Chapter 255
Chapter 255:
The next day, Danica filled Kristine in on her latest escapade. Kristine didn’t give it much thought. She had her own worries — filming for Eve’s show, Antique Matchup, was just days away. Since this would be her first time in front of a camera and Victor was counting on her, nerves kept creeping in. She poured her energy into getting comfortable with the format, practicing until everything felt natural.
The days trickled by, and before she knew it, the shoot had arrived.
Kristine reached the TV station entrance right on schedule. Eve greeted her warmly, a bright smile on her face. “Let’s head up together. I’ll introduce you to the other guests today. Oh, and there’s someone else you should meet — she’s from Gridron, just like you. I wonder if you two know each other p>
Kristine brushed off the comment and trailed behind Eve into the brightly lit studio.
𝘋𝗂scоve𝗿 𝘯e𝘄 𝘴𝘁о𝗿і𝘦ѕ 𝗈𝗇
Inside, aside from the crew bustling around the Antique Matchup set, three other contestants were already waiting. With five participants on the roster, it was clear one guest had yet to arrive. Following Eve’s instructions, Kristine took a seat beside the others.
Her youthful looks and striking features immediately drew subtle glances. The three guests seemed to size her up and quietly assumed she lacked any real experience with antiques, so they kept their distance.
Suddenly, someone called out, “Miss Lloyd has arrived p>
The moment Kristine heard that last name, a familiar face sprang to mind. She looked up to see Elyse step into the room with effortless poise. A flicker of displeasure crossed Kristine’s features, though her expression gave nothing away.
Elyse’s eyes landed on Kristine, and she broke into a wide smile. “Kristine! I can’t believe we’re crossing paths again!” She reached out, hoping for a handshake.
Kristine ignored her outstretched hand, leaving an unmistakable tension hanging in the air. The other guests exchanged looks, clearly thrown by it.
Eve observed everything from nearby. Unable to quite read their history, she tried to keep things light. “I had no idea you two had met before. Let me give a quick introduction. This is Miss Elyse Lloyd. She isn’t an expert in antiques, but that’s part of the charm — the show is all about making things fun and accessible. Miss Lloyd is here as our audience representative, and she’ll be asking the questions that viewers at home might have p>
The reality behind Elyse’s addition was less gracious. Whoever backed her had poured in a hefty sum, leading executives to approach Eve late at night with a request. Their first move had been to consider swapping out Kristine, the only contestant without powerful connections. Only Eve’s determined insistence had kept her on the show.
The other three guests had easily picked up on the backstage maneuvering. Having someone join thanks to deep pockets wasn’t something they resented — after all, who was going to say no to extra funding? Each one greeted Elyse with a handshake. Everyone except Kristine.
Without lingering on the awkwardness, Eve moved on with introductions. First was Wilbur Harper, a middle-aged man with a booming laugh, representing a university’s history research institute. Next came Nelson Dawson, an elderly gentleman in glasses, known for his impressive private antique collection. The last was Ruth Flynn, a poised woman who managed a museum as its curator.