Flaming Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 2) (13 page)

As the show was coming to an end, Marissa and the other contestants seemed to get more and more intense, if that was even possible. Becky supposed if she was really interested in any of the men, she’d probably feel the same way. She’d feel pressure at the ceremonies to choose the right guy and if she liked more than one she’d want Marissa to choose the men she liked to stay. But because she didn’t care one whit about any of the men, or who Marissa wanted to continue on, it was torture.

Marissa had started coming to her again before the ceremonies to try to tell her who she should choose to stay. She wanted all of her choices to stay, even though she didn’t get one hundred percent of the say. In the beginning, Becky would just do what she wanted, but some of the men that were left weren’t very nice, at all. In fact, Becky knew if she met any of the men in a bar or anywhere else, they’d probably scare her. Generally they were big, and they were pretty mean. Oh, they were nice to Marissa for sure, but when Marissa wasn’t looking they were downright rude, talking about how Becky was an ugly cow and most likely frigid to boot and how they couldn’t wait to ‘tap’ Marissa.

They never did it in front of the cameras, but their comments to Becky as she walked by them were getting worse and worse and downright scary. Derek actually threatened her the other day. They’d been walking past each other in the hallway and he’d stopped her and told her that if she didn’t continue to choose him, if Marissa didn’t, that she’d regret it.

Becky had tried to talk to Eddie and even the other producers, but they didn’t want to hear it. Eddie had practically patted her on the head and said it was all a part of the show. And the other producers wouldn’t even take the time to talk to her. Eddie was more concerned that his big investo
r
—
Dea
n
—
hadn’t shown up for the last few days. He’d been told he was away on business, but he didn’t believe it and was scrambling to try to figure out what he’d done wrong. Every day he’d grill Jonathan about his “friend” and if he’d be coming back for the show’s finale.

Becky didn’t dare tell Jonathan or Dean about the threats. She figured she’d just deal with them herself and she’d be sure to never be alone with any of the men who were left on the show. Dean wouldn’t be able to do anything, even if he were here for her to talk to. She knew enough about his personality to know it’d be a bad idea to tell him. He was protective of her, as was his dad and even Jonathan, and that made her want to keep this from them. If they did something or said something to any of the men they could get in real trouble. The last thing Becky wanted was to be the cause of trouble for anyone she cared for. Yes, she finally admitted she cared for Dean and his family.

On one of the last days where there were individual dates, Becky had unfortunately “won” a date with Derek. The producers were no longer having Marissa and Becky go on double dates, but letting them go out with the remaining men by themselves. Becky sat in her room before she was supposed to leave on her date with Derek and fingered the phone. Oh, how she wished she could talk to Dean. It’d been a long couple of days and she was kinda scared to go out with Derek. She knew there’d be a camera there, so it wouldn’t be like they were truly alone, but she knew Derek didn’t like her and she didn’t like him in return. It would be very awkward, if nothing else. They had to go out to dinner, and then they were supposed to come back to the house and watch a movie in the TV room.

Becky considered calling Steve for a pre-date pep talk, but then decided that would be ridiculous. She couldn’t call her sorta boyfriend’s dad before she went on a date with another man. She again reminded herself there was nothing Steve could do and she returned the phone under her pillow. She took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Ready or not, it was time for her date.

Dinner was awkward. Neither of them wanted to be there and they weren’t sure what to say to each other. Derek was only interested in winning the stupid show and didn’t even try to engage Becky in any meaningful conversation. The only thing he wanted to know about was Marissa and if she was going to choose him to stay at the next ceremony.

After dinner they came back to the house and sat on the couch, on opposite sides, watching a movie. Becky had seen it before and Derek didn’t seem remotely interested in what was happening on the screen.

At one point Eddie walked into the room and interrupted them, asking to speak with Derek. They left the room and Derek came back in about five minutes later. He sat very close to Becky and put his arm on the back of the sofa behind her.

Becky was freaking out. What the hell? Derek hadn’t shown any affection toward her the entire show, and now, after speaking with Eddie he was suddenly pretending this was a real date? What a joke. Eddie had to have put him up to it.

“What are you doing?” she asked him sharply when he actually had the nerve to put his arm around her shoulder.

“What does it look like, baby?” he asked while winking at the camera that was in the room.

Becky whipped around to see that yes, there was a camera there. The red light blinked at her mockingly, letting her know they were being filmed. She stood up and moved over to the lone chair in the room.

