CHAPTER 1: THE UNLIKELY CONTESTANT
ARORA'S POV
The fluorescent lights of the waiting room hummed, a cruel counterpoint to the frantic drum of Arora's heart. She clutched the laminated brochure—"America's Ultimate Temptation: Find Love, Win Big!"—as if it were a life raft in the turbulent waters of her desperation. Outside, beyond the grimy window, New York City glittered, an indifferent colossus. This was supposed to be her fresh start: a scholarship to a prestigious art school, a pathway to a dream job. Instead, she was here, her last $200 dwindling faster than her hope, about to audition for a reality show that promised a ludicrous sum of money for…what, exactly? Being ignored?
The ad had been vague, tantalizing: "Opportunity for women of all shapes and backgrounds. Generous compensation. Luxuries provided." It was the "$10,000 and hotel stay" that had snagged her, a glittering hook in the dark abyss of her financial ruin. Her scholarship had been unexpectedly revoked, a bureaucratic mix-up, and her student visa was hanging by a thread. This show, no matter how ridiculous, felt like her only option.
A woman with a headset and a smile too wide for her face bustled in. "Arora Creek? We're ready for you, honey."
Arora rose, her worn duffel bag feeling heavier than usual. She followed the woman down a brightly lit corridor, the walls plastered with smiling, airbrushed faces of past contestants. "Find your perfect match!" one proclaimed. "Defy the odds!" another cheered. Arora scoffed inwardly. She wasn't here for love. She was here for survival.
She was led into a large, cold studio. A camera on a dolly eyed her like a hungry predator. Behind a desk sat three people: a stern-faced woman with an expensive haircut, a bored-looking man tapping on a tablet, and a third, younger man, Jake, whose eyes held a glint of something Arora couldn't quite place—amusement? Pity?
"Arora, welcome!" the stern woman boomed, gesturing to a stool. "Tell us, why do you want to be on 'America's Ultimate Temptation'?"
Arora swallowed, her voice a little shaky. "I... I need the money. For school. And to stay in the country." She decided honesty, however embarrassing, was her best bet.
Jake leaned forward, a subtle shift in his expression. "And what do you bring to the show, Arora? What makes you unique?"
She thought of her art, her quiet determination, her ability to disappear into a crowd. None of it felt particularly "unique" in the context of a show about seduction. "I'm... resilient," she offered, almost a whisper. "And I don't give up easily."
The stern woman exchanged a look with the bored man. Arora's heart sank. This was it. They'd laugh her out of the room.
Then, Jake cleared his throat. "We're looking for... a specific kind of contestant for the final round, Arora. Someone unassuming. Someone who might surprise us." He paused, his gaze lingering on her. "You said you wouldn't give up easily. Are you willing to push yourself, even if it makes you uncomfortable?"
Arora met his gaze, a spark of defiance igniting in her chest. Uncomfortable? She was practically living in discomfort. "I'll do whatever it takes," she said, her voice firmer this time. "I need this."
Jake's grin widened, a genuinely pleased expression that transformed his face. "Excellent. Congratulations, Arora. You're in. Pack your bags. You're flying to New York tonight."
New York. She was already here. But she didn't correct him. She just nodded, numb with shock and a sliver of terrifying excitement. Ten thousand dollars. A hotel. It was real. Too real.
Little did she know, the game was far more complex than she could ever imagine, and the man she was about to meet wasn't playing by the rules of reality TV. He was playing for his life.