Last night Darcy told herself she’d talk to Alice first thing this morning about the conversation she had with Ty on Samara’s single date, but from the moment she arrived this morning she’d let herself get busy, and now after the drama at the house she also has to report Bonnie’s use of an illegal device. She can’t put off the conversation she needs to have with Alice any longer.

‘Mmm-hmm?’ But Alice doesn’t even look up from her computer.

Darcy steps in. ‘Hi!’ She immediately curses herself, knowing she sounds too cheerful. Alice’s eyes are fixed to the screen. Darcy reminds herself that Alice isn’t interested in pleasantries, just professionalism.

‘I caught Bonnie using a phone in the house and have given her an official warning.’

Alice finally looks at her, which Darcy had hoped would make her feel better, but the intense gaze is unbearable.

‘She was in one of the bedrooms when a call came through. I heard the vibrations and caught her red-handed.’ Darcy delivers the bothersome news. There are rules when contestants sign on to the show. Why can’t they just obey them?

But she realises Alice isn’t annoyed, but rather interested. ‘Who was calling her?’

Darcy’s thrown that Alice isn’t furious. ‘I didn’t answer the call.’ But she clearly should have. ‘Bonnie said she’d tried to contact her ex and it was his fiancée calling back.’

Alice’s face lights up like a kid who has received everything on her Christmas list. ‘Oh, what drama! Can we get them on the show?’

No! Darcy wants to scream at her. ‘He’s engaged to someone else, I doubt he’d agree to it.’

‘It’s worth looking into.’ Meaning, it’s worth Darcy looking into.

‘Okay.’ Though Darcy knows she’ll put it on the very bottom of her to-do list and hope that she never makes it that far down.

Alice is bored now. ‘Is that all?’

Darcy wishes she could run straight from the room. Being in Alice’s office feels like being sent to Antarctica in a bikini. ‘I also wanted to have a chat with you about Ty. I don’t think he’s in the right headspace.’

‘What headspace are you expecting a guy who is dating half a dozen women at one time to be in?’

Darcy immediately falters, shifting weight from one foot to the other. ‘Umm,’ she stammers, wishing she didn’t feel twelve years old whenever she was in Alice’s presence.

Alice raises an eyebrow, suggesting she either get on with it or leave her alone.