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

at the top of the stairs waved them up.

The next few minutes were spent settling them all down and hushing everybody up. Julianne couldn’t see Zachary anywhere and thought that he was probably in a private room within the plane. Speaking of the plane, well, you could say it was big considering it could accommodate twenty-five women and a crew of cameras and lights.

The plane flew off the ground the moment everybody was belted into their seats, and as the pilot announced that it was safe to unbuckle their belts, the commotion was back among the camera crew, trying to get a few shots of almost everything and everybody.

“So, how are you all feeling?” Brent asked them after taking his break to redo his foundation.

“Excited!” was the word that rose up among others.

“Since this flight is going to be a long one, Zachary decided to spend it with each and every one of you,” he nodded his head with his perfect grin as the ladies squealed. “Yes, ladies, each of you will have your own private moment with Zach.”

As Brent’s words were decoded into her brain, Julianne sank into her seat beside Pauline, praying for turbulence. Chapter 3

Zachary looked up as Brent entered his private room, beaming. “You ready?” the host asked with the camera behind him.

He smiled as he placed down the magazine he was reading and nodded, “I guess so.”

“So, before we let the ladies in to have a little time with you, let me ask you one question first.”

Zach smirked and leaned back against the leather sofa, his arms folded under his head, “Shoot.”

“What made you decide to become the next Bachelor?”

“Well, you all know, the public know, that I have been straying my way for fun,” he paused as Brent nodded with a chuckle, “I don’t know, I think I just woke up one day  thinking, ‘Hey, I’m done.’ So here I am, hoping to find the woman who can make me fall on my knees.” Zach wanted to gag out the words he just said. But the camera was obviously on a roll and the whole world was watching—probably along with his parents—and he wouldn’t want to go home to nothing. If being a Bachelor meant going all cheesy in front of the camera, he would gladly do it. I’ll have my laugh at the end, he promised himself.

“Wow, such a big step right there, Zach,” Brent said, taking a step back. “We have left something for you to watch so you can know the ladies a little bit before you actually get the time to meet them. Enjoy and good luck.”

“Thanks, man,” he smiled and looked for the remote.

“The tape’s already in there, Mr. Astor. You just push play,” the camera man left behind to shoot him while he watched whatever video was in stored for him said.

“Okay,” he nodded and played the tape.

It was a compilation video of all the women, their faces focused on the screen with their names, occupation, and age. First off was a blonde girl named Chloe with eyes as blue as the ocean beneath them—and definitely his type. “Hi, my name is Chloe. I’m twenty-three, an accountant. I joined The Bachelor in hope of finding love, fun, and more fun.” Zachary smiled inwardly. Ah, yes, fun was all he was and this lady would definitely get it as long as it lasted. Another blonde one appeared after Chloe, this one pretty much the same much to Zach’s pleasure. “Hi, my name is Hanna and I’m twenty-eight, a nurse and a good lover.” Zach chuckled.

This is going to be fun, he thought as he watched on. He was all praises to the crew and staff of The Bachelor for bringing him all these women of different beauties and personalities—some of whom might be too stupid or naïve for his taste—for him to have fun with. There was another woman pretty much the same as Chloe and Hanna named Vivienne, and then there was Brenda, Pauline, Karen, Jill, Stella, Sally, Jenny, Kim, and Penny so far. He had been having too much fun watching the videos that he did not bother to check the time. He doubted if he could remember all the names after though, considering he was not the type to remember women’s name after he spent one night with them.

But when the screen turned black and another video began, he started to frown. Right in front of him, blindly staring ahead and looking uncomfortable was the first woman who really caught his attention because her appearance made him curious as hell. He knew women adored their make-ups, but this one obviously didn’t. And her brown waves of hair were everywhere and it appeared like she was in a hurry and did not bother to brush it. “Why did you join?” Zach heard someone not included in the scene asked.

Zach even got more curious. Every video he saw—from Chloe to the last one—started smoothly with them saying their names and so on, but this one looked like it underwent a lot of cuts.

“To explore my curious side,” the brown-haired beauty answered dryly. Zach’s eyes flickered on the lower left of the screen to read her name. Julianne, 25, writer. Then there was that cut again and he wondered why no one bothered to edit the film smoothly like every else’s. “I’m a writer—pen name not possible for public to know by the way—and I’m twenty-five years old, single, American—” and there was that cut again. Zach looked at the camera man standing just beside the screen he was staring with an amused look.

“What the—” but his question was interrupted when the video started once again.

