Piper
The color drained from my face. What was going on? The clip that was supposed to be my interview with the bridesmaid had been replaced with footage of me applying makeup in the women’s room while doing vocal exercises.
“She sells seashells by the seashore. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?” Eyeliner went around my eye while my mouth made a wide O shape. I picked at my teeth and made a sucking sound. My eyelashes fluttered and I sighed heavily while looking at myself in the mirror before flipping the light switch and it got dark.
How? Why? Hot bile rose in my throat. That video had been shot before we left for the interview this afternoon. Had Alonso set up a camera to record me? In the women’s dressing room no less? Why would he do such a thing?
Memories of college and my ruined story flashed in my mind as Karry laughed awkwardly.
“Oh, Piper, I don’t think that’s what you meant to show us. Let’s come back to that in just a moment, hopefully with the right footage.” Karry turned her body to the camera as she shook her head. “The Savannah Children’s Choir held a concert this afternoon for residents of the Sunny View Retirement Home. Here’s Maria with the story.”
When Maria’s package rolled, I ripped off the mic and fled the studio. Without thinking I headed straight to Alonso. He was in his edit bay, shutting things down.
“How could you do this to me again? And with a possible promotion looming? I thought we were friends! I thought you said you would help me!” Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. He did it again.
Eyes wide, Alonso shook his head. “I don’t know what—”
“You didn’t like the idea of me being promoted to anchor so you sabotaged my package on purpose. Again! You haven’t changed one bit, Alonso Ortiz. I will be taking this to Mr. Andrews first thing tomorrow and getting another cameraman. And I don’t care if you get fired in order for that to happen.”
I grabbed the closest thing to me, a well-used coffee mug, and threw it on the ground so it shattered into dozens of ceramic pieces. I turned on my heel and ran to my desk, grabbed my things, and fled the building. Alonso called out after me, but I didn’t stop.
In my car, I realized I was supposed to stay and present the correct story, but I didn’t care at this point. My career might be over anyway, thanks to Alonso and his need to constantly be a prankster. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, they could run the right piece without me. I drove back to my parent’s house as I tried to keep the tears at bay.
Ringing erupted all around me as my car picked up the Bluetooth. Alonso Ortiz popped up on the screen. No, thank you. I tapped to reject the call. I didn’t want or need his explanations. A hot tear slid down my cheek. I will not cry over this. Crying solves nothing. I will come out stronger and Alonso Ortiz will lose his head like one of the Red Queen’s playing cards.
I slammed every door as I went through it. The car door, the front door, my bedroom door. Yes, I was acting like a teenager again, but I didn’t care. This was devastating. Not just to my career, but also to my friendship with Alonso.
Over the past several months, my hatred for him made a complete turnaround. We were friends. We might have been more than friends if he wasn’t so set on being a bachelor for life.
Oh. Maybe that’s why he did it. Was I getting too close? I had wanted to kiss him and I’m pretty sure he wanted to kiss me as well, but maybe I was wrong. Did I read too much into his friendliness? If so I am doubly, no, triply mortified. But still, for him to humiliate me in that way...
More tears ran down my cheek when a knock came at my door. “Who is it?”
“Piper, honey, are you okay?” My mom’s voice drifted softly through the door.
I swung the door open, then flopped onto my bed like I would have done as a teenager ten years prior. “No. I’m not. Did you see it? How bad was it?” I stared at the ceiling, preparing myself for her to tell me it was the worst thing she’d ever seen on television.
A sigh escaped her lips. “It wasn’t that bad. Embarrassing, sure, but really it just showed you’re human like the rest of us. It’s not career ending, which is how you’re acting.”
I propped myself up on my elbows. “Mom, I sucked my teeth on television. I don’t even know how that was recorded. And I really don’t know how he could do this.”
“Who?”
I flopped back again, angry tears burning my skin as they rolled back into my hair. “Alonso Ortiz.”
“Wait? The same guy who did this to you in college? The one who’s been hanging on you like a lost puppy for weeks?” Mom sat down next to me and smoothed my hair. “I see how he looks at you, Piper. I don’t see how he could do this.”
“He’s the one who creates my packages. He’s the one who knows my warm-up routine. And he’s the one who admits to being a prankster.” I slammed my fist on the soft mattress, but it only bounced. I wanted to break things.
Silently, my mother continued to smooth my hair. My mind raced with thinking if it would have been anyone else. I’m friends with everyone, or at least friendly. I had never seriously offended any of my coworkers that I knew of. And given my history with Alonso, I didn’t see how it could be anyone else.
“I think I just need to be alone with my thoughts for a while, Mom. Thank you.” I squeezed her arm in lieu of a hug.
“Of course, honey. I’m here if you need me.” After kissing my head, she stood and exited, closing the door softly behind her.
Once again, my phone began to ring and I pulled it from my pocket. Alonso again. I sent it to voicemail and turned my phone off. I didn’t need to deal with him or anyone else for a while. Without even changing, I pulled my quilt up over myself and fell asleep.
