Page 3 of Enemies Off Camera
“Dinner was a disaster. He should’ve sent me home, not Heather.” I scrunch up my face and shake my head. “He knows he’s getting under my skin.”
Anna grunts like I’ve said the wrong thing, then folds her arms.
“Didn’t you hear me say I have good news? Heather is gone, and you’re a finalist for a reason, Zara. You haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Figured out what?”
This time, her arms drop like the weight of her entire day just sank into the floor.
“You have five million new followers on social media since this gig,” she says. “And you’ve been cast as the sister in a new Rowan TV series calledNext In Line.It’s kind of likeSuccession,but grittier. It’s a major role.”
My jaw drops. I want to scream with joy—but the way she delivers the news, so dryly, makes me pause.
I square my shoulders. “Okay… what else?”
There’s a look in Anna’s eyes I don’t trust. I’ve seen it before. She’s thinking. Or rather—trying to outthink me.
“Zara…” she says, walking over and sitting beside me on the rock-hard bed. “I barely inked this deal for you. We’re back, but you did not make this easy. And I don’t want you ruining it. So go to wardrobe, get your makeup on, and play your part. It’s time for the final pin.”
Silence falls. I’m still confused.
“Is that the qualifier?” I ask. “I mean… after tonight, this is over, right?”
Her lips curl into a big smile.
“Indeed it is. So…” — she pauses — “I want you to have all the right reactions. Got it? Your future depends on it.”
THREE
1 Hour Later
The scene is bustling. Crew members, as tired as usual, move around setting up lights, cameras, and set pieces. I can’t take my eyes off the final pins. Something about Anna’s visit still doesn’t sit right with me.
I turn to her—she’s still here, on set, locked in deep conversation with Betty. Neither of them looks my way, even when I try to catch their eyes.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ashley says sweetly.
I jump, startled. I didn’t hear her walk up beside me. When I finally pull my attention away from Pinky and the Brain across the room—plotting something about me—and look at Ashley, I nearly gasp.
She’s devastatingly beautiful tonight. No wonder Jax’s been crushing on her since day one. I mean, shelookslike a Disney princess.
We hug. Her body is so delicate in my arms, like she might break.
“Me too,” I say. “If you ever need to send an SOS to escape the catastrophe about to go down, I’ll be your knightess in shining armor.”
“Oh, Zara,” she chuckles softly. “He’s notthatbad. You just don’t like him for some reason. It’s odd.”
I open my mouth to defend myself point by point, but… what’s the point, at this juncture?
This ridiculous show is almost over.
We’re in our pretty gowns, faces full of makeup, itchy extensions reattached to our scalps. I just can’t see the logic in Jax choosing me, so I won’t ruin what should be a fabulous night—for Ashley—when he picks her, and I can finally go home, soak in my tub, and sleep in my own bed.
That’s all Anna wants from me—just the right reaction to the final pinning. I get it. I’ll play along. I’ll clap and cry and hug Ashley. I’ll shake Jax’s hand and say,Well done.
No…
I have tolooklike I’ve lost. Like I’mdisappointedby the outcome.
