I open.
Pedro Monfort materializes like he’s been lying in wait. “Laura, Antoine! How was the hike?”
“Torturous,” Laura replies. “But the view was nice.”
He steps in. “I’m glad you found something to appreciate. I have another challenge for you. A special one.”
Laura frowns. “Already? We haven’t watched theFriendsepisode yet.”
“This one’s for later,” Pedro explains. “And it’s off the books.”
Aha!Sounds like he came up with a plan for the music box.
“What’s the challenge?” I ask.
He looks from me to Laura. “You’re going to work together to find an antique object.”
Laura squints at him, confused. “What object?”
“A music box,” he replies. “It must have a personal link to one of you.”
“How are we supposed to find something like that?” Laura asks.
“Talk about it, ask each other questions,” he suggests. “One of you will remember a detail or find a clue with the other’s help, and that detail will lead you to the location.”
Laura tilts her head to one side. “Why is this challenge off the books?”
“Because it’s my personal initiative,” Pedro answers. “This challenge won’t be filmed. You’ll only work on it when there are no cameras around.”
For a moment I wonder if he’s going to read Laura in. It’s very risky. Granted, he’s with the Secret Service and presumably knows what he’s doing. But I do wonder if he’s cleared this plan with Adam Von Dietz.
Laura’s eyebrows inch up. “Isn’t the whole point of this show to capture as much as possible on camera for the fans?”
“The sole purpose of the exercise I’m asking you to do,” Pedro says, “is to help nurture the bond between you. Heaven knows it needs nurturing.”
Laura crosses her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that my credibility as an expert is at stake,” he says. “I went against the consensus when I deemed you nearly one hundred percent compatible. If this match crashes and burnsbefore the end of the show, I’ll lose face. And I don’t like losing face.”
My shoulders sag with relief.Well done, Pedro!
Laura smirks. “So, this is about your ego?”
“Partly,” he admits. “But also, I believe in you, my friends! And I think working together on a secret project will do you both a lot of good.”
Laura rubs her temples. “And when, exactly, are we supposed to do this? Between the official challenges, meals, pool, beach, romantic walks and evening cocktails, we’re booked solid.”
“That’s the fun part,” Pedro retorts. “You’ll have to make time, find opportunities during the crew’s breaks, at night or early in the morning. Be creative!”
“Let me recap,” Laura says. “You want us to spend our precious downtime secretly hunting for a music box somehow connected to one of us.”
“Exactly! Are you in?”
“We’ll do it,” I say, before Laura gets the chance to decline the covert challenge.
She shoots me a quick look but doesn’t argue.
Phew.
