I Have Something Really Important To Tell You: All The Wrong Reasons Episode Eleven: All The Wrong Reasons, #12

By KK Hendin

This season of filming is coming to a close, but there are still a lot of questions that will probably remain unanswered.

It's not like anyone's secrets are going to be spilled, nor will anyone do something as wild as confess.

Not to hidden feelings, not to the real reason they joined the show, and definitely not to murder.

And there's absolutely no way (literally, not a single way) that CR is going to agree to a final shoe ceremony.

He wouldn't.

***
ABOUT ALL THE WRONG REASONS:


Fated.

An award-winning reality dating show, or, as the network likes to call it, The Real Last Chance For A Fairy Tale Ending.

You know how this works.

One Prince Charming is picked. He's inevitably handsome, shredded, has a vague enough sounding job to be legitimate, and the ability to lie really well to the cameras. He's looking for his One True Love, and obviously, the best way of finding that person (who always happens to be a white woman, between five foot three and five foot ten, wearing approximately a size zero to four, and preferably blonde) is to have a team of producers round up seventeen women who are all more or less interchangeable, move them into a castle, ply them with alcohol, turn cameras on, and broadcast it all on national television.

Add in a plethora of the most ridiculous dates the producers can possibly think of, too many feelings, real and fake, and an emotional proposal at the end, and you have the highest rated reality show in history.

Everyone is willing to play the game. Some walk in more willing than others, but in the end, they all believe in it. The show, the fairy tale, the happily ever after. Regardless of what's happened to previous 'winners' of the show.

It's not like anyone's ever been there for the right reasons. But never have the wrong reasons been so wrong.

• Language: English
• Publisher: KK Hendin
• Release date: May 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201974398

Book preview

Chapter One

CR had watched Jennifer lie to him for weeks now. Months, if you counted the pre-filming.

Belle lied to him, too. But she was a lot better at hiding it than the rest of production was.

When he had seen Tanya chained up next to Aless, he didn’t know what to think. Didn’t realize just how far production would push the drama.

Well, no. It wasn’t the drama, per se, because he knew there was no line they wouldn’t cross. But stirring up drama surrounding Donovan?

Unless there was a guaranteed way for it to end with absolutely no doubt that Tanya was the villain in that story, he could not see a world where they’d risk something like this. Especially so far into the season.

But seeing Jennifer look so flabbergasted…

Shit.

There were so many layers of things he thought he had known. So many things he had apparently mistakenly relied on to make sure that the season ended the way he wanted to.

Not that anything was working out the way he thought it would.

None of it.

For once, Jennifer, can you do me a favor and stop lying? Cat demanded. Pretend for half a minute that maybe you have some sort of conscience, or at least, a fear of jail.

I didn’t know! Jennifer repeated, eyes wide.

You didn't know? asked Cat, standing next to CI Glenn. That’s bullshit. She got here the same time the rest of you did. Same boats, same vans, same everything. And you just forgot about her? Forgot to tell me? Because I don't remember her name being on any of the lists you gave me. Or seeing her ever, for that matter.

Seeing Cat mad was glorious. She'd been so stressed about everything, and rightfully so, she probably didn't have time to think about all the ways the Fated producers had fucked her over.

What... Jennifer, for once, was at an absolute loss for words. She's not supposed to be here, Cat. She was eliminated the first night. Some unhinged fan of Donovan's who managed to slip through the cracks.

Tanya laughed. No wonder he kept you around. Donovan loved him some blind loyalty. Thrived on it. Made it easier to do anything he wanted when the people who worked for him rationalized all of his bad behaviors and thought the sun shone out of his ass.

What the hell is she talking about? Jennifer demanded, swinging toward CI Glenn.

Oh, do we have a lot of questions for all of you, CI Glenn responded. All of you. He gestured toward the room. I assume all the rest of the girls are waiting inside?

Jennifer nodded tightly.

Well, then, CI Glenn said, a grim smile on his face, let's have a little chat, shall we?

The inside of the ballroom exploded into pure chaos as soon as the group came inside.

Rita flung themself at CR. I was so worried about you, they whispered. And then Noah left after and I was scared both of you were going to get hurt.

I'm okay, CR reassured them. And so is Noah.

Rita's face turned speculative. Yeah, he does look fine. They paused, looking over at Noah, who was still holding Aless. When the hell did that happen?

CR shrugged. Honestly, I have no idea.

Get me a phone! Vaughn demanded the room at large. I have to call my lawyer.

CI Glenn rolled his eyes. Inspector Calhoun, there should be a group of your colleagues on their way to the back of the castle now. Can you please go inform Regan and make sure they're let into the building? His phone buzzed again. He glanced at his phone, and shook his head slowly. And Gladys says she's going to be here soon.

He turned to Vaughn. If you continue yodeling like an angry goat, I'm going to accidentally end up shoving a ball gag into your mouth and keep it there until we're back in Cala.

Police brutality! Vaughn yelled.

CI Glenn patted Vaughn's head. Whatever you say, dear.

He looked around the room, at the girls clustered around Aless and Noah, to the panicked producers whispering frantically, to the seemingly endless number of crewmen, who were, bafflingly, filming it all.

What a clusterfuck.

A shrill whistle startled all of them. Okay, listen up, he said. Here's what's going to be happening. A group of inspectors and officers are on their way here to pick up a few people, he casted a meaningful glance at Vaughn and Tanya, and the rest of you are going to settle in for yet another round of questioning, because over the last few hours it's become apparent to me that none of you were telling me the truth. And even though we already talked about that, we're going to do it one more time for good luck. I'm going to conveniently forget what all of you said last time around and this time you're all going to rip your souls open and answer my questions honestly. Because I know how you folks love to watch your drama on the telly, but I do not enjoy having you manufacture drama that involves myself or any of my constituents, nor do I appreciate when your overwrought drama means breaking Scottish law. He glared at the producers. Is that clear?

There were a variety of slow nods. Now, he continued, all of you can go back to sitting where you were sitting before.

Does that mean we can keep filming? asked Jennifer, who apparently had not learned her lesson at all.

The show? It absolutely does not mean that right now, CI Glenn replied. If you want to do that yourself after all of this is over, that’s your prerogative. But not now.

It's cute how she thinks any of us are going to keep filming after all of this, Megan muttered.

It's cute how you think you won't, Jennifer replied.

Megan laughed. Jennifer, any secrets you think you have on any of us are going to be on full public display soon. Or at least, confessed to the Chief Inspector.

I think you're underestimating me, Jennifer seethed.

I think you probably shouldn't be threatening us in front of the police, Megan responded.

Speaking of Megan, Lauren said, what the hell is Tanya doing here? Because nobody's ever answered that question yet.

That is a good question, CI Glenn replied. Tanya, in all the conversations downstairs, you neglected to tell me how you got here.

Tanya shrugged and looked over to where Belle was standing in the corner on her phone. Belle smuggled me in, she replied.

Belle? Jennifer gasped.

"Smuggled?" Cat repeated.

Smuggled sounds suspiciously like you didn't tell anyone about her, Belle, CI Glenn said softly. Does that include the people at the airport and at passport control?

Belle shrugged.

Great, Cat said. "Just great. Not