Page 55 of Billionaire’s Game

“Excuse me?” I said.

“Your costume. It’s time to get changed.”

“But what’s the challenge? We’re doing another challenge?”

“Oh, I see you’re not familiar with the format of the show.”

“Ummm…yeah. I’m not.”

“Well, Dr. Joseph’s team won, so they don’t have to do anything for this round. Your team, on the other hand, has to do another challenge.”

“Another challenge?”

“Yep.”

“Tell me it’s a brain challenge.”

She laughed. “Nope. Another pain challenge.”

I groaned.

“Tell me I don’t have to climb a hill covered in water and mud.”

“You’ll see,” was the furtive answer I received.

Ten minutes later, I too had on a purple jumpsuit and goggles. I bit my lip waiting to hear what I had to do.

The host smiled. “Welcome back to a special charity episode of Brain Pain. Dr. Joseph and her partner have immunity and are guaranteed a spot in the last round. And who will join them? Will it be Ophelia’s Angels? Dogs Are Love? Or Jesse’s Children? We shall see. Contestants, to your starting places.”

“Good luck,” Magnus said, totally not meaning it. He had a wide smile on his face. It reminded me of my own smile while I had watched him.

I couldn’t help myself. Like a child, I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed.

Suddenly a spotlight came on on the far side of the studio, showing us our next challenge. Three inflatable slides were illuminated with black light and sitting at the base of each slide was a pool of neon green slime.

I wanted to say nope and just walk away, but I couldn’t do that to Jude or Lacey. I had a mission to fulfill and I totally planned to go through with it. I squared my shoulders and took my place next to a ladder in front of a slide. The other contestants did the same.

“Contestants, you have three minutes to find several items that we’ve hidden in the slime. The game is simple. The first person to find the most items before time is up wins. And that time starts… NOW!”

I scrambled up the ladder and then worked my way to the slide. I slid down in a whoosh and then found myself submerged in nasty lime green, sticky, sticky slime. “This is sooooo gross,” I groaned as the slime immediately stuck to my hair, my face, my entire jumpsuit. I bobbed around, searching for anything solid. The audience cheered relentlessly and their encouraging words pushed me to try my hardest.

My hands found the first item and victoriously, I pulled it out of the slime and waded to the side of the pool to toss my item in the net hanging there.

And then I did it again and again, paying no attention to the other contestants or the crowd as I searched as best as I could for another item. “Ten seconds,” the host yelled.

I knew it was now or never. I had avoided diving under, but I desperately wanted to win this one for Ophelia’s Angels. I took a deep breath, dove under, ignoring the feeling of claustrophobia that suddenly overwhelmed me while immersed in the thick slime. Before panic ensued, I grabbed frantically for something solid and, to my surprise, my hands closed over something the size of a grapefruit. Quickly, I came up for a breath and tossed the item, which I now recognized as a ball, into my net. And with that, the bell went off.

Breathless, I pulled at the goggles on my face and tried to wipe them off. It was no use. They were covered in slime. Every inch of me was, but at least without the goggles on, I could see around me. The host sent a team of assistants to count the items in each of our nets. I waited with my sticky fingers crossed. And I wasn’t disappointed.

“And Ophelia’s Angels wins. They’re moving on to the final round!”

Suddenly, Magnus was there. His hands were on me pulling me out of the pool of slime and embracing me in a big hug.

I hugged him back, totally forgetting I was angry with him. And then suddenly I felt other arms wrapped around the both of us. Violet was hugging me and Magnus.

It was a giant group hug and I knew we looked ridiculous, but what the hell, I thought. How often was a girl hugged by her best friend and the man of her dreams all at once?

The thought gave me pause. Was Magnus the man of my dreams? If so, I’d thrown away my chances of being with him.