“I don’t know you well enough for you to be touching me like that, Derek,” she said, knowing she sounded prudish. But seriously? He wanted to pretend to like her now when the entire show he’d been a jerk to her and had actually threatened her the other day? No.

Derek pouted and they both continued to watch the movie. Not long after Eddie left he asked Becky if she was watching the movie. When she shook her head he suggested they call it a night. Becky was all for ending the farce of the date early and settling down, alone, in her bed. She wanted to dream about Dean and hoped that maybe he’d get home early and might call.

Derek offered to walk her to her room. She knew it was just because the cameras were following them. When they got there, she opened her door and when she turned around, Derek was standing right there. He grabbed her in a hug and forced his lips down on hers.

Becky tried to push him away, but he was too strong. He had one hand around the back of her neck, holding her lips to his and the other was like a vice around her waist. He brutally dug his fingers into her side and squeezed. It hurt. Becky tried to break his hold, but he was too strong.

He walked them backwards into her room through the open door. Becky continued to struggle, albeit futilely. Derek’s mouth was wet and disgusting, and he was hurting her with the force of both his kiss and his grip on her body.

He finally lifted his head from hers to turn around and grab the door. He blocked Becky’s view of the camera, but she heard him say, “I think I’ll take it alone from here,” in a suggestive tone and he shut the door.

Becky was furious and a little scared. He’d done that on purpose; made it look like they were going to make out in her room, or worse!

When Derek turned back around from the now-closed door she shoved him as hard as she could. Surprisingly, he let go of her, but quickly recovered and shoved her back, hard. Becky went flying and landed hard on her butt on the floor.

Derek came at her again and Becky tried to crab walk backward to keep away from him. She wasn’t fast enough and he viciously grabbed her arm and hauled her upright.

Becky was shocked. Although Derek was kind of scary she’d never thought he’d turn violent with her. What the hell was he doing?

She was freaked because she was alone in her room with a man who’d just forced a kiss on her, lied to the camera, held her tight enough to leave bruises, and shoved her across the room. She had to get him out of there.

“Let go of me,” Becky said through clenched teeth, trying to wrench her arm out of his grasp.

“No way,” Derek hissed. “You owe me,” and he threw her around so she landed on her bed.

Becky knew this was quickly getting out of hand. She had no idea what Derek thought she owed him, but she knew she had to do something, fast.

She scrambled across to the other side of the bed before Derek could get a hold of her again. She was
not
going to be raped.

“You asshole,” she hissed. “You won’t get away with this.” Becky looked around the room for her options. She didn’t see anything she could use as a weapon. She didn’t have her handy baseball bat on the set. She always kept one in her room back home at her apartment. She figured the attached bathroom was her best option at this point.

She knew there was a lock on the door and if she could reach it, then she should be okay, at least theoretically. Of course, Derek could always break the door down, but she didn’t
think
he’d go that far. She feigned left and when Derek fell for it and reached for her, she ran to the right and toward the bathroom.

She slammed the door behind her and locked it just as Derek reached the doorknob. He tried it and she could tell he was furious it was locked.

“Open the damn door,” he hissed at her, obviously trying to be quiet so everyone else in the house didn’t hear him.

Becky didn’t answer him, only backed away toward the opposite wall. Like hell she was opening the door. Did he think she was stupid? There was a window in the bathroom, but it was too small for her to climb out of, and besides she was on the second floor. Not to mention she wasn’t exactly a ninja and able to land on her feet if she did manage to get out of the stupid thing.

She held her breath, waiting to see what Derek would do. Her heart was beating a million miles an hour and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her. When Becky heard nothing for ten minutes, she tried to relax. She didn’t know if Derek had left or not, he could be trying to wait her out on the other side, but she wasn’t leaving this room and the security it offered.

She thought longingly about the phone that was tucked away under her pillow. Damn. She’d give anything to have that phone right now so she could call someone. She knew Dean wasn’t around, but Steve
had
said she could call him any time for any reason. This certainly would be a time for her to call him. But there was no way she was leaving the sanctuary of the bathroom. It was amazing what a little wooden door could do to make her feel safe, even if it was only an illusion.

She slid down the wall across from the door to the floor, her knees shaking from the adrenaline rush and reaction to her fright, and put her arms around her knees. She put her head down sideways, resting it on her knees, keeping the door in her sight, just in case. She stayed like that for the rest of the night.

