Contents
Chapter 25: Emmett
Overview
During filming at The Ranch, Richard dictates outcomes, forcing Evelyn into the top three and pressuring Emmett to escalate romances. On the dance floor, Evelyn and Cookie’s feud explodes on camera. Overwhelmed, Emmett escapes outside, where Julia confronts him, sparking a desperate kiss. Teri nearly catches them, and Emmett protects Julia by sending her away, resolving to endure the show for her and his family.
Summary
Emmett arrives at The Ranch for a filmed date night, disgusted by the contrived setting and public scrutiny after his leaked identity. Julia enters with permits secured, and Richard immediately asserts control, preplanning Evelyn’s survival into top three week and pressuring Emmett to escalate intimacy for ratings. Emmett bristles but stays for the money and his family.
On the floor, Emmett goes through forced dances with the contestants, avoiding Julia’s gaze. Tension spikes when Evelyn cuts in on Cookie, trading vicious insults until Evelyn yanks Cookie’s hair, triggering a full-on fight. Cameras roll while Richard revels, and Emmett’s humiliation peaks.
Overwhelmed, Emmett slips outside to breathe. Julia follows and orders him back to handle the chaos on camera, reminding him of the stakes. Emmett snaps, then grabs Julia and kisses her; the encounter turns hungry and mutual, intensifying their unspoken connection.
When Teri calls out nearby, panic hits. Emmett quickly sends Julia away to avoid being seen, then returns inside alone. As he goes back into filming, he recognizes how far he’ll go to protect Julia—even at personal cost—strengthening his resolve amid Richard’s ongoing threats.
Who Appears
- EmmettProtagonist; resents the staged bar date, resists Richard’s manipulation, witnesses a contestant brawl, flees, kisses Julia, then protects her from discovery.
- Julia SilvaHandler; delivers permits, confronts Emmett outside about responsibilities, shares an intense kiss, nearly caught by Teri, slips away.
- RichardProducer; rigs Evelyn’s advancement, pressures Emmett to escalate intimacy, delights in on-camera chaos, threatens to “fix” problems.
- EvelynContestant; antagonizes others, cuts in on Cookie, trades insults, yanks Cookie’s hair, central to manufactured drama.
- CookieContestant; dancing with Emmett before Evelyn provokes her, argues back, gets into a hair-pulling fight.
- TeriCrew; observes the fight for footage, nearly discovers Emmett and Julia outside, calls Emmett back.
- JadaContestant; signals boredom with Richard’s staging, present during the bar setup and drama.
- AkiraContestant; tries to break up the fight, urging Evelyn and Cookie to stop.
- CatherineContestant; wary of Richard during his briefing to the women.