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recently… But on a Friday evening, the waterfront would be jammed with pedestrians, and it was almost the same distance either way. She watched to make sure the driver turned on Geary, then relaxed, sliding the invitation out of the envelope again.
    A contestant in a reality show? Not really something she had ever imagined doing.
    Camilla watched reality shows occasionally—the better ones, anyway. She was always amazed by the dumb mistakes people made, the way they alienated their peers. With her talent for teambuilding, she would make a killer contestant. Some of those shows were pure trash, though. If she smelled even a whiff of tacky, she was out of there.
    The letter did not seem tacky at all. Its linen cardstock and embossing looked expensive, like a trendsetter’s wedding invitation. Also, the enclosed five-thousand-dollar check had put some of her doubts about its legitimacy to rest. The money had raised other questions, though. Camilla tucked her hair behind her ear and read the letter again:
    Dear Ms. Becker,
    Please accept this invitation to join us as a possible contestant cast member when we reveal the details of our flagship reality entertainment project on Friday, December 21, 2012. The event will be held aboard our yacht, Leviathan , departing at 4:00 p.m. from the America’s Cup Village Marina, Pier 18, in San Francisco.
    The invitation is undoubtedly a surprise. Rest assured that you were not chosen arbitrarily. Vita Brevis Entertainment is a new studio—an independent venture backed by leading industry players. We’ve dedicated a lot of research and effort into finding the ideal mix of contestant skill sets for our show, which is a team-oriented competition. We believe that you are an excellent prospect because of your specific skills and other qualifications.
    We applaud your charitable work with orphans. The competition’s grand prize is a significant sum. Should you win, we will make a matching grant to your foundation as well. Even if you don’t win, Vita Brevis will dedicate helpful publicity to your foundation’s efforts.
    Naturally, you bear no obligation to Vita Brevis Entertainment. You may attend this event and listen to the details of the show, and then choose either to accept or to decline further participation. If you do commit, you will be sequestered along with your fellow cast members for up to two weeks during the recording of the show.
    The enclosed check also comes with no obligation. Even if we never hear back from you, the money is yours. Consider it a thank-you for taking the time to consider this opportunity. And also for your absolute discretion, which we humbly request: For competitive reasons, we ask that you do not reveal the fact of this invitation to anyone else.
    We hope to see you aboard the Leviathan this Friday. All will be made clear then. Please bring with you clothing and toiletries sufficient for a few days.
    Very truly yours,

    Julian Price
Vita Brevis Entertainment

    Camilla looked out the cab window. Sleazeball recruitment tactic maybe? Industrial espionage by one of the big studios? She pursed her lips, amused.
    As if. She wasn’t some starry-eyed intern who would get drunk and discuss her company’s release road map. But she didn’t think that was what this was about. Five thousand wasn’t chump change, but it was too little to be an attempted bribe. The invitation was probably real. Still, she would go in with both eyes open.
    The part about “team-oriented competition” told her they had zeroed in on her real talent. That seemed a little odd for a reality show. Creepy, even. She tapped the invitation against her knee, thinking. How had they found her in the first place?
    A background search of Vita Brevis Entertainment had come up blank. No surprise there—major studios often launched their riskier ventures this way, creating separate labels for them at first. The studios did it to protect their established brands in case the venture