Rachel put her hand on his shoulder, and he saw her face too. She carried this glow of pride whenever they interacted. Levi could see it in the warmth of her eyes and the wideness of her smile. “Thinking of the possibilities?”
Levi placed the photos on the table and picked up his phone. He checked the time. “I don’t get why this is necessary if myratings are always up.” He spread the headshots across the makeup desk.
As he scanned the faces, Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s for relevancy. Plus, studies have proven that having a partner in the spotlight makes you more appealing. You should know. I mean, you haven’t dated many women in the spotlight but when you did you were evenmorelikable. People like talking about celebrity couples. There are always the angry fans as we discussed but people who arenotinsane and delusional enjoy watching from afar.” Rachel patted his head.
Levi only heard her as background noise.
He hummed as he went down the line of pictures, pausing at Amber. She was beautiful.Waitress and worked in a club, huh? A nobody.He understood what Rachel meant but this felt like a cheap way to get a girlfriend.It’s just a date anyway. I don’t know why Rachel expects it to be anything more.A date that he had not planned to attend.Ugh, she looks so happy.He glanced at the woman in his reflection. Rachel was now on a call.
He groaned and massaged his eyebrows.Fine, I need to make peace with going on this date.But he would leave it at that. As Rachel had mentioned, he’d had girlfriends in the public eye. Nothing ever lasted. And although Rachel loved when the whole world scrutinized his relationships, Levihatedit. Having every godforsaken human being marking his every move was excruciating. Everywhere they went would bring paparazzi, reports, and viral social media posts. Privacy was out of the question.
Levi held the side of his head as recollections of his first public girlfriend swelled in his brain. He was eighteen and filming a movie. She had been the daughter of the director. Seventeen. At first, the girl had been fascinated by all the attention but after a while, things had gotten out of hand, andshe couldn’t handle it.And so we broke up.He pushed aside the images of her crying face.
Just then, a crew member wearing a headset emerged from the door. “Mr. Marks?”
Levi cursed for not doing his facial warm-ups. He couldn’t go out there all doom and gloom. “Yeah.” He tapped his cheeks and hopped off his chair.
“Here we go.” Oscar rose from the couch and met Levi on his way to the door. He placed both hands on his shoulders. “Look alive, big man. The people are waiting.”
Levi put on his best impression of a charming Hollywood actor and stepped through the door.
* * *
Amber sat nervously in the makeup room, her heart pounding with anticipation. The soft hum of chatter and the scent of various beauty products filled the air, heightening her excitement. The mirror in front of her reflected a mix of emotions on her face—excitement, nerves, and a touch of disbelief.
As the makeup artist brushed a light layer of foundation onto her skin, Amber fidgeted in her seat. “Am I really here?” she murmured to herself.
The makeup artist, a kind woman with a gentle smile, chuckled softly. “Yes, Amber, you’re really here,” she reassured, her hands expertly applying a hint of blush to Amber’s cheeks. “You’ve got a shot onThe Love Rafflefair and square, and now it’s your time to shine.”
Amber’s lips curled into a nervous smile as she watched her reflection come to life. “It’s just… I never thought something like this would happen to me,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
The makeup artist paused for a moment, meeting Amber’s gaze in the mirror. “You know, sometimes life surprises us in the most unexpected ways,” she said, her tone filled with wisdom.
Amber took a deep breath, letting the woman’s words sink in. She knew she had to embrace this moment and make the most of it. This was her chance to showcase her talent and passion to the world.
As the makeup artist finished her work, Amber admired the transformation in the mirror. Her eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence, her features enhanced with a touch of glamor. She felt like a completely different person, ready to take on the world.
With a final pat on her shoulder, the makeup artist smiled warmly at Amber. “There you go, my dear. You’re all set to go out there and dazzle them.”
Amber grinned back. “Thank you so much,” she said with sincerity.
The makeup artist’s smile widened. “You’re welcome, Amber. Now go out there and show them what you’re made of.”
Feeling a surge of determination, Amber stood up from the chair, her heart pounding with renewed energy. She took one last glance in the mirror, taking in the transformation that had taken place. With a deep breath, she turned and headed towards the backstage area, ready to embrace the spotlight and seize the opportunity of a lifetime.
Moments later, Amber stood on the edge of the stage, her eyes squinting under the blinding lights that illuminated the set. The word on the block had been true—they had indeed rented a bigger studio for this episode ofThe Love Raffle, and the grandeur of it all was overwhelming. Beca, ever the chatterbox, had been unable to contain her excitement, sharing every little detail she could about the new set and the larger audience capacity.
With only three minutes left until showtime, Amber felt her heart pound in her chest, its rhythm echoing in her ears. Her gaze remained fixed on the rows upon rows of people filling the audience, their faces a blur in the sea of anticipation. The energy in the room was palpable, a buzzing mix of excitement, nerves, and curiosity.
Amber took a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the flurry of activity. She had already gone through the rigorous process of having her hair and makeup meticulously done by the talented stylists provided by the show. The transformation had been surreal, making her feel like a true celebrity. As part of her preparations, she had also recorded short reels forThe Love Raffle’s Instagram page and filmed videos for TikTok to share glimpses of her journey on the show.
Amber’s mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts. Would the audience like her? How would Levi react when he saw her? He might not even remember her. The mix of nervousness and excitement threatened to consume her, but she was determined to stay focused and make the most of this opportunity.
As the countdown to showtime began, Amber felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins. The lights grew even brighter, and the anticipation in the air became almost tangible. This was her moment to shine, to capture the heart of not only Levi but also the audience watching at home.
“Try to look a little less like you’re going to throw up,” Patricia said from beside her. They were all lined up behind podiums with a buzzer in front of them and wearing nametags on their clothes.
