CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
C al
Freezing rain patters against Sports Spheres’ oversized windows.
Winter is disappearing, and the piles of snow that littered both sides of the road are gray and brittle, no longer adorned by reliable snowfalls of fresh snow.
People march outside without bothering to wrap their hands and heads in bulky gloves and hats.
Jason is playing in Canada, and I pretend I don’t miss him.
I do. I miss him so much.
“Cal!” Rex’s voice booms over the click-clack of reporters typing and the constant hum of colleagues discussing projects and chatter on the phone.
I slink toward his desk. “I’m sorry, sir. I know I haven’t written the article on Jason Larvik yet.”
Rex waves his hand dismissively, even though Rex and nonchalance are oxymorons, even if he’s been looking decidedly less intimidating than when I first met him. His cheeks are more pink than gray, and he practically bounces when he walks. Maybe he enjoyed his time in Fiji.
“Please take the wages from my trip out of my paycheck.”
Rex gives me a strange look. “That wasn’t your fault, Cal.”
“Nevertheless, I don’t feel good about having them in my paycheck.”
Rex sighs. “We can call it advance PTO, if you like?”
I nod. “Okay. That works.”
“That’s not what I called you to talk about,” Rex says, checking his notifications. He rises. “Staff meeting starting now. I’ll explain it there.”
“Right.” I nod multiple times, then I follow him into the glass conference room. Most of the other staff are already sitting there, all glowing skin and professional designer clothes.
I pull out a chair. It feels too comfortable, almost excessive. How much padding does this chair have?
“Water?” Valerie holds up a pitcher. Lime slices and ice bob in the water.
My chest tightens. Jason and I were so proud when we managed to collect water in coconut shells.
Do my colleagues appreciate how lucky they are? The thought rises through my mind, and I try to squash it. I wouldn’t wish what we’d experienced on them. I don’t want to start acting self-righteous.
Rex clears his throat, and I realize Valerie is extending a glass of water toward me.
I reach for it hastily, unsure how long I’ve been out of it. “Sorry.”
“You had a big adventure,” Rex says, but worry flickers over his face.
Maybe he doesn’t think I’m up for this job.
Maybe he’s right.
So far all I’ve told him is that I can’t do the one assignment I was supposed to do.
“I’ll be better,” I promise.
“Let’s go over assignments for the week,” Rex says.
“I can pick up some of Cal’s work,” Valerie says. “Since he’s still... adjusting.”
“Thank you,” Rex says. “That might be useful.”
Surely, he’s not planning to fire me or something. Is he? I hope he isn’t. Have I already failed?
Valerie’s lips curl. I doubt I’m imagining she’s after my job.
“I’m sorry it’s taking me a while to adjust,” I blurt out.
Valerie’s lips swerve up further, then she jerks her head away.
“Cal, I’m assigning you an exclusive televised interview,” Rex says.
Everyone’s jaw drops.
Including mine.
“Excuse me?” I blink. I must have misheard him.
That’s the only reason.
Or he misspoke.
Because I’m sure he wouldn’t give a rookie reporter the chance to interview someone on television.
“It’s true,” Rex says, reading my mind.
The feat probably doesn’t deserve a great deal of wonder. Everyone in the room is equally astounded.
I swallow a deep breath of air and attempt to square my shoulders. “Of course. However I can help.”
Rex smiles, but it’s tighter than I like, as if he’s not completely pleased.
Why would he assign me something if he’s not sure I can do it?
I thought it would take longer before I can interview people on TV. I thought I needed to write more articles, pay my dues, hustle, hustle, hustle.
“Who do you want me to interview?” I ask.
I have an idea, and I don’t like it.
“Jason Larvik,” Rex says.
My stomach drops.
He wants me to interview Jason, but Jason doesn’t want to be interviewed. He was exceedingly, exceedingly clear about it. And though he might grant me an interview, I don’t want him to feel obligated. I don’t want to benefit in any manner from the closeness we reached.
I shift in my seat. “I, um, mentioned before that I wanted to recuse myself from any interviews with him...”
Rex sighs. “Yes, you mentioned that.”
“That still stands.” My throat dries, but I manage to keep my voice steady.
“I was afraid you would say that.” Rex’s eyes narrow. “But perhaps you should also know you were specifically requested.”
I tense. Is Rex going to tell me some high-up board member specifically requested me to do the interview? Or perhaps even the CEO?
Rex isn’t going to want to go back to his higher ups and say he failed to get his newest worker to do an important interview for the company. That’s not how I build a career here. That’s not how I grow my reputation in the industry.
And yet...
I’m not going to put Jason through any pain.
I won’t.
I can’t.
I don’t want him to remember our time together and think I was just using him.
“That doesn’t change anything.” I manage to keep my voice from wobbling, but my leg shakes, as if I’m trying to dig a hole through the conference room floor, so I can escape this room, escape this building, escape this life.
“Larvik will be disappointed.” Rex presses his lips together. “I’ll see if I can get him to accept an interview with someone else, but he was clear when he requested the interview that he wanted you to be the interviewer.”
“Jason wants me to interview him?”
Jason didn’t mention it.
Rex narrows his eyes, and I force myself to inhale.
“I’m sorry, sir. I did hear you the first time. I just didn’t expect that. I’ll do it.”
A strange look passes over Rex’s face, but he nods. “Excellent. Have Chloe set up a one-to-one this afternoon so I can get you up to speed on television interview requirements. This one will be live.”
“L-live?” I stammer.
Rex frowns again.
It’s a wonder Rex has any confidence in me at all. From the raised eyebrows of the others, he’s not the only person taken aback from my behavior.
“Yes, live,” Rex states in his matter-of-fact manner. “Larvik requested that too. You have the 6 PM slot tomorrow night.”
I blink. I’m not sure why Jason would have requested that. “It will be excellent, sir.”
“We at Sports Sphere are all counting on you,” he replies.
For some reason, the words sound like a threat, and when I take a hasty sip of water, it wobbles in my hand.