Author’s Note

Hi!

If you are new to my works, you may want to know that I now focus mainly on historical romance stories for a couple of years now. If you enjoy works like Bridgerton, feel free to hop into the worlds of the Town and Sutherland!

All my stories (and the series they belong to) can be found on the Reading Lists on my profile. 

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Enjoy!

J.D. Ruiz

Prologue

Copyright © 2011 by J.D Ruiz

It all started with a bet.

“I’m serious man, if you ditch twenty-five women, I will believe everything you said,” Liam uttered, looking Zach in the eyes. “You’re telling me love is trash, right? What do you call it…a passing moment?”

“Exactly that–a passing moment,” Zach nodded, tipping his bottle of beer towards his friend. “That’s why I’m going to take your bet seriously.”

Liam raised his eyebrows, “You are?”

“You bet I will,” he said proudly. “Okay, you don’t believe me?” he straightened on his chair, but before he turned his full attention back on the topic he winked at the blonde lady sitting just three stools away from them. “Okay, you don’t believe me?” he repeated, turning his head back towards his friend.

“Sort of,” Liam answered, more to provoke him than doubting his words.

He leaned closer, his head bent. “I’m going to prove to you that I can ditch women without glancing back at any of them. And I’m going to do that on national television,” he grinned at his friend’s appalled look.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m going to be the next Bachelor,” he pointed at the television screen hanging by the rack of liquors at the bar. “Hell, I’ll make a fool of myself—and probably lose a few gals for it—just to prove to you that I, Zachary Astor, can ditch twenty-five women.”

“You’re not really kidding, are you?” Liam seemed to have finally realized that he was not fooling around.

“Of course I’m not. In fact, I will set the rules myself,” he grinned wickedly and counted with his fingers. “There will be twenty-five women in that damn competition, right?” his friend nodded and he continued, “I will not choose anyone by the end of the season—not one—and I will not go after any of the girls after the show ends.” He looked at his friend straight in the eyes to show how serious he was. “You hear me? I’m going to ditch those women and I will not meet one of them after I’m done. And you know how hot the women who join,” he finished with a meaningful look.

“I don’t know man, I think you’re going to lose this one,” Liam said after a while.

“Why?”

“Because you might just meet The

One ?”

Zach almost fell off his chair. He usually did whenever Liam talked about fate, meeting the one and all fairytale nonsense. “Oh, come on, that’s why I’m doing this, right? To prove to you that there is no The One ,” he smiled and gulped down his beer. When he saw his friend’s doubtful look, he sighed and took his phone from the back of his jeans pocket. “See this? I’m going to call some people.”

“Okay, we had a few drinks and we are practically thinking from the bottle. You don’t have to be serious—”

He held up one finger to silence his friend, placing his phone against his ear. “Yes, Jeffrey, this is Zach Astor, yes, yes, I’m fine. So, I’m wondering if you have any idea about who the next Bachelor is. Yes, I’m talking about the show…” he winked at his gaping friend as the man on the other end answered his questions. For suspense, he stood up and walked away for a few moments, talking with Jeffrey.

He was grinning from ear to ear when he came back to sit back on his stool. He held his beer to his mouth as Liam asked, “Well?”

“My friend, I will be the next Bachelor. And I’m going to ditch twenty-five women.”

***If you are reading this using the app on your phone, you might encounter some problems such as with the page breaks. Double-spaces don’t appear on the app. But you will have a fine experience if you are reading with your browser. Let’s hope that the technical team on Wattpad will be able to resolve the issues regarding the page breaks on the phone apps! :D

***Just to make things clear, this story was not inspired by ONE NIGHT WITH THE PRINCE though I heard it’s amazing despite the fact that I haven’t read it yet. 

***And yes, this was inspired by the real show with the same title, but only the concept, okay? Other things are purely from my own imagination, so please don’t expect things to be exactly the way the show should be. (AND, no, I am not a fan of the show. So, peace to those who love watching it!) :))

 ***Someone already tried to copy this work and posted it on another site as their own. I don’t want it to happen again so please, know more about plagiarism! :)

***I haven’t edited a chapter of this story so forgive the errors!

Chapter 1

Julianne walked along the corridor, the sound of her plain black shoes muffled by the carpeted floors. She held tighter the folder in her hand and halted her steps outside the door that held the sign, Director .

Lifting her fist, she knocked twice.

“Come in,” came the reply.

She pushed the door open and wore her pleasant smile. “Good morning, Mr. Carter,” she greeted.

“Yes, yes, come closer.” The spectacled man did not glance up from the paper he held in his hands. “Sit,” he motioned his head towards the only chair standing across his messy table.

Julianne did as she was told and sat down.

“You applied to be a script writer?” came the question.

“Yes, sir.”

“For one of our TV series,” he stated without question, still examining the papers before him.

“Yes.”

“I see you haven’t worked as one before.”

“No, sir, I haven’t.” She left out the part that she was a published author in her resume and that her book had done quite well for a beginner. But she couldn’t brag about that. She never planned to anyway.

“And why do you think I should hire you?”

“Because apart from having a degree in English and Literature, I believe I also have the knack for it.”

For the first time, Jack Carter looked up and studied her. He didn’t look bad or old as she had expected. As a matter of fact, to give the man credit, he looked rather handsome with his messy brown hair and black eyes. And right that moment those eyes were looking at her and she didn’t know if what he found in her was pleasing him or not.

Julianne mentally racked her memory, trying to remember if she had combed her brown hair neatly enough or if she made sure that the only thing she had put on her face, which was her light pink lipstick, was not smudged or if her glasses were crystal clear. She also tried to think if her black dress was not at all askew. And by the time she was done with her mental wanderings, she was pretty sure she looked clean and presentable enough to pass the director’s eyeful judgment. After all, the job she was aiming for did not require having to appear in front of the camera.

She was starting to feel uncomfortable under his intense gaze when he spoke, “I’m sorry, Ms. Grey, but all slots have been filled since yesterday.”

Julianne was not the type to drop her shoulders and leave defeated, but she was the type who would want an explanation first—and then take her leave. “Then why did you call me in?”

“Because,” he leaned closer, resting his arms on his desk. “We want you to fill another spot.”

She frowned, “What spot?”

Jack Carter did not hear her answer—or rather chose to ignore it—because once again, he looked down at his paper and then back at her. “How old are you exactly?” he asked.

“Twenty-five.”

“You don’t look twenty-five,” he said more to himself than to her.

“A lot of people say that,” she replied. “What spot are you talking about, Mr. Carter?”

“Ms. Grey,” he stood up and started to pace behind his chair. “Do you watch the show The Bachelor?”

Julianne’s frown grew deeper. “The game show?”

“It’s not exactly a game show,” he corrected. “It’s reality TV.”

It’s still a game show. A stupid, egotistical, narcissistic, unliterary game show, she said to herself. “What about it?” she asked.

“I’ll be directing the next season which will start airing live two days from now and just a few hours ago–before you got the call to come here, actually,” he leaned against his desk with one hand and looked at her, “I received a call that one of the twenty-five girls who got in to be in the show backed out, saying she got engaged yesterday.”

Julianne waited for him to continue and when he didn’t she said, “Well, good for her.”

“And now we’re short of one girl to complete the twenty-five.” Julianne got a strong feeling where their conversation was heading and she was ready with an answer: NO. “And then, just minutes after I received that disappointing news, I got a call from one of my script writers from the TV series Living Life, which I will be directing next season, telling me that she will quit once her baby comes out. She said she wants to be a full-time mom.”

Julianne tried to hold out her ready-made answer for a moment after hearing that last part. She did not say a word and let Jack Carter continue his speech.

“What I’m proposing to you, Ms. Grey, is that you fill in the missing spot of one of the women in The Bachelor. You don’t have to try to stay in the show. Yes, the new Bachelor might choose you to be in the top fifteen, but there’s the bigger chance that he won’t,” he emphasized that last statement by looking at her all over again. “Let’s just say that you’ll only be there as a proxy, just to fill in the missing spot. So, you act as one of the ladies, fill in that missing spot and get the hell out of there. And then I’ll give you the vacant writer spot my soon-to-be-mommy writer will be leaving soon. What do you think?” Jack Carter looked at her with confidence. He knew what he was doing and he believed in it , Julianne thought silently. Carter was the kind of man who was used to getting what he wanted.

“I can leave whenever I want?” she asked.

“No, you can leave when the Bachelor doesn’t pick you. It will be easy,” he shrugged. “I personally know the man and he doesn’t really go for someone your type.”

Julianne was not offended, but she was deep in thought. She was not bothered about how she looked or how others saw her. She was deep in thought about something else entirely—something her wild writer side was already giddy for.

This could be something new. She could get some good subjects to write about for her future book if she joined the show. Getting out would be easy. She knew men don’t really dig women who dress or act like her. And if she could spare some time for one episode, endure the hours to be surrounded by vain women and finally get eliminated, then she would get that job she wanted. Living Life was a good series and she would love to work in it.

Having made her decision, she looked up at Jack Carter and said, “I’ll agree to your proposition only if you sign on it.”

Jack Carter smiled at her and held out his hand, “Consider it done.”

 *****

Diane, her friend and editor, looked at her with mouth slightly open. “You said no, right?” she asked, her eyebrows rising higher.

“Of course I said yes,” Julianne answered, throwing the high-heeled shoes she borrowed at the far corner of the room.

“This is just one of those moments when you’re trying to be funny it isn’t really working, right?”

Julianne frowned and looked at her friend. “No, I’m serious. I’m going to join that game show.”

“Okay, let’s assume I believe you…” Diane shifted on her seat and faced her, hands clasped together. “Why exactly did you agree to Carter’s proposal? You’re not bankrupt to be this desperate to get that writing job, are you? Because I will find it hard to believe for I know your book is doing pretty amazing right now. And I know you will not need to work for the next ten years or so. So,” Diane paused to catch her eyes, “tell me why you agreed to Carter’s outrageous proposal, Jules.”

“I’m curious,” she shrugged.

“Curious.”

“Yeah, I’m curious. I want to know what really happens behind the camera and I want to get a feel of those women who throw themselves at the Bachelor or whoever or whatever you call them.”

“Okay, that’s it…I’m through playing around. You can spit the punch line now,” Diane held up her hand.

Julianne frowned, untying her long brown hair. “There’s no punch line and I’m serious,” she eyed her friend through her slim spectacles, “I’m really serious.”

Diane looked at her for a long time, her eyes blank like she was looking at something but nowhere in particular at the same time. “You’re serious.”

Julianne nodded. “But,” she stood up and walked towards the kitchen counter, “as I’ve said, I’m not there for the long haul. I don’t expect to be and I don’t want to be. I just want to get enough points of view on what’s going on in that show for my next novel.”

“What if the Bachelor doesn’t want to let you go?”

Julianne chuckled dryly. “Diane, people like the Bachelor don’t even take a second glance at someone like me.”

“Why? You’re pretty,” Dian contradicted, “you’re not just vain enough.”

Julianne rolled her eyes. “I like myself as what I am.”

“But what are you going to do if ever that happens? I mean, if the Bachelor chooses you to stay?”

Julianne looked at her friend. “That’s why I’ll have to make sure he will kick me out at first sight, right?”

Chapter 2

The following day, Julianne woke up with the sound of her condo unit’s doorbell only to find out that some people from The Bachelor came for an interview.

“I’ve been watching the television and I saw your promotion. I don’t think it’s necessary,” she argued after John, who seemed to be the leader of the group, told her about the promotional video.

“But it is the one with Marissa in it and now she’s gone and you’ll be stepping in. We need your face,” he insisted.

“Look, your promotional video is flashing twenty-five faces in less than ten seconds. I don’t think someone will complain about it. You can leave and I’ll see you guys tomorrow, okay?”

“Fine,” said the man. “But we still have to make an interview.”

“For what?”

“For the excerpts. In the first episode, we will introduce each of the twenty-five women. We need to make a recorded interview so you better change now.”

Julianne reminded herself that they were merely doing their job and that she was the one who got herself into it, so she better try to cooperate as much as she could. And for the next few hours, Julianne found herself facing the camera, regretting her refusal to wear any makeup because the light coming from every direction was making her face a frying pan as of the moment.

“Why did you join?” asked John for the nth time.

“To explore my curious side,” she answered for the nth time.

“Cut!” John shouted. “Can’t you give a better answer?”

“No,” Julianne answered back, her eyes squinting. “Can I have my glasses back?”

“No,” he snapped at her. “It’s not good for the camera,” he paused for a while, sighed, and said, “Okay, on to the next question.” He looked at the camera guy and said, “Roll.” Then, he looked back at her and asked, “Tell us something about you.”

Though Julianne’s eyesight was impaired, she could still see shadows and figures, and she knew that the camera was only focusing on her face. John, she was quite certain was beside the camera guy, just asking the questions and directing. She suddenly felt conscious at how she might look. Hey, give her some slack, like any other ladies, there were just moments that she felt that uncomfortable feeling no matter how comfortable she was with herself—and there was only one reason: she couldn’t see clearly and she needed her glasses! Aside from that, she would be perfectly fine.

She cleared her throat and tucked her bounty waves behind her ear and said, “I’m a writer—pen name not possible for public to know by the way—and I’m twenty-five years old, single, American—”

“Cut!” John shouted once again. “You’re a writer, right?”

“Yes,” Julianne said dryly. This was getting boring and hot—what with all those stupid lights pointing at her.

“Then make something up. Imagine yourself not you. Imagine someone more…lively,” John’s movements, as what her poor eyesight could see, appeared like he was explaining to a three-year-old.

“Okay,” she was getting irritated now, her lips pursed.

“Roll,” John said to the camera guy once again, and said aloud, “Tell us about you.”

“I’m a writer and I would rather be somewhere in a place I created than on this chair with all the lights burning my face. I’m twenty-five and I think I’m starting to waste more of my precious life sitting here doing this interview. And no, I won’t do another roll or whatever you call that. I’m done,” she smiled blindly at the camera and jumped off her stool. “My glasses, please!”

“You can’t hold us responsible if people will find you undesirable, or funny, or stupid,” John said, glaring at her—and she could see that clearly now with her glasses on.

“That will be perfectly fine,” she shrugged one shoulder.

They did a long battle of gaze until John scoffed and shouted over his shoulder, “Let’s wrap up!” and then he was gone, his back to her, making hasty orders, not bothering to speak another word at her direction.

“Someone will pick you up tomorrow,” a small nerdy woman approached her, holding a folder. “Pack your stuff, every best dress and accessories you got.”

Julianne just nodded. She already packed enough for a one-day stay.

When the last man carrying lights and umbrellas made his exit, Julianne let out the air she had been holding in. She studied the piece of paper the woman left for her to read.

Zachary Astor… of course she knew the name.

Zachary Astor, the sole heir to Astor Industries, the largest food enterprise in the country.

“You must be kidding me,” she moaned. “Filthy rich bastard as the Bachelor…”

Sweeping her keen eyes over the man’s profile, she learned that the next Bachelor, aside from being handsome—which was already given—was nearing his thirties and had never been married. Known as a player, the paper said, he was hoping to find the woman who could make him rooted.

Julianne snorted and crunched up her face. She was a good judge of characters, and as an author and a writer, she had developed a special talent for detecting lies and hypocrisy among that of genuine love and happiness. This is bull, she crumpled the paper and threw it right in the trash.

 *****

“What have you got yourself into this time, Zachary?” Mr. Astor’s face was burning red as he threw the paper on the table.

“It’s for publicity, dad,” he lied, covering his phone with one hand. “This is good for business.” He knew what his father was furious about. He had been expecting that, and he had prepared pretty good enough reasons to save his butt.

“And since when did you care about business?” his father asked, eyes blazing, and he was afraid he’d have to bring him to the hospital again.

“Of course I care, dad,” he stood up, clicked off his phone—he would have to call Liam back later—and faced his dad. “Look, I know I’ve done some things that weren’t very pleasing for the company, but hey, this can be my chance to redeem myself, right?”

“By being the next Bachelor? Whatever got into your head?!”

“Yes,” he nodded, keeping his calm. “Dad, look at the brighter side,” he motioned with his hand, “ if I meet someone in that show that will be suitable to be my wife, and if—with your blessings together with mom—I choose to marry her and settle down, it will be nice for everybody’s eyes. Astor Industries will be the biggest family-oriented food enterprise. You wanted that from me, right?”

Inside his gut, Zach was hoping his father would take his words, but as usual, since the very first time he smashed his first car, his father only said, “You will be the death of me, Zachary. I swear to God, if you make another scandal this time, you’re out.”

And just like that, the old man turned on his heels and stormed out the room.

Zachary was trying to decode his father’s last words and when he did, it alarmed him. Does that mean he’ll cut me out? But that couldn’t be because he was an only son. And it was not like he would be making a big scandal with the show. He’d just leave without choosing anyone at the end and that’d not be scandalous at all if he could give enough good reason. Some people had already done that in the show.

Shaking his head, he grinned and dialed his friend’s number once again. “Hey, tomorrow’s the big day, buddy. Why don’t you and I go out? It will be my last night to party without the world watching me.”

 *****

“I really hope you’ll change your mind,” Diane told her as the doorbell rang. Her friend came early to say goodbye as well for she would have to go somewhere outside the city to promote her book without her.

She did not mind her friend’s statement and stood up to answer the door. “I hope so too, but I already committed to do this.”

“And you’re only doing it for research, I know it,” Diane stared at her pointedly.

“Stop that,” she looked over her shoulder as she made her way towards her door. “And don’t worry. I’ll be right there with you tomorrow for the tour, okay?”

“You better,” Diane cried out from the couch. “Your fans have been dying to see you since your book made a hit and you can’t disappoint them for not showing up!”

“Fine, fine! I’ll be there, okay? Now, shut up. My ride has come and I need to go,” she said before she turned the knob and swung the door open. A man was watching his watch and glanced up at her, his face blank. “We have to go now, Ms. Grey.”

“I’ll just get my bag,” she held up one finger and rushed to where Diane was sitting, already holding her small suitcase for her.

“Are you sure this is all you’re going to need?”

“Of course,” she beamed and adjusted her glasses.

“And are you sure you’re going looking like that?”

She frowned, looked down at her baggy green sleeveless shirt, her tight black pants, and her silver-white sandals. “Yes, I am.”

“You know you’re going to appear on national television, right?”

“But getting kicked out of that show is more important, right?”

Diane rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yes, you’re right. But let your hair loose, will you? I love your natural waves.”

Just to keep her friend looking satisfied, she gave in and pulled at the strings that held her hair in place. It was a good thing as well since the few people who knew her and who might be watching tonight’s show might not just point her out. Not that she cared anyway. “Bye, Diane, see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be waiting.” And then she looked at Julianne pointedly saying, “Your fans will be waiting.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Be sure, okay? You know you won’t be allowed to have phones in that show.”

“Yes, I know. I read the damn contract before I signed it.”

“Are we going or not?” the man outside the hallway peeked his head through the open door.

“Coming!” Julianne shouted over her shoulder. She hugged her friend and said, “Lock the house before you leave, okay?”

“Got it,” Diane waved and she left.

 *****

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” the driver grinned at her through the rearview mirror.

Julianne’s warning sensors came to life.

She didn’t like surprises and no one mentioned any surprises! She knew that the show was doing this to get genuine reactions from contestants so it was inevitable. But she couldn’t show her anxiety so she sat there, silent as a mute as the driver drove through the morning traffic.

“What are we doing here?” she finally asked in alarm when she realized where the driver had taken her.

“This is the surprise,” was the giddy response she received. “Hop out! We don’t have much time. The others have arrived, and look at all those…” he couldn’t finish his sentence as his eyes wandered some meters away, whistling that tone men used every time they see breasts and butts.

Julianne looked out the window and saw for herself a dozen or so women, dressed in dresses that in themselves were silently shouting, “Notice me!”, strutting their way towards the private hangar, their big suitcases wheeled behind them. “Where are you taking us?” she asked once again, grabbing the driver’s attention once more.

“That’s the big reveal for later. Now, come on!”

Reluctantly, she climbed out of the car and followed the path the ladies were taking. There were a numerous number of heads with different colors, cuts, curls, and by the look from their faces—from the few that Julianne was able to see—they wore the same curious looks. But apart from that, she also noted their excitement which she couldn’t find herself to feel.

Without getting much of a glance from the other ladies who could have been lost from America’s Next Top Model show, Julianne was able to make herself stand at the far back, far away from the cameras and lights that were already set up beside the large private plane inside the hangar.

“Welcome, ladies!” A man in tuxedo she had never seen before greeted them with his handsome smile and tanned looks. “Yes, I know you’re all curious why Chris is not the one facing you right now. This, ladies, is just one of the surprises we have in stored for you.” He paused as he looked at her fellow girls say “Ohh…” like they were stupid. Why does everyone have to say something when no one actually asked a question? “I’m Brent, and I am the new host for The Bachelor—I hope you’re not disappointed?”

The ladies smiled and shook their head and his smile widened. “Now that we got Chris’ absence for one season covered—by me—let me all welcome you to The Bachelor Season 16!” There were cries of glee and excitement from all the ladies and Julianne couldn’t help but smile and shake her head, not really knowing what to think. “Now,” Brent continued when the noise died down, “you must all be wondering why we are here?”

And heads from black, to blonde, to red, to brown, nodded their heads vigorously that Julianne imagined those little doggies she had on her car’s dashboard.

“Well, ladies, you are all going to stay at our Bachelor’s private island—”

“What?!”

“Oh my God!”

“Yes!”

“This is so exciting!”

Julianne had the urge to cover her ears as the ladies’ outbursts rang around the hangar.

“I see you’re all getting excited to board the plane so let me just take this moment to let our very own Bachelor explain everything—”

But no one was listening to Brent anymore as the plane’s door opened and there, like he was climbing out Air Force One, was Zachary Astor. Julianne was quite startled, really, that the hangar was in complete silence as the women looked at the man climbing down the plane’s stairs with astonishment and wonder in their eyes.

Of course the man was handsome—as almost all the Bachelors. Stark black hair, green eyes, imperfect but manly nose, well-shaped chin, great jaw, amazing broad shoulders, really good height—the works. But every appealing feature he might have that she might have seen was erased by the overpowering confidence and proud, smirking grin he was wearing as he devoured and reveled on the attention everyone was giving him.

While every woman present in the hangar was looking at him with admiration and awe, Julianne found herself frowning. As she looked at Zachary Astor, all she could see were fast cars, limousines, five-star hotels, bodyguards, VIP bars, elegant women, golf clubs, and…money. She was not struck by all of that because she couldn’t see him making coffee, eating at a diner, doing the lawn, driving a family car, or even wearing baggy clothes.

There was no disappointment though, because she never expected anyone like Zachary Astor to be anyone else than what he appeared to be: a rich egotistical boy who was borne rich, would die rich and be placed in a filthy rich golden casket and later in a golden urn to be placed inside a golden, freaking vault with his rich name engraved outside the door.

“Hello, ladies,” his deep, playful voice said, shattering the silence that had lingered at his presence.

“Hi…” was the echoed response from the eager ladies.

“Well, Brent already told you about the island, right?”

Heads of different colors and textures nodded once more.

“It’s a secret where it is though so as to prevent people outside the show to come swimming their way to wherever we will be,” he paused as his audience laughed. Julianne did not bother to hear his every word, too busy looking at the cameras and the crew behind them, trying to see what each person was doing. “Now,” her attention was called back to the man standing at the center of everything, “the only glitch is,” his face cringed as he held his words for suspense, “though I want everyone of you to stay with me on the island, I’m afraid I will have to choose—as we fly our way to the island—who among you will have to climb back on the plane and fly their way back here, leaving the island—and me.”

“Aaww…” the ladies groaned. Yeah, right. Like you didn’t expect an elimination, Julianne thought dryly.

“So, I hope you all give your best shot during our three-hour flight,” he winked and Brent stepped in, giving Zachary a big pat on the back.

“So, ladies, give your big shot, and let’s all board in!”

Julianne suddenly felt lost as their bags were taken away from them, leaving nothing but their own personal self to board the plane.

“Hi!” a blonde-haired girl beside her said as they waited for the other girls to climb up the plane first. “I didn’t notice you earlier. I’m Pauline,” the lady then held out her hand.

Julianne took it and smiled. “Julianne.”

“You sure you’re not going to change into a dress?” Pauline asked it in a way that was not offending at all, but merely curious.

She shook her head, “No, I’m not. I feel comfortable.”

“Wow, your glasses are thick!” Pauline said with awe.