* * *

When the morning came Becky almost didn’t know what to do. She so badly wanted to talk to Dean, or Jonathan, or even Steve, but what would they be able to do for her now? Nothing. They weren’t here. They weren’t in charge of this stupid show. She was stuck, complaining to them wouldn’t solve anything, and certainly telling Eddie wouldn’t work. She tried to shake some sense into herself. She was an adult woman who could handle this on her own. She didn’t need any help.

She thought back to the night before how it wasn’t until after Eddie had talked to Derek that he’d come up with the idea to walk her to her room. It was obvious Eddie had given the suggestion to Derek. If Becky had been raped it would’ve been as much Eddie’s fault as it was Derek’s. She truly felt that way.

Becky felt sick. She was outnumbered and had no allies on this show. None. She was done. She had a black and blue mark on her arm where Derek had grabbed her, her tailbone was sore after landing on it where he’d shoved her. She also had bruising around her waist from where Derek had held her to him as he pushed them through her bedroom door in front of the camera. Becky knew she’d been lucky and it was time to end this farce. Dean wasn’t home from wherever he was, but she couldn’t wait any longer.

She cautiously opened the bathroom door and peeked out. The bedroom was empty. Nothing seemed out of place, but Becky wasn’t taking any chances. The first thing she checked was the phone, it was still there. She grabbed it and the rest of her things and put them in her suitcase. She went back into the bathroom with her bag and locked the door and took a quick shower. She had to be ready. She’d be leaving the show today, and she knew just how she’d do it. She had to do it while the cameras were rolling so no one could say or do anything. If she did it in “public,” then she’d be all right, she reasoned with herself. Once she got off this show she could start her life again. Hopefully with Dean.

Later that afternoon was another ceremony. The five men who were left stood in their spots. Both Becky and Marissa were supposed to choose two to stay. Marissa, of course, came to her before the ceremony and informed her of who she was supposed to vote to keep.

Becky didn’t say anything. She just let Marissa think she was going along with what she wanted. Whatever. Becky was so done with Marissa and the stupid show. She actually couldn’t believe Marissa still had the nerve to try to tell her who she should choose to keep. After everything that had happened so far and everything that had been said between the two of them, it was completely ridiculous.

Finally, it was time. Robert had a dramatic speech about how the end was nearing and how everyone was on pins and needles to see who’d be staying this time and who’d be going home.

When Robert finally finished with his soliloquy, it was once again Marissa’s turn to make her choices. She stood up in front of the men and the cameras and gave a long speech about how hard the decision was and how it was the hardest decision yet, which every reality show contestant in the history of reality television always said, and the same thing that Marissa said every damn week. She chose to keep Jose and John.

Then it was Becky’s turn. There were three men left, one of which was Derek. Becky knew which two Marissa wanted her to keep. She’d gone on and on to her about how cute Derek and David were and what great TV it made that they were also twins. It’d be such a great theatrical ending if the two of them ended up as the final choices.

Everyone was staring at Becky intently. The cameras were caching the drama on film. Eddie was watching to make sure his money-train kept clacking along. Derek, David, and James were watching her, staring at her, hoping to somehow influence her telepathically to choose them so they’d have another chance at winning Marissa and becoming famous in the process. Robert and Marissa were looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to start.

Becky took a deep breath.

“This week the decision is an easy one for me,” Becky said clearly, being sure to look at each camera in the room before turning back to the men. She wasn’t going to make a long speech and blame people for the miserable experience. She just wanted it done.

“I choose…” She paused, dragging out the moment for dramatic effect. “No one.”

No one said anything at first and it was so quiet Becky could hear the grandfather clock in the corner ticking. Had they heard her? Surely they had.

When Marissa finally gasped, Becky continued, “I don’t feel compatible with any of the men that are left, and I’m sure they don’t feel compatible with me. The last dates I’ve been on haven’t gone well, and it’s obvious the men who are remaining would rather be with Marissa than with me. I’m okay with that. It was never guaranteed I’d find the man of my dreams on the show.”

Becky thought she was laying it on a big thick, but she continued anyway, “After last night,” she couldn’t help herself and glared at Derek, “it was brought home even more to me that I need to move on. I’m forfeiting my choice tonight and would like for Marissa to finish the show. She can choose two more men of her liking, or less, depending on how the producers would like to proceed. I wish her, and all of you,” she nodded to the remaining men, “the best of luck.”

Eddie called out, “Cut!” and stormed onto the set.

“You can’t do that!” he raged at Becky. She didn’t even flinch.

