28
PIPPA
After arriving in Boston, a sleek black BMW waits for us in an exclusive part of the airport I doubt even my parents know exists.
Chase is quiet like he’s regaining his bearings until we arrive on a street lined with brownstone buildings and maple trees capped with leaves in a vibrant shade of green.
“Welcome to Chez Chase.” He gestures to the classic architecture and black shutters typical of brownstone buildings.
I follow him up the stairs. “Actually, you’ll be next door,” he says. “I bought it too.” Then he gestures down the street. “I’m working on the entire block.”
“Seriously?”
“Despite what my father thinks, I’m not a hapless jock who spends his money on limos with Jacuzzis in the back for wild parties. Plus, when I’m not playing, and since I’m not in a relationship, I have a bit of time on my hands.”
“I thought you said you were busy?”
He lifts our bags. “I am, managing my real estate investments, the charity, and trying to use my brainpower tofigure out a loophole in the playbook. Pippa, I want my life and free will back.”
“After the whole #BruiserButt scandal, I don’t think your coach would look kindly on you cheating.”
Chase’s expression goes stony. “I’d never cheat.”
“Oh, did you mean the contract forCrush or Cupid? Rhiannon said she had your lawyer look at it.”
“Pippa, don’t you think it’s odd that you hired my sister to work as your dating coach and yet you’re trying to pair me up with some stranger on her show?”
“I’m your etiquette coach.”
“Exactly. You’re not my dating coach. You don’t have to follow the rules you’ve made up or go along with her nonsense.”
“Right, but it’s my job to make sure you improve your image and—” I gaze at the ground. I’m partially stepping on a crinkly brown leaf from last fall. I know what Chase is getting at, but I can’t let myself travel down that road. Not since discovering the secret of his inheritance.
That and everything that happened years ago makes me nervous to trust him. Instead, I’ll resist.
Which proves hard to do when we’re constantly together. The next morning, I shadow him at meetings with contractors about his properties. In the afternoon, the stateside team forCrush or Cupidbreaks down what to expect for film production.
Tory, who emailed me, is our point person and will be handling everything passed down from Rhiannon, who’ll be out toward the end of shooting. She assures Chase that nothing is scripted, it’s all recorded in real-time and minimally edited because of the viewer voting component.
“Pippa is my life coach. I’m guessing my sister told you about the Blancbourg program.”
“She sure did and we decided it’ll be best for her to be on set to communicate with you through a comms unit in your ear.That way, if you need any etiquette pointers, she’ll be there with you the whole way.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I droop like a flower in need of water. I’m well past asking if this could be any worse.
“We made a reservation for your first date at the Maple Leaf. It’s not far and we’ll have an assistant and crew there for you every step of the way. Can’t wait to see who you pick.” Tory bursts with the kind of giddy energy I lack.
“I thought the viewers vote who’ll be my match,” Chase says.
“They help you narrow it down, but ultimately, it’s your choice between the two finalists.”
“And how long should this take?”
“The next couple of weeks. It’s all in the contract. You go on twelve dates plus the grand finale, providing a spectacular viewing sensation as you date, reflect, interview, and play games. It’s a blast. Let’s see. Last season, we had the soccer player Emilio Escriva. He was a hit, so we’re trying to expand to the US market with a football player. Lucky you. For the next UK edition, Sebastian Stuart-Southwold will be our star.”
“Who?” Chase asks.
“He’s the prince of one of the distant British-occupied isles.”
