Title Needed

Chapter 4

The next day I got an address from Taylor, before she went on her honeymoon, and took a cab to the headquarters of whatever bullshit TV show I was roped into in an attempt to explain the situation.

When I arrived at the very tall building I went straight to the front desk and spoke to the receptionist. She was a brunette with her hair in a tight bun and a shinny blue button up shirt. "Hi," she said with a sweet smile, "I'm Laurie. How can I help you?"

"Um, I'm Hally Stark. I'm one of the girls for that-what's it called?-House of Love?" I asked more than said. "I need to talk to someone in charge. There's been a huge misunderstanding." The look on her face went from a normal expression to...well, one with less respect. It was like just because I was going to be on a reality show I wasn't deserving of basic human to human respect.

"Right," She said sounding snarky all of a sudden. "I'll call up but they are very busy up there and don't have time for petty little girl problems."

I smiled and gave a slight laugh. "Look, Little Miss High-And-Mighty-Even-Though-My-Profession-Could-Be-Done-By-A-High-School-Intern I don't need judgment from you with your tight bun and your tight little ass. You don't know why or how I'm in this stupid contest so if you want to sling around your attitude and your glares of evil do it to someone else and what was that other thing I wanted to say? Oh, yeah, screw you."

Looking back on it I may have overreacted. Okay I definitely did. My aunt is a receptionist and I have a high respect for people who have to deal with assholes like me everyday but I was having a ruff week.

"Is there a problem here?" A man asked from behind me. I turned and saw a man in his fifties with salt and pepper hair and horned rim glasses. He was wearing a grey suit and looked very important. Shit.

"Mr. Harper, actually you have great timing. This young lady is here to see you." And with that she turned back to her computer and began tapping on her keyboard irritable.

I gave a week smile. "Hi, I'm Hally Stark."

"Oh! One of my girls for Love-Shacked Up. How can I help you?" He said leading me to the elevator and pressing the up button.

"Well you see my friend is crazy. She signed me up for the show and it's not really my thing so if I could just drop out that would-"

"Ms. Stark, we have a signed contract guarantying your appearance on the show and we couldn't find a decent girl to take your place on such short notice."

We got in the elevator. "But-"

"But nothing, besides we you've got sass and that is just what the viewers want. So if you refuse I'll sue you." I turned to face him and crossed my arms of my chest.

"You can't sue me because I never signed your stupid contract. You have no leverage, Mr. Man." I felt confident. He had nothing on me and I had won.

He turned to face me too, "Then I'll sue whoever signed that contract for you. I remember her. Really short and loud. I will take everything from her and it will be all your fault." The elevator dinged and the doors opened. "Since you're here we can fill you in because I doubt you know the deal. Please, follow me."

He got off the elevator and my mouth dropped open. Damn, he got me. Reluctantly I followed him into a large open room with a few couches and down a hallway surrounded by glass conference rooms. We entered one of the conference rooms.

"There are some pretty simple rules. No watching the episodes and....actually that's pretty much the only rule. You will be picked up at your house tomorrow at 8 in the morning and taken to the house. You will remain at the house until you get kicked off or to the end of the season. The crew will be here in just a few minutes for your interveiw. See you on TV." He left while I was still processing the new information given to me.

"Well, this is just great." I pulled out my phone and called Taylor. It went to voicemail.

"Hi, this is Taylor. I'm on my honeymoon right now so you know what that means. Maybe I'll call you back soon."

"Taylor, hey, it's just me, Hal." I said very sweetly, "How is the honeymoon? I hope you have a really great time because when you get back I'm going to kill you. Okay, kisses, bye now."

As soon as I hung up the phone the door opened. A short woman with a brown bob came in followed by a guy carrying a camera. "Just put it over there." She said with a surprisingly deep voice for such a little woman. He did as he was told, pointed the camera dirctly at me, gave a small nod in my direction and left.

"Um...hi?" I stuck out a hand to shake.

"Hello, so," she sat down without taking my hand. I retracted the invitation. "Don't look at the camera. Talk directly to me. Ready?"

"I guess--"

"Good." She pressed a button on the camera and I saw a little red light start to blink. "What is your name?"

"Hally Stark."

"Why did you sign up for the contest?"

"I didn't my friend Taylor is insane. I'd much rather be at home in sweatpants and a bottle of scotch." I said plainly. "In fact, fingers crossed I'll get sent home first." I held up both hands with my fingers crossed. I wasn't expecting a big reaction or anything but I didn't expect no reaction, which is what I got.

"How do you feel about kids?" She said with the same monotone voice as my high school drivers ed teacher. This went on for a while. A long while. By the time I got back In the elevator I was hungry.

As I waited for my floor to come up I contemplated where to go for lunch. There was a decent deli not to far so I could definitely walk. The elevator came to a stop on the 23rd floor. The doors opened to reveal a very attractive man. He had short brown hair and a jaw sharp enough to cut glass. He was tell and his dress shirt and jeans were just right enough to show of his muscular body. He stepped on.

"Lobby?" I asked.

"Yes, thank you. When you get down there could you call me a cab?" He asked.

"Excuse me?" I said in apaulment.

"Oh, I just figured you could call the service and have them send one for me so I don't have to flag one down." He stuck his hands in his pockets casually.

"Who do you think I am? No, who do you think you are? Are you really so above holding a hand up to get your own damn taxi?" I turned to him. What is with this elevator and complete assholes? I thought.

"You're not the secratary, are you?" He asked.

"No. Why would you automatically asume that I was a secretary? Because I'm a woman? Becasue I'm blonde?" Again, no offense to any secretaries out there, it's the principle. "Wow, you are such a misogynistic ass."

The doors opened to the lobby and two more men were standing at the door. One in jeans and a white t-shirt and the other in a black suit. The look on their faces told me they had caught part of our conversation. "Great day for your sex gentlemen, really, you should be proud." I said before storming away.

"Have a nice day, man." The real secretary called after me with a fake politeness.

"Aw, bite me." I called over my shoulder.