Chapter 3, Part 1

"Valentine!" Allie announced with a solemn tremor in her voice. "The celebrity host from Cupid TV. You should have seen him, Denny! Eyes like onyx, white teeth, and that smile..." My sister jabbed a finger at me. "There! Like yours when you want to seduce someone. He appeared in the studio with a smoke-bomb effect, whoosh, and every girl froze!"

I grimaced and commented:

"I'm already starting not to like this host..."

"You shouldn't!" Allie continued, fluttering her blue eyes dreamily. "Can you imagine, the producer, the chief director, and I went up to him, and he guessed right away who had invented the whole thing! He said it in front of everyone: 'Alice, I have a proposal for you. Would you agree to hear it?' Him, to me! Denny, do you understand?!"

I pulled the cup toward me, took a sip of coffee, and bit off half the cupcake. I raised my brows:

"Not yet. But I'm guessing you agreed, of course."

"Of course! It's Valentine! And now I need you! With full commitment, for one week, and with a participant's signature on the contract!"

- What?!

Somehow Allie had a tablet tucked under her arm, and she quickly shoved it under my nose. She started a video presentation before I even had time to be surprised.

The show's logo flashed on the screen, followed by a bright title: "Love at First Valentine - Pilot Episode." White teeth flashed, hearts, stars, and sparks flew in every direction, and a slogan floated up: "Seven Dates. Two Hearts. One Chance!" Find your destiny, and we'll make your dream come true: Summer in Paris!..

I nearly choked on the cupcake and spat out my coffee.

"No!" I answered sharply, turning back to the laptop. "Get that crap away from me!"