Chapter 60 - The Green Room
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The chaotic energy of the television studio in New York City was entirely foreign to me. Assistants rushed down the narrow hallways carrying clipboards and headsets, producers yelled last-minute instructions, and the muffled sound of the live studio audience echoed through the walls.
I sat quietly in the center of the VIP green room, surrounded by bright vanity mirrors. A professional makeup artist was dusting a light layer of powder across my cheekbones, expertly preparing me for my first national television appearance on the country's most popular morning show.
"Just a little more blush, sweetie," the makeup artist smiled warmly. "You have incredible skin. You don't need much."
"Thank you," I smiled back, though my stomach was performing a complex series of nervous acrobatics.
Marcus was sitting on a plush leather sofa in the corner of the room, reviewing my talking points on his tablet. He wore a sharp, tailored suit, looking every bit the fiercely protective partner he was. He looked up, caught my eye in the vanity mirror, and offered a grounding, reassuring wink.
The heavy door swung open, and a frantic producer poked her head inside.
"Rachel, we are three minutes away from going live. They are rolling the commercial break now. We need you on set."
"I'm ready," I said, standing up and smoothing the skirt of my emerald green dress.
Marcus walked over, took my hands in his, and looked deeply into my eyes.
"You are not going out there to defend yourself, Rachel," Marcus said quietly, his voice cutting through the noise of the studio. "You are going out there to plant a flag. You are the expert. You own the narrative. Remember who you are."
"I am Rachel Bennett," I whispered, the nervous flutter in my stomach instantly hardening into solid, unshakeable steel.
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"Exactly," Marcus kissed my forehead. "Now go show the world how fiercely you shine."
I walked out of the green room, following the producer down the labyrinth of cables and lighting rigs. As I stepped onto the bright, vibrant set of the morning show, the two famous anchors smiled and gestured for me to take a seat on the curved sofa. I sat down, crossed my legs elegantly, and waited for the red light on the main camera to blink on. I was absolutely ready for war.
