Dominant Woman Looking for Love - Chapter 24：Recall that feeling of dread.

I wake up to the sound of the alarm with a feeling of dread.

Today’s the day we’ll be participating in that ‘I Challenge You’ episode.

We have no idea what type of games we’ll be playing in this segment.

Of course, I tried to ask them last week, but being able to practice or prepare beforehand will ruin things.

We’re totally in the dark, so it’s most likely I might make a fool out of myself somehow.

I press both my palms to my face and do a muffled, high-pitched scream.

After letting out my frustrations, I get up, and with heavy steps, I lazily walk towards the bathroom to get ready.

* * * * *

I look up at the old studio building #25-E, where the show is usually filmed.

Spotting the entrance, I pull on the well used painted metal door, and the hinge makes a slight squeak.

As soon as I get inside, I see double doors, a small hallway, and some signs on the walls indicating where the toilets are.

Some security guards are posted right outside what seems to be the main entrance.

I show them my printed temporary ID. They scan the barcode and my bag; then they let me through.

* * * * *

After walking for about a few minutes, I finally see the set. There are so many people running about, getting everything ready.

Thankfully, one of the staff seems to have noticed and jogs over to me.

“Hello, Good morning! You are Ms. Therysia Raley, right?” They ask, to which I respond with a nod.

I quietly follow the person until we reach a room that has all four of our names on the door.

As soon as it’s opened, I hear some laughter, which is most likely coming from Ren. Both Jett and Charles look amused as they continue to listen.

“Since my pride was at stake, I… Ah! Ms. Raley! I’m SO happy you’re finally here!” Ren grins and walks over to me with his arms open wide.

I give him a death glare, warning him that he better not even attempt to hug me.

Ren dramatically wraps his arms around himself.

While trembling, he says, “Ohh… it’s okay if you won’t hug me!”

“I have to admit that I am a little sad… but that passionate gaze of yours is more than enough for now.”

After saying his piece, he grins and stares at me with satisfied eyes upon seeing my annoyance.

Sighing, I roll my eyes and ignore him. It’s sadly the only thing I CAN do at this point.

It doesn’t help that he acts a lot more normal towards everyone else BUT me.

What I don’t get is why does he have to subject me to this EVERY… SINGLE… TIME… we see each other!

Oh, what I would give to stay at home today.

I feel a large hand gently clutching onto my shoulder. To my surprise, it’s actually Mr. Boet and not Jett who did that.

Jett did the same thing to Ren, but even both of them are looking at us in shock.

Probably because other than handshaking, he has never made any other physical contact with me before.

Feeling puzzled, I look into his face, and Charles smiles, “Let’s do our best today, partner.”

Partner?!

Don’t tell me they just did whatever the heck they wanted before I got here??

But then, it doesn’t make sense as Jett and Ren shouldn’t be looking as stunned as I am too.

As if he could read my mind, Mr. Boet answers, “I was the first one who got here, and they told me I could decide the groups. ‘Special privilege’, they said.”

He jokingly points his thumb over his shoulder at Mr. Hille, and with a smirk tells me, “Also, I’ve kinda had enough of that stupid brat over there. Being around him drains my energy.”

“So what do you say, Ms. Raley?” He ends with a friendly smile with his other hand still on me.

“Sure. Just make sure that you can keep up with me.” I don’t care either way, as long as we win.

That’s, of course, as long as my other partner isn’t Ren. He’s going to be the death of me.

“I’ll do my best, Ms. Raley! Leave it to me.”, Charles flashes his teeth at me, brimming with confidence.

I am utterly unaware that both guys behind us are completely fuming, and Mr. Boet’s words have sparked some rivalry between the three of them.

I’ve almost completely forgotten about the staff that was still with us in the room.

They clear their throat, “Ahem. Now that the four of you are split into two groups, please go over this checklist and choose four games in total. Please decide within 15 minutes.”

I quickly skim over it.

Half of these sound pretty standard, but the other column is OUTRAGEOUS! We are required to at least pick one from the absurd list of challenges.

I’m starting to feel faint as I go over it: one-cord bungee jumping, one-parachute sky diving, shark tank, cockroach pool, insect buffet, and snake bath, to name a few.

‘ARE THEY CRAZY?! A lot of those options are DISGUSTING!’ I cry out inside my head.

Are they planning to give us a heart attack so that we can entertain them or something?!

These assholes… They owe me TWO FAVORS… maybe even THREE!

I give Mr. Celo a call so I could threaten him, but the only thing he could do is apologize profusely, begging us not to cancel on them.

He does his best to explain that there were so many changes once they found out who the participants were.

They wanted to make full use of their popularity to boost the ratings as much as possible.

Still! It doesn’t mean they had to go to the extreme like this.

Is the program director some kind of sadist or something to be able to think up of all these?!

The previous challenges were a lot tamer compared to these.

I sigh deeply once the call ended.

In the background, I could hear three adult men bickering like kids.

“This is unfair! There’s no way I’m strapping myself to Mr. Harland! Ms. Raley, please switch with Jett!” Ren exclaims and looks disappointed.

Hah! As if I’d let that happen, I’d rather do one of those challenges on my own than pair up with him.

Jett retorts, “Not like I’d want that myself. And not to mention…” He angrily eyes Charles and me as if he wants to telepathically let me know there’s no way he’s okay with that, either.

Hmph.

I’m honestly too scared to do the first two even on my own anyway. Having someone else strapped to me won’t help much.

While they were still busy fighting among themselves, I cut them off and explain the situation.

They eventually concede, seeing as the advantages we’ll be getting out of this should make it worth it.

We all look over the list of challenges again so we can discuss which ones we should do.

I guess the shark tank seems the best out of all the others to be honest.

At least I’ll be inside a cage, no big deal at all.

Smugly crossing my arms, I do my best to convince them, “I say we go for the shark tank. It’s the least bit sca- I mean, it’s the most doable out of all the others I’d say.”

They’re reluctant but end up agreeing with me.

We quickly decide on the remaining three challenges, and we sit down on the armchairs that were provided for us.

I sigh and recall that feeling of dread I had this morning and realize it may have been in anticipation of this.