shoulders. âWish I knew. Seems the more controversy on the show, the higher the ratings.â
âDoes the creator of the show even know your true personality? Youâre the nicest person anyone could ever meet.â
âYeah, he knows, but for Ed, itâs all about ratings.â
âThen have a meeting and ask him to change your role so that the viewers can see who you really are.â
âLast season, a director made some show suggestions and he was fired.â
âI thought reality television was all about depicting people in their true form.â
âReese, the reality is that reality television is a money-making machine. The creators of these shows will go to any length to ensure ratings, even if they have to fudge the truth and stage scenes.â
âWhat an oxymoron.â
âThatâs an understatement. After losing nearly everything in the divorce, my focus is on building a solid financial future so that I wonât have to rely on a man ever again.â
âYou may not need a man for money, but what about for sex?â
âGirl, sex is the furthest thing from my mind.â
âWhen was the last time you had any?â
âAny what?â
âStop playing. You know what I mean.â
âI havenât had sex in months.â
âI couldnât go a week without Joey.â
âWell, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. You and Joey have a happy, healthy relationship.â Reese and her husband, Joey, had met in the Diamond District.
âYes, we do, but it didnât happen overnight. In the beginning Joey traveled to South Africa a lot on business, and the distance was hard on our relationship. Itâs taken years for us to get to a good place. One day youâll find your Mr. Right. What about Moses Michaels? You two went out a few times. Maybe heâs the one. He sure is one good-looking man.â
âNo, heâs not the one for me. I canât handle the ladiesâ-man type. The problem is heâs too good-looking. Women throw themselves at him all the time, and he loves the attention. He told me in no uncertain terms that he was only interested in sexânot a relationship.â
âHe said that?â Reese asked, astounded.
âYep, he sure did.â
âWell...maybe you should have at least tried him on for size. He looks like heâd be a good lover.â
Ayana lightly pushed Reese on the shoulder. âOhhh, I canât believe youâre saying that!â
âWhy?â She smiled sheepishly.
âBecause you are happily married to Joey, thatâs why.â
âIâm married, not dead, and you would have to be dead not to notice Moses Michaels.â
âGuess you have a point, and I was soooo tempted to take him up on his offer. I just didnât want to become another one of his many conquests.â
âI understand that, but did you at least kiss the man?â
âYes, we kissed.â
âSo was he a good kisser?â
âArenât you the nosy one?â
âWell...curious minds want to know.â
âYes, heâs a great kisser. Are you satisfied? Now can we change the subject, please?â
âOkay, okay. Forget about the players of the world. Plenty of men out there want a committed relationship. What about that guy from Switzerland who was on the show?â
âYou mean Erick?â
âYes, thatâs him. From the episodes I watched, you two appeared to have mad chemistry.â
âWe did. The producers sent us on several romantic dates and we were getting along really well until he had to go back to Switzerland and take care of some issues regarding his work papers to stay in the U.S.â
âThatâs too bad. Donât worry. Youâll find Mr. Right,â Reese reiterated.
âIâm not worried, and Iâm not waiting either.â Ayana looked out the window for a moment, digesting her