“Yeah,” she smiled and nodded, not sure if she should explain her eye grades or how important her glasses were.

“Can you see when they’re off?”

“A little,” she nodded, walking one step ahead as the line ascended up the stairs. “But I’m nearly legally blind.”

“I see,” Pauline just nodded. “Hey, what do you think of Zach?”

“Handsome,” she commented.

“Hot, right? I really hope to get to know him more.”

“Uh-huh,” were the only syllable she could utter.

“So, tell me about your audition, how did you get in?”

“I—”

“Come on, ladies, we don’t have all the time in the world!” a man at the top of the stairs waved them up.

The next few minutes were spent settling them all down and hushing everybody up. Julianne couldn’t see Zachary anywhere and thought that he was probably in a private room within the plane. Speaking of the plane, well, you could say it was big considering it could accommodate twenty-five women and a crew of cameras and lights.

The plane flew off the ground the moment everybody was belted into their seats, and as the pilot announced that it was safe to unbuckle their belts, the commotion was back among the camera crew, trying to get a few shots of almost everything and everybody.

“So, how are you all feeling?” Brent asked them after taking his break to redo his foundation.

“Excited!” was the word that rose up among others.

“Since this flight is going to be a long one, Zachary decided to spend it with each and every one of you,” he nodded his head with his perfect grin as the ladies squealed. “Yes, ladies, each of you will have your own private moment with Zach.”

As Brent’s words were decoded into her brain, Julianne sank into her seat beside Pauline, praying for turbulence.

Chapter 3

Zachary looked up as Brent entered his private room, beaming. “You ready?” the host asked with the camera behind him.

He smiled as he placed down the magazine he was reading and nodded, “I guess so.”

“So, before we let the ladies in to have a little time with you, let me ask you one question first.”

Zach smirked and leaned back against the leather sofa, his arms folded under his head, “Shoot.”

“What made you decide to become the next Bachelor?”

“Well, you all know, the public know, that I have been straying my way for fun,” he paused as Brent nodded with a chuckle, “I don’t know, I think I just woke up one day  thinking, ‘Hey, I’m done.’ So here I am, hoping to find the woman who can make me fall on my knees.” Zach wanted to gag out the words he just said. But the camera was obviously on a roll and the whole world was watching—probably along with his parents—and he wouldn’t want to go home to nothing. If being a Bachelor meant going all cheesy in front of the camera, he would gladly do it. I’ll have my laugh at the end, he promised himself.

“Wow, such a big step right there, Zach,” Brent said, taking a step back. “We have left something for you to watch so you can know the ladies a little bit before you actually get the time to meet them. Enjoy and good luck.”

“Thanks, man,” he smiled and looked for the remote.

“The tape’s already in there, Mr. Astor. You just push play,” the camera man left behind to shoot him while he watched whatever video was in stored for him said.

“Okay,” he nodded and played the tape.

It was a compilation video of all the women, their faces focused on the screen with their names, occupation, and age. First off was a blonde girl named Chloe with eyes as blue as the ocean beneath them—and definitely his type. “Hi, my name is Chloe. I’m twenty-three, an accountant. I joined The Bachelor in hope of finding love, fun, and more fun.” Zachary smiled inwardly. Ah, yes, fun was all he was and this lady would definitely get it as long as it lasted. Another blonde one appeared after Chloe, this one pretty much the same much to Zach’s pleasure. “Hi, my name is Hanna and I’m twenty-eight, a nurse and a good lover.” Zach chuckled.

This is going to be fun, he thought as he watched on. He was all praises to the crew and staff of The Bachelor for bringing him all these women of different beauties and personalities—some of whom might be too stupid or naïve for his taste—for him to have fun with. There was another woman pretty much the same as Chloe and Hanna named Vivienne, and then there was Brenda, Pauline, Karen, Jill, Stella, Sally, Jenny, Kim, and Penny so far. He had been having too much fun watching the videos that he did not bother to check the time. He doubted if he could remember all the names after though, considering he was not the type to remember women’s name after he spent one night with them.

But when the screen turned black and another video began, he started to frown. Right in front of him, blindly staring ahead and looking uncomfortable was the first woman who really caught his attention because her appearance made him curious as hell. He knew women adored their make-ups, but this one obviously didn’t. And her brown waves of hair were everywhere and it appeared like she was in a hurry and did not bother to brush it. “Why did you join?” Zach heard someone not included in the scene asked.

Zach even got more curious. Every video he saw—from Chloe to the last one—started smoothly with them saying their names and so on, but this one looked like it underwent a lot of cuts.

“To explore my curious side,” the brown-haired beauty answered dryly. Zach’s eyes flickered on the lower left of the screen to read her name. Julianne, 25, writer. Then there was that cut again and he wondered why no one bothered to edit the film smoothly like every else’s. “I’m a writer—pen name not possible for public to know by the way—and I’m twenty-five years old, single, American—” and there was that cut again. Zach looked at the camera man standing just beside the screen he was staring with an amused look.

“What the—” but his question was interrupted when the video started once again.

“I’m a writer and I would rather be somewhere in a place I created than on this chair with all the lights burning my face. I’m twenty-five and I think I’m starting to waste more of my precious life sitting here doing this interview. And no, I won’t do another roll or whatever you call that. I’m done.” And that was it. The screen turned black once again. Zach waited for a few more seconds for the possibility of it turning back on, but it seemed that it was over because the logo of the show appeared indicating it would not be showing more.

“What’s the problem with that last video?” he asked aloud.

The camera man placed down his big gadget and shrugged. Zachary was still trying to figure that one out when the door opened and Brent came in. “Hey, man, we’re ready to roll in a minute.” He looked at Zach with a knowing look. “So, how was it? Got your eyes on some ladies already, huh?”

“What’s the problem with the last video?” he asked.

“Ah, the one with the writer?”

“Yes, Julianne,” he nodded.

“It was a rush thing and our team was not able to edit that one. But don’t worry because that part when you were watching it will be edited out when the show is aired. Editing of everything going on here will be our problem. All you have to worry about is who among those ladies will you send home today.”

But Zach was not hearing a thing, his mind full of curiosity as to why Julianne’s video was rushed.

“Okay, so, we’re ready to roll?” he heard Brent ask the camera guy. “Okay, so, Zach, here is the list of the names that will come in here to have a little chat with you. It’s in order so don’t worry in case you can’t remember them.”

“Yeah, thanks,” he smiled and once again, he was left alone with the camera guy. He was still having trouble getting used to being filmed every second, but he was getting the hang of it. As what Brent said, he could do anything he wanted. Editing was the show’s job, not his. As he waited, he looked at the list and noticed that it was exactly the same as the line-up in the video. His eyes ran down to the very bottom and he smiled as he saw Julianne Grey’s name.

 *****

Julianne amused herself by watching the ladies fumble through their bags to fix their makeup. Ever since Chloe stood up and walked towards the door that led to Zachary Astor’s private room, the girls chatted incessantly while applying more gloss on their lips and patting their hairs with their hands.

“Can you wake me up when they call my name?” she asked Pauline who was busily looking at her mirror.

“Okay,” the lady smiled without throwing her a glance.

And I really hope they intentionally forget I’m here, she said to herself as she leaned against the window and closed her eyes.

She was in her dream world with the characters of her next novel when she felt a sudden jerk.

“Hey, you’re up!” Pauline prodded. “Oh my God, you’re going to love him! He’s amazing!”

Julianne blinked a few times. “What?”

“You’re up! Go! Go! Go!” Pauline said excitedly. She looked around and noticed that some women were looking at her, disapproval on their faces.

“Ms. Grey, you’re up,” the same nerdy woman from her apartment said from down the aisle.

“Yeah, coming,” she groaned and slowly went to her feet.

“Your hair’s a mess,” Pauline pointed out.

“It’s fine,” she murmured and walked down the aisle, holding on to the back of the seats she passed by.

“She is so not getting a rose,” she heard someone say behind her.

That would be great, she replied in her mind.

“What’s wrong with your hair?” The nerdy woman whom she now saw by her name tag as Fatima said as she came near, reaching out to fix the waves.

“It’s fine,” she answered. “Is this the door?”

“Yes, just go right in. He’s waiting.”

“Yeah, right,” she uttered dryly and turned the knob.

She caught him looking startled by her entrance. Oops, she forgot to knock. Like she cared.

“Hi, Julianne,” he smiled his awesome perfect smile.

Julianne did not answer, her eyes on the camera guy at the corner of the small room. Then they landed on him sitting on the leather sofa looking very comfortable and proud wearing a black long-sleeved polo shirt folded up to his elbow. “Where do I sit?” she asked.

“Please, forgive me, please sit down,” he motioned with his hand at the small chair beside him. She took the rest of the steps and sat down. “I didn’t know you wear glasses. And man, those are thick!” he chuckled, peering closer, green eyes full of amazement.

“What do you mean?”

“In your interview video you were not wearing any,” he explained, leaning back against his kingly leather sofa.

“It’s because they took it away from me,” she answered dryly, her eyes curiously looking around. She was taking the chance to examine everything. Hey, it was not every day that she could ride a private plane. She might use whatever she could get here for one of her stories.

 *****

Zach was speechless for a moment. It was the first time he didn’t know what to say in front of a woman. What’s wrong with her? It seems like she didn’t want to be here at all.

He cleared his throat which caught back her attention and her brown eyes behind those damned glasses met his. He wanted to snatch the pair of spectacles away and crumple them in his hands. He realized he liked looking at her eyes. They were not really the same as the others who looked like they wanted to swallow him alive. Hers were different. They stared at him like he was not there or something and it made him curious.

“So,” he cleared his throat once again, smiling his best smile, knowing the camera was rolling, “you’re a writer.”

“Yes,” she answered.

“What do you write?”

“Novels,” she answered once again.

“Care to share?”

“No,” she shook her head and gave a forced little smile for apology.

“Well, no worries,” he sighed, “there will be enough time to do that.”

“What do you mean?”

“This show’s going last for what? A few months? So there will be time to know about your secret works.”

“You don’t intend to keep me here, do you?” she asked.

Zach chuckled, “Why not? I find you interesting,” he answered honestly.

She looked shocked and he almost wanted to laugh out loud. Then, he saw panic cross her features. His frown deepened.

 *****

Julianne looked at the camera, considered for a moment and then decided. She leaned closer, moving one finger to tell him to lean his head over. With a curious frown, he did so, and their head were just inches apart. “Look,” she whispered, “I don’t really want to be here, okay?”

“I think I already figured that one out, yes,” he nodded and she felt his black hair brush against her forehead.

“And I will greatly appreciate it if you send me home today,” she whispered hurriedly.

“What?”

“Send me home today,” she repeated.

“And why would I do that?” he asked, lifting his head so he could look at her.

Julianne instantly leaned back when she felt his nose touch hers. Sighing, she leaned forward once again to whisper in his ear, “I need to go somewhere tomorrow and I don’t want to miss it for the world.”

She held her breath as she leaned back and watched his reaction. He did not say a word for like half a minute. He just sat there, his body leaning forward, apparently thinking about what she just said.

“It’s not like it will be such a big loss if you do that,” she added, this time for everyone to hear.

She saw the corner of his mouth lift up and he leaned back against the sofa with a sigh. “Hmm, you’re probably right,” he shrugged and she let out a breath of relief.

She smiled at him gratefully and said, “Thank you. I really appreciate this.”

 *****

Zach watched the change of that smile did on her face. She was, utterly, incredibly beautiful and he doubted if she knew that or if she cared at all. He could tell her priorities were far away from vanity and it deeply amused him further more. He would love to have her around for fun. Yes, the other ladies would surely be fun enough, but he was sure this woman would be fun in a different way. She would be fun in a way that excited him.

“Okay,” he nodded his head and her smile widened. “I will find a way to make it more convenient for you.”

“Thank you very much,” and she stood up, ready to leave.

“You’re leaving?” The question came out his lips without his knowledge.

“Yes, why stay longer if I’m leaving later, right?”

“Yeah, of course, thank you for your time, Jules,” he winked at her.

“Don’t call me Jules,” her smile disappeared.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t really like that name.”

“But I like it. Bye, Jules. See you soon,” he waved his hand. Her lips pursed, but she did not say a word and left.

Zach couldn’t erase the smile on his lips.

That woman was the first and only one who was giddy to leave his presence.

And she wanted to leave the show.

Zach sighed and thought about what he needed to do.

 *****

“How was it?” Pauline asked her when she came back.

“It was as what I hoped for,” she smiled.

“Wasn’t he great?”

“Fabulous,” she said with a little tinge of sarcasm. “I’m really tired and I need some sleep,” she added apologetically.

Pauline just smiled at her and nodded. “Sure, take a rest. We’re not going to reach this island for another hour or so. I really wonder where it will be.”

“Take it as an adventure,” she said, closing her eyes. “Not knowing where we’re going is exciting enough, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess so…”

She didn’t care where The Bachelor was taking them because she would be going back home today.

 *****

The plane landed on a small island unknown to everybody. Then a bus took them to a docking site where a big yacht was waiting for them to take them to the island.

“Hey, can I use my computer here?” she asked Fatima once they boarded the yacht.

“Aren’t you going to join them and have fun?” she asked, pointing her head towards the group. She followed with her gaze. There, at the very center of the girls was Zachary Astor, enjoying the attention of twenty or so women.

“No, I think I’m fine,” she answered. She was inside sitting on a couch sipping her orange juice. Pauline left her minutes ago to join the others outside with the fresh ocean air.

“Yes, you can use your computer. But no access to the internet or anything that will give you contact outside,” Fatima reminded her.

“Yes, I know that. I’m just going to do some work,” she smiled gratefully, already tying her hair up, ready to do some action with her computer.

“Okay, call out if you need help or something,” Fatima uttered, looking at her curiously.

“Thanks,” she smiled once again and waited until she was alone. She opened her computer and started working.

 *****

“So, Zach, where are we going exactly?” Chloe asked him. He looked at her admiringly. She changed her clothing—among the other ladies—into some more revealing beach attire. These ladies really packed their whole wardrobe.

Except one, he noted, remembering seeing Julianne Grey somewhere still wearing her green shirt and pants. In fact, he had a clear view of her through the glass window of the cabin sitting alone inside on the couch, frowning down on her computer. “That’s a secret, ladies,” he said, grinning at the beauties that surrounded him. “Brent already told you, right? I don’t want the location of the island known to the whole world.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Someone might try to snatch all of you away from me.”

He received the laughter he expected from each one of them. He sipped his wine, his eyes darting ahead through the window, landing on the uncaring lady sitting cross-legged on his couch with her laptop.

“I bet we’re somewhere in the Caribbean,” he heard one woman say and he just smiled. No way he was telling them where they were.

 *****

“Are you doing whatever you’re doing on purpose?” Julianne snapped her head up and saw Chloe standing by the door, wrapped in bikini with a white silk shawl around her hips.

“What are you talking about?” she frowned down at her computer, already lost in thoughts as she continued typing.

“You’re obviously trying to get Zach’s attention by intentionally making yourself solitary,” Chloe rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, think whatever you want. I don’t really care what you think,” Julianne looked up and smiled sarcastically. “So strut off, will you?”

Chloe gasped, her eyes widening. “You’re so not getting a rose. And I don’t really know what made you think you’ll have a chance.”

Julianne gave off a mocking gasp and stated, “Oh, isn’t this Project Runway? Oh my God, I think I’m in the wrong show!”

The blonde’s mouth fell open.

“Close that cave, will you? Flies are swarming over you and you might probably choke to death if they decide to make a nest out of your throat,” she couldn’t help but say. “I’m working so you better leave. Thanks for the visit though,” she turned her attention back on her computer.

“Your kind is now extinct and I’m not wondering why,” Chloe snapped and scoffed her way out the door.

Julianne did not bother dissecting her words and forgot about the incident like it was some stupid show she saw on TV.

 *****

Their trip to the island did not last longer much to the other ladies’ disappointment. As soon as they docked on the most amazing place they had ever been with its white sand and amazing shore, the ladies were ushered to a big cabin enough to hold a dozen more guests.

Jack Carter, much to Julianne’s surprise, was already in the island and had just finished setting up his crew. She reminded herself that he was the director and that, of course, he would be with them until the show finished. Correction, he would be with the ladies until the end—she on the other hand would be leaving today along with the other nine unfortunate ladies.

“Ladies,” Brent announced once they were all settled in the living room, Zachary standing beside him. The cameras, much more sophisticated now, loomed over them, attached to some robotic arms of some kind. “Don’t settle your baggage yet because we still have something to do first. That difficult job will be placed on Zach’s shoulder here. He,” Brent placed his arm over Zach’s shoulder for a tap, “will be choosing who among you will leave this island and go back home.”

Julianne’s heart hammered against her chest. Finally, she would go back to her own unit, have a rest, and join Diane on that promotional tour.

“Zach, are you ready?”

“No,” Zach smiled faintly. Julianne wanted to scoff because she knew it was just all for the camera. “But I think I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“I’m afraid so,” Brent chuckled and turned his attention back on the ladies who looked like they were in some freaking Miss Universe competition and that their whole lives depended on it. From out of nowhere, a man dressed in tuxedo came in, wheeling a table and on it lay over a dozen white roses. “Zach will pick a rose and call out a name. The lucky fifteen ladies who get a rose will stay, get a chance to unpack their bags until the next elimination, and have the chance to go on dates with Zach.” He turned to Zach and added, “Zach?”

Zach just nodded, his eyes already roaming around the twenty-five women before him. He looked at each one of them and when his eyes landed on hers, her heart raced once again, seeing that smirk on his lips.

“See you later, ladies,” Brent waved and walked off. He sat beside Jack Carter, looking at the little screen directors look at during filming.

“I just want to let you all know that I had a great time today,” Zach started his speech. Julianne was not listening, her attention on the people behind the camera. “But I’m afraid I will need to choose,” and without further ado, he reached out and picked a rose. He paused for a while and finally called out the first lucky girl. “Chloe.” The girl gasped and remembering her poise, smiled and walked towards Zach. “I’m hoping to know you better,” Zach said as he handed her the rose.

“Thank you,” Chloe said sweetly and stepped away to the other side of the room.

Zach picked another flower. “Hanna,” and the girl squealed with glee.

Vivienne was up next and she joined the other two. Brenda, Pauline, Karen, Jill, Stella, Sally, Jenny, Kim, Penny, and Amanda followed.

The process was actually long than it appeared on television if you were watching it and Julianne’s feet were already killing her. She couldn’t stand standing for too long. She would have a good rest later in the plane, she thought, trying to endure the last remaining minutes.

There were two more roses to give and she was getting giddy to leave already. Zach picked one rose, leaving the last one. He appeared to breath in a lungful of air before he said, “Tanya.”

The brunette heaved out a sigh of relief and walked towards him to get her rose.

 ******

Zach looked at the eleven women in front of him and smiled. Brent stepped in once again, looking serious than usual and said, “Zach, there’s only one rose left. Choose the best.”

He nodded and took the last remaining white rose on the table. For suspense, he looked at each woman. And then he looked at Julianne who appeared to be ready to leave.

He smiled, took a deep breath, and said, “Julianne.”

Chapter 4

Julianne did not hear him at all. She was so focused on leaving and she was confused when the other ladies standing with her turned around to look at her with their fake smiles, all for the camera of course. She raised her eyebrows and then her eyes went to Zach standing in front, holding a white rose, grinning at her wickedly.

“What—”

“Go on girl, get your ass up there,” one lady slightly pushed her.

“What—”

“Julianne,” Zach was looking at her with an expectant look, holding the rose out.

She could say no.

Yes, she could do that.

But then she remembered the contract she signed with Jack Carter.

She couldn’t say no unless the Bachelor chose not to pick her. Her eyes went to Jack Carter at the corner of the room and the guy appeared to be shocked as well. And when he saw her looking at him, he grinned, lifted his hands with palms upward and shrugged.

She could remember his words very well: I know getting out will be easy for you and it’s like I’m giving out the position you want so easily so I think it will be best if I include that in the contract, he had said when she questioned him why they took her right not to accept the rose. She thought nothing of it back then, certain that she would not get picked.

But the devil standing before her holding a stupid white rose seemed to find it funny to have her around.

She glared at him, snatched the rose from his hand, and without as much as a grateful remark stormed towards the rest of the ladies who did get a rose. And when the camera focused on Brent once again as he entered the scene, she slipped away and entered a corridor, not really knowing where she was leading. She was too furious and too angry to care if she ever went missing.

“Where are you going?” Fatima said behind her.

“Leave me alone for a while, please,” she whispered. “How did you find me anyway?”

“It’s my job to make sure everything’s in place and you are not where you are supposed to be. So please, let’s go back.”

“Tell them I’m not feeling well,” she said. “I have a very intense headache right now,” she faced the woman. “Where’s my bedroom?” she asked.

“You’ll be sharing it with one of the ladies,” Fatima told her after a long time of looking at her. “Let’s go this way. You want me to call the doctor?”

“You have a doctor?”

“Just in case something goes wrong. Precautionary measures since we’re on an island.”

“No, I think a rest will make me feel better, thank you,” she lied.

Fatima led her to the end of the hall and up the big staircase. There were at least seven rooms up there and Fatima took her to the last one at the end of the hall, their steps clicking on the wooden floors. “This is your room. Your bags are in there, I think.”

“Thanks,” she murmured and went inside. It was not that big, but it was good enough for her. There were two single beds and a large window that overlooked the sea. The sea she was supposed to be on any minute now to go home.

“Do you need anything?”

She was startled to learn that Fatima was still there. “No, you may leave. Thanks again,” she smiled and sat on the bed near the window.

Fatima nodded and hastily went back to her work downstairs. Julianne stood up and paced around the room, still holding the rose in her hand.

“The bastard,” she murmured angrily. “He promised me!” She hurled it across the room where it landed on the wooden floor with one petal breaking away.

No, he didn’t.

“It was close to a promise!”

No, it was not.

“Arggh!” she cried out in frustration. She wanted to break something.

She could hear laughter ringing out downstairs. I’m in hell, she thought.

It’s your fault. If you didn’t sign that stupid contract, you won’t be here. If…

If…

It was too late for what if’s. She already doomed herself for another few days. She should have known Zachary Astor was lying. She should have known…

But why did he pick her anyway?

To annoy you, of course.

To make fun?

That must be it.

Julianne grumbled on and on for another five minutes until she finally decided what to do.

 *****

Zachary did not question why Julianne did not join them during dinner or why she suddenly disappeared after receiving his rose. He already knew the answer to that.

He grinned, already imagining her beautiful face crunching with anger.

She’ll get over it, he thought. What could be so important that she has to go to tomorrow than being in the show?

For the moment, he enjoyed the company of the other girls who were just so happy to have gotten a rose. They won’t be too happy in the end, he said to himself.

 *****

There were a lot of things not being shared on television, things that would not be too pleasing for the eyes of those who were not on the show and who were watching in their couches or their beds. No, no dirty stuff yet, but close to that.

After dinner, Zach decided to take a little swim in the ocean with some other ladies that were courageous enough—or desperate enough—to impress him and the raging cold waters. Good thing about the dark skies and water? No one would really know—even the cameras—what was going on underneath the gentle, splashing waves.

Hey, he was a man and a man would not pass up the chance to have a little touching game with beautiful and awesome bodies.

“I had a chance to dance with you once, you know,” Chloe purred, her arms around his neck, the water splashing their bodies.

“Yeah?” he raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t remember.

“Yeah, at a bar. But that was a long time ago,” she waved off.

“Hmm, wonder why I can’t remember. I would definitely remember you,” he said, going along with her story.

“Well, yes, but I was with someone else back then,” she said.

Under the water, Zach’s hands were too busy that he couldn’t think of an answer.

“Just want to let you know though that I’m really glad you picked me first tonight,” she giggled.

In the darkness, Zach cringed. He didn’t like women who giggle. Never liked it.

“Hey, we’re freezing out here, Zach!” Amanda shouted not too far away.

Zach laughed and leaned closer to whisper into Chloe’s ear. “I guess we’ll have to postpone this little thing we have going on. The other ladies might not like it,” he winked at her and pushed away. As he did so, was sure he heard her moan in protest. He ignored it and swam his way towards the other ladies.

It was much, much later, when all the cameras were out and left them free for a while, that Zach finally decided to go to his own cabin, just near the one the ladies were staying at to have a rest. There were a lot of protests coming from them when he playfully ran away, leaving them—in their bikinis—cold in the ocean.

