The Bachelor by David Dower (read along books TXT) 📖

Liam had shared the journey back to New York with her and they had the chance to talk seriously. She didn’t want to, but the man loved talking about how Zach had changed since he entered the show. He told her stories of how Zach had been spoiled by his mother and how he looked at life like it was nothing but easy.

“But I guess you should believe him when he tells you he loves you, Julianne,” Liam had said. “He had never told that to anyone as far as I am concerned.”

“You’re not just saying that because you want to win the bet, right?” she had asked.

His laughter rang out inside the plane. “Trust me, Julianne. I knew I would win the moment we made the bet. Zach is destined to meet his match and I guess he did. And though I would love to see him heartbroken just because I want him to experience it, I still want him to experience the happiness of it.”

And now, as Julianne lay awake in her bed, her mind wondered what Zach was doing right that very moment. She looked at her watch.

10:30 in the evening.

It had been three days since she left the ranch and since that last talk she had with Zach just before she left.

“You’ll wait for me, right?”

“We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.”

“That’s not really reassuring, Jules. You know I’ll come find you. And I will.” His gaze was intense as he said it.

She had wanted to believe him. Desperately so, but she could never know with Zach. He had always been impulsive. He always did what he wanted to do.

Earlier in the evening, she watched the latest airing of the show itself. She wished she didn’t because seeing Zach in that television, knowing it was impossible to reach him at that moment, was giving her feelings of desperation. She wanted to dive into the screen so she could touch him for real. She reminded herself this was her choice and now she just had to let things happen the way they were supposed to.

She was one of those who didn’t believe in fate. Fate couldn’t do everything for you. Sometimes, you have to take actions. But there are moments that you have to wait for the right moment to act. And right now, it was the right moment for Julianne to do the same.  She had to wait.

It was hard, yes. But she also had a life to live. Not everything revolved around the thoughts of Zach and being together with him.

And that very same thought put her to sleep to face yet another day tomorrow.

 *****

Zach was getting moody, worse than Jack as a matter of fact. He could smile from time to time when he was facing the ladies just for the sake of keeping the show alive. In reality, deep inside, he was cursing himself for allowing himself to be in this situation, surrounded by the vainest of all women.

The only comforting thought that he had was when he was able to look through the contract he had with the show. It said that he was not urged to choose anyone and in fact, he could ditch everyone in the end.

The last talk he had with Julianne was something he wanted to forget. She did not give him that much hope, but he knew her reasons. She was trying to protect herself from the hurt that she might get if he could not do what he promised—which he would never do.

For now, he was with three women, all willing and desperate to make him fall in love with them. While he on the other hand was mourning for the loss of the only one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

She’s not going anywhere, he reassured himself.

In the past, it never bothered him that he lost something because he was confident he would get it back as he always had. But now, he was not very sure of that. Yes, he wanted Julianne back, but she was too free for him to catch without a fight. If she could just wait for another two weeks, he would be at peace. But what did she do? She told him they’d cross the bridge when they got there. Hell, how could he be sure they would even go there?

Well, I just have to make sure I’ll get there, won’t you? I’ll cross the bridge alone if I have to and she better be on the other side.

Yes, that was what he would do. He would definitely make sure they would get there and the bridge better be there when it was time.

 *****

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Diane asked her for the nth time.

She nodded, looking at herself in the mirror. She’d be doing an interview in front of the television for the first time in her life. Obviously, her privacy was no more when she entered that stupid show. Then again, no time to whine about it since it was her choice in the first place. Everywhere she went, people identified her, some of them avid fans of her books while some were viewers of the show who could be haters or lovers of her.

To her surprise, no one had attempted to throw eggs at her. Yes, there were some who were bold enough to say to her face that they were glad she got kicked off the show and she was completely fine with that. There were those nice ones as well that told her she should still be in the show and that Zach was stupid to let her go. Yet again, she didn’t care. People got their own set of opinions and she respected each and every one of them.

“What if they ask you about the show? About Zachary Astor? There’s a big chance they will, you know,” her friend asked.

“I’ll answer the best way I can,” she replied.

It was not a really a big show, the one she would be on. It was just freaking Oprah herself. At first, she wanted to say no, but who could say no to the woman? Hell, she better just jump off the cliff if she did otherwise.

“Ms. Grey, you’re up,” a crew popped inside the dressing room with a smile.

