Page 103 of Insta Bride

Back to Step 1. Land Softli as a client. Step 2, cash in another week’s leave and whisk my wife off somewhere, maybe up to Daydream Island? Or where Hunter and Olivia got their mojo back—Lizard Island. Yes, if I pulled off Softli, my bosses would be ready to kiss my ass.

I could already imagine a villa overlooking one of the private beaches on Lizard Island. Room service on tap. I’d arrange dinner on the beach, drop to one knee and tell her I love her. I’d say it until she either believed it or said it back, hopefully both. Then, I’d make love to her at night, and fuck her in the morning. We’d come back and she’d be in love with me all over again.

Better still, she’d be fifty shades of pregnant.

I knew she wanted kids. I knew it.

Step 3, and this was an important step, shut down the Kenzie and Benjamin shitstorm. I knew their game. I knew that they’d faked it from coming on the show, to their fake romance. I had proof that they’d been leaking the old photos of me to the press. Sabotage was against the rules. I had a plan to get them disqualified from the whole competition, but my wife needed to trust me.

But, everywhere I turned, my reputation was kicking me up the ass.

Hunter: What did you do this time?

We’d become genuine friends and as long as I didn’t hurt Elena or piss off Olivia, he’d have my back.

Kye: Dunno. Make a list and I’ll tick them off.

Hunter: Just so you know, your girl is asking around for spare bedrooms

Kye: WTF?

Hunter: What did you do and how are you gonna fix it? I don’t want to lose my gym room because you can’t man up

Kye: I have a plan

Hunter: It’d better work

Kye: It all rests on tonight.

Hunter: Don’t fuck it up

I didn’t plan on fucking it up. I wanted one night to show her how much we fitted together. Softli was too big a client to take chances with. If I had any doubts about Elena and my marriage, I wouldn’t put her on show.

I loved her.

I loved my wife.

Four fucking words I never thought I’d think, let alone, say.

Tonight, we’d smash step one and tomorrow, we’d take on the world.

Pedros was an institution, I fingered the business card before confirming tonight’s booking. I’d already double checked with the potential client, Bree, and the limo service I didn’t need but the production team had arranged. I might as well triple check the restaurant as well.

Pedros On Darling Harbour was newer than the inner city classic that I’d originally tried to book. I’d wanted the atmosphere of thirty years of home-style Italian cuisine served by Pedro and his family rather than the five-star version. But, the TV network had organised some sort of sponsorship. If I picked a Tuesday night when the restaurant wasn’t normally busy, then we would have the restaurant almost to ourselves. Yes, there would be a few other diners around for atmosphere, but the night would be about Elena, my guest and I.

In front of the cameras, we’d wine, dine and hopefully, I’d sign my biggest client there and then.

Not even Elena knew how much I needed this deal. A couple of my accounts had been handled by friends. But there was nothing friendly about sharing bonuses or commissions. No. All the work I’d done for years leading up to being on the island had gone down in flames.

My work. My clients. My deals. What should have been my commissions were lining the pockets of my friends.

I needed tonight. I needed this deal just to prove to everyone I still had it.

I also wanted to prove to Elena she’d backed the right horse. I could be trusted to provide for us. If a client as big and powerful as Softli could trust me, she could.

Elena had clients literally baking her muffins and having them delivered to her office. Her clients loved her. Her bosses had just given her a promotion and the Softli commission would come in handy for the partnership buy-in when they offered.

“What time do you want me to be ready?” Elena had called around lunchtime.