The New Guest to The Show
1572 Words
~Lucyll's POV~
As I made up my mind about signing with Arlyne in order for me to infiltrate Everest, I visited her office as soon as I woke up today.
The sleek glass doors of Everest Entertainment remained as how I remembered from my past life. It loomed before me, reflecting the cold, sterile elegance.
My nerves hummed with adrenaline as I stepped inside. The receptionist, a perfectly groomed blonde with a sharp stare, barely glanced up from her computer.
“Lucyll Cavalier, I’m here to see Mrs. Everest,” I said, keeping my voice cool and confident.
Her gaze flicked over me, assessing, before she pressed a button on her headset. “Someone called Lucyll came to see you, Mrs Everest,” she murmured. A pause. Then, with a small, fake smile, she nodded toward the elevator. "Top floor. She’s expecting you."
As the elevator doors slid shut, my reflection stared back at me—a girl willingly stepping into the lion’s den once more.
The doors opened with a soft chime, revealing a floor bathed in floor-to-ceiling windows and understated luxury.
Arlyne stood by her desk, her gaze razor-sharp as she watched me approach. "You’re punctual," she mused, tapping a pen against the contract that lay open before her. "That’s a good start."
I smiled, slipping into the seat across from her. "I like to get things done."
She smirked. “I like it too. Shall I walk through your contract first for you?”
I crossed one leg over the other, keeping my expression unreadable. “I’d appreciate that.”
Arlyne’s voice soft as she outlined the terms. Salary, responsibilities, confidentiality agreements. Standard business talk.
I let her speak, nodding at all the right moments, even as my mind raced ahead.
How many of these same words had I heard in my past life? How many of these agreements had unknowingly bound me to my downfall?
Arlyne finally paused, studying me. “You’re quiet,” she noted.
I met her gaze with a small, knowing smile. “Just making sure I understand everything before I sign.”
She tilted her head, amused. “Smart girl.”
My fingers brushed over the pen she had placed before me. For a brief moment, hesitation tightened in my chest. Signing this contract wasn’t just a formality—it was the first real step toward my plan, toward gathering the proof I needed to expose her.
But it also meant willingly stepping back into the very pit that had swallowed me whole once before.
No. I told myself no to the hesitance. I couldn’t afford to falter now. Life hadn’t handed me a second chance just so I could cower. And it wasn’t as if I hadn’t tried to escape this fate—I had. .
So I’d find my own way through.
Exhaling slowly, I curled my fingers around the pen and signed.
Arlyne smiled, satisfied. “Welcome to Everest, Lucyll.”
I returned her smile, though it barely reached my eyes.
I was in.
…
The next few days passed in a blur of fittings, makeup trials, and photoshoots. And then, just as I had anticipated, it was about damn time that Arlyne summoned me to her office to talk about that reality tv show.
Her assistant led me in, Arlyne standing near the floor-to-ceiling window in her office, gazing out at the city skyline. “You’ve been adjusting well,” she remarked without turning around.
I folded my hands in front of me, my posture as poised as I could make it. “I’m used to adapting.”
She finally turned, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “Good. Because I have something special lined up for you.”
There it was. The moment I had been waiting for. The conversation that had altered the course of my previous life.
I kept my expression neutral, even as my pulse quickened.
Arlyne moved toward her desk, picking up a sleek, bound portfolio. She handed it to me with an air of satisfaction. “This is an exclusive opportunity. Everest has secured a major partnership with The Perfect Match—the most-watched romance reality show of the year.”
I knew that. I had lived it.
My grip on the folder tightened. “And?”
Arlyne’s smile was nothing short of victorious. “And you’ll be joining as one of the contestants.”
I let the words settle, feigning surprise. “You want me to go on a dating show?”
She laughed softly, as if I had said something amusing. “Come now, Lucyll. You have the look, the charm. You’ll be a fan favorite.”
I forced a breath, flipping through the portfolio. My own face stared back at me from a glossy page, next to the show’s title and the ridiculous tagline: Finding love in the spotlight.
It was the same script. The same reality show where I had been pushed into an artificial romance. The same contract that had eventually bound me in marriage—to him, Harvery Everest.
"Good. When does it start?"
Without a shred of doubt, I nodded and agreed to the contract.
Arlyne blinked, caught off guard by my decisiveness. But the surprise faded quickly, replaced by a professional air as she launched into the details of the TV show.
“All contestants will gather the day after tomorrow. The show starts with ten participants, each carefully selected—flawless backgrounds, gorgeous looks, the whole package. You’ll all move into a downtown mansion—five bedrooms, one male and one female per room. After the first day, you'll have the chance to swap roommates. Other than scheduled date nights, your days are yours to spend however you like. Work, lounge around—just like living in your own home.”
Perfect. The rules were exactly the same as they had been in my last life.
“Got it. I’ll be ready.”
…
Two days later, I arrived at the extravagant downtown mansion that would serve as my home for the next month. The cameras were already rolling by the time I stepped out of the car.
A producer approached, clipboard in hand, his smile practiced. "Lucyll, welcome. We’ll be filming your entrance. Just act natural—this is your moment to shine."
Shine? The only thing I wanted was to navigate this show without letting history repeat itself.
I inhaled deeply, plastered a charming yet enigmatic smile on my face, and stepped forward onto the driveway lined with hedges and strategically placed lights.
The mansion itself was all modern luxury. Cameras were stationed at every angle. The grand double doors swung open, revealing a lavishly decorated foyer. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the pristine white floors, and the chatter of other contestants filled the space.
As I walked in, heads turned—some eyes assessing, others filled with curiosity.
Relief flickered through me as I took in the familiar faces. Most of them were the same from my last life.
There was Isabella, the unassuming primary school teacher with a heart of gold; Eliza, the vivacious new graduate, the kind of girl next door who could charm anyone with a smile; Maggie, the stunning blonde whose confidence was as radiant as her beauty; and Ava, the serious, business-minded woman who always seemed to have a plan for everything.
As for the men, their names escaped me—except for one. Victor. I remembered him clearly, the one who had clashed with Harvery on more than one occasion during the show.
And then I saw him. Harvery.
Standing near the staircase, talking to Maggie, his tall frame as commanding as ever.
A wave of nausea curled in my stomach.
Just the thought of being near him made my skin crawl. But I had to swallow it down—had to endure this until I gathered the evidence to expose him and his mother for what they’d done.
As if sensing my stare, Harvery turned. Our eyes met, and a smiled appeared on his face.
I tilted my head slightly, offering a cool smile back.
Before the moment could stretch too long, a bright, polished voice cut through the room. “Welcome, contestants!”
A woman in a sleek designer dress clapped her hands together, her dazzling white smile as camera-ready as the rest of the set.
“I am your host, Anna. Tonight, we begin a journey filled with love, passion, and unforgettable moments. I hope you’re all ready to find your perfect match.”
The doors behind me opened again.
And I was surprised to see Christian Valtieri walked in. He strolled inside at an unhurried pace, exuding an effortless confidence that sent a ripple through the room.
The reaction was instant.
“Oh my god, I call dibs on him,” Maggie whispered, loud enough for half the room to hear.
“No way. He’s not a taxi, ladies. You can’t just ‘call dibs.’” Eliza laughed.
“Mama needs a taste of that honey face. Dibs!” Maggie laughed back and declared one more time.
The hushed gossip swelled, but I barely heard it. Because my mind was racing with something far more alarming.
In my last life, Christian had never entered this reality show.
What the hell had I done to change that?
And more importantly… how would this alter everything that was supposed to come next?
- Writer
