you are focused on the contest.” She said, snidely.
Seriously, I wondered why she cared. Not her problem.
“Yes, well I have been asking around, but it seems that most people here just pay attention to the vendors
near them. It’s a big place to memorize. Since we don’t know the name of the place, I suppose we will have to
keep searching.” I said, trying to keep my voice as neutral as I could.
The cheese vendor seemed to be eavesdropping and interested in our conversation, especially since the
cameras showed up. Two show contestants standing together, might make for good television, that was my guess,
or we were getting close.
“Well ladies, if you are looking for a certain vendor, I may be able to help.” Danielle and I turned
simultaneously and saw a young clerk. He looked to be in his thirties and kind of attractive.
“Yes, thank you. We need to find the best grilled cheese in the world?” Danielle said using her ‘nice girl
next door’ voice. It made me a little sick. I am certain she talked to Anthony that way. He probably had no idea
about her bad attitude the rest of the time.
“Actually it’s about a 100 yards in that direction.” He pointed off behind me and before I could mutter a
‘thank you,’ Danielle shoved her elbow into my back. I yelled out in pain. She stepped on my foot then swung her
carryon around and it lifted off the ground and caught me on the hip. I fell down like a house of cards and scraped
my arm on the side of the cheese vendor cart, taking a few layers of skin with it. My knee and back made contact
with the cement first. My head hit a display basket on the way down and tossed a nice variety of wrapped cheeses
into the air. They pelted me like an odd spray of confetti, as I lay bleeding on the ground. I glanced up in time to
see a camera zoom in on me and a concerned cheese vendor at my side. Danielle was long gone. My bodyguard
was next to me saying soothing words. He had his cell phone on his ear. He ordered an ambulance and I felt like
an idiot.
Nothing like a day at the market.
While feeling stupid and self-conscious on an ambulance gurney, I heard my bodyguard’s phone ring, after
he hung up with the emergency crew.
“Well, the good news is nothing is broken. The bad news is the contest is over.” He patted me on the
shoulder while the emergency technician was wrapping up my arm.
“Please tell me Danielle didn’t win.” I said, my good natured-ness had lost the battle and I felt bitter at the
moment.
“No she didn’t, Desiree won the contest.” He said. I was not sure that made me feel any better.
“I will be reporting Danielle to the show for inappropriate behavior. You are lucky that the cameras where
there. They caught it all on film.” He stated.
Yay, they caught it all on film. I imagined they would play that scene as a commercial, a highlight and it
might even make the news. I would enjoy watching myself repeatedly get thrown to the ground.
Joe volunteered to drop me off at the hotel and he retrieved my luggage from the airport . I thanked him
profusely. I just wanted to lie in bed and eat my bread and cheese than sleep away the rest of the day. Perhaps
tomorrow would be better.
Chapter 8
We arrived at a hotel that was larger than I had expected. We were going to share the penthouse that
had eight rooms. I was lucky to room with Janette again. A few others girls were latching on to her, too. She was
the sweetest girl and friendly with everyone. My bodyguard stayed by my side on the elevator. I told him that he
didn't need to but he insisted, fervently. Joe was very protective since my recent incident. I thought maybe he was
feeling a little guilty, he was not expecting another contestant to take me out. He had been ranting and raving
about Danielle’s actions and reminding us over and over about the clause in our contracts that any intentional
violence was an automatic dismissal. I was torn on the idea. I wasn’t going to turn her in. It was,
Seriously, I wondered why she cared. Not her problem.
“Yes, well I have been asking around, but it seems that most people here just pay attention to the vendors
near them. It’s a big place to memorize. Since we don’t know the name of the place, I suppose we will have to
keep searching.” I said, trying to keep my voice as neutral as I could.
The cheese vendor seemed to be eavesdropping and interested in our conversation, especially since the
cameras showed up. Two show contestants standing together, might make for good television, that was my guess,
or we were getting close.
“Well ladies, if you are looking for a certain vendor, I may be able to help.” Danielle and I turned
simultaneously and saw a young clerk. He looked to be in his thirties and kind of attractive.
“Yes, thank you. We need to find the best grilled cheese in the world?” Danielle said using her ‘nice girl
next door’ voice. It made me a little sick. I am certain she talked to Anthony that way. He probably had no idea
about her bad attitude the rest of the time.
“Actually it’s about a 100 yards in that direction.” He pointed off behind me and before I could mutter a
‘thank you,’ Danielle shoved her elbow into my back. I yelled out in pain. She stepped on my foot then swung her
carryon around and it lifted off the ground and caught me on the hip. I fell down like a house of cards and scraped
my arm on the side of the cheese vendor cart, taking a few layers of skin with it. My knee and back made contact
with the cement first. My head hit a display basket on the way down and tossed a nice variety of wrapped cheeses
into the air. They pelted me like an odd spray of confetti, as I lay bleeding on the ground. I glanced up in time to
see a camera zoom in on me and a concerned cheese vendor at my side. Danielle was long gone. My bodyguard
was next to me saying soothing words. He had his cell phone on his ear. He ordered an ambulance and I felt like
an idiot.
Nothing like a day at the market.
While feeling stupid and self-conscious on an ambulance gurney, I heard my bodyguard’s phone ring, after
he hung up with the emergency crew.
“Well, the good news is nothing is broken. The bad news is the contest is over.” He patted me on the
shoulder while the emergency technician was wrapping up my arm.
“Please tell me Danielle didn’t win.” I said, my good natured-ness had lost the battle and I felt bitter at the
moment.
“No she didn’t, Desiree won the contest.” He said. I was not sure that made me feel any better.
“I will be reporting Danielle to the show for inappropriate behavior. You are lucky that the cameras where
there. They caught it all on film.” He stated.
Yay, they caught it all on film. I imagined they would play that scene as a commercial, a highlight and it
might even make the news. I would enjoy watching myself repeatedly get thrown to the ground.
Joe volunteered to drop me off at the hotel and he retrieved my luggage from the airport . I thanked him
profusely. I just wanted to lie in bed and eat my bread and cheese than sleep away the rest of the day. Perhaps
tomorrow would be better.
Chapter 8
We arrived at a hotel that was larger than I had expected. We were going to share the penthouse that
had eight rooms. I was lucky to room with Janette again. A few others girls were latching on to her, too. She was
the sweetest girl and friendly with everyone. My bodyguard stayed by my side on the elevator. I told him that he
didn't need to but he insisted, fervently. Joe was very protective since my recent incident. I thought maybe he was
feeling a little guilty, he was not expecting another contestant to take me out. He had been ranting and raving
about Danielle’s actions and reminding us over and over about the clause in our contracts that any intentional
violence was an automatic dismissal. I was torn on the idea. I wasn’t going to turn her in. It was,
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