Naomi & Bradley, Reality Shows... (Vodka & Vice, the Series Book 3) by Angela Conrad, Kathleen Hesser Skrzypczak

with the stupid video, get out, and take that crying bear with you.  And Viktor, I want you out tomorrow.  Every rolled cigarette, your pile of dirty laundry a mile high, and your entire family.  All of them, I want you all out!”
    A deep voice comes from the doorway and I freeze.  I smell his scent.  Cocoa, flowers, and cardamom.
    “No, my boys stay.  And you stay too Naomi,” Mr. Slotzky says with an iron voice.  “We edit the video, we send it to Model House, we all watch and see what your Bradley does after that, huh?  Maybe he’ll be the next Bachelor on your American TV show after all.”
    “Why?  Why would you do that to him, to us?” I cry, the panic thick in my voice.  “I went into the real estate deal with you. I stay out of the decisions.  I don’t know what else you want from me.”
    “Ratings Naomi, millions of dollars of commercial contracts, didn’t Bradley tell you?  Ha, I see he did not.  Me, Fedor Slotzky, I own FSTScom Media, the owner of Model House.  Your Bradsky is my golden ticket and I need him on my show, not just moping around on the sofa, no I need him to breathe fire into the live feed.  Now that he’s pulled that prank and set fire to my set, I can bring him up on arson charges.  Don’t think I won’t prosecute him; send him to jail.  The women, they want to know they have a chance with him.  If he sees you cheating with Viktor here, he’ll drop you.  He’ll be available for all their wet dreams.  Yes, this is a good plan.  I’ve got him by the balls now.”
    He stoops and grabs Viktor under the arms and lifts him as if he’s weightless.  “Speaking of balls, sorry about yours son.  Good work boy, the distillery business is yours.”
    I sit up in my rumpled bed and wrap my arms around my waist.  I’m frozen with fear and dread.  I know how they can manipulate tape, make that bed scene with Viktor on top of me look authentic. 
    Will Bradley believe it?  He knows I had sex with Viktor before, when we were broken up, but now it’s very different.  We’re engaged.  After our Saturday night together, would Bradley fall for their doctored video?  Would he believe their deceit?  No!  I will not lose faith in him ever again.  I won’t fall in that rabbit hole and wallow in despair.  I believe in my man.  Bradley will laugh it off.  He knows Viktor has a vicious streak.  Bradley also knows that Fedor Slotzky owns Model House.  Didn’t he just tell me that the show would stoop to anything to gain better ratings?  Bradley would see right through this farce.
    I’m tempted to sob, but my eyes remain dry. 
    Be strong Naomi Swanson.
    I refuse to cry.  Those Russian mongrels will not frighten me out of my relationship again.  They fooled me once.  Bradley and I both suffered through months of misery because of their tricks.  We are both stronger now.  Everything’s going to be fine.
    I will watch it on live TV this Friday and see Bradley laugh in their faces.  He’ll declare our love and spit in their eyes.  Me, and millions of viewers will know our love is real.
    Those asshat Slotzkys would not win this time.
     

Chapter Twenty
Where’s that other shoe?
     
     
    BRADLEY
    Saturday, April 24th
     
     
    They’ve moved us to another townhouse, this one more beautiful and luxurious than the last.  I guess my antics have a little to do with this upgrade.  I’ve probably doubled the ratings.  Nevertheless, I’m surprised at how I’m being treated.  No one seems mad or annoyed.  It’s as though nothing ever happened.  Whenever I bring up the fire, the guys change the subject or the phone rings or someone knocks at the door.  I haven’t seen Tim Smith or Jenn Ergenmeyer since they walked away from me in that alley.  So, I just settle in, check out the new clothes in my closet, all designer, all terminally hip.  New clothes and a new roommate.  Presley is gone.  The official story is that he had a ‘family emergency’.  Paolo