"Some of these comments are harsh," Liam said, "and really sexually suggestive." He was scrolling through the thousands of comments. Chloe's followers seemed to have jump-started engagement on the video.
"They're posting it on Reddit," I said. "It's on the front page."
The viewer numbers were closing in on five million when I shut down the TV.
"I have several emails from advertisers," Dana said, grinning. "We're going to be busy tomorrow."
My penthouse was quiet after they left. I went outside to stand on the balcony again.
"You're waiting for her," I admonished myself. I checked my phone. Chloe still seemed active on Instagram and Twitter. She was replying to people and posting more pictures, and it was unlikely she would leave the tower tonight.
I went back to tinkering with the pieces for the frosting fluffer. It needed a better name, something less suggestive. The 3D printer was done with its work, and I polished the pieces and made sure they fit on the device. Now I just needed to find Chloe to test it.
15
Chloe
Everyone was excited about how successful the pilot episode had been. We had had a little viewing party in the apartment, and now all the contestants were glued to their phones and tablets.
"Thanks for the shout out," Maria, another contestant who was talented but down to earth, told me. "I just netted twenty thousand new followers thanks to the picture of us you sent out!"
"Chloe's Miss Popular," Nina said as she read through the comments.
I snorted. "Too bad I don't have any brand deals."
"You should be happy," she said.
I felt myself tear up. "I just wish my oma was alive to see this. She would have been ecstatic. She loved baking shows, and this is my first Christmas without her."
Maria came over and hugged me. "She's here in spirit."
I stayed up late interacting with fans. I only managed to sleep a few hours before it was time to film the next episode ofTheGreat Christmas Bake-Off.
As I was groggily dressing and fixing my hair, my phone rang.
"Jack wants to see you," Dana said. "It's about a new product."
When I walked into the studio, Jack was sitting at the judges’ table, looking amazing in a charcoal pinstripe suit. He stood up and buttoned his jacket when he saw me.
"I think I have your icing fluffer working," he said, setting a box on the table. "I want you to test it out before I hand it over to the engineers."
"You want me to come up to your apartment and fluff your icing?" I said and winked. I could see him try not to smile.
"I brought it with me," he said. He was close. Dangerously close.
I tried to ignore him by tying on an apron and making icing at my workstation. I spooned some into the chamber of the air injector pump and squeezed the trigger. It worked perfectly.
"This is amazing!" I said, scooping up some of the light, fluffy icing with a finger.
"Want to try?" I teased Jack, holding the finger out to him.
He took my hand and licked the frosting off my finger, not breaking eye contact with me. The sensation went straight down to my toes. I was practically salivating as he released my hand. The naughty elf in my subconscious was shrieking.
"Okay, well, I'm just going to clean this up for filming," I said, my voice sounding unnaturally high. "I'm sure you're busy with phone calls and meetings. Being a billionaire must be exhausting."
The rest of the contestants were starting to arrive, and Jack walked over to the judges’ table.
My gaze kept flicking between him, my workstation, and Anastasia. Every time I looked at him, he was watching me. I tried not to think about his tongue and lips and teeth on my skin and instead tried to focus on what Anastasia was saying about the next challenge.
