Reality Check

by John Foltin

  Caitlin was next. She knew that, after Sage’s performance, she had to sex things up. What she lacked in technique, she made up for in performance. She had the attitude of the tango, if not the aptitude.

  Last was Christa. She knew she couldn’t dance, especially not to the level of Caitlin and Sage. She didn’t even try.

  After taking a few minutes to decide, he gave the rose to Sage. Caitlin clearly seemed disappointed. She vowed to win him over on the rest of the date.

  After dancing, they went for a nice lunch. Caitlin tried to hog his attention. Brian would have none of it. He was there for all five of them, and gave each equal time.

  Back at the mansion, the ladies were enjoying themselves by the pool. They were getting to know each other better, feeling out the competition, seeing who could be the biggest threat.

  It was then that Courtney slipped and told everyone that she still had a boyfriend. While some of the ladies were upset, others saw it as a means of blackmail.

  The group got back as the sun was going down. Brian got a glimpse of what he had wanted to see: Naveena in a two-piece bikini. A smile came upon his face, seeing her bronzed body wearing very little. She had a body worthy of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. He made it his business to get to know her a bit better.

  The other ladies saw this and tried to get some one-on-one time with him as well. He could see claws come out on a few of them, fighting for face time.

  After talking with them, he went to bed. He had another busy group date planned tomorrow.

  The next day was another group date. This date was with Naveena, Courtney, Jasmine, Kayla, and Alison.

  They met Brian at Rancho Park Golf Course. He liked to golf on occasion, though he was still a novice at the game. All went into the clubhouse for clubs and balls.

  They were playing three holes. The lady with the best score would win the rose. Brian played with them.

  On the first hole, a par four, Naveena, Kayla and Courtney sliced the ball into the woods. Jasmine, Alison, and Brian drove it straight down the fairway. The ladies would both par the hole. Brian bogeyed the hole. Kayla got a double bogey; Courtney and Naveena each got an eight.

  The second hole was a par three. All five reached the green in two, with Naveena the closest to the hole. Courtney and Jasmine would both bogey the hole. Everyone else parred, including Brian.

  The final hole was a par five. Kayla again sliced her tee shot into the woods. She gave up. Courtney, Alison, and Naveena drove their first shot into the rough. Jasmine and Brian drove down the middle of the fairway.

  Jasmine and Alison reached the green in three. The rest of them took four. Naveena finished with a six, as did Kayla. Jasmine, Courtney, and Brian would par the hole. Alison drained a thirty-five foot putt to birdie the hole, thus winning the competition and the rose.

  The six of them would go back to the clubhouse for lunch and conversation. The topic of Courtney’s boyfriend never came up.

  Back at the mansion, again, the rest of the ladies enjoyed a day by the pool. That is, everyone except Julie.

  She took some private time in the confessional to reveal her plan. She was mainly there to become famous at the expense of Brian and the ladies. She had no intention of marrying Brian, but wanted him to think that she did. She was not going to tell anyone else of her plan for fear they would reveal it to Brian.

  When they returned, he took time again by the pool to get to know more about the rest of the ladies.

  The next day was the final group date, with Denise, McKenna, Julie, Lisa, and Amber. They loaded a van bound for Las Vegas.

  When they arrived at the Bellagio, Brian was waiting for them. He liked playing online poker, but never got the chance to play the live version.

  The six of them would play Texas Hold ‘Em. The winner would get a rose, unless Brian won. If he won, no one would get a rose. On the way to the table, Brian looked over and saw someone who bore a strike resemblance to Candace.

  On the first hand, Lisa went all in on a pair of sevens. Denise would win the hand with three sixes.

  The next to be eliminated was Amber. She had lost a few big hands and was forced to ante up all in. All she had was ace high, which couldn’t beat Brian’s pair of Jacks.

  After several hands, Julie was the next to be eliminated. There were two Kings on the board, and she had one in her hand. Unfortunately, McKenna had a flush, King high.