He intentionally chose to be separated from the girls and it was a good thing a little cabin was built by his father a long time ago. They used it for themselves when they had guests coming over and if they wanted no part of the clamor. And now, he was using it to have a little separation from the noise called ladies.

After taking a warm shower, he wrapped a white towel around his hips, turned on the television, and made a drink for himself.

Brent had told him the only live thing they broadcasted was the rose ceremony and that there would be a replay tonight and he would want to see it for a little tiny reason: Julianne.

He wanted to see her face once more when she heard her name called out. He was grinning stupidly when his door suddenly burst open and there, standing, framed in the doorway, was the angry tiger with her amazing brown waves blown by the ocean wind, looking at him like he was the worst person in the world.

“Jules!” his smile died down a little bit. And funny, he felt a little nervous just then—and conscious? Given that he was half naked, and that there was a woman in the room, any guy was entitled to feel that. But he—Zachary Astor—was not supposed to feel that way. But with Julianne present, he felt it for the first time. One reason was that she didn’t look like she cared he was only clothed with a piece of towel around his hips. The other reason was that she looked so darn beautiful—even when angry—and he would love to jump right at her.

He decided against that last part because he was sure she would kill him if he ever did that.

“You lied to me,” she said through clenched teeth. “You told me you’d let me go home!”

Okay, it was time to defend himself. “No, I didn’t. And if I said so, you shouldn’t have accepted the rose then if you are too eager to leave, right?”

“That’s because I can’t!” she shouted, closing her eyes in the process. God, he really hated her glasses. He couldn’t point out for certain how long her lashes were with those thick rims.

“What do you mean? I don’t really get it. I know you ladies can decline a rose. I read it in the contract.” He looked confused now.

“I signed a different contract, you moron. Do you really think I spent my useless hours lining up to be here? No, I was aiming for a job!”

Uh, this was really going on a route beyond his understanding. “What? I don’t really understand.”

“Forget it,” she cried, closing her eyes, her hands on her hips. She breathed deeply, and then let it out. Her brown eyes opened with the same fire in them—not the fire he wanted to see though. “Why did you give me a rose? Were you trying to be funny or provocative?”

Zach knew his answer should be safe if he wanted to tame the woman down. “No, I wasn’t. I actually, honestly like you.”

She scoffed loudly. “You like me. Well, get this,” she walked towards him and he took a step back. Why did he take a step back? He should have met her halfway. “I don’t like to be here and I very well don’t accept that you like me and I will never get to like you if that is your goal here!”

If he was not seeing her face right now, and if she was someone else, he would immediately think she just said that to challenge him and to make him want her even more. But it was the first time—the first time—that he honestly learned and believed that there was still a woman alive—apart from those he left crying—who didn’t like him at all. It was clear on the look on her face, on her pursed lips and her fired-up eyes.

He was speechless. “You don’t like me?”

“What a stupid question,” she said with enough sarcasm. “So you better not remember my name the next rose ceremony, Astor!”

He decided to take a different approach. “But your name’s already running around my head, Jules. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

“Don’t call me Jules!”

“I can call you whatever the way I want.” He looked at her and sighed. “Okay, can you calm down just a little bit? Tell me why in the hell you are here if you don’t really want to be here?”

She was silent for a moment, her face thinking. “I applied for a job but ended being the proxy for the lady who backed out. Get it?”

“Ah, now you’re talking.”

“And tomorrow, I will be attending a very important event in my writing career and you’ve ruined it!”

“Wait, wait, stop right there.” He raised his hands and took another step back. “You were desperate enough to be here just to get a job but now you’re telling me you have another place to go to concerning your writing career.” He frowned down at her. “I don’t get it. You already have a writing career and you still applied for a job.”

She blew out an exasperated breath and said, “The job I applied for is supposed to be for research. An important research.”

“For what?”

“For my next work—” she held up her hand and said, “Just forget it. I don’t need to explain to you. Just remember, I don’t want a rose the next ceremony, are we clear?”

“Where are you going tomorrow anyway?”

“Chicago, and now I can’t go because you failed to fulfill your promise, you lying…uggh! Just…uggh!” she whirled around in frustration and he grinned. It was fun to watch her doing that.

Disappointment washed over him when he saw her walked towards the door.

“Just remember what I said this time, Bachelor !” she shouted before banging the door behind her.

Zach was still looking with awe at the door, a smile pasted on his lips. She was really disappointed and angry to have received a rose.

It’s time to make it up to her because he couldn’t just let her go just yet when the fun was just starting.

 *****

Julianne returned to her room which she now shared with Pauline silently.

“Where have you been?”

“Chasing away the devil,” she answered.

Pauline laughed. “You’re really weird, you know that?” She was brushing her blonde hair, sitting cross-legged on the bed. She looked up and pointed with her finger, “Look up there, there’s a camera,” she whispered at Julianne.

Startled, she looked up and there, at the corner of the room was a camera pointing at them. “I didn’t know we’re in Big Brother,” she muttered.

“I remembered it was in the contract though. It said we won’t have that much privacy.”

“The bathroom’s safe, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes, I checked. No cameras.”

“Good,” she sighed and dropped on her bed.

“Are you feeling better now?” Pauline asked with concern.

Julianne smiled. At least she was lucky to find someone who was actually nice to her. “Yes, I guess so.”

“Tomorrow’s a big day,” Pauline piped in. “Brent said Zach will choose some of the ladies to take on a date.”

“Yeah, fun,” she answered dryly.

“Wonder where he’ll take his dates. I really wish he’ll take me.”

“He probably will. You’re beautiful and nice. He’ll take a liking on you,” she said with eyes closed.

“That’s nice of you,” Pauline giggled.

She did not answer and pretended to be asleep. Hell, she could pretend to be asleep for days until the next rose ceremony if she could.

 *****

The next morning, Julianne was forced to go down and eat breakfast with the ladies. She was not able to eat something last night and she was famished. The best thing about the place was that the kitchen was completely stocked. And there were a lot of meat.

Her mouth was already watering while she waited for her steak to be edible enough.

“You’re really eating that?” Hanna, the blonde girl, asked her.

“Why not?” she asked.

“It’s gonna make you bloat. And bloated is not good here. We’re on an island.”

Julianne stared at her through her thick spectacles. Hanna, among the other ladies, was in her bikini top and short shorts.

“That’s fine with me,” she answered. She was wearing one of her white shirts so that was not really a problem.

“Eew,” Chloe muttered when she passed by and saw what she had on the pan.

“Gag,” Hanna said and joined her friend at the table with her salad.

Julianne didn’t like too much green on her food. “Food for cows…” Julianne silently commented as she turned her steak over.

 *****

“Hey, ladies,” Zach announced his arrival with a big smile. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a pair of sunglasses.

The ladies stopped whatever they were doing and beamed at him. Julianne completely ignored him and focused on her steak which at that moment tasted like it was the most luscious thing she had ever eaten.

“I have a little surprise for you today,” he announced.

“Ooh?” the ladies said.

“I’m gonna take two of you shopping.”

There was, as usual, a big uproar from the ladies.

“And to make things fair, I used a little fishbowl technique to choose who among you I’m going to take.” He looked at the women playfully. “Want to know now or do you want me to wait after you’re done with breakfast?”

“Now!” Chloe almost shouted.

“Okay, then, Pauline and Julianne, better get ready,” he said with a chuckle. He announced the names without the drum roll effect and everyone was stunned.

Julianne closed her eyes and bent her head on her steak when the names finally registered in her brain.

“Oh my God!” Pauline gasped beside her. “Julianne! We’re gonna go shopping!” The other ladies were still too shocked from his sudden announcement of the names to even utter a word.

“I’d rather not—” she started.

“Get ready, the boat is waiting and the plane’s fueled,” Zach cut in.

“Where are we going?” Pauline asked excitedly.

Julianne couldn’t help it so she looked up and saw that he was grinning, his eyes on her.

“Chicago,” he answered.

Chapter 5

Pauline appeared to be a bit disappointed.

“Chicago? Like I haven’t been there? I thought we were going to Vegas or something,” she grumbled on. They were in their room, getting ready for the trip. “You sure you’re going like that?”

“Yes,” she answered with a nod. She was busy frowning down her computer in her baggy white shirt and shorts. Lucky she brought her own boots.

“But I’m excited anyway,” Pauline continued on. “I want to buy some new stuff to wear in the island.”

“Uh-huh,” she nodded absently. She would not go shopping. She was going elsewhere to do more important things.

When she heard Zach utter the word Chicago, she almost jumped with joy. The man was not heartless after all, she thought. But she couldn’t forgive him just yet. She was supposed to be in Chicago by now and not some unknown, freaking island!

 *****

One thing she noticed: Brent was not always around. It only occurred to her that the host was only obliged to talk to them during the rose ceremony. Now that she thought of it, she remembered seeing one episode of the show and the host was always having those single shots doing a narrative. And she was thankful for that. Brent’s presence reminded her of the cameras and how she should watch her movements.

“Hey,” Zach was already outside waiting for them dressed in a casual attire of jeans, shirt and his sunglasses. His hair was combed up and away from his face but a few strands were dangling on his forehead. Julianne had to admit that he was a pretty sight.

Julianne’s eyes squinted. Not against the sun but against the blasted stingy reflections coming from the camera tagging along with them.

From a distance, she saw Jack Carter talking to some of his crew and she guessed he was not coming. That’s good. She could murder the dude.

“Hello!” Pauline, being her jolly self, greeted Zach.

“Hey, Jules!” Zach waved at her. Was he serious? Really? Waving was for some teenagers who went on first dates. Did he mean anything by that stupid motion of his hands?

She just nodded and walked towards where the yacht was docked saying, “It’s getting hot.”

“Excited?” she heard him ask Pauline behind her.

“Yes, of course,” her new friend answered.

Good thing they were not alone.

But he just wouldn’t let her be by herself. He just couldn’t help it, could he? “So, Jules,” he said, chasing after her, leaving behind the struggling Pauline who seemed to have some problems with her heels.

“What?” she asked snidely without looking at him.

“You happy we’re going to Chicago?” his white smile was a contrast to the dashing sunglasses he was wearing.

“Yeah, I’m jumping with joy,” and if there was anything dryer than her tone, it was the sand beneath them.

“Look,” he said in a low voice, “I’m sorry if you thought I broke a promise, but I don’t really recall making one.”

“Forget it, Astor. Just remember what I said last night,” she retorted sharply. He was right after all and she was actually angrier to herself than him. She was foolish and giddy to have concluded that he said yes.

“Now let me tell you honestly that I can’t promise to let you go next ceremony,” he stressed out.

She froze. “Why?” she demanded.

“Because I like you,” he said with a shrug.

“You don’t even know me.”

“And that’s why I don’t think I want you to go yet. I wanna know you better,” he beamed.

“Well I don’t.” With that, she continued to walk, this time in quicker strides, but he was faster and it seemed not a very hard task for him.

“Why are you so eager to go? Any woman would not pass up the chance.”

“I told you I don’t want anything to do with this show and I told you I have things to do which are more important.”

“Like book signing?”

“Yes,” she retorted.

“How many book signings are there?”

Actually, there were only three. And honestly, the second one was scheduled a month from now. But there was no way she was telling him that. “Why? You’re going to take me to each one of them?”

“If that’s all it takes,” he practically pressed down his head so she could see that boyish grin of his that had been itching at her nerves.

“I’m not really willing to play this game you have going on, so, just leave me alone.” It was a good thing they had already reached the dock and she climbed as fast as she could towards the yacht without taking the help from one of the men already waiting for them.

“Zach seems to really like you,” Pauline pointed out later when he left to get some drinks.

“He’s just being friendly,” she said under her breath.

“Nah, he likes you,” Pauline said with a smile. She wondered why the woman was not glaring at her at all. If it were the other girls, they would now be throwing her in the ocean and wishing for piranhas as they did so.

“You don’t look so stricken about it,” she couldn’t help but say.

“It’s not like I own him or anything, right? I know what I got myself into when I lined up for the show,” Pauline shrugged.

She quietly applauded her friend. Really, it seemed that Pauline was the only sensible person among the other ladies they left behind.

They still had about thirty minutes until they reached land and Julianne began to work on her computer. Zach came back with a bottle of champagne.

“So, you guys ready for the shopping spree?” he asked. He looked at Julianne and added, “Where do you want to go, Jules?”

“Specifically?” she asked.

He nodded. Pauline looked confused.

She hesitated a moment, knowing her friend would have a shock if she found out she’d be going to Chicago for work. “The Book Table, Lake Street, Oak Park.”

“Oh! I wanna go to Sabon! They have really good salt scrubs there and I might just need it in the island!” Pauline squealed with delight. It’s a good thing she did not question her choice of shopping.

“Well then, Sabon it is,” Zach winked at her.

Julianne couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

 *****

Zach chose to spend most of his time with Pauline during their time at the yacht and the plane. Because he would spend most of his time with Julianne by the time they reached Chicago.

They landed at O’hare International Airport just before lunch. A limo was already waiting for them and it took just about twenty-three minutes to arrive at Merlo Restorante where they had lunch. Zach tried to be patient with Julianne the whole journey. She was too attached to wherever her mind was going and it appeared like she didn’t have company. Yes, she rode with them in the limo but her eyes were too busy looking outside the window and even when they were eating, she was scanning the menu, reading almost everything written on it.

For the first time in his life, Zachary felt like a loser. True, Pauline was paying him too much attention, but he didn’t want her attention. He wanted the attention of the woman wearing the baggiest shirt he had ever seen and those blasted eyeglasses. If he asked them a question, Pauline would give him about a thousand words worth of answer, but Julianne contented herself by answering with a nod or a shrug, and if he was lucky, she would utter a yes or a no. So much for a writer, he often grumbled inside his head.

After lunch, they drove to Washington Street in less than fifteen minutes.

“I think we might have a problem,” he uttered, breaking Pauline’s narrative about her high school life. He saw Julianne stiffen from the corner of his eye. “You both want to go to two different places and we won’t have enough time to actually go together. So—”

“Oh, you can just drop me off at Sabon and you and Julianne can go ahead. We’ll meet at some point,” Pauline offered the most splendid solution and he had the urge to give the woman a grateful hug and maybe a kiss.

“That’s solved then,” he said with contentment, his face lighting up with laughter.

“No, I think it would be better if—”

“Julianne, no arguments,” Pauline said, holding her hand. “I’ve noticed you and Zach haven’t really had moments together at the yacht and at the plane so it’s only fair that you get to know each other. Anyways, I won’t take that long at Sabon and I’ll just follow where you two are after. Where are you going again?”

“I’ll have the driver get you,” Zach offered when Julianne hesitated.

“Well, that’s settled then!” Pauline said with delight.

“What do you think, Jules? Is it fine with you?” he asked.

He saw her look at the camera, hesitated, and said, “I guess.”

He almost jumped with joy because that was the longest sentence she had ever addressed towards him since their talk at the island. All these sensations he had was all new to him and they were all because of one lady who he would have possibly just ignored if he ever met her in the streets before the show happened. He had been wondering all night long why, of all women, he found himself fond and attracted to Julianne.

The car parked outside Sabon and Pauline jumped out, giving them a good luck flying kiss. Zach looked across at Julianne and smiled. “Happy?”

“I don’t want to talk to you,” she murmured, the back of her fingers against her lips, her eyes looking outside the window as the car started down the road once again.

“What?” he pretended not to hear and leaned over.

“I said, I don’t want to talk to you,” she repeated louder.

“What? I can’t hear,” he kept up with his pretense. He surprised her by playfully jumping over beside her. She immediately scooted away and he immediately followed, joining them hip to hip.

“What—” she snapped her head towards him and he smacked his lips against hers, taking her by surprise. “What do you think are you doing?” she gasped.

“Acting on my desires,” he beamed at her boyishly.

She pushed him none too gently and he laughed. “Get away from me.”

“Okay, okay,” he said with a chuckle. “So, I guess I’ll know your pen name after all,” he said, changing the subject.

 *****

Julianne was still not fully recovered from the shock of his kiss when his statement froze her. Today was supposed to be the first time her readers would get to see her face. And today would also be the first time that someone else—other than Diane—would get the chance to know both her names.

But it didn’t matter. She didn’t care. She just wanted to go to the book signing as she promised her fans. She would do it and she wouldn’t let anyone like Zachary Astor ruin this day.

“Can I ask a question?” he asked.

As much as she wanted to say no, she knew he would go ahead with it anyway so she kept quiet.

“Why do you hate me?”

His question startled her. “I don’t hate you, I just don’t like you.”

“Okay…I don’t think I like that answer either,” he uttered and she almost smiled. Almost. “And why don’t you like me?”

“Do I need to give you the answer to that?” she asked.

“Come on, you hate me because I picked you? Am I not forgiven yet? I’m taking you to your book signing,” he said with a childish tone.

What’s wrong with this guy?

“But I’m still here, aren’t I?” she asked.

“Okay, I’ll make you a deal,” he said, clasping his hands together.

“What deal?”

“Since I’m not yet ready to let you go–no, listen first,” he said hastily when she opened her mouth in protest, “I’ll make a proposition for you. You stay in the island and you can do anything you want and I’ll take you to every damn book signing you want.”

“You’ll leave me alone?”

She looked at him as he thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think I can do that.”

“Just as I thought,” she sighed, leaning against the backseat. “But why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want to keep me? I am sure not your type—”

“How can you say that? Of course you’re my type.”

“No, I’m not,” she insisted.

“Well, yes, usually you are not my type but now you are. I’m fond of you and I find you beautiful.”

Julianne’s mouth fell open with his tactfulness. “You’re making fun of me, I know it.”

“What? Of course not!” he objected, sounding like a three-year-old.

“Of course not,” she mocked, looking out the window. “We’re here.”

“That’s a shame,” he murmured behind her as they climbed down the car.

 *****

Zach was literally shocked when he saw the number of people lining up outside the store. There could probably be close to a hundred.

She is going to sign one hundred books?

Who is this woman?

His question was answered by the big tarpaulin standing beside the entrance of The Book Table. His eyes widened in shock.

He chased after Julianne who was already about five meters away from him. “You’re J. Green?” He asked. He realized he should have lowered his voice because a sudden cry rang out from the frontlines.

“J. Green? Oh my God! That’s J. Green!” a teenage girl shouted.

“Can’t you keep your mouth shut just even for a second?” Julianne hissed up at him. The crowd started to get uncontrollable now and some guys from the bookstore had to help them get through.

“You’re J. Green?” he asked once again the moment they were safely inside the bookstore.

She was not able to answer because a black-haired woman who was about thirty with really good curves was approaching them with a smile. “Julianne! Oh, thank God you came! I thought we have to cancel the event and—” she stopped when she spotted him. “Zachary Astor?” she asked with awe, and then her eyes went back to Julianne who was looking kind of uncomfortable. “I thought you are going to get yourself out of that competition?”

Zachary was confused. Doesn’t this woman watch the television?

“You mean you don’t know?” Julianne asked aloud.

“Know what? That you’re still in that show? No, I did not bother to watch that—sorry for the word,” she said to Zach, “that stupid show,” she finished.

Zach just shrugged. He wouldn’t like the show himself and if not for the bet, he wouldn’t dare enter.

“Well, now you know that I’m still in it,” Julianne then threw him a stingy look, “thanks to him.”

“Hey,” he threw his hands up.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Diane said. “Right now, you have to get behind that table and start signing. Those poor people have been here for hours waiting for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Julianne said and followed her friend.

Zach felt lost. He didn’t know what to do. Hell, he was still in shock that he was dating—if you would call it that—J. Green, the author of the suspense novel Broken Bones that stormed not just the entire New York City, but twenty other countries. And hell again, he read the book as well. And hell once more, almost everyone read it!

The book was about the three teenage high school students who discovered the remains of a dead body during summer camp. Wondering why the story was read by almost everyone and not just the teenagers? Because the story progressed to reveal an exciting government conspiracy, revealing in the middle of the book that the body belonged to the present president of the USA who was in fact an impostor. That was why the book was such a hit. It did not only interest the teens, but all kinds of readers as well. It was like Harry Potter all over again—minus the magic parts of course.

Zach stared as the bookstore finally opened its doors to let people in. There were reporters and cameras as well, but Julianne seemed unperturbed by the awe and attention she was getting from her fans. For the first time ever, Zach was stirred and amazed by a woman, not just because of her beauty but because of what she had made herself to be. And she didn’t care that she was famous at all and he, for one, could attest that this was no feigned humility.

“Ms. Green, can you tell us how you came up with the story?” a petite woman asked, holding a recorder before her.

“It just popped out, I guess. No special phenomenal stuff happened.” Julianne answered calmly. Zach saw that unlike in the island, with all the cameras and lights, she was not at all uncomfortable. Even with her baggy shirt and her messy hair—which for him was perfect—she didn’t mind nor she made any movement that indicated she was conscious with how she looked. She completely, utterly, didn’t care.

There were more questions about her upcoming books which she didn’t share, and then, the book signing began.

As he looked at Julianne, sitting there, signing books with her awesome smile, Zach felt disturbed. Disturbed because the woman was getting into him in a different way and he was not sure if he knew how to handle that. He was finding it difficult as it was already.

Earlier in the car, he himself was surprised that he kissed her out of nowhere just like that. The action came before the thought even crossed his mind. With Julianne, he could do crazy and childish things he never imagined he could.

He looked at her eyes—behind those blasted eyeglasses—and her hair that naturally suited her. He looked at her smile and her hands as she scribbled her signature on that book she was holding right now. He looked at Julianne and something inside him–and he was pretty sure it was right at his chest–skipped or leaped or stopped.

He couldn’t recognize it, but it was a very new sensation.

“Oh, shit,” he cursed under his breath. I’m going crazy.

Chapter 6

As he’d thought, this was all new to him. This feeling of breathless anticipation every time Julianne looked up and he was hoping she would glance at him. He felt like a complete idiot just standing there doing nothing like a schoolboy staring at his teacher. Damn, he never even felt that stupid thing when he was young. And damn again, he honestly didn’t know what he should call it.

She is definitely staying, he thought with so much conviction. Yep, she’s staying.

He received a call from the driver that Pauline was done at Sabon and that she was on her way to The Book Table.

“No, no,” he said hastily. “Uh, take her to…” he thought for a moment and finally said, “900 North Michigan. Tell her to pick anything she likes. We’ll be there shortly.”

As he brought his phone back in his pocket, he stared ahead and realized Julianne was looking at him, question in her eyes. Just the thought that she was actually looking at him made him smile like a total idiot that he was. Then, before she could return her attention back to the book in her hand, he tapped his watch with his finger, indicating that she had to hurry.

 *****

Julianne just nodded and went back to work. The hell with the man. This was her day to return a little favor to her fans for all the support that they had given despite her secrecy regarding her real identity.

She was not at all unaware that he had been looking at her in a weird way since they entered the bookstore. And she didn’t know if it was supposed to be a good sign or a bad one. Anyway, she was busy to think about that for now.

She continued on with her signing. Diane was sitting behind her along with some other people.

“Looks like you have to leave,” Diane whispered beside her ear.

“What?” she asked, handing a book back with a smile to a bubbly teenager.

“Your date is getting restless,” her friend said.

“Let him be,” she almost hissed. “Hi, what’s your name?”

A teenage boy with glasses said, “Andrew.”

“Okay, Andrew, how old are you?” she asked as she signed the book.

“Thirteen,” he smiled.

“Here you go, thank you very much,” she said.

“That’s cool. You’re cool,” he said shyly and walked off.

“He’s staring at you like he’s going to eat you or something,” Diane uttered.

“He’s a jerk,” she answered, smiling up once again at an older lady who was holding two copies of the book.

“For my niece,” she answered. “And this one is mine.”

“Cool! What’s your niece’s name?” she asked, completely ignoring everything else.

 *****

It was almost two hours when Julianne finally stood up. Zach transferred his weight from one foot to the other as she spent another five minutes talking to her friend and to some people who stayed behind. This was the longest time he ever spent waiting for a girl.

“Can we go now?” he asked when she started walking towards him.

“Yes,” she answered without a smile.

Whatever happened to that pretty smile?

“That’s good. Pauline’s waiting for us at 900 North Michigan.”

“Sure,” she answered, looked back at her friend and waved, and then they were off.

In just about five minutes, they reached the big shopping mall.

“I’ll go find some café and you go to Pauline,” Julianne told him as they entered the big entrance.

“Jules,” he complained. “I’ve been waiting for like three hours back there and we haven’t really spent that much time together.” He was getting desperate—if that was the right word.

