Page 52 of Playing With My Heart Strings

baylor

Snake in the Grass

The future of my job still hangs in the balance.

Now that my identity has been exposed, I’m not sure what Colette wants to do.

It doesn’t look great on the production company that an employee was cast on the show, even if I wasn’t necessarily a plant like Aspen accused me of being.

Colette expected me to keep my identity a secret and— wait a second .

Last week when I ran into Colette in the hallway, she brought up how important it was that no one found out my identity. She said it herself, it would be career-ending . And she came out of nowhere. There was no reason for her to be in that hallway at that moment. The timing was too convenient.

Like she knew Daniella was going to talk to me about Aspen.

And earlier tonight when she was talking to the producer. I thought I was imagining things, but maybe she really was talking about me.

There’s no way.

There’s a chance Daniella will be asleep or not even in her room, but it’s a risk I need to take.

I sneak down the hallway until I get to her door, softly tapping my knuckles against the wood grain.

A few seconds later the door opens and I slip inside her room, immediately heading to her bed to sit on the edge.

“What’s going on?” she asks with a yawn.

I draw as much air into my lungs as I can before blurting, “I think Colette set me up.”

Her eyes narrow as she frowns, but she doesn’t say anything so I continue.

“The day you told me about Aspen being on one of SSP’s prior shows, I ran into Colette in the hallway.

She said some cryptic things that I took as her just being her usual self, but I think she knew Aspen recognized me.

I mean, she sees all of the footage. She would have known Aspen was gunning for me and once she realized my relationship with Dusty wasn’t going to end anytime soon, she used that knowledge to her advantage. ”

“Wait.” She holds up a hand to stop me. “You think Colette brought Aspen to Atlanta to expose your identity?”

“I’m almost certain that’s what happened.

When she ran into me, she said I must feel good about myself and she hopes Dusty makes the right choice in the end.

Then when I started to walk away, she told me I need to keep my identity a secret or it would be career-ending.

And she brought up that I have big goals for myself.

She knows I’m not going to be here forever, and I think she used Aspen revealing my identity as an excuse to fire me.

She was hoping Dusty and the viewers would send me home.

“I didn’t get a solo date this week, and Alex mentioned that she’s been on everyone’s ass when I saw him in the hallway back in Nashville. Probably because I wasn’t sent home and she’s doing everything she can to get me eliminated tomorrow.”

“Holy shit, Bay. I hate to say it, but you might be right. I thought it was weird that Aspen was in Atlanta, and it’s even more strange that she had such easy access to the stage. That shouldn’t happen.”

“During my solo, Colette was on the phone with someone. I saw her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. But I’m not going to let her get away with it. I need to talk to her.”

I storm down the hallway until I’m at Colette’s door.

She doesn’t answer when I knock, so I start banging on it.

“I know you’re in there, Colette! Open the door!

” I was going to approach this in a well-mannered way, but clearly she’s not operating like that.

I should have known better. She’s always been a bit venomous, especially when it comes to me.

Heels click on the other side, and the door opens to a frowning Colette.

“Go back to your room, Baylor, it’s late.

” She gives me a dismissive wave and starts to close the door in my face, but I grab it, holding it tight enough that my knuckles turn white.

She tucks her chin and purses her lips before opening the door again.

“What is so important that you can’t wait until tomorrow morning?

” Her tone drips with condescension, but I can’t bring myself to care about what she thinks.

“I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”

“Well, come in, then.” She rolls her eyes.

I cut right to the chase. “I know you brought Aspen to Atlanta. I know you had her reveal my identity to the world. What I don’t know is why you did it.”

“You were never supposed to make it this far, Baylor. That was not the plan, and you know it.” Her words bite, their poison dripping into my veins. “I had to do what was best for the company.”

“But you never planned on letting me keep my job. You said it would be career-ending if anyone found out.”

“Your career ended when you started sneaking around with Dusty Wilder,” she snaps.

“You’re lucky I didn’t tell Aspen to reveal to the whole world that you’ve been sleeping with him.

But that wouldn’t only make us look bad.

It would ruin Ace High Entertainment’s reputation, too, and they’re paying us good money to put on this show. ”

“So that’s what this is about? Money?”

Colette scoffs. “Foolish girl. Rob Acerra doesn’t want someone like you at their label.

You were never the first choice. And it’s only a matter of time before Dusty sees that you’re not fit for this.

You’ll never be good enough. The ideal scenario was for the viewers to vote you off in Atlanta, but after this week, I’m almost certain you’ll be done.

Then you can crawl back to your hometown, because no public relations firm is going to want you after this nightmare. ”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Why did you let me get this far, then? Why not just kick me off the show?”

Her eyes roll toward the ceiling in a dramatic display.

“The viewers would have questioned it. You were too much of a fan-favorite. But, Baylor, honey, the viewers can’t help you now.

It’s up to Dusty, and judging by the dates this week, it’s clear he doesn’t want anything to do with you.

” She turns her back to me, heading deeper into the room.

“Don’t let the door slam on the way out.

Enjoy the rest of your time here, because the minute he lets you go, you’re done. ”

I bite my lip, trying not to let frustration get the better of me.

Crying in front of Colette would only make things worse.

“You’re wrong, by the way. Coming on the show may have just been a safeguard for my job in the beginning, but you have no idea how Dusty feels.

How I feel. I’m going to prove it to you.

You’ll see.” Even if it’s not true, and I end up going home—because as much as I hate to admit it, Katherine or Valerie are the more ideal choices—I’m not just going to lie down and let Colette walk all over me.

I don’t let her get another word in before I walk out of her room and head down the hall, but not in the direction of my room.

I have one last person I need to talk to.

“I have an idea, but I need your help,” I say when the door opens before explaining all the details.

Charlie smiles. “I always knew I liked you. Come on in, we’ve got work to do.”