The Love Games-A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic

4. Roger Millin

That morning I woke up to four missed calls. 

The week before I had sent in my information. The entire time I was filling out the application, my hands were shaking uncontrollably. A few days after that, I received an email requesting that I make and send in a video application answering the question of why I wanted to be on the show.  Assuming nobody would actually watch my video, I said that I just got dumped and that I needed someone more responsible to make decisions for me. Later that day, they sent me an email asking about how I was dumped and I vaguely told them about Andrew. They told me they felt for me and to stay in touch. I figured that'd be it. 

Rolling over, I opened the first voicemail. I was greeted with the voice of a woman that clearly couldn't give a damn about anything she was saying. 

"Miranda-Mae. Congradulations. You have been selected as one of the few lucky contestants for-" she paused to wheeze out a cough, "-The Love Game. The casting director will be sending out an assistant to your location shortly. You will recieve a call from this assistant when a time and location has been selected for your introductory meeting." Click.

With each word I grew more and more awake. I glanced at the time. It was 10:48am.

I hit play on the next message, launching myself out of bed in an attempt to get ready.

"Hello, Miranda-Mae. My name is Roger Millin, and I am the assistant assigned to you by the casting director for The Love Game. Our meeting today is at Cafe Copper-" I sighed in relief. At least that wasn't too far of a walk, I should have plently of time to get ready,"-for 10am sharp." Fuck! "If you are late for any reason we will assume you're not serious about this oportunity and replace you with another applicant." Click.

Rushing, I hit play on the third message. 

"Miss Miranda-Mae, as a reminder, our meeting is at Cafe Copper, for 10am. You are now 15 minutes late for our meeting. I'll be nice and assume you got lost. You're lucky I like this venue. You have until 10:30am to get here." Click.

Shaking, I grab my purse and run out the door. Freshly fallen snow covered the sidewalk.

I hit play on the final message.

"Hey baby." It was Andrew. "I'm sorry about the way things went the last time I saw you. I was high, I didn't know what I was doing. I bet you took it like a champ though, baby. You always do. I want you back baby. Things didn't work out the way I wanted them to and she left me like a bitch. I want you back." Click.

I was running. Trying not to slip. Rage was building in my chest. How dare he. I loved him. He loved me. What the hell was I doing? I always take things too far.

Suddenly I was standing in front of the cafe. I checked my phone. 10:56am.

I saw an irritated man in a buisness suit glaring at a tinsel Christmas tree decoration.

"R-Roger?" I asked, embarassed and nervous.

I felt the man looked me up and down.

"I see you finally showed up," he huffed.

I started to appologise but Roger cut me off. 

"Save it, I don't care. You're here now so we might as well get this started. Where's your lawyer?"

"My what?"

"Your- You know what, don't worry. You don't need one. Just hurry up and sign the papers."

I sat in the café, conversation buzzing around me. 

I signed.

Families reconnecting for Christmas celebrations spoke and laughed around me. For a moment it seemed as if it all dimmed. This was going to be Andrew and I's second Christmas together. I had plans to stay with his family. We were going to be so happy. 

Tears began to well in my eyes as I turned towards Roger.

Handing him the stack of papers, I steeled myself and held my breath.

"We'll be in touch." He rose from his seat and began to walk away. "Oh, and Miss Miranda-Mae?"

"Yes?" I asked hesitantly, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Next time, don't be late."

And with that he turned and left.

I ordered a hot chocolate and stared at a plastic snowman on the wall, wondering what I could've possibly gotten myself into. Silent tears rolled down my face as I stared at its blank, molded face. My heart was pounding as I gripped my mug to steady my shaking hands.

I was completely unprepared for what was to come.