She looked up at him with that strange look of hers that he was not yet able to decipher the meaning of. “Okay, since you were kind enough to take me to Chicago and waited for hours while I worked,” she finally uttered.

“The best decision you’ve ever made, Jules,” he beamed at her and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go,” he said excitedly. He felt jittery and giddy. And again, it was the first time.

“Let go of my hand, Zachary,” she ordered.

“Why?”

“Because I am not used to people holding my hand,” she replied seriously, pulling at her hand.

“Why?” She gave him a look and he immediately let her go. “Okay, but you promise not to complain any further,” he negotiated.

“Whatever,” she said, walking beside him.

He shrugged. At least she was walking beside him and not ahead of him.

“You’re the J. Green, wow, that’s awesome,” he said moments later.

“You know me? I mean, you know J. Green?”

“Of course? Who doesn’t?”

“A lot of people,” she concluded.

“A lot? Okay,” he turned his head to his right and saw a lady in a pink dress, “Excuse me miss,” he said with a smile, stopping the lady with all her Gucci bags.

“Yes?”

“What are you doing?” Julianne hissed beside him.

He ignored her and said to the lady, “Can I ask a really fast question?”

“Yes, of course,” the lady said, smiling at him.

“Do you know J. Green?”

“The author?”

Zach chuckled and looked at her. “See? Thank you, miss,” he added to the lady and then walked off. “Do you want me to ask someone else? An old man perhaps?”

“My God, no,” she uttered beside him. “Okay, so a lot of people know who I am—”

“Not a lot, Jules, almost all. You’re like the next Dan Brown!”

“Wait, you read my book?”

“Of course,” he said proudly.

“You read?”

He tried to look hurt but he was not sure if he was able to pull it off. “Yes, of course. You hurt my feelings right there, Jules.”

“Stop calling me Jules,” she said strongly.

“I like calling you Jules. Hey, wait, here’s Gucci,” he said before she could say something like, “I’ll go away if you call me Jules one more time.”

“I’m not going to that store,” she said when he started to walk towards the entrance.

“Come on, we’ll just look around.”

Well, he was lying when he said that because he ended up buying her a pair of high-heeled shoes much to her annoyance. It was a good thing though that she considered the people in the store and didn’t make a lot of dispute aside from her constant favorite word which was no.

“No, I don’t think I like that store,” she said when he pointed at Prada.

“Come on, I’m going to buy Pauline something,” he said, grabbing her by the hand.

And once again, he was lying when he said that because by the time they exited the shop, he was holding three bags full of dresses he picked for her. Of course she didn’t comply to fit them but that was no problem because he had expert eyes and he knew her size.

“You better take me to Pauline now,” she insisted with warning in her eyes.

He knew he couldn’t fool her into going to Bloomingdales. “Okay,” he said resignedly.

He took his phone and dialed a number and called the camera man that was tailing Pauline. “Okay, tell her we’re on our way.”

“Where is she?” Jules asked.

“King Café,” he answered when an idea struck him. “Why don’t you take these,” he handed her the bags, “and you go meet Pauline. I will be there in a flash. I just need to get something,” he did not give her time to answer and left, knowing full well where he was going.

 *****

Julianne made her way to King Café grumpily. If it were not for waste of money, she would throw away all the bags she was carrying.

I can run away, she thought. There was no camera following her and no one around knew she was one of those ladies in line for a freaking white rose that was considered special by most women who wanted a taste of their own bachelor .

But then, the stupid contract she signed stopped her and returned her to her sane thoughts. She had to handle Zachary Astor well if she wanted to get out of the show soon.

The weight of the bags she was carrying made her think she was not doing so well at the moment though.

She found Pauline seated inside the café with a decaffeinated drink, the camera guy standing nearby doing nothing. When her friend saw her, she received a welcoming smile.

“So, how was it?” Pauline asked her.

“Great,” she uttered, sitting right next to her friend.

“I see you bought stuff,” Pauline said, looking at the bags she dropped on the floor next to the table.

“He insisted.”

“Looks like I overdid my shopping though,” Pauline said, cringing.

Julianne looked behind their chairs and saw almost a dozen shopping bags. It took almost all of her willpower not to bulge her eyes.

“I took advantage,” Pauline winked. “He paid for everything and I just couldn’t help myself.”

Julianne smiled and kept silent.

“Where else did you go?” her friend asked excitedly.

“Oh, anywhere,” she answered, waving her hand. “What’s the best coffee here?” she asked, changing the subject.

“This one is the only one I know you shouldn’t order,” Pauline grimaced, adding, “Where’s Zach?”

“He took off, said he’s going to get something.”

“Ah, I see,” Pauline nodded and pushed her cup away from her. “I think I’m going to order a sweeter one.”

 *****

Zach was smiling with contentment as he made his way back to the ladies who were already halfway through their coffees. They spent another thirty minutes inside until they were reminded that they had to go back to the island before the sun came down.

Though Julianne never uttered another word towards him, he was sure she was somehow mellowing down. After all, she got what she wanted.

A lot of times, when he was talking to Pauline during their ride in the plane and at the yacht, he wanted to burst out about Julianne’s real identity as J. Green. Actually, he desperately wanted to brag about it. But he knew she would make a bonfire and burn him in the stakes if he did that. So, like her, he chose to be quiet about it. He would never wish to ruin her trust if that was all it would take for her to appreciate him.

When they arrived back in the island, the girls were having some fun in the beach.

“Do I need to join them?” he asked Jack Carter, feeling tired and exhausted.

“No, it’s cool. You can join them anytime you like. There’s no date scheduled until the next day after tomorrow anyway.”

“Good,” he answered, his eyes travelling meters ahead. “Hey, Jules!”

Julianne looked back with a frown. “What?”

“Good night!” he chuckled when she swiftly turned around and continued walking behind Pauline.

 *****

That night, Julianne was urged by Pauline to join the other girls for some games they had going on down stairs. Considering Pauline’s behavior towards her all these time, she went to show she was not a total spoiler. But by the time they got downstairs, she almost wanted to dash back. Everyone—yes, everyone including her friend—was wearing close to nothing.

“You can’t join the game if you’re wearing that, Julianne,” Chloe said pointedly.

Julianne looked at Pauline and her friend mouthed, “Please…”

“Fine,” she sighed and went back upstairs.

Good thing? Zach took the honor of sneaking three pairs of bikinis into the shopping bags. She originally thought of dumping them under her bed, planning to leave them behind when it was time for her to get out of the show, but Pauline was too excited earlier so she attacked them, causing a mess on her bed.

Julianne did not think twice when she snatched a blood red bikini top and put it on. Her cheeks flushed when they perfectly fitted her. Zachary Astor knew her size, that idiot!

“Hey, Julianne! Let’s go!” Pauline rammed on the door.

“Coming!” she answered and opened it.

“Wow, you look gorgeous, girl!” Pauline cried out, looking at her outfit. Of course she wore the same shorts she was wearing earlier.

“Thanks,” she murmured, closing the door. “Pauline, I don’t think I will know how to play this game…”

“Well, me either! But that’s the fun part, right? Come on!” Pauline tugged at her hand and led her back downstairs.

The other ladies did not comment when they joined the big circle.

“Okay, so here’s the rule…”Chloe said, holding a deck of cards and looking at the ladies with her gray eyes. “I will give each of us a card, face down of course so that we will not know what card we have. And then, together, we will stick the cards on our foreheads so that the front part faces everyone like this,” she explained, picking an Ace and sticking it on her forehead.

“So you mean everyone else will get to see what I have on my forehead but I won’t have any idea what it is,” Hanna concluded.

“Exactly.”

“We will try to guess what card we have on our forehead?” Amanda asked.

“No,” Chloe shook her head. “The one with the lowest card will be the loser with Ace as the lowest, King as the highest. Clover as the lowest and Diamond as the highest in case there will be a tie.”

“So, if I got like an Ace on my forehead and the rest of you got like two and up, I will be the loser?” asked Tanya.

“Exactly. But if there will be two or more Aces, the symbols will help us decide. Just bear in mind that Clover is the lowest, followed by Spade, Heart and then Diamond.”

“But I don’t see the fun in that.”

“I haven’t reached the fun part yet,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes. “Okay, so now that’s settled, here are some few additional rules.” She started to count with her fingers as she said, “You can try to convince some of the players to change their cards. You can use it as a bluff or you can genuinely tell them they’re losing. Second, you can decide to change your card only once without looking at it. Really, ladies, it’s just a game of guessing and it’s like poker. You have to really read your opponents’ faces every time they look at your card. And finally, to the loser, a shot of tequila!” she squealed the last sentence, holding up a bottle of Patron.

Julianne was starting to get uncomfortable. Not that she didn’t drink but she had enough experiences with drunken women that she didn’t want to have another.

But the game started anyway and she found herself enjoying it. She got a two once and she lost. She drank the tequila with the ladies shouting her name. But when the game started to be forgotten as the ladies concentrated more on drinking, Julianne slowly distanced herself, making sure no one paid her notice. She did not leave, but she chose to be on the sideline.

As the ladies’ laughter and giggles danced around the room, and as the time flew by, Julianne was able to come up with some kind of cluster for the girls.

There were the Bitches namely Chloe, Hanna and Vivienne—well, just one look at them would tell you why. Then there were the Nice Girls which were Brenda and Pauline and they always made her feel welcome without any hint of indifference. The Dumb Pair were named Karen and Jill since everything that came out of their mouths was all straight out of the point. There were the Desperadas composed of Stella, Sally, Amanda, and Jenny. Julianne just knew by the look they had been throwing at Zachary every time he was near. Then, finally, there were the Romantics named Kim, Penny, and Tanya who believed that they were here to find love and they were not joking every time they said it.

When finally one of them gagged and ran towards the kitchen to throw up, Julianne decided to go out. She didn’t want to be around whenever things get dirty. Throwing up was contagious during moments like these and she didn’t want to be the one doing the cleaning.

She didn’t dare go to the beach where the water was most probably cold. And she didn’t go near Zachary’s cabin as well for he might be awake and she didn’t want to face him at this time. So, without other options, she strolled along the side of the cabin. The wind was not that chilly but she was still regretting ever putting on the bikini top or not grabbing a shawl. For the first time then, she wondered where they were exactly. Considering the short travels they had coming here, it was possible they were not out of the country. Well, she would never really know the answer to that since it was obvious that the Astor family treasured their privacy a lot.

By the time she reached the side of the house, she found a big tree a few meters away. Aside from the muffled laughter coming from inside the cabin, she could only hear the waves and the crickets. There was no sign that any crew member was still up and running around. They were probably asleep inside their big trailers near the docking site.

Julianne relished the solidarity and the peacefulness. Slowly, she made her way to the tree and after making sure that there were no snake holes of some kind, she sat on one big root that had crept up the ground through the years and leaned her back against the trunk, watching the waves as they danced in the moonlight.

“I knew it was you,” that low boyish voice said above her and her head snapped.

She found, much to her disappointment, the grinning face of Zachary Astor in his white shirt and bohemian shorts.

The look he was giving her gave her the impression that she better get up and run like hell.

Chapter 7

“What are you doing here?” she asked, adjusting her glasses.

“I was in my balcony when I saw you walking out the cabin,” he smiled and dropped down on the sand beside her. “Sounds like you guys were having fun,” he smiled sheepishly.

“It wasn’t fun,” she uttered, her head aching from all the alcohol. “I have to go,” she started to get up but his hands stopped her.

“Jules, come on, why don’t we talk? It’s a nice evening and I want to spend it with you,” he smiled at her.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” she said, pulling her hand away from him. “And stop calling me Jules.” She didn’t know why she kept telling him that. Diane called her Jules all the time, but hearing Zach say the name was just weird.

“Come on,” he urged.

“I’m tired,” her voice sounding desperate, and she wanted to get away from him. His stare was scaring the hell out of her.

“Jules, please?” he batted his eyes at her.

“What are you? Twelve? Batting your eyes looks scary, you know that?” she said with etch of irritation.

“Five minutes, just spend it with me.”

She motioned her head towards their cabin, “There are women in there who will be happy to entertain you. I’m not in the mood for that.”

“But I want to spend this evening with you,” he pouted.

“What are you—” she gaped. “Pouting your mouth is even scarier, stop that!”

“I’m trying to be cute,” he chuckled, his face now back to its natural look.

“You’re not,” she shook her head.

“Yeah, I guess it’s not working,” he muttered. “Five minutes,” he said with a smile.

Julianne looked at him and sighed. “Five minutes,” she said and leaned back against the trunk.

“Why are you here? Okay, don’t answer that. You’re weird so I guess that answers that.”

“I’m what?”

“Weird,” he said, nodding his head. “Yeah, I find you weird. You are always alone and you don’t find me irresistible like all of them, so you’re weird.”

Julianne scoffed. “You’re impossible.”

“I just don’t get it why you keep pushing me away, you know. You should give me a chance though,” he turned his head to look at her reaction.

Julianne was not used being studied that way. She didn’t like eyes scanning her face. She was used to being ignored and put aside. But Zachary Astor was giving her too much attention since the moment they met. “I’m not giving anyone a chance where this show is concerned,” she uttered.

“But what if we met outside the show? Will you still be like this?”

“Yes,” she answered too quickly even for her to believe.

“You still don’t believe I like you?”

“Definitely,” she nodded. She knew this was all just a game for him. He found her challenging and intriguing and he wanted to prove to himself that he could make her give in to his so-called charms.

“But I don’t like you anymore,” he said in a low voice.

Julianne was startled. “You don’t? Good,” she said with relief.

“I think I’m infatuated with you,” he beamed and his chuckle rang out when her jaw dropped.

“Okay, I’m leaving,” she stood up and he stopped her once again.

“I assume I said the wrong words again?”

“You definitely did. Look, Zachary, I don’t want to be here, you understand? I want to be out of here and start working on the real job Jack Carter promised to give me. I can’t do that if you still want to keep up with this game you’ve set for yourself. Just accept it that there are actually women who can’t be dazzled by your charms .”

He looked confused. “I don’t understand. You think I’m doing this for my ego?”

“Why else?”

“Is being infatuated and insanely charmed by you not enough?”

There was just something about him that made Julianne not believe his words. If she was someone else—like those women getting wasted inside that cabin—she would have been swooned out of her feet. But the thought that she was one of those women who never gets attention from men like Zachary Astor was different. She couldn’t believe his words.

“Why don’t you stop thinking that you’re not worth my attention? I really do like you, you know,” he said with a grin. He looked handsome with that look, she thought. She could admit she liked his grin, but that was all. He was annoying her to her grave with his little game and she was close to her limitations.

“Because I know you are playing a game here, Zachary,” she answered his question.

He scooted to face her and looked her in the eyes. “I’m not playing games where you are concerned,” he said.

That line was just overused for her to believe him. “I don’t believe you. You just lied to me.”

“I’m not lying and I can prove that,” his lips lifted at one corner.

“How?”

She expected him to answer her with words, but she was surprised when he leaned over and planted his lips against hers. Julianne was too stunned to push him away. Her mind was focused at the warmth that flowed over her as his soft lips moved against hers, urging her to return his kiss. His hands were on her shoulders, gently holding her close. It was a patient kiss, and it was gentle. And damn, she liked it. Her hands lifted and rested on his shoulders and he took it as an answer. His arms were suddenly around her, holding her closer, his kiss starting to get urgent.

Julianne knew at that tiny corner of her mind that she had to push him away. But her lips parted and started to kiss him back. Shit, this was not supposed to happen. She had to stop him immediately or she would regret it.

But seconds passed, then a minute, and then another minute.

Nothing else happened, but she was breathless when he finally leaned away an inch and whispered, “I knew you like me too, Jules,” he grinned, his forehead against hers.

Julianne snapped back to her real self—the anti-Zachary self. She pushed him away and stood up. “Don’t do that again,” she said strongly and walked away.

She did not dare look back. She didn’t want to see the look on his face. Surely he was wearing a contented look, knowing he was able to bend her just a little bit. She cursed herself to hell for kissing him back.

 *****

He did not plan that to happen. He honestly didn’t.

Zach sat alone and stunned under the tree. He actually got to make her kiss him back. The smile that crept up his face was undeniably stupid. Yes, he looked stupid.

She kissed me back, he thought with disbelief. Joy rushed through his system.

This was the first time ever that he felt utterly happy after kissing someone. If this was infatuation, let it be. Once again, it was the first time for him. And he liked the feeling. Wonder why he never experienced it before?

All his life, Zachary got what he always wanted. Ever since he was young, he would always get the girl he liked that there was never even time to assess if he had any feelings because they always never gave him time to do that. But right now, he was acting like a total fool for being too happy after kissing someone. It was like time had brought him back twenty years just to give him the chance to experience the things he never went through before. Things like really working hard for a simple, mind-blowing kiss.

She kissed me back, he repeated to himself. He fought the urge to jump and shout. That would be too much even for him. He was not a schoolboy anymore so he would just content himself with the foolish smile on his face.

Finally, he was able to stand up and walk back to his cabin. Tomorrow’s a free day and he would have all the time to plan something out.

 *****

Julianne lay on her bed, the thought of the kiss looming over her like a child’s haunting fears during bedtime. Pauline was somewhere in the cabin, probably asleep in someone else’s bedroom.

She tossed and turned, but sleep was not coming yet. The kiss was different from the one in the car. Yes, of course it was. The first one lasted for a short second. Big difference there, but the second one—well, she had let it drag for quite too long and she…she liked it.

Julianne moaned and closed her eyes. Tomorrow, she was determined to lock herself in her room.

 *****

The next morning, Julianne woke up first. The Desperadas slept in the living room and she had to make her way through them—yes, they were sprawled on the floor—and all the empty bottles of tequila and scattered pieces of chips. Thank goodness there were no gastric contents. That would be utterly gross. The kitchen was a mess and she had to search for almost everything to make her breakfast.

Julianne tried to search for Pauline but her friend was nowhere in sight. After breakfast, at about ten in the morning, the girls were still snoring and would not wake up until late in the afternoon, she thought. She relished on that thought. It would be like she was alone once again. She was working in her room, facing her computer when a knock rattled her door.

She got up, thinking it was Pauline. But when she opened it, she had the sudden will to close it again.

“Hi,” Zach was standing and grinning at her as he usually did. “Care for a walk down the beach?”

“No,” she said dryly and started to push the door close.

“Wait, wait, wait,” he hastily said. “We have a problem.”

“What?” she asked, not caring what it was, thinking it was just one of his tricks to get her out of the room.

“Fatima—you know who she is, right?”

She nodded.

“She tried to check on the girls and found out some of them are missing,” he said with a grimace.

“What?”

“She alerted the crew and some of them checked the videos from last night and discovered that Pauline and Brenda went out by three in the morning and did not come back since.”

Julianne panicked. “Pauline? Are you sure? Did they check every room? They can be somewhere close, right?”

“That’s why I came here,” he said. “We checked every room and I was wondering if you have any idea where they might be.”

“How can I possibly know? I locked myself in this room since—” she did not finish her sentence, remembering what she did last night.

He seemed to have figured out her thoughts though because he smiled meaningfully at her.

“The woods,” she whispered, then her eyes met his in panic. “They could have gone to the woods!”

“That’s what I thought, too,” he nodded. “And that’s why I’m asking you for a walk. Jack had set up teams to search for them and obviously the ladies living here with you are out.”

“Yes, yes, of course, I’ll help,” she said, turning around to get her boots.

“You might want to bring a bag.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it might take us all day,” he said. “This island is large and we only have like five teams to search for the girls. We can’t call someone for help yet because they aren’t gone for—”

“Twenty-four hours, I know,” she cut in, nodding her head. “Okay, tell them to wait for me. I’ll be quick.”

“Them?” he asked.

“The team I’m going with.”

He smiled at her wickedly, “Jules, it will only be you and I. Fatima is going to stay here with the other girls and to be the liaison for every team.”

“But I don’t think—”

“And plus, the other teams are already gone.”

“What?” she asked in disbelief, then she stared at him suspiciously, “You thought about this, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he nodded and grinned. “But if you don’t want to help me find your friend, that’s fine. I know this island by heart and I’m sure I’ll be okay if—”

“I’ll go with you, okay?” she said with frustration. It took her only one minute to pack a set of clothes and grab some food from the kitchen. The other girls were still asleep without any idea what was going on.

“Where do we start?” she asked grudgingly as they walked towards the woods.

“The other teams are covering the south and east part. And since the cabins and the camps are at the west side and we’ve covered that one this morning, we’ll go cover the north,” he said, strapping his bag around his waist.

She looked at his pack and frowned. “You’re expecting that it will take us one whole day to search for them?” she asked.

“Better ready than not,” he said with a wink.

Julianne just rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go and find my friends before you do anything stupid,” she muttered and went ahead of him.

“Don’t stray, Jules. I don’t want to lose you,” he said, running after her.

“I’d rather like it if you get lost,” she whispered under her breath.

 *****

“I don’t think we have to go deeper into the woods,” she told him hours later. They only stopped for an hour to rest and eat their lunch and then they were back on track. Once, they stumbled upon a pair of crewmen but they went on their way with a map after asking if they had any progress.

“Why? Afraid?” Zach chided. He knew he should be concerned for the two ladies who were still missing, but he couldn’t help himself. He was alone with Julianne and though she was here entirely for one reason, which was to find her friends, he was guiltily grateful. Of course he planned for them to be paired up, actually insisted on it, so that he could be with her.

He didn’t want to bug his mind about what this was that he was feeling because he would only try to remind himself that he was here for a bet and he couldn’t throw his words away. He was aware as well that whatever the outcome with Julianne might be, it would still end the same for him. He would still have to go home with no one and prove to Liam and his friends that love didn’t exist.

And of course, he knew what he felt for Julianne was not love. He didn’t believe in that kind of thing. All he knew was that what he felt was something new and pleasant that all he wanted to do at the moment, while he was in this show, was to follow what his instincts were telling him—and that was to pursue Julianne and change her impression of him. He was taken by her and he would be glad to push through with it while it lasted. He had enough experience with relationships and he knew they didn’t last. And so, in conclusion as to where his crazy thoughts were swimming at, he just wanted to spend his time in this show with someone who gave him a different feeling of pleasure—aside from the physical part—and he saw that opportunity with Julianne.

But somehow, deep in his mind—the part where he usually threw some crap like real emotions—he knew he would be in deep trouble if he as much as make a wrong mistake as to totally give himself fully to whatever it was he was feeling towards Julianne. Like he said, he was infatuated, but he really hoped that was just it. He didn’t want complications for later.

Oh crap… okay, okay, he knew he would be in trouble in the end, but he just couldn’t help himself when he was around her. She had the ability to excite and intrigue him in a lot of ways by just being herself, and that, people, was something he had never experienced before. So, the hell with the ending or the finale, because at the moment he wanted to just give in. Forget the bet, forget love, and forget the blasted show. He just wanted to spend as much time as he could with this woman with the horrible glasses and attitude. At the moment, he just wanted to explore the strange emotions he felt every time he was near her. He wanted to experiment on the numerous “first time feelings” Julianne was making him experience.

“Afraid? Of course not,” she uttered, bringing him back to their present conversation. “I’m just saying that they couldn’t have gone this far, right? They were drunk and—oh my God, I hope they didn’t swim in that ocean and…”

“That’s not really possible,” he reassured. “There were cameras pointed in the direction of the ocean and they were not seen coming that way. I’m sure they’re within the woods.”

“It’s getting dark. Maybe we should go back and see if they have come back.”

“Fatima would have radioed in if they did,” he reminded her.

He knew she was tired and he was too.

“We can set up camp if you want,” he suggested.

“You haven’t heard from anyone yet?” she asked, looking at the radio in his hand.

He shook his head no.

“Okay, fine, let’s set up camp.”

Zach tried to hide the smile that was forming on his lips because if Julianne as much as noticed it, he knew she would only think him selfish, insensitive and everything but nice. He concentrated on putting up the tent while she tried to talk with some of the crew on the radio to ask for progress. Again, she was disappointed. Her face was painting worry all over it. He knew she was kind of close to Pauline.

“I’ll go get some woods for the fire,” he said when they were finally done. He started walking away and it happened too fast. He was on his feet one second, and then he was not. He didn’t see the slope a few meters away. He just found himself facing the earth. “Shit!”

“Are you okay?” Julianne asked above him, her face concerned.

Zach grunted. Yes, of course he was fine. He knew karate and he knew how to land on the ground without twisting a joint. But he also knew how to fake it to gain sympathy.

“I think I hurt my leg,” he said, contorting his face.

