Page 96 of Pity Pact
“I didn’t.”
She opens a manilla envelope, that I’m just now realizing she’s holding, and rifles through the papers. “I have a whole bunch of transcripts here where you’re clearly talking about your ex.”
I grab the papers out of her hand and look through them. “My mic was turned off when I said all of these things.”
“The mute feature on your audio was cut the first time we caught you turning it off.”
“You can’t do that,” I hiss.
“It’s states clearly in your contract that we’re allowed to use all audio from the time you walk into hair and makeup until the end of the evening.”
I push out of my chair into a warrior stance—lookout, villagers, I’m on the warpath. “I’m not going to stay here for this …” I realize I’m giving them the kind of drama they’re so obviously craving, but I can’t seem to help myself.
Trina doesn’t move or try to stop me. Instead, she says, “Will you look who’s coming through the ballroom doors …”
And just like that, Eva walks back into my life.
I snap around, wondering whose neck to wring first. “You brought Eva here?”
“We did. You made it rather obvious that your failure to move forward has to do with your inability to let go of your past. We thought the best way for you to let go was to confront the person responsible.”
“Right. You want me to think you did this for me, when everyone knows this was done for the show’s ratings.” Even though I’m a hundred percent sure they will cut this footage, I turn to the camera and say, “This is a warning to all you singles who think you can find love on reality television. All you’re going to find are people who want to make a buck at your expense.”
“Now, Tim,” Trina says, “that’s hardly fair. You haven’t even heard what Eva has to say.”
“And I’m not going to,” I tell her as I turn to make a beeline for the exit my ex is not currently near.
“Then I guess you won’t have a chance to hear what Eva tells everyone about you …” That stops me cold.
“How low can you people go?” I demand heatedly. “I mean, what if this was you?”
“I’ve had my own fair share of dating failures, Tim.” She’s not raising her voice in the slightest, which leads me to believe I’m going to be portrayed as a lunatic.
“You told me yourself, you’d never go on a reality show to find love,” I remind her. “You said it was because you’d be embarrassed to have your family and friends see you like that.”
It looks like I’ve finally cracked her shell. “How I meet people is none of your concern, Tim.”
“Because you know that all these reality shows want is to make you look like a fool.”
Her body goes rigid. “Why don’t you come with me and talk to Eva. Let’s help you gain the closure you need so you can move on.”
And in one crazy instant, I think to myself, why not? Why shouldn’t I let Eva show the world what a low-down poor excuse for a human she is? The only reason I’m on this show is because of her, so if I’m going to be made a fool of, why shouldn’t she share my fate?
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
PAIGE
Who in the world is the new woman walking into the ballroom? She must be someone special because all the cameras, except for the one pointed at Tim, turn in her direction. Staring at her, I realize she looks kind of familiar, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I don’t generally hang out with highly polished and glamorous people, and this chick looks like she just walked off the pages ofVoguemagazine.
Trina glides back across the ballroom with Tim trailing behind her. “We have a guest!” she announces with so much excitement, you’d think Jesus was here to bless the bread and wine.
On impossibly long legs and stilettos high enough to impress any ofThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,the new woman glides toward the host. “Trina …” she croons.
“Thank you for coming tonight, Eva.”
Holy hell! Eva? As in Tim’s ex, Eva?
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She turns toward the camera closest to her and offers the most blindingly fake smile I’ve ever seen. No wonder her acting career never took off.