  That left McKenna, Denise and Brian. McKenna would be the next to be eliminated. She had pocket tens, with a pair of fours on the board. She didn’t know that Brian had pocket Queens.

  Brian and Denise would go heads up. After a hard fought battle, Brian would win the game. Therefore, no one would win the rose.

  They enjoyed a nice lunch at Le Cirque. Julie made it her business to sit next to Brian and try to monopolize his attention. Among the topic was that someone there had a boyfriend. They did not expose Courtney as the one, just planted the seed.

  They couldn’t stay long. There was a rose ceremony that night, and five more ladies would be eliminated.

  When they got home, Brian took some private time with a few of the ladies that he was on the fence with, mainly Courtney and Lisa.

  After taking some time to decide, he came downstairs to make his decision. He had already given out two roses, so there were eight still to hand out.

  His first rose went to Denise, who gladly accepted. Next was Julie, who hugged him as she accepted.

  The third was McKenna. He just loved her attitude. She accepted. Fourth to accept was Jasmine. Four roses left.

  Next was Naveena. She let out a sigh of relief as she accepted. The sixth rose went to Caitlin.

  The next to receive a rose was Christa. Chris came out to announce that there was one rose left. Five ladies were about to be eliminated.

  The final rose went to...

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Lisa. She accepted the rose.

  He could see the dejection on the faces of Maria, Amber and Kayla and the relief in the eyes of Courtney and Melissa. He explained to them why they did not get the rose. They understood and wished him best of luck in his search.

  The ten remaining ladies toasted to moving on to the next round. Tomorrow was the first of the one-on-one dates. The competition was starting to pick up.

  At breakfast, Chris came in and handed each of the ten ladies a packet. Inside was a test. Brian liked ladies with intelligence. The top two scores would each receive a one-on-one date. They were given ninety minutes to complete the test.

  There were math questions, history questions, and current event questions. After the time limit had expired, Chris gathered the packets to be graded.

  After lunch, the top two scores were announced, with the top score getting the one-on one date tonight. The second best score went to Christa. The highest score, and winner of that night’s date, was McKenna.

  She was told to dress casual. She knew this could be her chance to make a lasting impression.

  Brian met her at the limo and helped her inside. He also placed her wheelchair into the trunk. They were on their way to see the Lakers play the Heat. Brian was a big Lakers fan.

  Security led them to their luxury box at the Staples Center. Dinner was prepared. They discussed how life was for her before the accident and after. At the end of the third quarter, the Kiss Cam put them on the Jumbotron. At the fans’ request, they shared their first kiss. The crowd cheered wildly. The Lakers won on a buzzer beater by Kobe Bryant.

  The next day was a group date. Julie, Lisa, Caitlin and Sage went on this date. They went to Sunset Ranch Hollywood for a horseback riding excursion.

  They rode through Griffith Park to the highest peak in the park, Mt. Hollywood. The view of Los Angeles from the peak was incredible.

  Along the route, he took time to ride beside each lady for some one-on-one time, to get to know them better.


  His connection with Caitlin was growing with each date. As they rode, he stretched out his hand. Upon contact, a charge ran down his back.

  Julie saw this and rode up between them. She wanted her time. Caitlin was upset, but she didn’t want Brian to see that. Julie saw this as a time to put her plan in motion.

  She turned on the charm and told Brian what she thought he wanted to hear. He bought into it for now.

  On the way down the mountain, Brian had his alone time with Sage and Lisa. While the connection paled to that with Caitlin, it emerged more so with Sage than with Lisa. Lisa did make a lasting impression when she fell off her horse. Brian stopped to check on her and help her back on her mount.

  As their trek ended, lunch was waiting for them. Caitlin and Julie both jockeyed for position closest to Brian. He paid no lady extra attention. This was time to spend with all, not just one or two.

