She laughed. “Oh, they are. They’re the producer’s reality. And my reality is seeing you as a winner, and host of next season.”
Adi got up. As if he needed help solving a few puzzles.
“I’ll think about your host offer,” he said, “but I don’t need the ‘extra assistance.’ I’m perfectly capable of solving a couple of escape rooms on my own.”
“Except you’re not on your own, are you? You have an entire team. One that hasn’t proven to be completely reliable.”
Adi hesitated. She had an annoying point. And hereallywanted a way to talk to his dad.
But then—Victor would be mortified if he discovered his son was a cheat.
“No,” Adi said. “I can do it, even if they can’t. I don’t need help.”
“If you say so. Just know, Aditya, the offer is only good as long as you stay in the game.”
“What was that about?” Beck said as Adi rejoined his team ontheir way to the shuttle.
“I’ll tell you later,” Adi muttered, aware that Jarius was watching them. He sat by the window for the trip back to the complex, considering his options. Despite what Ranielle thought she saw in him, he was no showman. He didn’t have Fitzy’s pizzazz. And he had no desire to do the job.
But maybe it would be worth it, if he got to see his dad . . .
When they were back in their unit, he dumped his backpack by the wall and sat in the center of the sofa, fingers steepled like he was a villainous mastermind hatching a plan. The others hovered nearby.
“Well?” said Sierra.
“Ranielle wants me to do promo for Sweetbrier Resort,” Adi said. There wassometruth in it, at least. “After Victor announces that I’m his son.”
They were quiet as they digested this.
“So he knows?” Beck said. “He’s going to contact you?”
“Sure. After the season’s finished.” A guy could dream.
Sierra wrinkled her nose. “I’m hardly the poster girl for a happy childhood, but even I can see something’s up with that. Why do you have to prove yourself to your own father?”
A tiny part of Adi argued that Sierra might be right, but he banished it. “He didn’t even know I existed until a few months ago. And he’s one of the busiest guys on the planet. Of course he’s not going to drop everything for a forced family reunion—involving my mother, I might add. That’s enough to put anyone off.” He swung his gaze to Beck. “Ranielle hinted that they might be filming the next season at Victor’s resort.”
Beck’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“That’s so cool,” Carter whispered.
But Beck let out a disappointed groan. “You mean if I’d waited to audition for the next season . . . ? Aw, man.”
“You’ll still get the invitation if we win,” Sierra reminded him. “Our team would be the first ones to try his rooms. Of course, they’ll probably make us do a bunch of gross publicity for it, too. So—hard pass from me.”
“Wait,” said Beck. Then, more forcefully. “Wait! They’refilmingthe next season at the resort?”
“Sounds like,” said Adi. “Why?”
A change came over Beck. He sank onto the coffee table, rubbing his bottom lip, staring at nothing.
“Beck?” said Carter. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Awesome,” he said distantly. “Do you know what this means?”
“That Victor Cunningham’s bank account will grow along with his humongous ego?” said Sierra. Then she looked at Adi, borderline sheepish. “Er. I’m sure he’s a totally upstanding dude when you get to know him.”
“You’re very convincing,” said Adi.