“I’m a writer and I would rather be somewhere in a place I created than on this chair with all the lights burning my face. I’m twenty-five and I think I’m starting to waste more of my precious life sitting here doing this interview. And no, I won’t do another roll or whatever you call that. I’m done.” And that was it. The screen turned black once again. Zach waited for a few more seconds for the possibility of it turning back on, but it seemed that it was over because the logo of the show appeared indicating it would not be showing more.

“What’s the problem with that last video?” he asked aloud.

The camera man placed down his big gadget and shrugged. Zachary was still trying to figure that one out when the door opened and Brent came in. “Hey, man, we’re ready to roll in a minute.” He looked at Zach with a knowing look. “So, how was it? Got your eyes on some ladies already, huh?”

“What’s the problem with the last video?” he asked.

“Ah, the one with the writer?”

“Yes, Julianne,” he nodded.

“It was a rush thing and our team was not able to edit that one. But don’t worry because that part when you were watching it will be edited out when the show is aired. Editing of everything going on here will be our problem. All you have to worry about is who among those ladies will you send home today.”

But Zach was not hearing a thing, his mind full of curiosity as to why Julianne’s video was rushed.

“Okay, so, we’re ready to roll?” he heard Brent ask the camera guy. “Okay, so, Zach, here is the list of the names that will come in here to have a little chat with you. It’s in order so don’t worry in case you can’t remember them.”

“Yeah, thanks,” he smiled and once again, he was left alone with the camera guy. He was still having trouble getting used to being filmed every second, but he was getting the hang of it. As what Brent said, he could do anything he wanted. Editing was the show’s job, not his. As he waited, he looked at the list and noticed that it was exactly the same as the line-up in the video. His eyes ran down to the very bottom and he smiled as he saw Julianne Grey’s name.

 *****

Julianne amused herself by watching the ladies fumble through their bags to fix their makeup. Ever since Chloe stood up and walked towards the door that led to Zachary Astor’s private room, the girls chatted incessantly while applying more gloss on their lips and patting their hairs with their hands.

“Can you wake me up when they call my name?” she asked Pauline who was busily looking at her mirror.

“Okay,” the lady smiled without throwing her a glance.

And I really hope they intentionally forget I’m here, she said to herself as she leaned against the window and closed her eyes.

She was in her dream world with the characters of her next novel when she felt a sudden jerk.

“Hey, you’re up!” Pauline prodded. “Oh my God, you’re going to love him! He’s amazing!”

Julianne blinked a few times. “What?”

“You’re up! Go! Go! Go!” Pauline said excitedly. She looked around and noticed that some women were looking at her, disapproval on their faces.

“Ms. Grey, you’re up,” the same nerdy woman from her apartment said from down the aisle.

“Yeah, coming,” she groaned and slowly went to her feet.

“Your hair’s a mess,” Pauline pointed out.

“It’s fine,” she murmured and walked down the aisle, holding on to the back of the seats she passed by.

“She is so not getting a rose,” she heard someone say behind her.

That would be great, she replied in her mind.

“What’s wrong with your hair?” The nerdy woman whom she now saw by her name tag as Fatima said as she came near, reaching out to fix the waves.

“It’s fine,” she answered. “Is this the door?”

“Yes, just go right in. He’s waiting.”

“Yeah, right,” she uttered dryly and turned the knob.

She caught him looking startled by her entrance. Oops, she forgot to knock. Like she cared.

“Hi, Julianne,” he smiled his awesome perfect smile.

Julianne did not answer, her eyes on the camera guy at the corner of the small room. Then they landed on him sitting on the leather sofa looking very comfortable and proud wearing a black long-sleeved polo shirt folded up to his elbow. “Where do I sit?” she asked.

“Please, forgive me, please sit down,” he motioned with his hand at the small chair beside him. She took the rest of the steps and sat down. “I didn’t know you wear glasses. And man, those are thick!” he chuckled, peering closer, green eyes full of amazement.

“What do you mean?”

“In your interview video you were not wearing any,” he explained, leaning back against his kingly leather sofa.

“It’s because they took it away from me,” she answered dryly, her eyes curiously looking around. She was taking the chance to examine everything. Hey, it was not every day that she could ride a private plane. She might use whatever she could get here for one of her stories.

 *****

Zach was speechless for a moment. It was the first time he didn’t know what to say in front of a woman. What’s wrong with her? It seems like she didn’t want to be here at all.

He cleared his throat which caught back her attention and her brown eyes behind those damned glasses met his. He wanted to snatch the pair of spectacles away and crumple them in his hands. He realized