The Ten-Million-Dollar Prank Call Chapter 1

"Can I borrow two million dollars to buy a dress?"

On the other end of the line: "…How about I just skin myself and let you wear me?"

A second later, a notification popped up on my screen.

[Your account ending in 8975 received a wire transfer on Sept 11 at 08:13 for the amount of $10,000,000.00...]

* * *

We were filming a reality show. The game was simple: call a celebrity friend and, without letting them know we were being recorded, trick them into saying a specific sentence.

The sentences were drawn from a hat.

I opened my slip of paper and felt my soul leave my body.

[Prompt: Do you have a death wish?]

What kind of niche insult was this? It sounded like a line from a bad action movie.

"Oh my god, that’s so hard! Director, can we please give Riley a new prompt?"

Brianna Cross leaned in out of nowhere, grabbing my arm and shaking it like we were childhood best friends.

Nice act, girl. We’ve known each other for less than thirty minutes, and you’re already gunning for an Oscar in "Best Supportive Friend."

I declined with a fake, tight-lipped smile.

"It's fine. No need to swap."

The live chat stream on the screen started flying:

[What is Riley Moore’s problem? Brianna is being so sweet, why the attitude?]

[Poor Brianna, getting bullied on national TV.]

[Riley is such a 'pick-me.' She ignores girls but won't stop talking to the male guests.]

[She’s totally thirsty. Did you see her flirting with Leo earlier?]

I ignored the comments and stared at my phone. Most decent people wouldn't just scream that at me, unless...

But if I failed this task, I’d be forced to partner with Brianna for the rest of the season.

I sighed, glancing at her as she blew kisses to the camera.

"You guys, it's fine! Riley and I are super close. I love her, and she’s always so good to me!" Brianna chirped.

Whatever. I’d rather be nauseous for a minute than miserable for a day. I scrolled to the one person who would definitely say it.

The ringtone echoed through the studio. The high-definition cameras zoomed in on my screen, capturing the contact name I had for the A-list actor, Hudson Vance.

[Hot Guy with an Ego & a Great Ass]

...

Crap. I forgot I hadn't changed his nickname.

The entire studio went silent. I let out a nervous laugh.

"Cough... it was a dare from a party. I forgot to change it back."

The ringtone kept playing. Usually, after ten more seconds, it would go to voicemail. The tension in the room was thick.

Brianna patted my shoulder, sounding smug.

"Don't worry about it. Hudson was filming night scenes yesterday. He's probably still asleep."

Oh? And how would you know that?