“Let me see,” she reached out but he shouted. “What? What’s wrong?”

“My shoulder hurts like hell,” he lied.

“Can you get up?”

“Not alone, I can’t,” he groaned.

“I’ll help you,” she said and he gladly welcomed her arms. Okay, it was a foolish trick, but it worked for him. Until she suggested, “We should probably call for help. You need immediate attention.”

“No, no, no,” he said too quickly. “I’m going to be fine. I have a bandage in my bag. Don’t take the other teams away from looking for the ladies.”

She eyed him suspiciously and he almost shrunk down the ground in fear of being found out. “Okay…” she said slowly and helped him to his feet. He dramatically limped all the way back to the tent.

“I’ll do the fire. Are you sure you’re okay?” she said when he was settled down.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little pain,” he said with a feigned grimace.

Julianne looked at him, her keen eyes studying him intently. “I’ll collect some woods first before it gets dark. Then I’ll see to your wounds,” and then she was gone, her steps careful.

Zach bent his head and smiled inwardly. This was going to be a great night for him.

Chapter 8

Zach had wanted to tell Julianne that he was completely fine, but the attention she was giving him kept him from doing it. She looked at the gash on his palm and took care of it. She helped him bandage his allegedly twisted ankle. She even touched his face with her fingers to apply an antiseptic cream. That was why he wouldn’t dare tell her he was fine and that he could perfectly mend his own wounds.

Yes, yes, call him whatever, but he didn’t care. No one was around to scold him of his little lie. For all he knew and feared, tonight might just be the last time that he could have with her.

“How’s your shoulder?” she asked, eyeing him through her glasses.

“Its fine,” he said with a smile, “just a little sore, I guess.”

Julianne just nodded and started building a fire.

“Let me do that,” he said, reaching out.

“You’re injured,” she said.

“I’m fine. I think I can handle building a fire,” he squatted beside her and prepared the twigs.

 *****

Julianne got a weird feeling as she looked at his hunched back, his eyes focused on building a fire. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she looked at his injured ankle.

“Yes, I’m okay,” he said over his shoulder and she saw something in his eyes.

Being a writer, you would develop the ability of reading people such as detecting lies. And seeing Zach’s eyes, she knew he was lying about something. “You’re lying, aren’t you?”

“Okay, I’m sorry!” he said, hastily turning around to face her.

Julianne was stunned. She didn’t expect him to blurt out the truth that early. And then anger rose up. “You’re such a jerk!” she threw the first thing her hand was able to grab and it was a small twig.

“I’m sorry, Jules, I didn’t mean to drag it for so long.” He stood up and walked towards her. Julianne stared at his foot.

“You’re such a bastard, you know that? You made me worry over nothing?”

“You were worried?”

“Of course I was!” she screamed. “Don’t expect me to believe anything you say the next time, Zachary.”

She stood up and took her bag with her and started walking.

“Where are you going? Jules, come on. I was going to tell you but I was afraid you’d do exactly what you are doing now.”

“Oh, yeah? You should have been a better liar then! You think you can play with me?” she said exasperatedly.

He followed her deeper into the woods. “Jules, come on, you’re angry, I get it. And I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise. Let’s just go back and talk about this,” he said beside her.

“Don’t touch me!” she cried out when he touched her arm. “You know what I hate the most? Liars! And you’re the biggest one of them!”

She continued walking, stumbling on her feet with all the fallen twigs and uneven ground.

“I’m sorry, let’s just go back…” he said more gently. Then he turned around and said, “Where are we?”

“I don’t know and I don’t freaking care. Leave me alone.”

“Jules, I don’t think I know where we are,” he said, his tone serious. He was already circling on his feet, looking around the premises in confusion.

“You said you know this damn place by heart,” she snapped, her heart starting to race. She did not really plan to go further. She just wanted to get away from him.

“I was just exaggerating when I said that,” he explained, looking around.

“Zachary, if this is one of your tricks, I do not like it at all!” She was now looking around herself. It was dark and she couldn’t find a trace of where their tent was.

“Jules, I swear on my grandmother’s grave I’m not playing tricks right now,” he replied, his eyes seriously and utterly honest.

“This is your fault!”

“How can it be—okay, okay,” he held up his hands when he saw her face, “It is my fault. Do you have a map?”

“What? Are you kidding me?”

“A compass?”

“No.”

“The radio?”

“I left it in the tent.”

“Can you shout?”

“What?”

“We don’t have any options now, right?” he looked around. “We’re lost.”

“We couldn’t have gone too far,” she said, not wanting to admit that they were lost. “We just have to retrace the trail we took. And don’t touch me!” she added when he took her elbow.

“Jules, I think we didn’t pass that way,” he said as she started to walk towards the right.

“Then where do you suppose we came from?”

It was dark now, the sun completely gone. It would have been easier if they had built a fire already. She continued on and he followed her.

“Stop following me, Astor,” she hissed.

Zach looked at her like a lost little boy, “I don’t want to leave you alone in these woods,” he said.

“I don’t want to be with you,” she emphasized each word.

“But we’re lost and it’s dark. I suggest we wait until the sun rises. I’m sure we can retrace our track in the morning.”

Julianne was stubborn and proud and she wouldn’t in any way follow his advice. “I’m going back to camp,” she said defiantly.

“Jules, it’s impossible,” he raked his fingers through his hair.

“I have a plan,” she snapped and went on.

“What plan?”

“I plan to go straight ahead. I will eventually come out of the woods and out into a beach. I will circle the island after that and eventually go back to camp and into our cabin. Then I will pack my bags and go home.”

 *****

Zach realized it was a good plan, except the last part about packing.

“You can’t leave,” he said. “You have a contract, remember?”

“I don’t care about my contract anymore. The job can go to hell.”

“But Jules, you’re angry and you can’t make decisions while you’re angry,” he said desperately.

“Why do you have to make things impossible?”

“I’m not, you are,” he said and he regretted it the moment the words came out of his mouth.

“I wouldn’t if you will let me go home!”

“Fine, fine, I’ll cut you a deal,” he said, still following her deeper into the woods.

“I’ve had enough of your deals.”

“I will let you go home eventually,” he promised.

“When is that?”

“I don’t know, but I will,” he promised.

“Even if we get out of these woods alive, I don’t think I can agree to that.”

“But I promise to let you go home.”

“Look, Zachary, I don’t want to talk about this right now. I just want to go back to camp.”

“But are you going home?” he asked. He didn’t know if he would like that if she would pack her bags and go home.

“Yes,” she said.

“Jules, it will be a breach of contract. You will pay a high price for that.”

“I know,” she nodded. “But I’d rather do it than stay in this island with you.”

He felt like he was slapped by that one. “That hurts,” he muttered.

“Good.”

“Like it really hurts,” he added.

“Oh, please, it’s just your lying ego.”

“Of course not,” he said, his anger starting to rise up. What could he do to prove to her that he was actually sorry and that he was honestly truthful when he said he liked her? “I’m telling the truth when I said I like you. You wanna know why?” he asked.

“No,” she answered, slapping a bunch of leaves out of her way.

He continued anyway, “I like you because you’re different. You’re beautiful despite what you think. You are an amazing person and you don’t even seem to care. And I know you’re starting to like me too.”

“What?”

“Yes, I know you like me too, Jules,” he grinned.

Julianne stopped walking, faced him and said, “I don’t.”

Zach knew his strategy was working. “And I know you’re leaving because you’re afraid of your feelings.”

“That’s absurd! I’m leaving because I can’t take any more of your stupid games and tricks and everything in this stupid show!”

“No, I think you’re leaving because you’re starting to like me and you’re afraid to admit that.”

“Impossible,” she uttered strongly.

“Then prove it.”

“Prove what?”

“That you’re not afraid.”

“I am not.”

“Then stay,” he challenged. “If you get into the top three and you still want to go home, I’ll let you go home. Just prove to me that you’re not afraid to like me and that whatever I do, you won’t be swooned.”

Julianne looked at him with blazing eyes. She was angry, he was sure of that. But he didn’t want her to go home just yet.

“Top five,” she uttered.

“Top four,” he bargained.

“Deal. Top four and I’m going home,” she finally said.

Zach almost jumped. “Deal,” he grinned and held out his hand. “Top four and you’re going home.”

Julianne just stared at his hand and turned around.

Damn the woman! She was as cold as ice and hard as stone. He would have to think of some ways to break her. Things didn’t work out as he hoped today, but once they found the missing girls and were back on track, he would definitely do his best to win her.

You don’t really want to do that, Zach, said that distant thought in his brain. You’re here for a bet and it will be unfair for Jules if you succeed.

He brushed that thought aside. He could think about that later on. For now, he wanted to relish the moment. Julianne would eventually go home and he would not have much regrets. He did what he could.

What if you will still want her after the show? Or after she leaves?

That would really be a big problem then, wouldn’t it?

 *****

“Aren’t we going to stop for a break?” he asked after a while.

“No,” Julianne answered.

“I think my ankle’s really hurting this time, Jules. I’m serious. I was not really completely unharmed by that fall, you know,” he said behind her.

“I don’t care,” she answered.

“Then you go ahead. I don’t think I can go any further,” he surprised her by saying.

Startled, Julianne looked back to see him bending with his hands on his knees. She was tired herself. And there was no sign that they were anywhere near their tent or the sea.

She was having a dilemma right now over what was right and wrong. She knew he was injured in some ways despite his lie about twisting his ankle. Finally, the Good Samaritan part of her won and she walked back towards him.

“Fine,” she uttered and sat on a big rock under a tree.

His face lit up. “Really?”

“I’m not doing this for you,” she lied. “I’m tired as well.”

“Thanks anyways,” he smiled genuinely at her. It was one of his rare smiles, she noticed. Sometimes she would see it come out whenever he was not wearing his stupid bachelor face.

Julianne just nodded and opened her bag. Good thing she threw a shawl inside. She took it and put it around her shoulders. From the corner of her eye, she saw Zach walk towards the boulder right next to her, sat on the ground and sighed.

“I hope it’s not going to rain,” he murmured.

Julianne wished that too. She didn’t answer and leaned against the rock behind her and closed her eyes. There was no chance they could find their way through the woods in the dark. She opened her eyes when she felt heat from her right side. She glanced at Zach, his eyes already closed. “Are you okay?”

 *****

Zach didn’t feel well—talk about karma, really. He felt cold and tired.

“Yes,” he said, his voice shaking a bit.

Without warning, he felt Julianne’s palm over his forehead.

“You’re such a liar. You’re burning up.”

“No, I’ll be fine.”

“You’re burning up, Zach.”

He opened his eyes and he saw Julianne taking her shawl from her shoulder. “No, that’s not necessary. You need it and—”

“Shut up. I don’t want to be the girl who killed the Bachelor. Take it,” she insisted grudgingly and covered him with the shawl. “I think I have some medication in my bag…” he saw her scramble her bag’s contents. A few seconds after, she was holding a tablet with one hand and a bottle of water with the other. “Take this,” she ordered.

Zach obliged, still wondering how he freaking got a fever. Talk about karma.

“Well, it’s real this time,” he murmured with a smile.

Julianne looked at him dryly and said, “Just rest, Zachary.”

“You can share the shawl with me—” he stopped when he saw the look on her face through the beam offered by the moon, “okay, I’ll rest.”

Chapter 9

Julianne was relieved when she felt Zach’s temperature going down. But he was still warmer than normal. His breathing was heavy as he slept. There were no sounds around them other than the crickets and some scrambling sound behind the bushes. Good thing she was not terrified by sounds like that. But she couldn’t fall asleep.

She turned her head and looked at the man responsible for everything that went wrong to her in the show. For the first time, she had the freedom to study his face up close without getting caught. She noticed that some new bristles had already started to appear on his chin and along his finely shaped jaws. His nose was not as perfect as she had thought though. It was a little crooked, probably caused by an injury of the past. His brows were thick and hooded his eyes in a smooth arch. His mouth was not too full or too thin either. They had that natural smirk on them. All in all, he looked so innocent while sleeping she could hardly believe he was capable of lying. Her anger had already died down and she just sighed. What could have gotten into him to play such a trick on her?

What a bastard, she thought.

A pretty handsome bastard, part of her mind added.

Julianne just smiled.

She turned her head up and looked at the night sky, wondering what she ought to do to get out of the show. The top four was not too soon for her and she didn’t like it that she was starting to enjoy Zachary’s annoying presence. She really had to go home fast.

Then a thought finally came down and rang repeatedly around her head. And then she smiled.

Yes, that’s a great plan…

And she would start that now. Gently, she reached out her arms and pulled Zachary towards her until his head lay on her shoulder. And ever so gently, she guided his head down her lap. He stirred, but sleep overcame fast.

Julianne smiled. Step one, done.         

 *****

Zach woke up against the heat of the sun. Opening his eyes, he frowned. He was facing the lower part of the ground. He could see the bushes far ahead. Turning his head, he felt something soft. Startled, he shot upright and saw Julianne’s sleeping form. He looked down from where his head had been lying down.

He’d been sleeping on her lap. How did he get there?

His eyes returned to Julianne’s face and he smiled. She looked like an angel with the gleam of light against her face. Everything that happened last night came back to him.

They were lost.

He looked around and he sighed with relief. Of course, he knew where they were now that the sun was up. He had an urge to shake Julianne awake and brag that he was right that they waited until the sun came out. He decided against it knowing she would not appreciate the shaking.

Then he remembered something else.

He had a fever.

He brought his palm on his forehead and grinned. No fever. Good.

“Jules,” he said gently, facing her. His throat was dry and he tried again, “Jules.”

She stirred and her lids opened slowly behind her ugly glasses. He should really give her the contacts he bought in Chicago.

At some point, she looked stunned when she saw him. Then her face lit up and she smiled.

Zach sat frozen on the ground. Did she just smile at me?

“Hi,” she said, her voice husky.

His frown deepened. “Are you alright? You don’t seem alright. Did you get a fever?” he reached out to touch her forehead.

“No, I’m fine. In fact, I’m feeling wonderful!” she beamed at him, her smile growing wide. A sudden rush of different kinds of emotions overwhelmed him when he saw how her smile changed her usual flat affect.

I must be dreaming. Who the hell is she? He asked himself. This was not his Julianne.

“We better go ahead, Zach,” she said and reached for her bag. She stood up, his head following her movement with bewilderment. “What?” she asked laughingly and he was sure he heard angels sing. “What are you staring at? Let’s go find our way out of this shit.”

The angels’ singing stopped with that last word. Zach’s eyes widened. This was definitely not his Julianne. “Jules, are you okay?”

“Of course, I am. I feel itchy though,” she said with a pout.

Zach almost gaped. What the hell was wrong with her? “You don’t act like yourself.”

“I am myself. Look, I’ve been like a bitch to you and I just realized that last night so I think I should finally let you see me as me,” she looked down at him.

Zach just stared at her. It was like he was looking at one of the girls. This was not his Julianne, he repeated to himself.

“Let’s go, Zach, I need a really hot shower after we find our way back.”

“I know where we are,” he answered, standing up, still in a daze. “I can find our way back now.”

“Oh, that’s amazing! That’s great then. Lead the way!”

Zach nodded slowly. Who is she?

 *****

Julianne wanted to gag. Like literally. This was a difficult game she was playing despite what she might have thought. It was a good thing she remembered her plan from last night though.

She looked at Zach behind her and smiled when she saw his bewildered gaze. This better work, she told herself with disgust. She didn’t like the character she was playing at all. It was one thing to create them in her mind and write about them, and it was entirely a different matter altogether to act like them.

“Oh, shoot, my stomach’s rumbling,” she said, exaggerating her expression.

Zach turned to her, his face still as confused as before. “You’re hungry?”

“Definitely,” she forced a smile.

“We’ll go back to our tent. I have food in my bag. It will take the whole day to go back to camp.”

“Bummer,” she blurted out.

“What?”

“I said, bummer,” she repeated.

“Jules, are you okay? You speak differently.”

“Zach, this is how I speak,” she said with a laugh.

“No, Jules, this is not you,” he insisted.

“Do you know me better than myself?” she arched one eyebrow.

“Okay, I won’t argue with that,” he murmured and walked on. “Let’s go get some food.”

 *****

Zach was able to retrace their steps last night and found their tent. The twigs were scattered now, probably by some unknown animal. Good thing Zach’s bag was inside the tent.

“Let’s see…I have some crackers here…” he rummaged through it.

“Is it sugar-free?” Julianne asked beside him. She was laying down her shawl on the ground.

Zach’s mouth opened. Was she serious? He knew she didn’t care about what she ate. He saw the humongous food she ordered in Chicago. “I don’t think so,” he answered.

“Well, I can’t eat that, I’m on a diet.”

“You’re what?”

“I’m on a diet. Let’s just go back to camp. There is more decent food in the cabin.”

He didn’t dare ask her about that. He was plain dumbfounded and lost at the moment. She was acting weird.

“But don’t you want to find your friends?”

She looked at him in disbelief. “Zach, I’m tired. We got lost last night. I’m sure the others can find Pauline and Brenda.”

Zach chose to ignore her and reached for his radio. “Base, this is Nano Team, over.”

“Nano Team, this is Base. We’ve found the girls. You can come back now,” Fatima’s voice crackled back.

“Oh, thank God,” Julianne said beside him with a sigh. “Now we can finally go back.”

Zach punched the button and said, “Where did you find them?”

“They were in the yacht all along, can you believe that?”

“No one checked the yacht before?” he asked in disbelief.

“I’m afraid so. But they’re safe and resting now. Where are you?”

“We’re on our way,” he answered and got up. He turned to Julianne and was surprised that she was already up with her bag on.

“Let’s go?” she asked, her tone close to…he couldn’t really figure out, but it was close to purring.

“I guess so,” he murmured and got up. He spent the next few minutes packing the tent and then they were off.

“I can’t believe Pauline and Brenda were that stupid,” he heard her mutter under her breath.

Zach couldn’t give an answer. Julianne was acting really strange, saying words she would never have said before last night. What had gotten into her?

 *****

Julianne was relieved when they finally arrived at camp. Jack Carter met them, his face concerned.

“We’ve been trying to contact you last night. There was no answer.”

“Oh, we got lost,” she said with a smile, waving her hand. “I got to go. I’m really tired.”

Jack looked at her curiously. With the way he was looking at her, she wanted the ground to swallow her up. She knew she was acting strange. Hell, she knew her voice changed into a small chirpy tone. But she reminded herself she was doing this for herself.

“Bye,” she said, waving her hand at both men and started walking towards the cabin. She was famished and she needed to see Pauline. She had to check if they were really okay.

The other girls were in the kitchen, eating their usual food. No one seemed to notice her arrival and she was fine with that. “Where’s Pauline and Brenda?” she asked aloud.

“Upstairs,” Penny answered, forking her salad.

Julianne ran upstairs to her room and found Pauline lying on the bed. “Pauline?”

Her friend turned on her back and smiled at her. “Julianne! Oh my God, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to worry you guys. We were so drunk. I’m so sorry.”

Julianne dropped her bag beside her bed and crossed over to Pauline’s and sat down beside her friend. Pauline got up and she hugged her. “I was so worried,” she murmured.

“Thank you. I was so worried as well when they were not able to contact you guys last night.”

“It’s fine now,” she smiled and laughed. “You’re fine. How’s Brenda?”

“She’s okay,” Pauline replied. “We didn’t know you guys thought we were lost and—oh God, we’re so sorry.”

“It’s all over now, so don’t worry.” She stood up and smiled. “I’m really hungry. Care to join me?”

“Sure,” Pauline said and jumped out the bed.

 *****

Julianne spent the whole day listening to Pauline and Brenda about their little adventure. Actually, there was not much to tell. They just decided to go to the yacht and had more drinks and then they slept the whole day through. They asked Julianne about her search with Zachary. She told them about getting lost, leaving the part where she decided about her plan and the deal she had with Zachary.

They were in the living room with the other girls when Brent entered and surprised them by saying, “We’re going to have a group date tonight, ladies.”

“What time?” Chloe asked.

“Where?” Amanda chirped.

“What should we wear?” Vivienne asked.

“Dress to impress,” Brent answered. “You will have a dinner date with Zach outside the cabin at seven this evening.” And just like that, he left with the camera man tailing behind him.

Julianne was not at all ecstatic. She was expecting Zach to rest for today after what happened last night. And she didn’t know if she was ready to make a fool of herself again tonight. But there was no choice. She had a plan and she better execute it well.

“What should I dress in?” she asked Pauline later that night.

“Put on that turquoise dress,” Pauline answered. “And those strapped sandals,” she added, holding her hair up.

Julianne took her advice and dressed.

“Who would have thought you have an amazing body?” Pauline said, wide-eyed when she turned around.

“I don’t think—”

“You’re gorgeous. Well, aside from those eyeglasses. Don’t you have contacts?”

“Yes, but they’re too uncomfortable to—”

“Put them on, girl!” Pauline urged. “Oh my God, you look hot. Like I-should-crumble-to-the-ground-and-never-be-seen-with-you kind of hot.”

“You’re exaggerating,” she said dryly, looking for her contacts.

“Come on, get them on. I’ll do your hair and make-up,” Pauline said excitedly when she saw Julianne holding the small container.

Julianne nodded. She had to do this if she wanted to push Zach away and go home.

 *****

Zach was pacing around his room, holding a glass of brandy. He was baffled and curious all at the same time. He had been rummaging for reasons from the events that happened last night that led to Julianne’s sudden change of behavior. He couldn’t find any.

He wondered if she had a bipolar disorder or some sort of a personality thing going on. He was between these thoughts when he heard a knock on his door.

“Hey, Zach, dinner’s going to start any time soon,” Brent popped his head in the doorway.

“Coming, man,” he said and followed Brent outside. He placed his glass on the table beside the cabin door and walked with the host. Brent said goodbye saying he didn’t want to join and that he had some visitors in his trailer. “Go get them,” he gave the man a salute and walked alone towards the big table covered by white cloth that danced with the night wind. There were different kinds of food and fruits on the table, but the girls were not yet present.

“You can sit here,” Fatima, holding her usual clipboard told him, indicating a chair at the head of the table. Zach nodded and sat down before his feet took him inside the girls’ cabin and demand for Julianne to explain everything. That would be stupid, he told himself.

He waited, looking nowhere in particular for quite a long time before the doors of the cabin finally opened and the ladies exited, dressed in splendor. Chloe was first in line along with Vivienne and Hanna. The three of them were dressed in white, and the materials of their dresses left nothing for the imagination. Zach stood up and smiled at them. Hey, he was a man, and a man knows how to appreciate. When he was done looking, his eyes looked for Julianne.

Though she was dressed in something he never expected, and though she looked magnificent especially now that she removed her glasses—much to his amazement and puzzlement—he was not as impressed as he thought. Yes, the woman was incredibly beautiful as he imagined. Yes, her dress was defining her amazing curves as he guessed them to be. And yes, she was wearing her amazing smile as he had hoped for, but he was not pleased at all. He was wholly disappointed. Why? Because the woman walking towards his direction was not the Julianne he knew.

That lady was not his Julianne at all.

Chapter 10

Julianne felt terrible and uncomfortable in her haltered dress, but she had to keep up with her role, copying the women’s behavior. Her face felt numb from all the smiling she had been doing all night. Even Pauline had whispered in her ear and asked if she was okay.

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine,” she answered, nodding her head. They were now seated around the table, eating and drinking wine. She could feel Zachary’s gaze landing on her every now and then, but they were seated too far from each other that any opportunity of a conversation was not possible without everyone hearing it.

As usual, Chloe was sitting right next to him and had been entertaining him most of the evening. Julianne was praying though that he would not stare at her too much. That was the main purpose of her plan, right? To camouflage with the ladies so that he would not notice her.

Aside from the fact that she was a great judge of character by being a writer, she learned how to mimic the girls’ behavior by thinking bitch and acting somewhat like it. Not that everyone was a bitch, some of course, like Brenda and Pauline, were just plain fun. She wanted to act like the Desperadas, but like the Dumb Pair, Julianne didn’t think she could give them honor by copying their characters. So there, she chose to be fun and just a little bit bitchy. She didn’t want to steal Chloe’s amazing role.

“That’s your third glass,” Brenda whispered beside her as she poured herself another glass.

“I’m thirsty,” Julianne answered, feeling light-headed herself.

The women near her were engaged in some kind of conversation and she would laugh with them without hearing a thing. And every time she gave off a giggle, she would see Zach looking at her with a frown, and she would giggle some more, silently cursing herself for acting like a lunatic.

Good, so far, she told herself.

