Just Business

Chapter Twenty: David

"I think you just missed the turning," Marcia said, turning her head to watch it go.

"There's a roundabout up ahead," David replied, "We can turn around there."

Marica squinted at her phone, holding it aloft as if it would help fix the spotty service. David took the turning, a move that took them even further away from civilisation. "What's this place again?"

"Bramstone Abbey," Marcia repeated.

"I thought so. There's a sign there for Bramstone Village."

"Fuck it, follow it," Marcia instructed, dropping her phone. "I'm getting nothing."

Laughing, David did as he was told. He liked it when she got snippy, as long as it wasn't about him. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she opened the visor mirror again and started messing with the front of her hair.

"You look great," he said earnestly. "And the itinerary says there's time to refresh ourselves before filming starts. It'll probably be a lot more comfortable to do it there than in a moving car."

"That's only if we arrive on time," Marcia said.

"We will," David promised. "Here's the village now."

Sure enough, they passed several squat cottages. It was more of a hamlet in all honesty, just a cluster of weathered homes set around a rusted sign.

"There," Marcia pointed at a small, wooden sign for a wedding several months ago. "Follow that."

They drove out the other side of the hamlet, and soon saw their final destination.

Bramstone Abbey had been a manor house in a by-gone era, but had now been turned into a luxury hotel, complete with golf course and spa. According to Marcia's online research (that had been sent to David in real time over several nights) it was popular for weddings and was often used as a filming location for TV episodes and B-list films. It was a grand, sandstone building atop a gentle swell of land. The long, winding drive was flanked on either side by weeping willows.

David parked, a warm pocket of pleasure growing in his chest as they got out of the car.

"I could get used to this," he said as two men in uniform came out, taking their suitcases. "Are we really only staying one night?"

"Yeah, but we also have one night next week, and the week after."

"So I can get used to it?"

She smiled at him, and David had the urge to sling his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. He didn't, settling for lightly bumping their shoulders together. Even that small contact sent lightening bolts through him, goosebumps coating his skin at the sight of her flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Shall we head in?" she asked.

David could only nod, unsure his voice would work without breaking like a teenager.

The glamour and prestige continued inside, where they were greeted by large floral displays of lilies and white roses and greco-roman artwork. David enjoyed the clean sweetness of the air, so different from the heavy malt scent of the Tell-Turner Heart. A sign tacked to the check in desk sent them to a small room off to the side.

"Great, you're here," Candice said. She looked frazzled, and her gang of crew-members moving somehow faster than normal. "I assume you struggled to find the place?"

"We lost service," David explained coolly before Marcia could panic that she had done something wrong. "But we're here now."

"Indeed," Candice said, looking unimpressed. "Your bags will be taken to your room. You guys have a twin, if that's okay. There's been some shifts in the schedule, so we're going straight into filming introduction drinks, then the rankings, then if you're top or bottom we'll need you into the evening for one-on-one chats. If not, you're free all evening. Between seven and ten there's a complimentary buffet, or you can sort out dinner for yourselves. Tomorrow, there's a promo photo shoot from nine until midday. You won't be needed for that entire time - there will be whole group shots, team shots and solo shots - but we'll need you to stay on set so bring a book or something. Do you understand?"