jumps forward. “But—”
Trish holds up her hand. “If we send him home, it would be admitting we lost control of the situation. Rule one of reality television—never cede the storyline. Besides, Nina is right. He’s gotleading manpractically written across his forehead. That’s our next season, right there. The trick isn’t punishing him for pulling a stunt. The trick is bringing him back under our thumb through the guise of a reward.”
“Tell him he’s F2,” Nina says softly, nodding.
“Exactly,” Trish confirms. “Jake, you’re his handler. Handle him. Tell him he’s got next season in the bag. All he has to do is follow the rules. If he listens to us, by this time next year, he’ll be the star. No suitor would say no. He’ll fall into line.”
“Understood.” Jake forces the word through gritted teeth.
Trish shuts off the screens.
They’re dismissed.
He stomps from the room, prepared to begrudgingly locate Cooper, but when the door closes behind him, Nina stops him with a whisper.
“Jake.”
Dark eyes watch him, inscrutable in the dim fluorescent lights. He swallows. “Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
Concern, he realizes. That’s the emotion in her eyes, edged by something else, judgment or maybe suspicion. He plays dumb. “What do you mean?”