“I think you’re drunk,” Pauline pointed out with a chuckle. “You’re acting weird, Julianne.”

“I’m fine, what are you talking about?” she couldn’t help but laugh. She should drink more. It made laughing easier, she decided.

 *****

“So, what are you girls up to after dinner?” Zach asked the ladies, his eyes hovering towards Julianne who seemed drunk. He’d been counting the number of glasses she had and she had quite a few.

“I don’t know, I think we won’t be drinking,” Pauline cried from the end of the table and everyone laughed, including Julianne who he confirmed was really drunk.

Damn, she looks beautiful, he thought. Her hair went with the night wind from the ocean, her eyes twinkling with the lamps on the table; her skin, though a little flushed from all the wine, was like silk and he would give anything to caress those…

He mentally shook his head from the thought. Chloe was talking to him about her life before she entered the show and he had to at least focus and not look like a snob.

After they were done with dinner, some of the girls went ahead to change and take a dip into the calm ocean. It had been a humid day and the waters were not that cold tonight.

Stella, the one with the short black hair, asked him to join them.

“I think the white bikini will suit you,” he heard Pauline tell Julianne as the two made their way inside the cabin.

“Really? Then I’ll wear those!” Julianne answered excitedly, pulling Pauline by the hand.

He turned to Stella with a smile and said, “Of course, I’ll join you.”

“Great!” Sally chimed when she heard and pulled Stella away from him and they excitedly took off inside the cabin.

“They’re so desperate,” Chloe muttered beside him.

He almost snapped something at her but he stopped and smiled. “I’ll go change,” he uttered and left her to walk towards his cabin, his mind full of Julianne. How could she take the courage to swim when she was drunk?

Hurriedly, he changed into his board shorts and grabbed a towel. He charged back outside, determined to finally get her to talk to him and tell him what the hell was wrong with her.

 *****

“Oops!” Julianne cried out with a giggle when she almost fell on her face against the tide. She was still feeling dizzy.

“Watch out,” that same boyish voice said behind her. She could feel his hand holding her by the elbows.

“Oh, it’s you,” she giggled again. “Thanks,” she said with no attempt to pull her arm away from his grasp. She even made a bolder move by facing him, placing her other hand on his shoulder. She knew he was shocked, his muscles clenching before he took a step back. “Afraid, Zach?” she asked. He was about to open his mouth when her friend came to the rescue by coming to them. Julianne almost sighed with relief.

“There you are!” Pauline announced behind them. “Hi, Zach,” she said, jumping her way through the waters.

“Hi,” he answered. Julianne took the advantage of his distraction to sneak away.

“Jules, where are you going?”

“Swimming,” she said with a laugh. “I love swimming!” she shouted and her head throbbed. Then she remembered she couldn’t swim with her contacts on. “Oh, shit!” she cried out.

“What’s wrong?” Zach asked, suddenly beside her.

“I can’t swim with my damn contacts on,” she answered with a sigh. “I think I’ll go back inside,” she announced.

“That’s better,” he said, “you’re drunk.”

She chuckled, letting him hold her by the hand, and guide her back on dry ground. “No, I’m not.”

“You are. You better get inside. I want to talk to you,” he said seriously.

Julianne did not answer and grabbed her hand back. “I’ll be fine on my own,” she muttered and grabbed her towel.

I need a drink, she said to herself, opening the door, walking into the warmth of the cabin.

 *****

Zach couldn’t get away from the other ladies as easily as he had hoped for, but he would constantly shoot his gaze at the cabin windows to see any sign of Julianne. Once he saw her through the kitchen window, holding a bottle of wine. And a lot of times, he saw her pacing the same room with a glass full of dark liquid. She had her glasses back on and her hair was tied up in a mess and she was still in her top bikini.

It was not a good sign at all and he wanted to jump out of the waters and shake some sense into her. She was acting like a brat and he thought he knew why. All along, he knew why she was like that, but he didn’t want to admit it to himself.

“Ladies,” he said over his lungs, “I’ll go in first! I think I’m gonna catch a cold!”

The ladies chorused a lot of concerned words at him. He said his thanks and prayed to God they would stay a little longer in the water. Some of them went in as soon as he had left and hopefully, they would retire for the night.

Inside his cabin, he watched through his window to see if Julianne was still in the kitchen. And she was. Good thing kitchen with a lot of food was not considered by the other ladies as a good place to hang around. Chloe and the others were still outside, and those who came in were already upstairs in their rooms. He knew because he saw their bedroom lights flicker on.

He couldn’t very well go out through the front door unless he wanted Chloe and the others to see him, so he went out the backdoor. It was directly at the edge of the woods and he had to carefully make his way through the dented ground. Once he reached the backdoor of the girls’ cabin, his shoulder dropped to find out it was locked. The other side of the kitchen, the one not facing the ocean, was completely shadowed and dark. He peeked through the window to see if Julianne was still there, and sure enough, she was sitting on the same stool, pouring another glass. Desperate, he tried the window. Disappointment came once again when it did not open and he sighed with frustration.

He badly wanted to talk to her and it seemed the only perfect time to do that. But the blasted windows and doors wouldn’t let him in. He paced outside the kitchen window, hands on hips, head bent, brows knitted together, and mind running around a maze. His head snapped up when he heard a screeching sound from inside. Julianne was standing up.

He cursed when he saw her walk out the kitchen, but then he smiled with relief when she turned to the left and opened the front doors, almost landing on her back when Chloe and the others burst in a pile, covered in their towels.

“Go to sleep, Julianne, you’re drunk!” Vivienne said with a condescending look. Julianne just nodded, adjusting her glasses.

Vivienne was definitely on top of his list of ladies not getting a rose now, he thought with ire. His sudden anger upon seeing Julianne being looked down that way surprised him. The urge to protect her just came out, and once again, it was new for him.

The girls went directly upstairs, chattering on about those who were not present—a behavior he really resented ever since he first heard his mother talked about her friends behind their backs. But that was the nature of most women. They just couldn’t stop themselves.

Once no one was around to witness his sneaking, he walked to the front doors and looked for Julianne. His heart started racing when the thought of her going back in the waters occurred to him, but it quickly ebbed down when he spotted her by the tree they stayed at a few nights ago.

He jogged his way towards her and like the last time, she was sitting on the branch, her face against the tree trunk, her eyes directed to the sky.

“Jules, we need to talk,” he whispered beside her.

At first he thought she did not hear him nor felt his presence, but she finally moved her head and looked at him through her glasses. Her eyes glinted as her lips broke into a smile. “Hi, Zach,” she said, followed by a deep chuckle.

“You’re drunk,” he thought.

“Of course, I’m not,” she said, playfully pushing him. “Why are you here? You want to kiss me again?” she asked with a tinge of bitterness, though her eyes travelled down his lips.

He leaned closer when her face went forward, but only to find out that she lost her balance. “You’re not yourself,” he pointed out, catching her by the arms.

Pushing away from him, she found her equilibrium. “You’re making me do it, you know,” she slurred.

“Me? What did I do?” he asked outrageously.

“Your silly notion about liking me is what’s keeping me here. I intend to prove you wrong.”

“By acting like a brat?”

“By acting like everyone else,” she nodded slowly, her eyes closing. “By acting like them.”

“To push me away?”

She nodded once again. “And to make you think I’m no different than everyone else,” she added once again, this time frowning. “My head’s killing me.”

“You’re acting like this because you don’t want me to notice you,” he said matter-of-factly, a confirmation of what he thought of in the first place. “You want me to ignore you and stay away from you.”

“Uh-huh,” she smiled and opened her eyes. “But I think I’m doing it wrong,” she frowned. “Because you’re still here in front of me…”

Zach closed his eyes and tried to control himself. He was not angry. He was frustrated.

And why couldn’t he just do what she wished him to do? Why couldn’t he just ignore her like he’d been ignoring some of the girls? Most of all, why couldn’t he just make her pack her bags and go home?

Because you know she’s different no matter how she tries not to be, a part of him whispered in his ears. And deep inside, you know that this might be the last time you’ll find someone like her.

Finally, after staring at her for a while, he sighed and said, “You’re drunk, Jules. You better go inside,” then he held her by the arms and urged her to get up.

“But—”

“Get inside,” he insisted. “Or I won’t hold on to my promise to let you go home after the top four”

“Yes, yes,” she answered immediately, and he wished she didn’t do it that fast.

He guided her to the front door of their cabin and when he couldn’t hold on any longer, he caught her hand, just before she turned and started walking to the doors, and pulled her back to him. Frustration, want, and need made him crush his lips down against hers. Of course he didn’t expect her to be able to push him away due to her drunk state, but he didn’t expect her to respond with such urgency either.

Hmm, a complete irony to what she confessed earlier.

When, finally, he came back to his senses, he cupped her face with his hands and gently leaned away. “You better go inside,” he murmured.

Julianne absently nodded and turned around to open the doors.

 *****

Back in his room, Zach was pacing back and forth, his mind full of wondering thoughts. She wouldn’t kiss him back if she wanted to really push him away. But why would she want to leave?

We already made a deal, he said.

She doesn’t want your attention, that part of his brain said. You know you get into her nerves.

Of course that was it. What else did he think? She said so herself. She agreed to stay until the top four, but she didn’t want him going after her.

But she still kissed me back.

Zach stopped in the middle of the room, a smile breaking his face.

Jules, you just made the biggest mistake by blurting out your plan, he thought with a grin.

Chapter 11

Julianne woke up with the worst headache she ever experienced. Everything was a blur, and she was even surprised when she learned that she was still in the same white bikini top from last night. Hell, she couldn’t even remember last night.

“Hey,” Pauline beamed at her through the mirror. Her friend was already up, ironing her blond tresses. “Hangover?”

She just groaned and closed her eyes once again. “What happened?” she asked.

“You were drunk I guess,” her friend answered. “But I don’t really know what happened to you. You were gone for some time but thank God you came back before I really got worried. I don’t want to go into the woods looking for you if you went missing as well.”

“I can’t remember what I did last night,” she murmured with a moan.

“Well, you came in really drunk, but you were smiling like crazy. I tucked you in and you went to sleep,” Pauline explained what she could.

“Thanks,” she muttered, frowning. But what happened in between? The last thing she remembered was the cool water from the beach and Zach and Pauline. After that was a blur. “My head is killing me,” she groaned.

“Want me to get you something?” Pauline asked with concern.

“I’ll be fine,” she answered in a whisper and fell back to deep slumber, her consciousness ebbing away to dreamland.

Zach was in a good mood that morning. He woke up early and excitedly, thinking about his plan, rerunning it around his head, and then grinning once more when he was sure it would work. He showered casually and enjoyed his breakfast alone. He wanted to execute his plan well, so he didn’t dare come out to join the ladies. He would have to wait and be patient if he wanted to have the old Julianne back.

He was grinning from ear to ear as he walked out of this cabin door, jumping down the steps with excitement, and then he froze, his feet rooted on the hot morning sand. His boyish grin completely disappeared into a dark shadowed frown as he tried to focus his eyes beyond, outside the girls’ cabin. Zach clenched his jaw, slowly moving towards the sight that caused his mood to turn a full 360. The anger he felt was out of bounds but he didn’t realize that just yet. His feet ground the sand with his purposeful stride.

Julianne spotted him first, her first instinct was to get up and rush inside the cabin, but second instinct came in just as instantly and she smiled and waved with her hand. She had a personality to keep up anyway.

Jack Carter paused from talking when he saw her waving, turned his head and sighed. “You’re liking him,” he muttered under his breath, only for her to hear.

“Of course not,” she said, her smile wavering when she noted Zach’s sour face. It couldn’t be the sun , she thought. “I’m doing this so he’ll go away,” she whispered.

Jack’s face lit up and he nodded, “The crew has been talking about the different attention he has been giving you and I think I understand why,” he looked at her before standing up.

“Yeah, right,” she groaned and followed, digging her hands inside her shorts pockets.

“I’ll see you around,” Jack nodded his head once and started walking, meeting Zach halfway. Julianne craned her head to the right to see what was going on when Jack stopped just a few feet away from Zach. They appeared to be discussing something, and then the two of them looked back at her, their expressions unreadable because of the sun. She saw Jack nod and then he was off once again to the direction of one camera man.

Zach continued his walk towards her and Julianne tried real hard to bring back the smile on her face. “Hey, Zach!” she greeted.

“What were you doing with Jack Carter?”

“We were just talking,” she shrugged. “He saw me walking down the beach earlier during his morning run. Going in?” she pointed her thumb at the cabin doors behind her.

“What were you talking about?” he asked, his brows knitted in a straight line.

“Nothing,” she replied. She found it easier to lie with her alter persona. She and Jack were actually talking about her real future job which she would get the moment she was sent home. And it was because of the man standing before her that she couldn’t get a hold of it. And her pretense went out of her mind for a short while at the remembrance.

“You know him personally?”

Annoyance started to creep up Julianne. “What’s with the questions? You know I know Jack Carter. I signed a contract with him, remember?”

“But do you know him personally?”

“You know what? I don’t even want to ruin my good mood this morning by entertaining your questions,” she said, turning away from him to enter the doors. “And don’t you dare hold my hand,” she added when she felt he was about to.

Zach took a deep breath, held it in for a while longer, and closed his eyes. He ruined a perfect plan for this morning because of something he saw which, as he now thought, was nothing. Jack and Julianne said the same things.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” he whispered behind her before she opened the door. “But I’m glad to have you back, Jules,” he grinned, smelling the scent of lavender in her hair under his nose.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a forced gentle voice.

“You mean you don’t remember?” he asked, frowning. And then he smiled, “You don’t remember you blurted out the reason why you suddenly changed into a stupid brat? God, you must really be so drunk last night.”

Julianne suddenly whirled around to face him, pushing him a step back away from the door and out of possible earshot. “Last night? What happened last night?”

“You don’t remember,” he stated matter-of-factly.

She eyed him with warning of impending doom. “Zach, what happened last night?”

He looked at her face in fascination, his anger completely gone being replaced by great relief for seeing the real Julianne. Yes, she might be looking at him furiously right now, but she was his Julianne and he was glad.

“Zach,” she said his name slowly, glaring up at him.

“I love it when you say my name,” he breathed out, his grin growing wide.

Her eyes lit up with irritation and he realized how he missed it. “Zachary, what happened last night?”

Zach shrugged, looked around feigning nonchalance, and said, “Nothing, you just said you had been acting like a brat because you want me not to notice you, but mind you, you failed anyway, and then you kissed me.”

Her eyes widened. “I what?”

Zach nodded vigorously. “You kissed me,” he said, and then his grin turned into a small grimace when he saw her face. “Okay, I kissed you first, but just like the first time, you kissed me back. Which pretty much told me you don’t hate me that much,” he finished and backed away one more step when her hands went on her waist.

“You’re…you’re…” her voice was infuriated as she searched for the right word, “impossible!” and then she turned on her heel and pushed the doors wide open, revealing a houseful of mess.

“Hey, Zach!” Vivienne greeted when she saw him from the living room, her hands holding a magazine.

“Hey,” he nodded, his eyes following Julianne’s back as she walked straight for the stairs. He remembered how Vivienne treated Julianne last night and he reminded himself once again not to give her a rose tonight. The thought led him back to his task at hand and he entered the cabin, kicking a cushion that seemed to have lost its way from the couch. “I have news, ladies,” he announced and her audience, the ones present in the room—which was almost half of everyone—looked up with their beautiful, perfect teeth all for him.

Julianne heard the news later that day from Pauline and Brenda.

“Chloe finally got the chance to get a one-on-one date with Zach,” Brenda shared, rolling her eyes and flipping her straight black hair.

“She’s been talking about it every minute she was waiting for him,” Pauline added. “You should have seen her. Barely got any cloth around her surgically fixed body,” her friend said with a chuckle.

Julianne smiled, and curiously asked, “Where’s the date?” She honestly tried to ask the question without much interest.

“At the other side of the island and aside from the camera guy, they will be completely isolated. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re stripping each other’s clothes off by this time,” Brenda answered, munching on her cookie.

Julianne nodded, trying to erase the scene that Brenda pictured in her brain. She didn’t care what Zach and Chloe would be doing.

Or did she?

“And when they announced my name as the Homecoming Queen, I was really shocked. But then, so were the people who hated me,” Chloe chatted on, playing with her curly blonde hair.

Zach nodded and smiled, which was what he had been doing for almost an hour now since the topic about high school came up. And note that he had not said anything about himself yet.

But to be fair for Chloe, though she was obviously and completely narcissistic, she could gain half his attention which was not in the case with most of the other ladies aside for Julianne, of course, who always got his full attention from the very beginning.

Chloe was different from the usual sexy bitch he knew because she was intelligent and she was a good talker—aside from those moments that she would get carried away talking about herself. And yes, she was beautiful and she was sexy and hot.

But she doesn’t have Julianne’s eyes, he noted as he stared at Chloe’s blue ones. And her lashes are not as long as Julianne’s, he added.

Zach mentally shook his head and tried to give his full attention to Chloe. He was used to that before. You give women your full attention and they would pour over you like a good bottle of wine. You nod and smile and ask questions and they would do anything. Well, in his case anyway.

And you must be thinking about Julianne again. She was an exception at everything so don’t include her to the group. Zach knew that and he was walking down that thought once again, his mind filling up with thoughts of the only girl who seemed not affected by the attention he was giving her. As a matter of fact, she was the only girl who didn’t want it.

But Chloe did. And she was savoring it. She was gulfing the attention she thought she fully had.

“And who was the Homecoming King?” he asked when she paused to take a breath.

Her eyes rolled and she said, “Oh, Mike Taylor. The geek. People must have thought it would be a good laugh if they voted for him, which was true actually. But I didn’t like it that much. He ruined my picture,” she finished with a frown.

Zach just nodded and stretched down the sand. How did she expect him to answer to that? Hey, he may not have been the geek during high school, but he was way smarter than most guys during his time that he knew how intelligence could be a curse or not. He chose to hide that part of him because he was smart enough to know that if he didn’t, he would get the same treatment from people as Mike Taylor did. He didn’t appreciate Chloe talking about geeks like Mike Taylor. He was not that kind of guy, so cut some slack if you were thinking he was one of the handsome know-nothing bullies. He knew how to play his game even before he stepped inside kindergarten, and being an ass as bullying geeks was not part of that.

“So,” Chloe said, her tone turning into a purr, which he secretly despised ever since he heard the tone from Julianne, turning on her side and leaning on her elbow to look at him, “a really strange rumor has been circulating around the girls lately that I can’t stomach,” she said, trailing one finger down his bare chest.

His muscles tightened. Hey, he was a man and reactions always happen. But he didn’t want that for now so he caught her hand and held it tightly in his to stop her. The camera guy was far away, his camera obviously really good, but the microphone was just a few meters away to capture their conversation. He didn’t want the other ladies to see Chloe and him having too much of intimate moments.

Okay, scratch that, he didn’t want Julianne to see him doing what Chloe had in mind. Call him crazy, but it was Julianne’s face that crossed his mind when he felt Chloe’s touch.

“What story?” he asked, guessing he already knew what she was talking about.

“That you actually prefer Julianne than any of us,” she answered, rolling her eyes. So she was cute when she does that, but doing that with Julianne as their topic was not something he found to his liking.

“Jules?” he asked.

“And you call her Jules,” Chloe sighed and when he didn’t say a word, she frowned. “You like her?”

“I like all of you,” he chose the safest answer. “You don’t like Jules?”

“She’s weird,” Chloe groaned and pulled her hand from his grasp and laid her head on his shoulder. He thought it was safe so he let her.

“Yeah, she is,” he answered with a smile.

“And it looks like she doesn’t want to be here,” Chloe added.

“Yeah?” was the only thing he could say. Of all people, he was the one who knew that very well.

“Maybe it’s her plan,” Chloe said nonchalantly, studying her nails.

“Plan?”

“To gain your attention. She chose to be different so you will notice her.”

“I notice all of you,” he answered, pulling himself up, causing her head to fall on the clothed ground. He reached for the wine and said, “Let’s not talk about that. This is our date and I want to hear more about you.” His strategy worked and Chloe completely forgot about Julianne.

Zach didn’t though, his mind worried for Julianne.

She was not only struggling against him, she was obviously struggling against these women as well.

Julianne was working on her computer under her now-favorite tree away from everyone when she noticed the pump boat approach the docking site. Zach and Chloe seemed to be enjoying their time together, she noted and she didn’t want to even recognize the initial reaction she had. She didn’t care what Zach did with the other women. She would be out of here after the top four so…

She returned her attention back on her work. She had been doing a sequel to her successful story so she needed full concentration. But the peace she wanted was soon to be shattered by the sound of laughter coming near. It was Chloe’s mirthful chatter and laughter that irritated her most.

Julianne shook her head. She totally gave up her plan knowing it would be useless now that Zach knew about it. And even if he didn’t, she would have given up anyway because it didn’t seem to have worked. Worse, it even made him more curious that he didn’t leave her alone.

Intending to get inside the cabin before Chloe and Zach did, she closed her computer and briskly walked all the way to the cabin in and was surprised that Brent was already there with all the cameras and lights. Jack Carter was at the back and he gave her a nod as she entered.

“What’s going on?” she asked Pauline in a whisper.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. Brent’s got an announcement to make.”

Julianne did not bother to answer her friend’s question because the doors opened once more. Chloe appeared, her skin now slightly tanned. Zach followed close behind, his hand under Chloe’s elbow.

“How was the date?” Brent asked the two of them.

“Great!” Chloe answered.

“It was good,” Zach nodded. “What’s this?”

“Just a little announcement,” Brent said and looked at Chloe, and when she understood what he meant, she laughed and walked to join the other ladies, giving Zach a flying kiss.

Julianne frowned, taking out her glasses and pretended to clean them with her shirt so she wouldn’t have to meet Zach’s gaze. It felt weird to know that he just came from a date with another lady. She knew it would not be the last time he would go on a one-on-one date, but still, it felt weird.

“Now that everybody’s here, let’s begin the Rose Ceremony,” Brent said with a smile.

A loud collection of gasps and horror rang around the room. No one expected that news. Julianne, now with her eyeglasses back on, could see that even Zach was surprised.

“Surprise,” Brent said when no one spoke. He motioned his hand and a table was wheeled in with ten white roses. “Zach, after your great date, you will now have to face yet another difficult task. A lot has happened since the last Rose Ceremony, right? You girls worried us with that vanishing act you did that led to a search and rescue, didn’t you?”

The girls laughed and Julianne closed her eyes, her face flushing, remembering it was that night that she decided about her plan that got busted.

“And last night, you all had another chance to interact with Zach during dinner.” Brent turned to Zach who was now standing beside him with a blank expression. “Zach, I know you still need to know more about these ladies, but this is part of the show. You need to choose ten and send home five. Are you ready?”

“I guess so,” Zach answered, finally a smile creeping up his face.

Julianne was not at all excited, knowing she would receive a rose, but she was anxious. She wanted Brenda and Pauline to stay.

“Ladies, if you please?” Brent said, asking them to get up. They did and once again, they were all standing in front of Zachary with their gloomy and solemn faces.

She saw Zach take a deep breath the moment Brent left the scene, took one rose and said, “Julianne,” he announced, his voice so sure. And it was the first time he said her real name after he decided for himself to call her Jules. Though she hated being called first, she liked the sound of her name from his lips.

The glances the ladies threw her were a mixture of shock and awe and hate. Pauline nudged her and she walked towards Zach, her face expressionless. She could see in his lips that he was trying hard not to break into one of his stupid grins, though he was smiling down at her as he handed her the rose.

“Will you stay and spend another week with me?” he asked.

What is he up to now? She asked in her mind. He knew she didn’t have a choice and by the twitch on his lips, she was sure he was teasing her.

“Yes,” she mumbled and snatched the rose from his hand, turned, and walked to the other side of the room where Fatima was waving.

“Chloe,” Zach called out and saw the change in Chloe’s face from one of that of ire after hearing Julianne’s name being called first, to one of pure happiness and hope. After handing Chloe the rose with the same question he asked Julianne, he took another rose and looked at each of the ladies. His eyes landed on Vivienne. Not in this lifetime, he thought and looked at Pauline. “Pauline,” he announced and added, “just don’t get lost again, okay?”

Julianne’s friend laughed and took the rose.

Then he went on and called Stella, followed by Hanna, Jenny, Amanda, Kim, Penny, and finally, Tanya who appeared near the fainting state.

As soon as Tanya’s name was called, completing the top ten, the ladies went to say goodbye to each other with tears, some fake and some genuine. He could see that Julianne hugged Brenda tightly.

