The Work of a Legacy

Chapter Four

I cautiously make my way up the stone path to Jason, all too aware of the cameras following my every step.

That'll be hard to get used to.

Slowly, I begin to make out Jason's facial features and I pause.

No wonder they made him the bachelor.

Jason William Green. Tall, dark, and handsome.

Now I know why Roza told me to stay away from him. She probably wants him for herself.

His eyes light up when he sees me, and I can tell this is a trick he's practiced many times in the mirror.

"Wow. You are... really beautiful."

I try to suppress a smile, telling myself that he's just being a flirt, but then I remember that I'm supposed to be smiling. For the cameras.

"You aren't so bad yourself."

He lets out a laugh. "Funny. What's your name?"

"Stelara. And you must be the infamous Jason Green."

"I am," he smiles. "Stelara. That's beautiful. Does it mean anything?"

"It's Esperanto. It means like the constellations."

His eyebrows raise up. "Wow. Fitting name." We smile at each other for a few seconds before a camera man yells at us to hug.

"Right," Jason laughs. "Almost forgot. Sorry, Ryan!" He looks at me and smiles lopsidedly, wrapping me in a hug.

"I hope to see more of you," he says with a wink after letting go.

"Same to you," I say over my shoulder before closing the door behind me.

"Stelara! I'm Hank, the man you spoke with over the phone. You're due for confession time."

I nod, wisely deciding not to ask what confession time is.

"The room to the left."

I cross the hall and let myself into the confession time room, surprised by the small, dark room I'm greeted by.

"Stelara?"

I nod.

"I'm just going to ask you a few questions. Make sure to answer honestly. Sit here."

I comply and wait as the woman fidgets with her camera.

"Okay. What did you think of Jason?"

I smile, thinking of his cute smile. "He's definitely adorable."

"Could you see yourself falling in love with him?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "I mean, I only just met him but..." I think back to his preprogrammed lit up eyes, his smile, his smooth, silky voice. I remember what I'm here to do.

Win.

"I think I can see myself falling in love with him."

The lady nods and shuts the camera off. "Thank you, Stelara. That's all we need. Oh, wait. Is there a nickname we should call you by? If viewers can call you by a nickname, that'll make them feel more connected to you."

"Stel works," I shrug. "What about you? What's your name?"

"My name?" She looks flustered. "I've never been asked that, honestly. Um, I'm Addie."

"Addie," I smile. "Nice name."

"Thank you."

I nod and leave, feeling much better than before.