Reese slams the door shut before Contestant 14 can catch him and ask for his opinion on yet another lyrically starved, socially resentful rap song.

"It's great, man. Just open a dictionary every once in a while."

He sinks into his deep armchair and throws his head back, resting against the soft fabric. He gazes out at the glittering cityscape, where the lights blur into a hazy panorama. He pulls a wooden bird from his pocket—courtesy of a fan, surprisingly thoughtful—and fiddles with it absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting to Rebecca.

"She thinks she can resist me, huh?" He chuckles.

He had underestimated her, that much he admits; what once seemed like just a pretty face with an appealing backstory, easily swayed, now feels like a serious miscalculation.

It's fine. He likes it that way. She is sharp and fiercely independent. Unlike the others, she doesn't play for the cameras. Or anyone. She doesn't even seem to care whether others like her. Maybe she just knows people will inevitably be drawn to her—to her porcelain-doll face, to her tight legs and perky breasts.

Fuck. He is drawn to her. More than he likes to admit.

He had expected a simple conquest—a romance to entertain his fans and bolster his image as the man who loved the most beautiful woman in the world—only to lose her to the ruthless, unfeeling machinery of media entertainment. The number of lyrics he could mine from that story would provide him with material for years to come. But Rebecca plays hard to get. The small gestures of praise have proved to be of no use. So have the hints at joining forces for survival. His ideas are running out.

Reese knows one wrong move could send her running, so he needs to tread lightly. He needs to choose each word and each step with care. With patience, he will find a way. She can't push back forever. He senses she resents him for some reason, but there's hope. Deep down, somewhere in her stubborn heart, there has to be a trace of trust waiting to emerge. She doesn't know it because she hasn't met the right person yet.

And he might as well be it.

He's perfect for the part.

And it's not like it's a bad thing that she's making it hard for him. Changing her mind has become his favorite part of the game. The challenge isn't just to win her over but to show her that being with him is in her best interest.

He scoffs.

None of the others will get her nearly as far as he will, that much is obvious. If she allies with him, he'll make sure she lives as long as possible. He's willing to do that for her.

He doesn't fully understand why he feels this way or how to articulate it to her yet, but deep down, he knows she would thrive by his side rather than apart from him.

***

Author note: Short chapter, I know. But I'll upload the next part tonight or tomorrow morning. I really enjoyed this one. Writing from Reese's POV turned out quite easy.