“Well, ladies,” Brent broke the drama, much to Zach’s relief. “I’m sorry but you have to pack your bags and go home.”

Zach walked to the five ladies and gave each of them a peck for goodbye.

Julianne was sad to see Brenda go, but she was at least relieved that the Dumb Pair were gone, knowing if they stayed any longer, they would only be the laughing stock of the rest of the ladies. Across the room, as they drank their wine as a little celebration, her gaze met Zach’s.

Now, he knew she was back to normal. Mission failed.

She sighed, knowing he was back on the game.

Chapter 12

Zach was starting to get restless in the island. The days were just the same and the activities were getting boring. He thought he would have much fun living in an island surround by gorgeous women, but he was wrong.

He was wrong because he only wanted one woman but the problem was, she didn’t want him. If only she would open some tiny little window, he would be happy to play Tom Hanks for another Cast Away movie as long as Julianne would be his Wilson. Anything just to wash away the frown on her face every freaking time he came near would be great.

Yes, yes, the last time he wanted the old Julianne back. But he just couldn’t stand her frowns any longer. He wanted to literally stretch those edible lips of hers sideways and upwards to form a smile. He couldn’t understand even until now why he was acting so desperate. Honestly, he really believed the feeling would wear off, but it was not. In fact, it was getting worse. And the only things holding him back from making a fool of himself were the reminder of the bet and the camera following him wherever he went.

He needed to stress out, he decided, and went for a swim. Well, it was more like a hundred-meter laps, really.

Julianne was a constant subject running around his mind and he had to control it before he went crazy.

 *****

Julianne was outside the cabin, sitting at the bottom steps with her computer on her lap, when Jack Carter’s low baritone voice spoke above her, his shadow blocking the sun. “Hey,” he said with a smile.

“Hey,” she smiled back. “No work?” she asked.

“Na, nothing much. I just have so much work whenever there’s a date or during the official Rose Ceremony,” he sat down beside her and supported his weight by placing his hand behind him. “What are you doing?” he asked curiously.

“Nothing,” she said and closed her computer in haste. “Just some work…”

Jack frowned, “You don’t have a work yet,” he said. “Not until you get out of here, anyway.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I really wish you did not give me that damn contract.”

“Hey, I honestly did not think you would make it this far. No offense of course,” he quickly added.

“None taken,” she smiled lamely and looked ahead.

“But now that I was able to observe you from day one, I think I understand why Astor keeps giving you a rose,” he uttered after some awkward silence.

“Yeah, because he likes this game so much,” she huffed, thinking of the real meaning behind her words.

“No, because you’re actually interesting,” he answered too honestly.

“Interestingly weird?”

“Interestingly not like any other,” he phrased and Julianne noted something in the way he said it that alarmed her senses. Not the way Zach could, but in a different, normal way. It was like she was talking to a normal guy that she knew she could get to like in time and after being surrounded by Zach’s annoying presence for many days, it was refreshing to actually be in Jack Carter’s company.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was intended to be one,” he shrugged. “He spends a lot of time with you lately and almost everybody notices that,” he said after a while that she almost felt lost at the sudden change of subject.

“He likes annoying me, that’s all,” she answered with a frown.

“Don’t trust him,” Jack’s voice was serious and she snapped her head towards him.

Her first impulse was to tell him he didn’t know Zach that well, but she stopped herself. Zach was a character she couldn’t just defend. He was someone whose reputation preceded him and plus, she didn’t know him that well and Jack might be right after all.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” was all she said.

 *****

As Zach made his way back to shore, he spotted Julianne and Jack Carter sitting outside the girls’ cabin once again.

What’s this all about this time? He wondered silently, a frown forming on his face. They didn’t look like they were having fun, but they surely looked like they were having a moment. Julianne was looking at Jack the way she had never looked at him before and it pissed him off. The man should be out there doing his job. What the hell was he doing here talking to his Julianne like he was on a freaking vacation?

Unlike last time, Zach decided he should shower and dress first before he would interrupt their little moment together. He had to act cool, he thought.

“There’s a date scheduled for today,” Fatima told him the moment he stepped out his door fifteen minutes later.

“Where?” he asked.

“On a nearby island,” she said, looking at her clipboard.

“With?”

“A group date with Tanya, Julianne, and Hanna,” she answered.

Zach skidded to a stop and Fatima almost bumped into him. “Who else are coming?” he asked.

“The usual…the camera guy and some crew you want to bring with you.”

“What if I’m taking the ladies somewhere like Vegas?” he asked.

Fatima frowned. “You will have to spend the night there if you will.”

“Good.”

“But you will need to bring more crew. Vegas is a big place and I think Jack—”

“He won’t come, will he?”

“I don’t know,” Fatima shrugged. “He’s got a lot of editing to do with—”

“Good! Then I’m taking the girls to Vegas. Cancel that island trip,” he ordered and continued walking. If he has a lot of editing to do, what the hell is he doing talking with Jules?

As he suspected, Jack was still there when he appeared. But the moment Julianne and Jack spotted him, the director stood up, murmuring something to Julianne that caused her to smile in a different way, and started walking towards him.

Zach tried to hide the scowl on his face. “Hey, I want to take the girls to Vegas,” he said to the man.

Surprise registered to Jack Carter’s face. “Vegas? I don’t think that will fit our budget…”

“It’s all on me,” Zach intercepted. “I want to get out this island for a while,” he added, his gaze travelling behind Jack’s shoulder where Julianne was still sitting, looking at them anxiously. Why is she looking nervous? “We’ll leave immediately,” he turned to Fatima and said, “Tell them to ready the boat and fuel the plane.”

Fatima nodded and rushed back to camp where all the staff stayed during working hours.

“I’ll go break the news,” he grinned forcefully at Jack Carter, who now he considered a contender.

Jack just nodded and he took off without a word.

“Hey, Jules!” he said loudly so Carter would hear. “Excited for our date?”

 *****

Julianne’s eyes squinted. “Date?”

Zach nodded eagerly. “Vegas, baby. We’re going to Vegas.”

“Vegas?” She hadn’t been to Vegas and never planned to.

Zach winked at her with a smile, leaned down to grab her hand. “Come on, you better pack.”

“Pack?” she asked stupidly.

“We’re going to stay there for a night,” he explained. “So go pack,” he pulled until she was on her feet.

Julianne looked at him, “Who else are coming?”

“Hanna and Tanya,” he offered. “Now, go,” he pushed her gently towards the door, his face excited.

Julianne just shook her head. This was another thing they didn’t have in common. He liked to party, she didn’t. But why was she even thinking what they had in common? She was leaving him in no time, right?

 *****

Zach did not spare a lot of time and rushed the ladies from their cabin and into the boat, which took them to the plane that was ready to fly, and thirty minutes later they were on the air going to Las Vegas.

He was smiling contentedly to himself as he watched the island from his window. Finally, he had Julianne all to himself again. Almost. Hanna and Tanya wouldn’t leave him alone for even a second. They always had something to say like the different kinds of clouds, the weather, his hair, the show…everything.

He would be grateful if Julianne would join their conversation, but as always, she was seated far away from him, facing her laptop. Zach had been fighting the urge to grab the thing and toss it out the plane. It seemed more interesting than him? But he respected her passion for her work, so he wouldn’t dream of even touching it.

He knew he wouldn’t get the chance to talk to Julianne with Hanna and Tanya present without them noticing something for he very well knew that he would not act as normally as he would if he was with Julianne, and from what Chloe told him, the girls were already thinking he was especially fond of Julianne. He didn’t want to confirm their suspicions because he knew how they would make Julianne’s life miserable if that would happen. If only it were Pauline present, he would not have such a big problem.

That was why he left her alone. He would just have to think of a way how to get her for himself later tonight.

They arrived at McCarran International Airport by one in the afternoon and it took less than twenty minutes for the limo of Aria to take them to the hotel. Reservations were not a problem since hotels would always jump at any chance to greet with so much hospitality a group of people with money and television cameras. The limo drove through a private driveway of the 61-storey building. The moment they stepped out, they were escorted through a separate lobby for their private check-in and after that, another trip by a private elevator took them to their two-storey villa composed of three bedrooms.

Jack Carter ordered three camera guys to go with them, making Zach feel crowded than ever. But they would leave to go to their own rooms when the time came, so there would be no problem for later.

As the girls took in the view offered by the panoramic windows of their Sky Villa, he prepared drinks, watching Julianne’s face as she gazed outside from the corner of his eyes.

“Go pick your bedrooms,” he said as he handed them their drinks. The camera men were all over the place, doing their job, but he didn’t care. He was more eager to party tonight and finally get the chance to be alone with Julianne.

As soon as he said that, the two women, Hanna and Tanya, jumped on their feet and climbed up the stairs to pick a bedroom. Zach grinned, knowing they would share one room and Julianne would have the other for herself. He on the other hand, would have to sleep in the third one.

“What about you, Jules?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

 *****

“What about me?” Julianne asked. Deep inside, she was amazed. She never expected they would actually stay at one of the best five-star hotels in Las Vegas and that he managed to get one of the Sky Villas.

“I suppose you’ll take the other bedroom?” he asked.

“They will never share a room with me,” she scoffed in answer. She took her bag and started for the stairs. He stopped her by taking it from her hand.

“I’ll help you with these,” he said, taking the other.

“I’m not going out with you guys later,” she stated as they climbed up the stairs.

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll be sick,” she answered.

“Jules, come on, don’t do this. I actually did this for you, you know,” he whispered under his breath.

“You did it what?”

“For you,” he repeated. “So you better come or I’ll come get you and you won’t like it when I force you,” he warned playfully.

“Whatever,” she sighed. She knew it wouldn’t have worked anyway.

 *****

Zach stayed in his room, pacing around thinking of a plan for tonight. Hanna and Tanya would make things difficult unlike the last time with Pauline.

Then, out of nowhere, that tiny bell inside his head clanged. He immediately grabbed the phone and dialed a number.

“Liam, it’s me, Zach, you have to come to Vegas now.”

Chapter 13

“You act different around her,” Liam told him later that night. His friend flew immediately to Las Vegas, obviously excited to see how he was holding up, and to meet the girls.

“What are you talking about?” he said it with a snort. Of course he knew what—or rather who—he was talking about.

“You know what I’m talking about. And you know who I’m talking about,” his friend whispered to him before sipping his brandy. “You can’t take your eyes off her.”

“I don’t really know what you are referring to,” he insisted, leaning back against the couch.

“Do you want me to say her name out loud?” Liam taunted, his brown eyes twinkling with obvious amusement.

“It’s nothing,” he uttered with a sigh after a few seconds. Julianne was sitting across from them, looking at nothing in particular. Hanna and Tanya were enjoying themselves at some games at the other table right behind her. They were at The Deuce Lounge and there were quite a number of people around. But it seemed that Julianne was the only one who seemed to be out of place. She was dressed up, yes, much to his insistence earlier, but her face was as blank as the players playing poker around them.

“You obviously like her,” Liam chuckled. “But she doesn’t like you, does she?”

“Of course she does. Why else would she be here if she doesn’t?” he asked incredulously. He would never admit to anyone that Julianne was desperate to get out of the show.

“She’s not into you, I can see that,” Liam said, further aggravating his frustrations.

No, Julianne liked him, he denied. She was not just in the position she wanted. But he was willing to change her mind.

And then what?

You can’t have her in the end anyway, the silent fun-killer part of his mind cried out.

“So, Julianne, what are you into?” he heard Liam ask aloud.

Julianne snapped her head towards his friend. “I’m a writer,” she answered, her voice emotionless.

“What do you write?”

She shrugged, “Stuff.”

“What stuff?”

“She writes—” he started, but then he remembered Julianne’s choice of privacy and stopped. “She writes almost anything, right Jules?”

Liam turned his head towards him, frowned with amusement and chuckled. “Jules?”

“I call her that,” he said defensively. He looked at Julianne and stood up. “Okay, I know you’re tired. You’re tired right?”

Shocked, Julianne looked up at him and slowly nodded.

“Okay, I’ll take you back upstairs,” he said hurriedly. He looked back at his friend who was looking too appalled and too amused to even speak. “Hey, man, why don’t you take the girls to some poker while I take Julianne upstairs? I’ll be right back in no time,” he instructed.

Slowly, like Julianne, Liam nodded his brown head and said, “You sure you’re coming back?”

“Zach, I can go back on my own,” Julianne spoke up.

“Yes, Jules can do that,” Liam nodded his head vigorously with a wicked glint in his eyes.

Zach was getting annoyed at his friend. He was not making this easier. “No, she’s as frail as a bug and she might get lost. Her eyesight is poor.”

“What?” Julianne asked, startled and confused by his stupid remark.

“I can see she can see you’re acting like a child now so I guess her eyesight is—” Liam broke his sentence and held up his hands when Zach sharply turned to him with a murderous look. “Okay, it’s probably the best idea that you take her upstairs. Take all the time that you need.”

“Good,” Zach nodded and turned to Julianne. “Let’s go, Jules, you’re ruining the mood by your sour look. I know you prefer to be alone with your computer,” he took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

“Zach, I can go back on my own—”

“I take you back upstairs or you stay here. You choose,” he said it like he was talking to a toddler.

“Fine,” she huffed and looked at Liam, “Goodbye, it was nice to meet you.”

Liam gave a salute and said, “Anytime, Jules, ” and Zach could have punched the man with the taunting look he threw at him as he called her by the name he preferred using.

 *****

As they rode the elevator alone to their room, Zach suddenly felt restless. He had two dilemmas at the moment.

 One, he knew Liam was sensing something was going on with him and he realized it was a mistake to have invited him. He acted on his impulses and the need to be desperately alone with Jules again tonight that he did not think of how his friend would see things as they happened. And two, he didn’t know if Jules was even aware he had gone through—and risked—a lot of things just so he could get her alone to…what? What did he even want to do once he was alone with her? He was so focused on his desire to just be with her that he did not get the chance to think about what he wanted to do with her. It seemed that all he wanted was to be with her.

Just be with her. Hell, he didn’t even care if she gave him the cold shoulder that she usually threw at him.

I’m really going crazy for this weird girl with ugly eyeglasses, he thought silently as he watched the numbers above them light up.

“You shouldn’t have left them,” Julianne mumbled beside him.

He turned his head and studied her once again. She looked marvelous—as usual—in her black strapless dress. He had the sudden urge to take her in his arms and devour her right there and then.

“Liam can take care of them,” he waved off. “I’m feeling tired myself as well,” he lied.

It was only then that he noticed that there was not a camera guy standing at the corner. Didn’t they notice them get out? Well, they were obviously focused on filming the other ladies what with their plunging necklines and tight-fitting clothes.

And not being filmed didn’t matter to him. Maybe, just maybe, it was a sign that this might just be his lucky night.

 *****

“You should get back,” Julianne said as they entered the villa.

“Liam can handle them,” he answered, going to the bar. “You want a drink?”

“No, I think I’ll go sleep,” Julianne lied. She could never sleep tonight. She was feeling different…weird even. She didn’t know what to think anymore. It was like Vegas had this powerful magic that would open your eyes to almost anything beautiful and right now, since they arrived, she couldn’t help but not notice Zach’s green eyes.

As pointed out, it was really weird.

She had been able to stand too close to him—even to the point of kissing him—a lot of times during their stay at the island, but she had never noticed how beautiful his eyes were. Even now, when he was standing far away from her, she could still see the color in them.

She was really going crazy. Why the hell, of all things, she suddenly took notice of his eyes?

Because she had seen them flare up with anger earlier that morning when he saw her with Jack, because she had seen them flicker towards her from time to time during their plane ride, because she saw them twinkle when hers met them, and because she saw how they glittered every time he laughed and how they would search hers to see if she was having fun as well.

She didn’t realize she was getting lost into their green depths once again, and she didn’t realize he was walking slowly towards her, his face serious and solemn and tender.

Finally, when she felt his strong presence, his warmth, she blinked and snapped back to her senses. She cleared her throat and turned her head to the window and said, “I’ll go in first,” she whispered hoarsely and stepped sideways so she wouldn’t bump against his chest.

“Jules,” he whispered and his voice was low and manly. Not the boyish kind she was used to. Not the playful tone she was so aware of. This was a different Zach calling her name and she surprisingly liked it.

“I really need to go to bed, Zach,” she whispered.

“You’re avoiding me,” he pointed with a slow grin.

Okay, so the Zach she knew was still somewhere there after all. “No,” she snapped. “I’m just tired.”

She felt his hand on her arm as she passed him, pulling her back, but it was not harsh, rather it was gentle and tender.

Julianne didn’t know if it was the knowledge that they were in the city of sin or the alcohol she took earlier, that she felt the air around them was just different. It was, in some ways, different from the one that surrounded them in the island when they first kissed. She closed her eyes and bent her head when Zach took one step closer. She was getting warmer and that dangerous yearning she felt before started to integrate inside her once again. This is really crazy…

“Stay,” he whispered in her ear, his breath tingling and warming her all at the same time. Julianne stifled a gasp.

Say something, anything… she willed herself, but couldn’t.

She could feel Zach’s breath against her skin, his lips touching her cheek in a feather-like kiss as it travelled across her face. She anticipated the moment. She was fully awake, but she felt that she was in a dream.

A very slow, sweet, dangerous dream.

And when Zach’s lips finally hovered over her lips, she almost gasped with impatience. He was teasing her and she was aware of that. With the little amount of strength that she had left, she tilted her face forward just a little to send him the message.

He got her answer and she was suddenly crushed against him and his mouth devoured hers in a desperate grateful, hungry kiss. One hand restlessly roamed around her back, pressing her against his hard length, the other at her nape, holding her head for a deeper kiss.

Fire surged up inside Julianne. This was completely different from what they shared at the island—that one time she could remember, at least.

Mindlessly, her hands spread across his chest and she felt his muscles tighten. Their breathing were coming fast, but neither of them chose to break away, knowing that if they did, she would come back to her senses and the magic would go away. Heat was coming fast and they could either extinguish it or take it to higher heights.

 *****

Zach couldn’t believe what was happening. He didn’t plan it this way, really.

Okay, so yes, maybe it crossed his mind, but he rejected that idea knowing Julianne would not go as far as that.

But it seemed that he was wrong about that too because she was answering his kiss and touch with the same yearning and burning passion. Her mouth tasted like heaven and her body felt like it against his.

He slowly led them towards the nearest possible makeshift bed he could think of and it was the couch. Going upstairs was out of the question. She could go back to her senses and he would have to suffer alone once again.

They dropped on the couch and he was grateful she didn’t budge and continued to unbutton his shirt with shaky, urgent fingers. He had been undressed countless of times, but why did it feel like it was his first time as Julianne’s restless fingers undid his buttons?

He traced his hand along her thigh, going higher.

This is really happening… part of his brain said in disbelief as Julianne arched towards him.

With a soft chuckle against her mouth, he took off her glasses and threw them on the carpeted floor.

But he didn’t expect it to make a ringing sound. His lips froze against Julianne’s and a frown formed across his face. What was that sound?

 And then desire came over once again and he continued with his work, inching his hand higher to her waist, taking her dress with it.

“Zach,” Julianne tore off her lips from his.

He groaned. “What, Jules? Please, don’t say no, not when we’re like this,” he emphasized his words by taking his hands to the sides of her breasts.

She stifled a moan, but shook her head. “Zach, it’s the door,” she said breathlessly.

For a short moment, he was lost. “What?”

“The door. Can’t you hear it?”

Of course he could. He just chose to ignore it or identify what it was.

“It’s just room service. Or Liam. I don’t really care,” he rushed, leaning down to take her mouth.

She turned her head away from his lips. “Zach, you’re not the only one who has a key,” she pointed out.

Groaning in defeat, he leaned his forehead against the side of her head, and with what was left of his sensible strength, pushed away from her and buttoned his shirt. “I should have barred it…with nails…and a thousand padlocks,” he grumbled as he grabbed her glasses from the floor and handed it back to her.

The door rang again and he jumped to his feet, crying, “What?!”

“It’s me,” Liam said as he finally opened the door. “What’s keeping you?”

“What do you mean what’s keeping me? We just got here!” he couldn’t help his frustration from showing.

Liam raised his brows in amusement and said, “Uh, no, you were gone for like half an hour now,” he said, tapping his watch.

Zach frowned. They were gone that long? They had been making out that long? What the hell? “What do you want?”

Liam extended his neck to look behind his shoulder and through the crack of the door. “You’re not letting me in?”

“No, because I told you to watch over Hannah and Tanya. You’re not really doing it.”

“They’re asking for you,” his friend stated, leaned closer and added in a whisper, “Why? What were you doing before I rang?”

“Shut up and get out.”

“Hey, I’m serious. Those girls are looking for you.”

Zach took a deep breath. He should have called a more convincing and charming friend.

“Go,” Julianne said from the couch. “I’ll be fine here. I really need to rest anyway,” she added, standing up. She started for the stairs.

There went his lucky night. He sighed in defeat.

“Fine,” he snapped at Liam and pushed him out the doorway and closed it behind him.

“Dude, you’re really into her, aren’t you?”

He did not answer. He was not even sure what to think anymore. All he wanted to do was to break his friend’s neck for intruding.

 *****

Julianne lay on her bed wide awake for the next two to three hours. She tried working, but nothing came to mind. She was so full of what happened downstairs and what could have happened. God, she would have allowed that to happen and wouldn’t have had second thoughts. She wasn’t sure if she was glad or not about Liam’s untimely appearance.

She was sprawled on her bed when the silent knock came. She jumped to the floor, and her heart started racing. It must be Zach. She knew it in her gut it was him. What the hell should she do? And why did he come back? It was past three in the morning already. Maybe he finally decided to come back with the girls.

The knock came again, this time it was louder. Slowly, she walked to the door and opened it a crack. And surely, there he was, standing with his hand on the doorway, grinning from ear to ear.

And he smelled like brandy. “Zach, you’re drunk,” she hissed.

“No, I’m not,” he shook his head. “I want to be with you, Jules,” he whispered, leaning closer.

She could feel the touch of alcohol in his breath. “Zach, you’re drunk. You need to sleep it off,” she pushed him gently.

“I want you. I want to be with you. You know that, right? I…” he trailed off as he tried to balance on both feet, “I…I like you…very…much and you’re really making it hard for me, you know that?”

She was surprised by his words. Yes, of course she’d heard the first sentences before, but the last part startled her. She never imagined he felt like that. “Zach, we’ll talk in the morning,” she promised. “Go to sleep.”

“We’ll talk…” he nodded.

“Yes,”

“But I want to be with you…”

“Zach,” she said strongly, wanting him to walk away before she changed her mind. She couldn’t face him like this.

“Okay…tomorrow…” he repeated and she nodded. Slowly, he turned around and walked to his room.

Julianne closed the door and sighed, leaning against it.

She pushed away and paced around her room for another three to five minutes. Sleep was not a choice tonight, she thought.

Blast it…

She finally gave up, turned to the door, opened it, and walked towards Zach’s room.

For a long moment, she just stood there, arguing with herself. Taking up her courage, she held up her hand in a fist to knock. She stopped, changed her mind and took the knob. With the last remaining courage, she turned it and swung the door open.

And wished she didn’t.

There, lying on the bed, was Hanna, her hair rumpled, dressed in…well, nothing but the white sheet of cloth around her.

And there, standing by the bed was Zach, his shirt half open, his face shocked.

“Jules!” he cried out.

Julianne held up her hand, “Save it, Zach.” And then she turned away to walk back to her room with a surprisingly big amount of tears pooling in her eyes.

Chapter 14

Zach was in panic now. He honestly didn’t know how Hanna entered his room before he did.

“Get out,” he told her through clenched teeth, his voice cold.

“Zach, come on…” Hanna purred, pushing the only covering she had aside.

In normal circumstances, he would have jumped on the bed, but he was just furious and in a great deal of panic to even consider some chemical response at seeing her gorgeous body naked on the bed. “Get out, Hanna,” he said stonily.

“Zach, I know you want this…”

“Fine, enjoy yourself,” he snapped and walked out the door. He almost ran to Julianne’s door and when he reached it, he knocked. “Jules.” No answer. “Jules.”

“Go away, Zach. I’m sleeping.”

“No, you’re not. Open the door and let me explain.” He knocked once again. “Jules.”

He stepped back in alarm as the door suddenly swung open. “What? You don’t have to explain anything,” Julianne’s voice was as blank as her face.

“I swear I didn’t know she was there, Jules.”