  Exhausted from the ride, they crashed at the mansion, especially Brian. This was more dates than he has had in his entire life, and it was just starting. He was in no condition to spend time with the other ladies.

  The next day was another group date. This one had Jasmine, Naveena, Alison and Denise. The five of them took a trip to Napa Valley to see Black Stallion Winery.

  They toured the winery and sampled several different wines: Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay. This was right up Alison’s alley, being a bartender. Not as much for Naveena. She got a bit carried away, drinking a little too much. It didn’t take much to get her tipsy, but she was past tipsy by the end of the stay. She had to be helped back to the limo.

  From there, they went to Solbar at the Solage Calistoga for lunch. In Naveena’s case, maybe she should have eaten before the tasting. She was disrupting the conversation and almost got the group kicked out. Brian eventually calmed her down, and the group was able to enjoy a nice lunch.

  The next day was Brian’s one-on-one date with Christa. They would spend the day at Catalina Island.

  The date started with a helicopter ride from Long Beach to the island. Once they landed, they boarded the SS Nautilus for a semi-submersible tour. They were able to feed the fish by launching torpedoes.

  When they returned to land, they took a tour of the city of Avalon. This included a stop at the Wrigley Memorial and the Botanical Garden.

  After the tour, they had lunch at the M Restaurant. They enjoyed their meal while looking out at the ocean. Conversation was limited during the tours, so they tried to talk during the meal. However, by this time, Brian’s interest in Christa had diminished.

  They took a helicopter back to Long Beach after the meal. Brian had to make a decision later that evening. Of the ten women, he had to eliminate three.

  Prior to making his decision, Julie paid him a visit. She informed him that Denise was the one who had a boyfriend. She knew it was Courtney who had the boyfriend, but he didn’t. This all but made his decision on one of his choices.

  Later that evening, Brian met the ten ladies for the rose ceremony. Seven roses lay on the tray to be handed out.

  The first of those went to Julie. The next rose went to Sage. Next to receive a rose was McKenna, followed by Lisa, Naveena and Alison.

  One rose remained. “It seems that someone came here with ulterior motives. I was told before I made my decision that one of you has a boyfriend. That hurts that you would play with my emotions like that.”

  With that, he handed the final rose to...

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Caitlin. As each walked to him to say goodbye, he explained to each why they were not chosen. He couldn’t find the connection with Christa. Jasmine did not show interest in his needs.

  He told Denise about her boyfriend. She denied the rumor and demanded to know the identity of the person who told him. Brian refused to reveal the source. She stormed out of the room.

  The seven remaining toasted another day in the mansion.

  The next day, Brian’s friends Matt, Tony, and Aaron arrived. They were going to interview each of the ladies one at a time. They would decide who would receive the next one-on-one date.

  After the interviews, his friends had decided that Julie would get the one-on-one date. Brian was also able to choose someone for a one-on-one date. It didn’t take long to make that decision. He chose Caitlin.

  The next day was Brian's date with Julie. It also happened to be his thirtieth birthday.

  Their date took place at the Hollywood Bowl. A table was set on-stage and dinner was fixed for them.

  After dinner, they were treated to a private concert. Halfway into the concert, Julie pulled him into a private room with a chair and locked the door.

  She pulled out her iPod and set it to play. She sat him in the chair.

  “Time for your birthday present.”

  Julie proceeded to perform a lap dance. It was clear she has had experience at this. She slowly unzipped her dress and took it off. She unfastened her bra. She straddled him and placed his hands on her bra straps. She made him lower them, exposing her breasts.

  The cameraman had cracked the door and was filming up to this point. When her bra was removed, he backed away and closed the door.

  She pressed up against him. She whispered in his ear, “Happy Birthday.” She kissed him gently on the nape of the neck. A chill ran down Brian's back.

  While their date was going on, the rest of the ladies decorated the house for a birthday party. Little did they know what was going on in that private room or for how long.