Julianne stood up and tried to calm herself. She couldn’t think of Zach right now. Her career was the first thing she had to think of for now. Zach was busy with the show and so was she.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome one great author, J. Green!” Oprah was saying as she walked her way to the center of the studio. It was a good thing they still considered using her pen name and not just Ms. Grey.

“Hi,” she greeted Oprah when she reached her seat and waved at her fans. “Hi, guys.”

Oprah looked at her and she was glad the lady was nice. Really, her name was intimidating enough. “Your book is really doing great, Julianne.”

“Thanks,” she answered.

“I read it, and I am hoping you’ll sign my copy?” Everyone laughed.

“If you give me an autograph, I will,” she chided back.

The lady laughed. “So, is there another book you’re working on? We all know you’re busy with promotional tours and all, but is there something that keeps you busy when you’re alone?”

“Yeah, there’s another book coming up—”

“Does it have the name Zachary Astor in it?” Oprah asked her, eyes twinkling.

The crowd cheered and for a moment, Julianne was speechless. “That’s a secret,” she answered with a small laugh.

“So,” Oprah looked at the audience, “there’s a bachelor in it!”

Julianne could feel her face flush. “You’ll all find out when it’s ready to be read,” she offered.

“But seriously, Julianne, what made you enter the show, The Bachelor? Your agent told us you did it for experience?”

She nodded. She was not going to tell anyone about the contract she made with Jack without the man’s approval, so she was just going to tell them her side of the story. “Yes, I did it because I need to have an inside look at the in’s and out’s of the TV world.”

“Is this for the book you’re working on?”

“Yes, it is.”

“So how is it to be inside the show? I mean, a lot of people love that show, especially now with Zachary Astor as the man to be won over.”

“It’s not all picnic,” she answered.

“And how’s Zach as a person? Did you get to know him better while in the show?”

She considered that question for a moment, “Yes, I did. He’s not what I expected him to be, really. I don’t know if he grew while doing the show, but he’s much of a grown man now than when I first met him. He’s more mature in a lot of ways as well.”

“Are you in love with Zachary Astor?”

Okay, now, that question was the hardest.

Julianne looked Oprah in the eyes and said, “Can I answer that when I get back here to promote my next book?”

The woman laughed along with the audience. Oprah turned to the camera and said, “We’ll be back for more after a short break!”

 *****

“Hey, it’s time…” Fatima announced two days later.

He had been spending the days with the girls, doing the usual dates and other activities that the show had planned for them. He was like a robot, just saying yes to everything, while his mind was off somewhere, wondering where Julianne might be at the moment.

It was time for yet another Rose Ceremony, and Brent was already waiting for him with the girls outside the house. He was his usual smiling face, but he was different. The excitement that he would be handing Julianne a rose was gone. The only thing left was the will to rush things up so that he could go chase after her.

“Three women, two roses,” Brent started when Zach was finally standing beside him, facing Penny, Pauline, and Chloe. “The competition is getting heavy and the final decision lies on Zach. Zach?”

The host looked at him and Zach nodded. He was ready, like he really cared who to give a damn rose to anyway. He picked one white flower and looked at the ladies before him. He wanted either Pauline and Chloe out and he was just about to call out Penny’s name when he remembered Liam and the bet’s consequence.

His rational mind was against it, but it was so tempting. He called out, “Chloe,” anyway.

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief and took the flower from him.

Now, he only had to say Pauline’s name and Liam would be happy.

“Pauline,” he uttered and just at the same time, Penny burst into tears. He went to her as soon as Pauline took the rose. “You’ll meet someone better,” he whispered to Penny as he hugged her goodbye.

Brent stepped in and talked his narration as he usually did. Zach stepped back to let Pauline and Chloe say their fake tearful goodbyes to Penny. When Penny was gone to go upstairs and pack, glasses of champagne were passed around and Zach was ready to make his toast. He looked at the two women before him and smiled.

“We’re getting close to finding real love and I hope that the two of you will stay as beautiful and great the way that you already are,” he forced himself to lie.

Next Rose Ceremony, he wouldn’t have to lie. He’d be as honest as he could and he knew Liam would like that.

 *****

Jules was gaping at the screen when she watched the Rose Ceremony coming to a close. He let Penny go?

He hated Pauline’s gut, she knew that.

Why is he letting her stay?

He’s planning something, Julianne thought strongly.

She punched the red button