“Yeah, right. I don’t really care,” she started to close the door again and he stopped it by one hand.

“Jules, come on, you know I was with you not five minutes ago.”

“And when you didn’t get what you want, you jumped right to the next one. I get it. You don’t really need to explain, Zachary,” she pushed the door close as she said, “and forget about that talk tomorrow.”

“Jules!” he cried out as the door finally shut at his face.

“Zach, what are you doing?” Hanna was standing beside him now fully dressed. She eyed him suspiciously then looked at Julianne’s door. “Was it Julianne who came in earlier?”

“What?”

“Was it Julianne? Why are you outside her door?” her eyes were getting really angry now.

“No, it was not Julianne. Go back to your room,” he started walking around her.

“I’m sure I heard you say her name earlier in the room…”

“You are drunk. You were imagining things. No one came in.”

She suddenly appeared lost. “No one?”

“Yes, so go back. And Hanna, don’t do that again,” he warned.

Her face colored and she nodded.

Zach couldn’t let her or the other girls know about his interest towards Julianne. It would make things difficult for her. But he also had to explain himself.

He slammed his door closed and groaned in frustration.

How could things turn out this way?

 *****

Zach was sulking the next day. Julianne wasn’t even looking at him and she was avoiding everyone that even the camera men noticed and were wise to avoid her.

And every time Zach saw Hanna, he wanted to strangle her. He wanted to drag her towards Jules and order her to tell her nothing happened. He couldn’t do that though and he knew that. Hanna herself was avoiding him, her face flushing every time her eyes met his. At least she felt shame at what she did, he thought.

The only person who didn’t have any idea—apart from the crew and Liam who already went home after breakfast—was Tanya, and she was regarding them with a curious look.

“Did something happen that I don’t know?” he heard her ask Hanna.

He was sure Hanna would never tell a soul. She would never tell anyone that she was rejected the other night. “Nothing,” was her response.

As the girls went up to gather their things, Zach took the chance to talk to Julianne again.

“Before you say ‘get out’, I want you to know that nothing happened with Hanna last night,” Zach said in haste, barging in her room. Julianne looked up from her task of arranging her bag, her face unreadable. “Jules, you have to believe me. I didn’t know she was in my room!” he explained with his hands, wanting to shake her, to get her to reveal any reaction. Anger, frustration, bitterness, or if it was possible, relief, that she was feeling something. “Jules, I’m telling you the truth,” his voice was getting desperate.

If Liam was around and witness what was happening, he would be laughing his ass out by now.

“You don’t need to explain anything to me, Zach,” was Julianne’s deadpan response and she continued folding her clothes.

“I want you to know I did not plan anything like that. Well, I did, but I wanted it to be with you. She just…I don’t know how, but she just appeared on my bed like that.”

“And you just happen to be half naked as well. Right,” Julianne scoffed.

“I was getting ready to sleep and I didn’t see her, honest to God, I didn’t! When I turned on the lights, she was there and then you came in,” he explained hurriedly. “Jules, tell me you believe me.”

 *****

He looked at her inquiringly and his eyes were telling her that her answer was very crucial. She had a long time to think last night and mind you, she thought of every possible reason she could think of. And his excuse was one of the things she considered.

Julianne sighed and looked at him, “I believe you,” and then she held up a hand to stop him when he made a move towards her, “but I’ve had enough. Just…spare me.”

Zach stood frozen, his smile wavering. “What do you mean?”

“It means I don’t want anything to do with you, Zach,” she answered. “Look, I get it. This is your world,” she spread her hands in the air. “Things like last night happens every time for you like a…like an everyday birthday party. I can’t handle that. I’ll be leaving after the top four and I don’t think I want complications.”

“I don’t know what you mean…”

“What I mean is…just spare me with the little games. I don’t want what happened last night between us to happen again. It will only make things complicated, so don’t think you have something to answer for. Don’t think that you have a responsibility to explain what happens to you every time because I don’t want that. This is a show meant to entertain other people and I don’t think I can mix myself into it. I can’t separate my emotion from what is happening in this show anymore,” she finished.

A very long silence reigned between them that she could even hear the ticking of her watch. Zach’s face appeared to be confused for a moment and then he frowned. “Jules, are you telling me you like me?”

His statement made her jaw drop. “What? Where the hell did you get that?”

“You said you can’t separate your emotion from what is happening in this show anymore. It says you were really affected by what you thought was happening between me and Hanna last night, which means you have feelings for me.” That stupid grin of his broke out on his face again. “You like me.”

He totally nailed it. She couldn’t believe he would have caught that part of her speech, dissected it, and finally came up to the exact conclusion. “You’re overanalyzing things, Zachary,” she said.

“No, Jules, you like me!” he was almost jumping on his feet.

“Of course not.”

“Then stay. Stay until the end,” he said without hearing her.

“What do you mean?”

“Stay until the show is finished.”

She looked at him, “No, we had a deal, Zach. I’m only after top four. Which means you will let me go home when you choose the top three,” she reminded him. “So please, don’t make this any more complicated for me. I have more important things to think about than…” she trailed off.

“Than what?”

“Nothing,” she snapped and closed her bag. “Let’s go back to the island. I don’t like this place anymore,” she announced and walked to the door.

 *****

Jules cursed herself for not handling the situation earlier as she had planned. She could have convinced him they were not going to work but somehow, she said something wrong and now Zach was looking at her with amusement.

They just climbed on the boat and were on their way to the island. Hanna and Tanya were talking to themselves, whispering something that seemed so important. Whatever it was, Julianne got the feeling that it was not really good.

No one said a word the moment they got out of the boat and jumped back to sand. Hanna and Tanya, to Julianne’s great surprise were too eager to go back to the cabin that they did not even linger beside Zach which gave him the opportunity to talk to her again.

The cameras were still rolling and he was careful with his words when he said, “I’ll see you soon, Jules. We really need to talk.”

“Yeah,” she answered for the sake of the camera and walked off ahead of him.

When she entered the cabin, everyone were huddled together, their heads merged as Tanya chatted on. And then they stopped when they sensed her presence. Only Pauline jumped up and greeted her.

“Julianne! How was it?” she asked.

“It was…okay,” she shrugged. “What are they talking about now?” she asked when Pauline came near her.

Pauline looked back, turned to her, and pulled her towards the stairs by hand. They went to their room and her friend said, “They were talking about you,” as soon as the door closed.

“What about me?”

“Hanna said you planned to go into Zach’s room last night but then she was already there doing…you know,” she cringed.

Julianne gaped. What a bitch!

I bet she won’t like it when I tell everyone the truth… she thought.

But she wouldn’t do that. What for? All of them—including Pauline—were fighting for Zach’s attention and she was not willing to stoop down their level and join the game. She was here for a different reason. She would not do anything because of Zach.

She didn’t know if she could convince herself of it all the time though.

 *****

She couldn’t sleep that night. She never saw Zach after they arrived at the island, but it was him that was running around her mind all day. That passionate moment they shared last night was eating inside her and she couldn’t get the picture—and the feeling—out of her system. While the girls were having their late night dinner, she crept out the back door and went to her tree. Yes, it was her tree now.

Julianne couldn’t believe that a lot of things happened to her here that she never imagined. She had really thought that she could go back home that first Rose Ceremony. Who would have thought that Zach would be stupid and naïve to even pick her?

As soon as the lights came out inside the cabin, she got up and came in. It was nearly midnight, she noted, and she decided to sleep off whatever she was thinking. Pauline was already asleep and she crept slowly inside. She found her computer on the bed, still on. She forgot to turn it off earlier. Looking at the blank screen, she had the urge to write but nothing—not a word—came to mind.

She’d start on that tomorrow, she thought.

 *****

They were yet again surprised by Brent the following day by announcing that they would be playing volleyball by the beach. Julianne was never good at sports, but she had to join. There were only ten of them and there would be five members each team.

She feared balls coming her way and she was right about it because the girls of the opposing team, Hanna, Chloe, Tanya, Penny, and Kim were making it sure that the ball landed on her. If only she could do some really good spikes, she would have cracked their brains open with the ball like what they were obviously trying to do to her.

Her team mates, Pauline, Stella, Jenny, and Amanda were shouting at her for not hitting the ball right. She was saying sorry every freaking time and she was starting to really hate the word.

Zach was watching with Brent, his face shadowed by the sun. His fixated gaze on her was not helping either. Obviously, the other girls were desperate to win his attention by slamming the ball hard towards her. They must have figured out she was not really good at it because of her poor eyesight.

 *****

Zach was getting furious. The heat of the sun was not helping either. In fact, it was boiling his blood high. Julianne was obviously not doing well and the girls were taking advantage of it.

“Don’t you think it’s time to cut the game short?” he asked Brent.

“They’re enjoying, can’t you see?” Brent asked, eyeing Chloe and Hanna. “Just look at those buds, man…”

Zach was not paying attention. His eyes were locked on Julianne and from the look on her face, she was near outburst. “I think Julianne’s not feeling fine.”

“Of course she doesn’t. The ball’s been hitting her hard since they started. She really needs to get those eyes fixed,” Brent said without taking his eyes off his subjects.

“Hey,” Jack Carter’s voice said behind him. Zach turned and saw that the man was wearing a concerned look on his face. “I don’t think Julianne’s doing great. Can’t you do anything to stop this?”

Zach’s temper snapped and he pushed away from the bench. “You don’t really have to tell me that. I was just about to do that. Just go back to you work,” he said under his breath, his words intended only for the man’s ears. And then he turned away. “Okay, ladies, why don’t we stop this? The sun’s really hot and I don’t want any of you dehydrated. Let’s go get some drinks!” he announced and he heard Brent’s groan behind him.

“I think we won!” Chloe announced proudly.

Zach forced a smile, “Yeah, you did.”

He stopped Julianne when she passed by him. “Jules, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she walked away with Pauline.

Of course she isn’t, she was hit by the ball a number of times, his brain said. His face shadowed with anger when she stopped to talk to Jack Carter.

Jealousy was not a feeling he was good at and he was not handling it well at the moment.

 *****

While they were having lemonade, Brent urged them to gather around him, Zach included for a little interview.

“So, how are things so far?” the host asked. The cameras were rolling all around them in every direction. Julianne, as what she always did whenever something like this happens, chose to sit back and listen and observe.

“A lot of surprises,” Chloe chimed in.

“Surprises?”

“Yes, like when we went fishing the other day when Zach went to Vegas with Tanya and Hanna?” Chloe answered, deliberately leaving out Julianne’s name. “We didn’t know there were sharks in that cave! It was such a big surprise, really.”

Zach frowned. “There were sharks?”

“Yes! I nearly got killed, didn’t you know that?”

“Uh, Chloe, I don’t think there are sharks around this area,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Well, that time there was,” she said simply. “And then, what else was the surprising thing again?” she turned to Tanya and Hanna, and then her eyes travelled to Julianne.

Something told her something nasty was going to come out of the bitch’s mouth.

“Oh, yeah, well, I don’t know if this is surprising, but someone told me Julianne was so bold during Vegas and that she came inside Zach’s room. And oh, did I mention she is J. Green, the author?”

Everyone was silent for a long moment and those who were familiar of her pen name turned to her with awe. And those who weren’t were probably focused on the first revelation that they threw her an incredulous look.

But Julianne was stunned. She didn’t care what everyone thought about her coming in Zach’s room.

 She snapped her head at Zach, glaring at him with accusing eyes. He was the only one who knew about her being J. Green.

But he looked as stunned as her as well.

But no one knew about it other than him, she thought.

She was just about to jump on her feet when Zach’s voice boomed. “Where the hell did you get that, Chloe?”

Julianne froze in the couch—well, everyone froze. Even Jack Carter who was seated behind the cameras was stupefied. The shock of Chloe’s revelation was still in the air, but Zach’s sudden angry outburst was more shocking. That voice, that tone, was a complete stranger to everyone.

She looked at Chloe and the girl was as pale as paper.

Zach was on his feet, his eyes boring into Chloe, his lips pursed, and his jaw clenched.

Oh, oh, Zach was obviously not happy and he was really angry—for the first time.

Chapter 15

Zach’s anger surged up not when he heard Chloe’s statement, but when he saw Julianne’s accusing glare. For the first time, he was angry at her for even thinking that he would betray her trust.

He directed his anger towards Chloe, yes, but he was angrier at Julianne. He was hurt.

“Where did you get that story, Chloe?” he asked again.

Chloe was looking pale, her mouth open and out of words. “I…I…someone told me,” she uttered.

He took a deep breath. He could see Julianne was shocked from the corner of his eye. Hell, she should be! He didn’t say anything about her being J. Green. Was she shocked because she thought he told someone? Or was she shocked because he got angry all of a sudden?

“Nothing happened in Las Vegas,” he decided to address that issue and hopefully, no one would ask about Julianne being the author of the number one thriller book. He looked at Hanna and the girl cowered. “Nothing happened, right, Hanna?” his voice was like ice now, his eyes like daggers.

“No, nothing happened,” she said in a whisper.

Everyone behind the camera was speechless, even Brent.

“Good, because I went to bed alone,” he looked at each women in the eye, including Julianne’s. “I don’t like this rumors circulating around you girls. It’s just plain immature,” he stated. Whirling around, he looked at Jack Carter and said, “I don’t want this shoot aired.” The man nodded and he turned his attention back to the ladies, “Let’s forget about what was said here and start all over again. As for Julianne being J. Green, that’s for her to tell and you can’t go around announcing such information without her knowledge. Now,” he forced a small smile, “let’s just have fun and no fighting. I don’t like it.”

The ladies nodded their heads solemnly. He looked at Julianne. She diverted her gaze and anger rose up in his throat once again. He decided he should leave to cool things down. He had never snapped in front of a lot of people before.

“I hope you clear this thing up before I return for tonight’s dinner,” he declared and left the cabin without another word.

 *****

“Oookay…” Brent said after a long time of awkward silence. “Why don’t we continue this later?” he got up and walked out the door. What a jerk.

Julianne, her mind whirling with all the things that had happened since Vegas, followed suit and almost ran up to her room. She was followed by Pauline.

“Julianne, are you okay? I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that bitch was going to do that. If I had known, I would have told you,” her friend uttered gently, sinking in the bed beside her.

“That’s okay, I don’t expect anything good from them,” she answered, her voice blank. Her mind was full of Zach as of the moment. Funny, she didn’t care at all that everyone knew of her identity as J. Green. She was more bothered by the gaze Zach directed towards her before he left. He looked hurt and angry at the same time.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“About what?” she asked absently, staring up at the ceiling.

“That you’re J. Green,” Pauline said, her voice full of awe rather than accusation.

“I wanted it to be kept a secret for a while,” she replied.

Her friend nodded. “But Zach knows, right? I saw it in his eyes when Chloe said those words. He was more shocked that she knew than at the news.”

“Yeah,” she nodded her head once. “He knew it a long time ago.”

“You think he told Chloe?”

“No,” she answered. Yes, of course she thought he told her—at first. But seeing his reaction earlier, she was certain he didn’t. “No, I think he wouldn’t do that,” she repeated silently. And then she groaned. How could things turn upside down? She was the one who was supposed to be angry at him, and now she felt like she needed to apologize. She knew he knew that she thought he told Chloe and somehow, she knew he was hurt by it. She saw it in his eyes.

And he was angry too.

“What’s wrong?” Pauline asked.

“Nothing, I think I need to go out and be alone for a while,” she sat up and climbed out of bed.

“Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Yes, I am,” she lied once again. “I’ll be back before dinner.”

 *****

She was under her usual tree, just sitting there, when Jack Carter’s voice spoke up.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re J. Green?” he asked, his face shadowed by the sun behind him.

Julianne looked up and smiled. “I didn’t think it was necessary,” she answered.

“The hell it is!” Jack cried. “I could have given you the job in an instant!”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Because I was thinking I needed you to fill a more important slot in this stupid show. But if you had told me you’re J. Green, I would have knelt down on the floor to ask you to accept the writing job.”

She scoffed. “No, you wouldn’t have.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he sighed and grinned. “So, what is someone like J. Green doing here?”

“I want that job, I told you that,” she scooted as he sat down beside her.

“What for? You have an amazing career writing amazing stories,” he pointed out.

“I wanted to do some research and expand my knowledge about television and stuff.”

“For your next novel,” he stated matter-of-factly.

She nodded.

“I can get you out of this show if you want,” he offered.

She snapped her head towards him, “You will?”

“Of course. I know you can be a lot of help for my next project. If you want, I can make another contract. You can say no the next Rose Ceremony if ever Zachary picks you again.”

That was a really tempting offer, she thought. And she wanted to grab it. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary,” she shook her head.

Jack looked shocked. “You don’t want to get out of here?”

“Of course I want to. But…” her voice trailed off. She didn’t know why she said no. “I have a deal with Zach. He’s going to let me go after the top four.”

“What does that really mean?”

“I will be in the top four, but after that, I will be going home. I won’t stay for the top three. That’s what our deal is,” she explained.

“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I smell something else. He obviously likes you and you…you are getting a little fond of him, I can tell,” he grinned at her.

Julianne snorted, “You’re wrong. Zach is annoying as hell and I will never like someone like him. He’s a player and he only wants me because he can’t get me that easily.”

“Nah, I think he genuinely likes you,” Jack waved off. “He was angry earlier wasn’t he?”

“Yeah,” she answered, not knowing where Jack was leading.

“He was angry because you thought he told Chloe about your little secret,” he stated.

“How did you—”

“I’m the man behind the cameras, Julianne. I see everything. And I’m pretty good at reading faces.” He stood up, his eyes focused on the horizon. “Whatever’s bothering you, I think you should get it over with once and for all. You wouldn’t want regrets once it’s time for you to go home, right?”

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. She couldn’t understand what he was talking about—or maybe she did and just chose to ignore it. She was still denying the fact that she had something to patch up with Zach. She was still in denial that she was starting to like him and she was aware of that. She was not just ready yet. She couldn’t like Zach because she had to leave soon. That would complicate things and she didn’t know how to handle things from there if ever. She was an expert at making up a very complicated plot and she was an even greater writer for writing things to work out. But in real life, she lacked experience at matters of the heart.

Shit, she was going deeper.

“I have to go, I have work to do,” Jack smiled down at her and walked away.

 *****

Just as when his anger was subsiding, it flared higher when he saw Jack Carter walking towards Julianne under their tree. Yes, it was their tree. He owned the island and he owned that tree. Julianne liked that tree and he shared a few intimate moments with her under that thing. So yes, it was theirs. She couldn’t share it with anyone like she was doing now, talking and smiling up at that man.

If the director was a big, stocky fifty year-old, it would have been fine. But the man was young, handsome, and was great at his job. Zach, as much as he wanted to deny it, was intimidated by the man and he felt threatened. Julianne was all smiles when she was with Jack Carter. And he couldn’t even get her to smile like that.

Infuriated at himself and at her, he stayed inside his cabin like a kid having a tantrum. He only went out when it was time for dinner.

 *****

And it was the most awkward dinner Julianne ever attended. The ladies were still obviously afraid that Zach was still in a sour mood, but it seemed that he wasn’t. In fact, he was acting great as usual. But there was one big difference.

He was completely, utterly, perfectly ignoring her. She was not used to that. Every time they were in this situation, his eyes would always travel towards her, trying to catch her gaze. But now, it seemed that she was not there. Julianne tried to act cool about it, but the longer she stayed in his presence, the stronger the feeling that he was still angry.

Chloe and the others were getting a little bit more comfortable now that Zach seemed cool about what happened and that there was a possibility he completely forgot about it. The rest of the night was just not what Julianne would call perfect.

 *****

Seeing Zach ignoring her was what she had wanted from the start. Now, she was not sure if she wanted it anymore. The situation was still the same the rest of the week. Once, she even thought of coming to his cabin to talk to him, tell him she was sorry, but fear of being shoved away stopped her.

It was the night of the next Rose Ceremony that she found out how Chloe managed to know about her identity as J. Green. She was just entering the kitchen when she stopped upon hearing the girls giggling.

“It was easy, really,” Chloe bragged, “her computer was on and Pauline was asleep. I was shocked of course when I saw the documents and the draft of the story. I was completely stunned. Who would have thought Julianne is J. Green? I know I read her story and I was awed. But now, I change my mind. I don’t like the book anymore.” A round of chuckles and giggles rang around the room.

Julianne took a step back and walked away. So that was how she found out. The bitch trespassed inside her room and checked her computer? What a sneak!

And now she was utterly sure that Zach had nothing to do about it and guilt washed over her strongly. She threw him an accusing look that day a week ago and he was hurt. She should really apologize. But how? He was not even talking to her anymore. Hell, he was not even throwing her a glance.

 *****

Zach was suffering for days now. A lot of emotions had been swirling inside him. Bitterness, longing, yearning, and…sadness, he was not even sure. He didn’t know how to point it out, but he felt like hell. He wanted to go near Julianne, talk to her, annoy her like he used to, but he couldn’t. For once, he wanted to know that she regretted ever thinking he would betray her trust. It was important for him that she trusted him.

So, yes, okay, his past and initial actions shouldn’t be regarded as honest and loyal, but he knew how she treasured her privacy. He respected that and he never, not even once though he wanted to brag about her achievements, did he ever mention her pen name to anyone.

It was time for the top eight Rose Ceremony and he had another surprise for the girls. Tonight, two girls would be staying behind tomorrow and go back home. While the rest, he would take somewhere far and different—Julianne included.

 *****

“Ladies, it’s time for another heartbreaking event,” Brent said with a solemn tone. “Tonight, two of you will be left behind to go home tomorrow morning. The others, those who will remain, will have the opportunity to go somewhere else.”

Excitement and glee crossed the features of each and every one of the girls that surrounded Julianne. She, on the other hand, was busily looking at Zach who was staring at everyone apart from her. She wanted to talk to him.

What if he doesn’t choose me this time? What if he will eventually let me go? She asked herself.

That will be what you want, right? Another part of her asked.

Actually, she didn’t know if that was what she wanted tonight.

“Zach? Are you ready?” Brent asked the same question he asked every time.

His face serious, Zach nodded and stepped forward. The roses were wheeled in and he picked one up.

“Julianne,” he uttered her name without emotion.

Of course he would hold on to the deal, she thought. Without anyone nudging her, she walked up to him and took the rose. No speech this time. He just gave her the rose, not even meeting her eyes. She took it and walked to where Fatima was. She could feel the pang in her chest. She was not supposed to feel it, but she did. And it hurt.

“Chloe,” he announced after saying her name and Chloe, with relief in her face, walked up to him and got the rose. She gave him a peck and Julianne almost fumed.

 *****

Zach didn’t dare look at Julianne’s face and he concentrated at the task on hand. His eyes roamed around the ladies. He saw Hanna and reminded himself that he couldn’t pick her. She had almost jeopardized his chance with Julianne. Chloe was a bitch, he knew that, but she had to stay. That was what the producers wanted anyway. He called Pauline’s name, followed by Stella, Amanda, Kim, Penny, and Tanya.

The unlucky two, Jenny and Hanna had tears in their eyes as they hugged their friends.

Brent stepped in once again and said, “Hanna and Jenny, it was nice having you girls around, but Zach made the decision. As for you girls,” he grinned at the ones holding their roses. “We will all be leaving this island first thing tomorrow. Where? That’s another secret, right Zach?”

Zach forced a smile and nodded. He wanted to get the hell out of this island. He would have more time to talk and be with Julianne where they would be going. Tonight was not the right time, he thought. But tomorrow, he would try to talk to her. And she’d better say something to ease his mind.

NEW HOME

After eleven incredible years of sharing The Bachelor with you here on Wattpad, I have some heartfelt news to share.

The Bachelor is officially moving to its new home on Patreon (patreon.com/jdruizstories).

This story has grown with me—through late nights, creative highs and lows, and most of all, through your unwavering. For over a decade, it has been an honor to offer this story for free on Wattpad. But as I continue to grow as a writer and dedicate more time and resources to creating better content, I’ve made the decision to take this next step.

On Patreon, you’ll find The Bachelor and other stories (both old and new). It’s a place where I hope to build a closer, more sustainable community with readers who truly love and support this story.

This wasn’t an easy decision. I know how much this platform means to many of you, and it means the world to me, too. But if you’ve loved The Bachelor , I hope you’ll follow it to its new home. I will also understand if you cannot join us on Patreon. I do have other stories available for free here on Wattpad that you can enjoy.

Thank you for the eleven unforgettable years of loving The Bachelor. It wouldn’t be here without you.

With love and gratitude,

JD Ruiz