“I just did,” she told him defiantly, wondering where her backbone had been up until now. “You set me up to be the pathetic second-choice woman from the start. Well, I’m done. I played your game long enough. It’s obvious none of the men are going to choose me,” she said, waving her hand in the direction of the remaining contestants. “And I think you knew that would happen from the start. You’d better just take what I’ve done and run with it. It’s a great twist to the show and you can continue on as planned with just Marissa and the remaining men. I’m done.”

Becky looked Eddie straight in the eyes as she spoke. He knew she was dead serious and for the first time in a long time was flustered and out of his element. He hadn’t seen this coming. Usually
he
was the one driving the twists and turns in his shows.

“You won’t get a dime, this is a breach of contract,” he sputtered at her meanly, not knowing what else to do.

“I don’t care,” Becky retorted, “I just want out of this house and off this show.”

She turned around and walked toward the door. She passed Jonathan on her way and he reached out to take her by the arm. Becky flinched, he’d managed to grab the same spot that Derek had last night and it was still painful.

Jonathan saw her flinch and his eyes narrowed. “What the hell? Are you all right? What’s really going on?” he asked urgently.

Becky laughed awkwardly. “Of course, Jonathan, I just humiliated myself for the last time on National TV, why wouldn’t I be okay?” She willed the tears not to fall. She had to make it through this last bit before she fell apart.

Jonathan didn’t like the look in Becky’s eyes, and he certainly didn’t like the way she’d flinched from his touch. He knew he hadn’t grabbed her that roughly. What was going on? Dean should be here, Becky needed him.

“Dammit!” He swore softly. He knew he couldn’t get off the set until the shoot was over. And after Becky’s bombshell he knew they wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. Eddie would have to regroup and figure out how to best use Becky’s actions to make the show a success. His hands were tied. He’d call his dad as soon as he could. Maybe he could go and see Becky or could somehow get a hold of Dean. His brother was going to be pissed he wasn’t there for Becky when everything had gone down.

The cameras followed Becky as she left the house, suitcase in hand and got into the limo. Kina happened to be the camera operator on duty and sat across from Becky in the limo and filmed her as they pulled away from the house. Becky knew they were going to a local hotel. She refused to look at the camera, just stared out the window at the passing scenery. She had to stay there until the end of the show, just as all of the other men on the show who’d been dismissed had to. She hoped she wouldn’t run into any of them, it could get complicated. She didn’t know if they’d be mad at her or if they would even care.

Kina put down the camera and looked at Becky.

“That was the best thing I’ve seen on this show so far,” she told Becky with a smile. “In fact, I think it was the best thing I’ve seen in
any
of the shows I’ve filmed.”

Becky smiled weakly back at her, but didn’t really have anything witty to say back to her. She was done. Mentally just done.

“They’re all assholes, Becky, you just keep being you, you’re okay.”

Becky just stared at her. Okay, well, at least everyone on the show didn’t see her as pathetic.

“We all think that way, you know,” she reminded her. “All the camera operators, that is. We’ve seen all of the crap they’ve put you through and you’ve definitely come through it looking like the better person. We’ll be sorry to see you go, Becky, you’ve been the only interesting part of this show!”

Kina leaned forward, touched her knee and looked Becky in the eye. “Seriously, Becky. Men are assholes. I’ve never met one I’d trust with my life. I thought I had once, but I was wrong. Way wrong. Don’t be like me. My heart is frozen to the core. I’m a hard woman and don’t ever see any man being able to thaw me out. But you…” She paused, and seemed to fight back some sort of emotion, then continued, “You’re a good person. Please don’t let this experience, and these jerks change you. There’s a guy out there for you, you just have to keep looking.”

Becky pondered what Kina said and nodded. “I know, I think I’ve already found him,” she told Kina honestly.

Kina smiled at her as they arrived at the hotel. She helped her out of the seat and waved as she turned to go into the hotel. As Becky got to the door of the hotel she looked back and watched as the limo headed back to the production house. Becky was sad for Kina. She didn’t know her story, but it had to have been something awful for her to believe she’d never find anyone for herself.

Becky couldn’t wait to get to her room, take a shower and process all that had happened. She wanted to talk to Dean, but she didn’t really know what to say yet. Besides, she had no idea if he was even back from the job he was on. She decided she’d call him later. There was no need to call Steve either. She was out of the house and off the show. It wasn’t as if she was allowed out of the hotel. She had to stay until the end of the show.

It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She could be herself again. She didn’t have to worry about cameras being around, or about watching what she said and what she did for fear it’d be taped and end up on television. Becky was ready to relax for a few days and then get back to her life. A life that hopefully would include Dean and his incredible family.