My dreams were full of deception. My mother laughing at me and pointing. Henry flaunting an unknown woman with a round belly, telling me she was better than me. Sam and Karry tripping me on set and snickering about it. Then Alonso, exposing me for the world to see, devil horns growing through his hair and his eyes glowing red.
The next morning was my regular yoga day, but I couldn’t face a room full of people, or chance running into Alonso. I opted to go for a run instead. The rhythm of my feet on the pavement as my angry and determined playlist came through my earbuds pushed me forward. Again, I tried to search my brain for why Alonso would do this to me again after how well we were getting along.
My phone rang, jarring my thoughts and bringing me to a halt. It was Tyrell. I answered it, ready to spout off every reason why Alonso should be fired.
“Tyrell, if you defend him I will hang up faster than Ashley can spend money.” I was rude and I knew it. I would have to apologize.
A huff came through my earbuds. “Piper, I’m not defending anybody or anything. I know you’re upset. Can we chat?”
I sat on a nearby bench and bounced my legs. “Yeah, we can chat. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude. Did I lose any hope of getting that anchor position?”
“Let me lay it down. The video that aired was obviously not your doing. We’re looking into that. But it wasn’t your fault at all. What is your fault, however, is your reaction. You could have handled that with dignity, and you didn’t. You ran. If you’ve lost your chance at being anchor, it’s because of that. Not what aired.”
Tears formed in my eyes and mixed with the sweat, causing my eyes to close. I held my head in my hands. “I really mucked things up.”
“Mr. Andrews doesn’t know you stormed off, but he will if Karry or anyone else who was in that room talks to him before you do.” Tyrell hesitated. “He didn’t do it.”
I knew who he was talking about and I ignored the comment. “I’ll come in early and talk to Andrews. In fact, I will email him as soon as I get home and then come in early and talk to him. I want this job.”
“Why do you want it so bad?”
“At this point, if nothing else, to get away from Alonso Ortiz.” I stood, my eyes still closed. I had to use my shirt to wipe my eyes and try to see again.
A sound came from Tyrell, but then he stopped before finally speaking. “I’ll see you later, Piper. It will all work out.”
“Thanks.” I hung up and wiped my eyes again before heading home.
I checked my voicemail on my way back. I had three messages from Alonso. Curiosity got the better of me and I listened to the first one.
“Piper, I saw the whole thing. I swear it wasn’t me. I’m not the same person I was back at SCAD. I would never want to hurt you like this. Please call me.”
Not the same person? I scoffed as I hit the second message.
“Piper.” His voice was firmer. “Listen, I know you’re upset, but you’re upset at the wrong person. The right package aired just fine. Why did you leave like that? Everyone is talking and it’s not good. You need to call me.”
I was going to lose the promotion and I hadn’t even had the chance to apply yet. I groaned as I reluctantly pressed play on the third voicemail.
This time his voice was clipped and hard. “Piper, seriously. I’m sorry this happened, but it was not my doing. I can’t believe after all this you would actually think I could do this to you. I thought... You know what. Never mind. Clearly, I was wrong.”
My chest tightened to hear his voice so full of anger. But then, didn’t I have the right to be angry? He had played me for the fool yet again, and I had every right to be beyond outraged. I had started off working with him checking every package before it aired, but I had slacked off recently because I thought he was as sincere as he claimed. Oh, how I was wrong.
Showered and dressed in my plum power suit, I headed to the studio and straight for Mr. Andrews” office. His secretary, a sweet motherly type named Barbara led me into his office.
After being invited to sit across from him, I launched into my tirade. “Mr. Andrews, last night’s debacle was orchestrated and executed by one person—Alonso Ortiz. If you’re not aware, he pulled this exact stunt on me while at school. I refuse to work with him further. I could also press charges against him and the station for spying in the women’s room.” My heart pounded, my toes curled, and I fought the urge to bang my fist on his cherrywood table.
With one eyebrow raised, Mr. Andrews stared at me a moment before licking his lips. “Ms. Campbell, if you’re done with that, I will tell you that Alonso emailed me late last night, well before I knew what was going on. He has an alibi and has assured me he is not the culprit of last night’s snafu. Now, we’re looking into it. However, I understand you not only left the newsroom but left the building altogether. Would you care to explain that?”
The color drained from my face and my throat felt suddenly arid. “I’m very sorry, sir. I was so embarrassed, I didn’t know what to do. In my panic, I simply fled. It will never happen again.”
He leaned forward in his sleek office chair. “See that it doesn’t, Ms. Campbell. I’ll let you know when we find out who messed with the video last night. Until then, have a nice day.”
I was dismissed. With a nod, I left and made my way down to my desk. I needed to find Alonso. I didn’t see how it wasn’t him who sabotaged me, but if he had an alibi, I wanted to hear it.