  It wasn't until late that evening when Brian and Julie came home. By then, some of the women had gone to sleep.

  The next day was Brian’s date with Caitlin. They left for a day in San Francisco.

  Among the sights they saw were Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz Island. They had lunch at Fisherman’s Grotto, with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

  As the day went on, Brian could feel the connection between him and Caitlin growing stronger. That solidified when she sang to him, a song that she had written about him. She had wanted to give this to him as a birthday gift, but he returned from his date with Julie too late.

  They shared their first kiss after dessert at Ben and Jerry’s. Brian saw stars when their lips met.

  They returned late in the day to the mansion. The ladies had prepared dinner for him, since they were unable to celebrate his birthday.

  The next day was a group date, leaving Julie and Caitlin home alone. The rest of the women left early in the morning, meeting Brian in Temecula.

  They arrived as the sun was coming up. The six of them boarded a hot air balloon. Brian lifted McKenna into the balloon. Complimentary champagne was served. Lisa started drinking immediately in an attempt to overcome her fear of heights. So did Brian, just not in the quantity as Lisa.

  As they flew over the Temecula Valley Wine Country, the ladies began to share their feelings with Brian.

  After the balloon ride, there was a picnic set up, with more champagne served. Lisa had a bit too much on the ride, and the effects showed at the picnic. She shared a bit too much information about her private life. She shared that, while in college, she appeared in a pornographic movie. She was ashamed of her actions then. While most men would be turned on by this, this had the opposite effect on Brian.

  Knowing she all but had the house to herself, Julie went to the confessional. She talked about how her plan was working perfectly. She baffled his friends with bullshit so they would choose her for the one-on-one date. Her birthday gift all but assured that she would not be voted off in the next elimination.

  She also revealed the next part of her plan. One by one, she would start to eliminate the competition.

  The six of them returned to the mansion late in the afternoon. He had an elimination ceremony that evening and needed time to think about whom to choose.

  As he was doing this, he heard a knock on the door. It was Julie. She told him that while they
were out, Naveena’s family called. Her mother was involved in a car accident and was in critical condition. They asked for her to come home at her mother’s request.

  Before his decision, he asked to speak with Lisa and McKenna alone. He had a few last minute questions to ask each of them. Lisa apologized for her behavior in the balloon.

  An hour later, he came downstairs ready to make his decision. His first four roses went to Caitlin, Sage, Julie and McKenna. Chris came in to remind everyone that there was one rose left and three ladies.

  The final rose went to …

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Alison.

  As he called out Alison’s name, Lisa knew that she blew her opportunity. Naveena was not as sure as to why she was eliminated.

  “Naveena, you’re a great person. I really enjoyed our time together here. I felt a connection forming between us.

  “However, I was informed earlier today that your mother was involved in an accident and was in critical condition. I knew you would want to be there with her. So, I am giving you that chance.”

  She understood and hugged him on her way out. Lisa also hugged him as she left.

  The five remaining ladies celebrated. However, they couldn’t celebrate for long. Two of them would be leaving in the morning for a date.

  The next morning, Sage and Caitlin left for their date. They boarded a plane with Brian for a day in Utah.

  After an hour flight, they arrived at Snowbasin in Ogden Valley. None of them had ever skied before, so they all took beginner lessons.

  The three of them fell a number of times. Brian even tried his hand at snowboarding with little improvement.

  Once they tired of skiing, they went inside for lunch. Brian knew that he would keep Caitlin unless some dire circumstance came up. He wanted to get to know Sage better.

  While they were on their date, Julie revealed the next phase of her plan in the confessional.

  “I see the connection he has with Caitlin. She’s his choice for now, using her southern charm. Well, I have southern charm, too. I just need to turn it on more.”

  The next morning, Julie and McKenna met Brian in Seattle. Julie acted as sweet as she possibly could.

  They went to the top of the Space Needle. What an amazing view of Seattle, despite the fact that it was overcast all day.