“Online voting is up next. Everyone, hit up the fan groups and Instagram.

Rally those votes. The real competition? Those teams neck and neck with our score."

Considering Ariana's team's pitiful audience vote count, they weren't even on the radar screen.

But then, a contestant chimed in, "What if Ariana pulls a fast one with the online votes?"

Calvert just snorted.

“A fast one? Doubtful. Their players? Hardly known. Ariana? A small-fry company, scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Getting a star like Sarah on board probably broke their bank."

His gaze swept over his team.

"Now, look at us at Rollingrock Media.

We've got the contacts. We've got the money."

Everyone got his drift. Rumors had always swirled about their company fixing the votes. Rollingrock Media's team members settled back, convinced they had made the right choice.

"We're banking on you," one said.

"Considering Ariana's team's current sorry state, they won't be catching up."

Soon after, the host kicked off the online voting round.

The cameras zoomed in on the voting screen. The virtual ballot box would stay open for five nerve-wracking minutes.

At first, every team's numbers ticked up steadily. Yet Ariana's team's numbers lagged, gradually losing ground.

It was expected. People in the know were aware that Ariana's contestants lacked star power. The fan base they had built from just a couple of shows wasn't enough. Betting on votes from random folks wasn't going to conjure a fairytale ending.

Then, out of the blue, Ariana's team's votes took a dramatic surge, racing up the rankings and breathing down the neck of the leading Rollingrock Media team.

Ariana looked back at Sarah, who flashed a discreet but pleased thumbs up. It was evident that the pop star's fan army had entered the game.

The sudden twist had Rollingrock Media's team trading nervous looks, their eyes darting to Calvert for some answers.