Chapter 7

As Maddox stepped out of the car with his signature smoothness, the live chat blew up.

[No fucking way, they actually got the Mad King! This show’s going to be huge!] [The surprise guest didn’t let us down, showing up last like the boss he is!] [Whether it’s Reece or Maddox, either one means massive viewership. This show’s gonna be huge!] [Big respect to the producers for nabbing Maddie, who never shows his face in public!] [Honestly, with how picky and sensitive Maddie is, I’m a little worried about how he’s gonna handle this kind of setup.] [I know it’s wrong, but damn, I kinda wanna see Maddie screw up. What’s wrong with me!] [LOL! I’d love to see that train wreck!] [Throwing Mad King into this kind of chaos? That’s some hardcore shit!] [If there are team challenges, Maddie’s partners are definitely gonna have a rough time. Good luck to them!] [True! I already feel bad for whoever ends up paired with him.]

Other fans and casual viewers couldn’t help but crack up at the die-hard comments from Maddox’s followers, all thinking, Maddox’s fans are really something else…

Right then, Maddox walked over, and everyone greeted him warmly. Even Jamar, who usually didn’t see eye-to-eye with Maddox, managed a polite nod in front of the cameras.

Once all the guests were gathered, the director looked around and got things rolling. “Welcome, everyone, to the ‘From Scratch’ live reality show!” he announced. “Here’s the deal: you’re gonna spend a week here, sharing your daily lives with the audience through the livestream. We’ll give you a place to stay, some basic cooking supplies, and a few tools. After that, it’s all on you.”

Jamar, looking completely lost, spoke up. “Hold up, how are we supposed to do everything ourselves? Can we use our own cash?”

The director gave him a sly smile. “Of course not. No using your own money.”

“And we’ll need you to hand over your phones,” the director added with a casual shrug. “We’ll give you new ones to use for the show. How you figure out the rest… well, that’s your problem. Good luck!”

James leaned forward, curiosity written all over his face. “So, what kind of gear are we getting?” he asked, remembering that last survival show where they were given just three damn items—and not a thing more.

The director, keeping a straight face, replied, “We’ll do our best to provide whatever tools you actually need.” He made it clear that this wasn’t one of those shows where the producers got their kicks out of making guests suffer—it was a different concept.

“For example,” he explained, “if you want to fish, we can hook you up with rods or bets. Need to chop wood? We’ve got axes. The whole point of From Scratch is to experience what it’s like to survive without relying on cash.”

Jamar let out a frustrated sigh. “No money at all! How the hell are we supposed to make that work? How do we get food or even water?”

After a moment, he threw out another question. “Are you gonna set up tasks for us to earn stuff?” He’d seen that approach in other shows—complete a challenge, get a reward or some kind of work gig.

The director shook his head, chuckling. “Nope. For this week, there are no tasks, no interference.”

“You’ll be free to figure out how to get by,” he continued. “If you need food or drinks, you’ll have to trade with the locals or offer them some help in exchange for a meal.”

The producers were taking a risk, hoping that letting the guests roam and improvise on their own would lead to some raw, unscripted moments. It was being aired live, so if it all went to hell, they could always switch it up and add tasks later.

The guests slowly pieced it together.

The director nodded to an assistant, who rolled out eight lockboxes with each of their names on them. He looked at the group and said, “Alright, time to hand over your phones.”

“Drop them in the box with your name on it,” he instructed. “The default code is six zeros, but change it to your own once the show starts. You’ll get them back when we’re done shooting.”

This was to keep their privacy intact and stop the crew from snooping through their stuff.

Maddox looked confused. “If we’re getting new phones, why not just use our own?”

The director cleared it up. “The new phones are locked down—you won’t be able to download apps or browse the internet. They’ve got a temporary chat app already installed. We’ve added everyone as contacts, and there’s a group chat so you can all stay in touch.”

The goal was pretty clear: to stop contestants from privately messaging each other and to keep them from sneaking a peek at audience reactions during filming.

The guests caught on to what was happening. They’d been informed about this in their contracts, so no one complained.

They each dropped their phones into the boxes and quietly set new passwords while the cameras were aimed elsewhere. Each guest got handed a new phone from the show’s sponsor.

Maddox gave it a once-over and couldn’t help but mutter, “This damn thing only makes calls and gives directions.”

‘How the hell am I supposed to get through a week with this?’ he thought.

The director just chuckled. “The whole idea is to get you all off your screens and back to basics.”

Maddox rolled his eyes, silently cursing his agent for dragging him into this mess.

“Any more questions?” the director asked, looking around. “If not, let’s get you all to your rooms.” Everyone shook their heads, resigned to their fate.

“Alright then,” the director said, waving them forward. “Your accommodations are up the mountain. The path’s pretty rough, so watch your step.” Sienna’s face fell at the mention of a mountain road. She had dressed to look ethereal, like some fairy out of a dream, and the last thing she expected was a rugged hike.

The production team must’ve had a laugh keeping this little detail under wraps. She swallowed her annoyance and, with the cameras still rolling, hiked up her dress and followed the group.

Halfway up, she faked a stumble and leaned heavily against Jamar. He caught her in time, concern written all over his face. “Sienna, you alright?”

She sighed. “Yeah, just these shoes aren’t really meant for hiking.”

Jamar glared at the director. “You serious? We can’t just drive up there?”

The director threw up his hands. “Not a chance. The path’s way too narrow and steep for any vehicles.”

Sienna’s heart sank. The idea of dragging herself up in these two-inch heels was its own kind of hell, but she forced a smile and nodded at Jamar. “It’s fine. Let’s just keep going.”

Jamar wasn’t having it. He knew Sienna too well. “This is gonna destroy your feet.”

He shot another look at the director, silently cursing whoever thought this hike was a good idea. Even he was struggling in flats and a suit, so he couldn’t imagine how Sienna was supposed to manage in heels and that long dress.