Genius Manager: I Can Make All Girls Talented!

The night fell like a velvet curtain over the villa, wrapping every corner in shadows and uncertainty. Lights flickered on across the pool deck and the garden paths, casting long reflections on the water's surface. The cameras, more discreet than usual, moved slowly, silently—but they were everywhere.

The announcement of the vote had transformed the mood. What had once been a fantasy had become a crucible. Conversations were hushed, stares sharpened. No one trusted anyone, not fully. And as the dinner hour approached, the weight of the coming revelation pressed down on everyone.

Darius stood at the edge of the infinity pool, hands in his pockets, staring into the mirror-like surface. Behind him, laughter echoed faintly from the kitchen—forced, brittle, hollow. He'd played many roles since arriving here: charmer, lover, confidant. Tonight, he would be something else.

Judge.

The producers had set the stage perfectly. A long table was laid out beneath the pergola, candles fluttering in glass holders. The air smelled of rosemary and salt from the sea breeze. Everyone was dressed like it was a celebration, but the tension in their postures said otherwise.

Emma arrived first, in a backless emerald dress that hugged her perfectly. She sat at the far end of the table, cool and unreadable. Alicia and Avery came together, exchanging private murmurs. Matt lingered just outside the ring of candlelight, eyes darting, shoulders tense. Yuna took her seat beside Darius without a word, fingers brushing his beneath the table in silent solidarity.

When the producers called for silence, the lights dimmed slightly, and a voice crackled over the outdoor speaker system.

"The votes are in."

Everyone held their breath.

"One of you received the majority. One of you has been chosen by your fellow contestants as the least genuine connection."

Gasps. Shifts in seats. Darius didn't move.

"The name... will be revealed shortly. And that person will have the chance to speak for themselves before a final decision is made."

A tablet was brought out by one of the silent crew members and handed to Darius. He read the name. Blinked. Then looked up.

"Matt."

There was a beat of absolute silence.

Matt's chair scraped loudly as he stood. "What? Are you serious?"

Yuna stiffened. Alicia looked away. Emma said nothing. Avery stared directly at him.

"You can speak," the voice said. "This is your only chance."

Matt looked around, fury and disbelief warring on his face. "I came here to find something real. And yeah, maybe I didn't connect with everyone. But that doesn't make me fake. You all decided I'm the problem because I'm not playing the game the same way? Because I didn't flirt with Darius? Is that it?"

"No," Emma said calmly. "Because you did. And it felt like strategy."

Avery nodded. "It wasn't about you not connecting. It was about how convenient your connections were. With whoever had the most influence."

Matt turned to Darius. "You think I'm fake?"

Darius met his gaze evenly. "I think you're not here for the same reason the rest of us are. And I think you knew you'd lose this game if you kept playing it straight. So you changed tactics. It was smart. Just not honest."

Matt stared at him, then shook his head. "This whole place is a circus."

"And you wanted to be the ringleader," Alicia said, quiet but firm.

He laughed bitterly. "Fine. Send me home. At least I won't have to keep pretending this is about love."

But no one said the final words. No vote was cast.

Because the voice returned.

"Matt, you will not be sent home tonight."

Gasps again.

"The vote was real. But the elimination is not. This was a test. To reveal how you all see each other. To expose hidden truths."

The reaction was instant. Relief. Rage. Confusion.

Matt sat down slowly, expression unreadable. Emma muttered something under her breath. Alicia just stared at her plate. Avery closed her eyes. And Yuna... smiled.

Darius leaned back in his chair.

So the game had changed again.

And this time, everyone knew exactly how high the stakes were.

***

The villa never truly slept. Not anymore.

Even at night, the flicker of red recording lights haunted every hallway, each one a silent witness to shifting loyalties, quiet betrayals, and kisses meant for cameras but not always for truth.

Darius stood alone on the balcony, staring out at the ocean. His shirt was unbuttoned, his hands resting on the cold metal railing. Moonlight spilled across the water like liquid silver, and behind him, the murmurs of another heated conversation filtered through the glass.

Yuna had gone to bed early. Too early. She hadn't spoken to him after dinner.

Emma had been distant too, clinging to Avery in a show of alliance that hadn't existed two days ago.

Inside, the tension had evolved—no longer the open jealousy of girls fighting for attention, but something heavier. Clandestine.

And then, the voice he least expected broke the silence behind him.

"They're going to make you choose again soon."

Alicia. Hair loose, robe tied loosely around her waist, barefoot as she stepped onto the balcony beside him.

Darius gave a slow nod. "I know."

She looked up at him, arms folded over her chest. "They're not just filming drama anymore. They want a climax. The producers are planning something, I can feel it."

He glanced at her, then back at the sea. "They already warned me. There's going to be a vote. The audience chooses someone to leave."

Alicia's jaw tightened. "Do they know this?"

"Not yet."

She was silent for a moment, then stepped closer to him. "You know what this is going to do, right? They're all going to turn on each other. No matter what you say."

"I know," he repeated. "But if I tell them now, they'll burn the place down before the episode airs."

Alicia reached for his hand. "You don't have to play along."

He looked at her, eyes dark. "If I don't, someone else will. And I don't trust anyone else with what happens next."

There was a long silence between them, broken only by the crashing of waves.

Finally, she whispered, "Then you better start preparing them. Because I'm not letting you send me home."

The next morning began with feigned calm. The girls lounged by the pool, drinks in hand, pretending not to watch each other with sharp eyes.

Avery wore a sheer wrap that did little to hide the bruises on her collarbone—kisses from Darius she hadn't tried to hide. Emma laughed a little too hard at Matt's jokes. Yuna scrolled on her phone but hadn't smiled once.

And Alicia? She stood with Darius beside the outdoor grill, watching the camera crew set up yet another impromptu shoot.

The villa's producer, a sharp-dressed woman named Serena, called the group together.

"Morning, everyone. I hope you're enjoying the sunshine," she said, her smile warm but rehearsed. "Today, we're filming something special."

A ripple went through the group.

"Special how?" Avery asked.

Serena gestured toward a fresh seating arrangement set up by the pool: a semicircle of white chairs, each with a nameplate.

"We're calling it: Truth and Consequences. You'll each be answering questions submitted by the audience. And your answers may influence a live vote that opens tonight."

Emma stood abruptly. "Vote? Vote for what?"

Serena smiled wider. "Someone is going home. Tomorrow morning. Based entirely on audience perception."

The girls erupted.

Yuna stood, sunglasses yanked off. "You didn't say anything about eliminations!"

Avery: "So they get to decide who stays based on whatever lies the cameras show?"

Emma, furious: "And Darius? Is he safe?"

Serena raised a hand. "Darius cannot be voted out. He's the anchor of the season. But your futures—and your connections with him—are in the hands of the public."

The silence that followed was explosive.

Darius finally stepped forward, hands raised. "Let me talk to them. Alone."

Serena nodded and motioned for the crew to step back.

He turned to face the women who loved him. Who wanted him. Who could now lose everything.

"This isn't what I wanted," he said quietly. "I didn't know about the vote until last night."

Yuna's eyes narrowed. "But you didn't tell us."

"Because I needed time to think."

Avery folded her arms. "And now?"

He met each of their gazes. "Now I need you to trust me. This isn't about who gets the most screen time. Or who shares my bed. This is about survival. And the only way we all stay is if we stop tearing each other apart."

Emma, softer now: "You want us to act like a team? When we're competing for the same man?"

"No," he said. "I want you to show them why you belong here. Why each of you matters."

The girls looked at each other, the silence stretched thin—then Alicia spoke first.

"Then we better start thinking like queens, not contestants."