Ollie’s head dropped as Sierra processed the words. She could hear Carter shriek distantly.
They had done it. They were still in.
But barely.
She needed to get to that terrace.Soon.
25
Adi
Adi’s legs trembled as he stepped off the stage. Carter and Becklooked elated but kept their celebrations subdued for Ollie and his team. Sierra said nothing as she rejoined the group. Her expression was tight, mirroring how Adi felt. That had been close—too close.
Three more rounds to pass. Three more rounds to show his dad what he could do.
Adi had spent every night for months lying awake, imagining Victor Cunningham watching his son on the show. Analyzing his moves. Waiting to see if he was as clever as his old man . . . and nothing like his mother.
Adi had been determined to prove his worth. And maybe, just maybe, Victor would be so impressed that he’d ask Adi to live with him. They could catch up on lost time. Adi would never have to deal with Symphony again. The dream was almost too much to bear.
The thought of returning to his regular life, of being ignored or forgotten or treated like nothing more than Symphony’s ticket back to Hollywood, made Adi feel physically ill.
He knew Symphony had used the freezer incident as an excuse to show up today, citing concern for her son. He also knew Ranielle had told her not to come, but predictably, she didn’t listen. The fact that she hadn’t even said hi to him—
Equally predictable.
“Aditya.”
Ranielle beckoned him with a clawed finger. “With me.”
Carter, Beck, and Sierra shot him questioning looks. He shrugged and split from the group.
Ranielle led Adi out of the set in the direction of her office. When they got there, Vera was sitting at the desk. She jumped up when they entered.
“What now?” Ranielle said.
“We have an appointment. Don’t tell me you forgot again.”
Ranielle gestured to the door. “I don’t need to sign off on every damn detail. Just do your job, Vera.”
Vera stormed away, casting a livid glare at Adi as she passed.
“So, what am I in trouble for, exactly?” said Adi, when she’d slammed the door behind her. “If this is about picking the lock on the dining hall . . .”
“It’s not.” Ranielle leaned back against the desk and folded her arms, as if she were trying to be intimidating but cool. “Take a seat.”
Adi ignored the visitor’s chair and wandered to the gray couch. He sat dead center, slinging both arms over the back.
He expected irritation, but Ranielle only smiled. “You have a noticeable presence on camera.”
Adi opened his mouth to make a smart-ass comment and found he had nothing. Of all the things he’d expected from the executive producer, that wasn’t one of them.
“I like you, Aditya,” she continued. “The audience does, too. You’ve got a vibe. A look. An attitude. Vera tells me your name has been all over the Clue Master forums . . . but you probably know that already.”
He’d had no idea. It was strange Carter hadn’t told him. Maybe she was jealous of his popularity. Although . . . from everything he’d seen, she seemed like the type who would cheer a teammate on rather than compete against them.
“Okay?” he said when he realized Ranielle was waiting for an answer.
“There are people who have suggested you’d make an exceptional show host.” She paused, letting this sink in. “I’m wondering if you might be interested in the position, starting next season.”
