Chapter 3: Producer

Neri POV

After the thirty-minute ride, where things had gone incredibly quiet and uncomfortable for everyone else, the bus finally stopped. I climbed down and walked three blocks to the studio entrance with my papers in my hand, to prove I was in the show and needed to talk to the producer.

The guards let me in, and I made my way to the main building. I walked into the lobby and asked the receptionist to speak with the producer.

“You don’t have an appointment, and without one, you cannot see him. Besides, his calendar is full today,” she said, looking down on me.

“No. I don’t. However, I’m sure your producer would hold you responsible for not letting me inform him that I am withdrawing from the competition and leaving him short one person during the filming day, when he could have had time to replace me, now would he?” I shot back.

Her eyes widened, and I raised an eyebrow. I refused to break eye contact with this arrogant busy bee. She picked up the phone receiver and dialed a number.

“Mr. Parker, I’m sorry to disturb you. One of the contestants for the reality show is here, insisting on speaking to you. She wants to withdraw from the competition and looks serious.”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, sir. I will bring her right up.”

I chuckled. “I guess he had room on his calendar for me after all.”

Ms. Snooty walks me to the producer’s office. She knocks twice and then opens the door. She walks in, and I walk in behind her.

“Mr. Parker. This is Ms. Neriah Russell, one of the contestants for the upcoming reality show.”

He looked past the receptionist and landed his eyes on me. He looked like he was in his late thirties, maybe early forties. His hair is brown with whites at the temples. He has a neat and tidy beard with a dusting of white hair peeking through. He has lines at the corners of his eyes and light green eyes. He looks professional but serious.

“You may leave now, Ina,” he said, dismissing Ms. Snooty.

When she left, I extended my hand. “Mr. Parker, it’s nice to meet you.”

We shook hands, and he gestured to me to sit down. “I understand you want to withdraw from the competition, Ms. Russell.”

“Yes, sir. Circumstances have changed, and I am not interested in being in this show now,” I replied.

He sat back and studied me. “What circumstances?”

“That’s a private matter and irrelevant. What is relevant is that I am withdrawing from this competition,” I replied seriously.

“Are you prepared to pay the penalty f*e?”

“Penalty?” I asked.

“Yes. Termination clause of the agreement within seven days prior to the days of going into production results in a two-hundred-thousand-dollar fine, Ms. Russell. Check page 7 of 8 in your contract.”

I flipped immediately to the seventh page, and sure enough, it is a two-hundred-dollar fine. Unless the production dismisses me for misconduct, I have to pay the fine. My parents never gave me an allowance. But I can create chaos to get kicked off of the show. Perhaps I will do terribly on purpose during the first couple of rounds just to get voted off. Either way will work for me.

I looked at Mr. Parker. “Fine. I will participate, since I can’t pay the fine. Just don’t expect to get anything good out of me, Mr. Parker. Give air time to other candidates, then we both get what we want.”

“Start the show, perform your tasks, see where it leads you, Ms. Russell. Is becoming a Luna really a bad trade-off?”

“For me it is,” I said as I stood up and shook his hand. “I’ll go now. If I can come up with the money, I will be back to pay the penalty and exit the show quietly.”

With that, I walked to the door. Before I opened it, Mr. Parker said behind me, “I think you will be an interesting addition to the show. I hope you reconsider.”

I turned the knob on the door and spoke over my shoulder. “I doubt that highly, Mr. Parker.”

I left the room, and Nila stood to attention.

‘What is it?’

‘I’m not sure. It’s probably just irritation. Let’s go.’

‘I won’t be able to come up with the money.’

‘Maybe you can ask your father, as a belated gift.’

I laughed. ‘Did you see how Regina got over a glass of juice? Do you think they are going to hand over two hundred thousand dollars?’

Nila huffed. ‘It was just an idea.’

She sauntered to the back of my mind. I know what I lived in my past life. I know that my father never changed in either life. He didn’t love me, even though I am also his daughter. I long came to terms with being unwanted by my own family.

I went back to the bus line and waited for the bus to come and take me back to a place I no longer want to be.