“My time for yours.” Stella would do her homework, fulfill the promise she made to her parents, but it would be on her terms. Why conduct an on-the-record interview when the challenge of wiggling around the NDA was right there. Because something else was going on in this outrageous estate. This game, Jewel’s story, had to be about more than a bottom dollar. She continued, “For every video I make, I get seven minutes of exclusive alone time with you. No lying. No pretense. I get to spend time with the real Jewel in her unfiltered and natural state.”

Jewel seemed stunned into silence. Harlow too—her eyes darting from Stella to Jewel and back again.

Stella continued, “I also want a bonus. An extra minute for every five thousand views the video has before I cash in the session.”

“That’s a confident bonus for someone who lacks screen presence. Making watchable videos is harder than it looks,” Jewel said, recovering. “I won’t be promoting the videos to the main page. You’ll be lucky if you break a thousand views total.”

“Then my terms shouldn’t be a problem.”

Jewel considered the offer and said, “Deal.”

Stella took the card with her left hand.

“Oh, and one last thing,” Jewel began. “You cannot tell any of the other players what I’ve asked you to do. If either of you do”—she made eye contact with Harlow—“if they find out in any way, you’re both disqualified.”

“Why do I have to keep her secret?” Harlow asked, petulance on full display. “It’s not my job. I’m not getting paid for it.”

“Because I said so.” Jewel’s cold tone could make a penguin shiver. “Is the prize money not enough for you? I’m paying the winners in cash—what more do you want from me?” She walked from behind the desk, standing in front of Harlow. “Maybe you should focus on what you’ve already been given instead of whining about what you don’t have.”

“I didn’t get anything,” Harlow said in a tiny voice. Her hamster brain was no doubt spinning like a wheel being so close to Jewel. They were practically sharing the same breaths.

Jewel reached out, smoothing Harlow’s shirt over her shoulders. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“No,” she admitted. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

“Your job is to be neutral. A touch of realism. Find your place, middle child,” Jewel said with a soft seriousness. “Know your place.” She lifted Harlow’s tablet, placing it in her hands. It began vibrating.

So did Stella’s.

“Please proceed to the wine cellar,” Harlow read.

“Why are you doing this to me? I thought we had a connection,” Stella said to Jewel. She had also been assigned to the wine cellar.

“You’re already together. Look at that,” Jewel said. “How convenient for you.”

Tricky, tricky.

STELLA SAYS
EPISODE 1

Nine in the Afternoon