Meeting Varner’s mother was boring.

  Ornette didn’t care what the old hag thought of her. Instead of trying to impress her, Ornette sat very still and listened to the woman talk. Like most people, Varner’s mother still loved it when people appeared to be fascinated by her. Ornette didn’t overdo her expression. She sat as still as a statue and gave all her attention to Varner’s mother like she ought to be reverenced instead of gawked at.

  The woman was gaudy and had clearly spent much of her life being gawked at, so she loved Ornette’s attention.

  It was an easy hurdle for Orpah and Yilin as well. All the girls made good impressions. Ornette heard a little of her interview afterward and it was very favorable toward all of them.

  That night, when Varner was handing out the ribbons, she knew The Coordinator had advised Varner to give the third-pce ribbon to her. Honestly, Ornette was chomping at the bit as she and the other contestants waited in his grand front hall. Once he gave her that little slip of white satin ribbon that signified third pce, she could go back to the dorms. Maybe she could fall asleep in Desmond’s perfect arms. Even if she couldn’t see Desmond, she wanted her bed in the dormitory. She hadn’t slept well the night before and another night in Varner’s house was the st thing her body needed. She couldn’t rest with that man on the prowl.

  Varner stood in front of the three women. He was holding the white ribbon. He was fiddling with it like it was a fidget toy. “Before I give this out, I want to ask each of you a question to help me decide.”

  The women looked at him eagerly.

  “Orpah,” he said gently. “What is your favorite thing about me?”

  “How kind you are without being showy,” she replied with a moonlit glow to her dark cheeks.

  To Ornette’s mind, what she was saying was a btant lie, but she didn’t want to be eliminated, so she was going to say whatever it took. Her compliment was well-chosen. At that moment, he needed to be complimented on his kindness and his humility. He needed to think that he didn’t ask too much of the people around him and that he was a master who was more than fair. It was a lie and it was a lie that wouldn’t work in Ornette’s favor.

  Ornette would have cursed her if she hadn’t been so beautiful. Even Ornette was enchanted.

  He seemed content with that response and moved to Yilin. To her, he asked, “If we could do anything in the world tomorrow, what would you want to do?”

  “Go drinking,” she said with a giggle.

  She was still trying to get kicked off. Ornette wanted to curse her too, except she wanted to get kicked off too, so she could hardly bme her.

  “Ornette,” he said, trying his best to conceal whatever feelings were bubbling just beneath the surface. “Do you still want that date with Desmond Falstead?”

  “Has something changed since yesterday?” Ornette asked cluelessly. Ditziness was her friend.

  “I need to change your mind,” he said, and then he gave the white ribbon to Yilin.

  Ornette hugged her and whispered in her ear. “You suck. I wanted to go home.”

  “We’re both stupid,” Yilin mouthed back, “but not the same kind of stupid.”

  Ornette agreed with her with a head wave.

  They said goodbye and Yilin left. Ornette hoped she would be allowed to head back to her room, but Varner insisted on taking Orpah and Ornette to an orange-lit balcony for dessert.

  Ornette’s dessert was smothered in so much cream, she had to ask, “Are you trying to get me to gain weight.”

  He ughed and denied it.

  Ornette ate the whole thing knowing fully that it would not disrupt her diet. It was merely her cheat day.

  She sat like a third wheel while Orpah flirted insanely. Ornette snuck out while she was pying a kissing game with him.

  The Coordinator caught her in the hall. “Varner wants you to return to the balcony,” he said, his voice ricocheting in the vast space.

  “Fine, but could you tell me why he didn’t take your advice?” she asked unassumingly.

  The Coordinator was a lovely man and he proved it by what he said next. “Varner just doesn’t like being told that he can’t have everything. That’s all. It’s too bad he didn’t get turned off by your spitting down your dress. If you could manage some actual vomit, that might help.”

  “Have you got a pill or something I could take? I’d do it. I’d throw up all over me, all over Orpah, all over Varner, and all over every st stick of furniture in this pce if it would get me away from him,” she offered.

  “He’s not going to hurt you,” The Coordinator crified seeing Ornette’s passion and having a very reasonable idea of where those feelings came from.

  “Yeah, except they have.” Ornette licked the back of her hand and left a mark of bck for The Coordinator to see.

  His jaw clenched as he got her meaning. “I can’t make Varner eliminate you. Probably the extent of my power is making sure that he does not bid on you when you go up for auction. If things go the way they went st week, you’ll be off the show… And if I know Desmond, he won’t let you go to another bidder. You can bank on that.”

  Ornette sighed. “I’m gd I wasn’t just hoping for that all by myself. I’ll go back and be a good girl. Can you send me another serving of dessert? If I have absolutely nothing to do, but watch those two make out, I’ll be so bored.”

  “Will do,” he said as he clicked on his earpiece to take a call.

  _______________

  Author's Notes: Thanks for reading! I worked on this story all weekend and I finished the crucial round of editing I needed to finish before I could release the whole thing. Yay for me! See you Thursday!