You Get Me Reality TV Set—Later that week
Eric's POV
"Camille, can I speak with you for a minute before we resume our task?"
"Yeah, sure Eric,"
She smiled as she followed me to the walkway of the bathroom, a space where cameras rarely wandered unless producers were tipped off. I wanted this setup as realistic as possible.
Don't get me wrong. Camille was beautiful, interesting, and full of personality, but this wasn't about her. It never had been.
You might be wondering... has the mighty Eric Ross fallen in love?
Well, the answer is no. And definitely not a girl I met on a TV show. My fellow gentlemen watching this from home, you're welcome to take notes from the Boss himself: How to get answers from a lady without asking directly... for free.
Camille leaned against the wall, her silhouette kissed by the dimly lit bulb.
"You've noticed the tension between us," I said, my tone calm but laced with gravity. "I won't pretend I haven't felt it too. So I'll be direct. I want to know where you stand."
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing.
"You haven't actually said anything," she replied, her voice a careful blend of curiosity and caution.
She was sharp. I respected that. But that also meant she was dangerous. Camille gave the illusion of transparency, yet I sensed layers beneath her charm. Her sudden shift from being flirty some days back to being cautious around me, made me think, was she playing me, too?
Which made this more fun.
"I'm not one to throw words around, Camille," I said, voice quiet but clear. "But I like you. More than I intended to. And I need to know, am I alone in this?"
She gave a soft laugh, brushing imaginary dust off her shirt like she needed a distraction from eye contact.
Just then I noticed the camera at the other end of the walkway shift its focus to us. They must have missed the first shot, but after hearing such a bomb from me. I guess they had to straighten up.
"I thought you'd never say," she admitted, then dropped her gaze to the marbled floor. She began counting her fingers. Camille... shy? Or pretending to be?
I stepped in closer, hovering near her face, letting my breath ghost over her lips. She leaned forward slightly. I could feel the heat off her skin. Her lips parted, anticipating.
But I didn't give in.
Patience, gentlemen. Tease the moment. Let them come to you.
Instead, I pulled back slowly, allowing a mask of sadness to form over my face. Letting the silence hang. Letting her wonder.
"What's wrong, Eric?" she asked, brow furrowed.
"I don't want to make you carry something that isn't yours to hold," I said, my voice low, almost hesitant. "There are parts of me... that haven't healed. And it's hard to know when to let someone in."
"I shouldn't be bothered? Seeing you like this? Come on, talk to me."
The bait was set.
I took a deep breath. Looked away. Then whispered, "I haven't been in a relationship in a long while... not since my last one. She... she hurt me so badly. I can't even explain. Ever since then, it's been hard to let down my guard."
I let out a shaky exhale and dropped my gaze. "The wall I've built..."
And then, the cherry on top: a single tear fell down my cheek. Yes. A real one. (Thank you, drama club sophomore year.)
She flinched. Her whole body leaned toward me like she wanted to catch my broken pieces and glue me back together.
"I never knew you went through such a phase," she whispered. "You're such a strong and kind man. This... all this... it'll fade in time. I'm here for you. I swear, I'll never let you go through something like that again."
There it was, compassion. Pity. Attachment. She thought she was seeing the real me.
She wasn't.
I let her hold my hands. Let her think she was the answer to my pain.
"Thank you," I said, giving her a slow nod. "That means more than I can say. I just want to be honest with you—it won't be easy, Camille. But I want to try. If you're willing."
Her lip trembled, then curled into a soft smile. "That's all I need to hear."
I pulled her in for a hug. Kissed the top of her head, then her cheek, then her nose. She giggled, leaning into me, her body finally relaxing.
Just as I moved in for the final kiss, our lips just inches apart...
Beep, beep, beep!
Our break timer rang.
She groaned. "We have to go."
"Of course. Let's not keep the world waiting," I said, giving her a cool, knowing smile.
She turned around, a visible blush rising in her cheeks as she walked away.
I stood there a moment longer, watching her figure disappear down the hallway.
Camille was falling.
Too bad I wasn't.
Inside the lounge room, the cameras were back on us. We were supposed to finish assembling the quirky apartment-themed art piece we'd started earlier that morning. Camille returned with a subtle glow in her cheeks, stealing glances at me as we moved around the props.
The housemates noticed. Of course they did.
"Camille's glowing," Darlington whispered to Tracy.
"She always glows when she gets attention. But I wouldn't bet on Eric," Tracy muttered. "He knows exactly what he's doing."
I smirked to myself.
Oh, I knew exactly what I was doing. She thought she was peeling my layers, but I had created new ones just for her. The vulnerable man, the wounded heart, the longing eyes.
It wasn't real.
But it looked real.
That night, Camille found me on the terrace. The New York skyline blinked behind us, the hum of the city alive beneath the show's fabricated silence. She walked up behind me, her fingers brushing my elbow.
"I meant what I said earlier," she whispered.
I turned slowly. "Which part?"
"That I'm here for you. That I want to make this work."
I took her hand and kissed it.
"Then we take it one step at a time," I said. "No promises I can't keep. Just the truth—day by day."
And in that moment, as she leaned her head against my chest, I felt the cold spark of satisfaction crawl down my spine. Not because I was in love. But because I was winning.
Let her think she knew me. Let her believe in the pain I'd painted so convincingly. Let her fall.
Because the deeper she falls, the louder the crash when the truth surfaces.
And believe me, it will.
But for now?
Let the cameras roll.
Let the world swoon.