47. Forty-seven
Forty-seven
Ainsley
P ayton’s an asshole. I love him, but I don’t agree with everything he does, and sharing my personal details, even with his family, without my explicit consent, really pisses me off.
Once he let me off his lap, I left his office and have been posted up at the kitchen table sending emails to every news outlet I can think of that may consider taking me on as a staff reporter. The Southern Sounder is still my only job offer and it’s depressing as hell thinking I may have tanked my career for good.
All that hard work, and gossip is my only legacy and also what’s keeping me from finding a legitimate job because no one wants to touch me with a ten-foot pole after the way I was publicly humiliated. Why did I even bother with the years of schooling, internships, and busting my ass at the Gazette? Why did I take the worst story topics and turn them into something worth reading time and again if I’m destined to be infamously known as the “Gossip Girl of Georgia” for the rest of my career? If I even have a career left.
I sigh and hit send on yet another email to a paper that takes freelance stories. I’ll try to build up a portfolio as a freelance writer and reestablish my credibility that way. It’s not ideal and the pay isn’t guaranteed unless I sell a story, so I’ll be hustling all the time, trying to find stories to write that are worth buying. It’s something to do in the meantime to keep myself relevant and provide an income.
My email notification dings and I quickly scan my inbox. The new email is from John Buckman, the editor-in-chief of the Atlanta Free Press. I sent him the proposal for my human interest story on Payton yesterday. Maybe he’s letting me know if they’ll pick it up. I click it and my heart rate quickens as I read through the email.
From: “John Buckman” [email protected]
To: “Ainsley Montgomery” [email protected]
Subject: Your Future with the Free Press
Dear Miss Montgomery.
Thank you for your story proposal. I’ve reviewed it and I’m intrigued. Your previous stories on Olympus International have been well thought out and your writing is excellent. You have a way with the craft and are a natural storyteller who has a confident grasp on the rules of journalism that you know just when to break to make your stories sing.
I also admire your tenacity in the face of adversity. I’ve heard from my peers that you have been diligently inquiring about staff reporter positions with local papers, yet turned down a position as a gossip columnist with the Southern Sounder. I was curious as to the possible reasons you would refuse such a position, so please forgive me for extrapolating from what little I know of you and the situation. I imagine it has to do with wanting to distance yourself from the gossip that brought you so much notoriety and wanting to legitimize your journalism career. This is a noble cause when you could so easily lean into the infamy instead.
While I may not know the whole story, I know your writing enough to understand you as a journalist, and with that, I’d like to have you on my team as a staff writer. If you’re interested, there’s a place for you at the Atlanta Free Press. You’ll have to earn your spot like every reporter here, but you’re already well on your way with the stories you’ve written for us and the proposal you’ve most recently provided. Should you accept, we’ll assign you stories outside of the Olympus realm to test just how versatile your abilities are and let your talents truly shine.
I look forward to speaking with you soon. Regardless of your answer, we’d like to buy your story on Payton Olsen and his work at Olympus.
Regards,
John Buckman
I jump up from my chair and pace the length of the dining room and back, my hand over my mouth, eyeing my laptop like this is a trick. I purposely didn’t reach out to the Atlanta Free Press, wanting to pitch my latest story first to test the waters, see if they’re still amenable to working with me in a freelance capacity before I spring the idea on them of being a full-time reporter. John reaching out proactively and asking me to join their team is mind-blowing.
They want me on their team. I didn’t completely wreck my career. There’s still a future for me in journalism that doesn’t involve gossip. Relief courses through my body and heady elation fills me.
Fuck yes!
I sit and quickly type a response, accepting John’s offer. Minutes later, he replies with an invitation to stop by the Free Press office to finalize details. I slam my laptop shut and rush into the bedroom to shower and get ready. Holy shit, I have a job.
Payton walks into the bathroom while I’m putting on makeup and leans against the doorframe, watching me. “Care to tell me what you’re up to?”
I put my mascara down and turn to him, fighting the smile that wants to take over my whole face. I give in and blurt out the news. “I accepted a staff reporter position with the Atlanta Free Press.”
His eyebrows rise and he rushes in to scoop me in for a crushing hug. “I’m so fucking proud of you. I knew you’d come out on top and would find another paper.”
I take his praise and affection without rebuffing it, which would’ve been my standard reaction before he asked me to trust him, to let him in, and let him care for me. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, kind of like Velcro rubbing my brain, but I fight the urge to say something snarky or dismiss his confidence in me. I can grow and learn in this respect as much as I can from my gossip-mongering ways.
“I have to sign my contract. I shouldn’t be gone long, but figured I’d put myself together and make a good impression.
“You’ll be amazing, as usual. Take the Rover and stop for an iced coffee so you have your favorite drink to hype yourself up,” he instructs. After kissing my head, he turns to the closet and retrieves an outfit. “Wear the navy pencil shirt and white sleeveless top I like so much. You look incredible and so professional. It’ll give you an extra boost of confidence, and it'll make me want to fuck you even more when you get home.”
Once I’m dressed, he even kneels and helps me into my favorite heels, doing up the ankle straps for me.
I smile and kiss him before taking the purse he holds out. “Thank you,” I say simply, taking his help and letting him do the little things he likes so much that mean he’s caring for me.
The Atlanta Free Press office is in a high-rise building downtown, the metal and glass structure intimidating as I walk behind John Buckman himself after signing my contract to join the staff as a reporter. My hand was shaking so badly I’m sure my signature is illegible, but it’s the thought that counts.
The reality hit me while I was sitting in John’s office that I’m finally achieving the dreams I put off years ago and thought I’d never have because of my failures and the part Archer played in fucking with me—both in grad school and most recently by hacking the Haute List and exposing me. But I’m as much to blame for my situation in life as any outside force, and I’m owning both of those situations. Archer wouldn’t have been able to manipulate me if I hadn’t been willing to write the article he gave me the information for, or expose me if I hadn’t created an anonymous gossip site in the first place. I’m especially grateful for second and third chances as I look around the bullpen area full of cubicles and desks with busy people. It’s such a shift from the mediocre and uninterested staff at the Gazette, where writing was a job, not a passion. Here, you can feel the intensity, the drive, that fuels each person.
“You’ll start out here with the rest of our staff reporters. It’s not fancy, but it’ll give you a spot to write and grow with the team,” John says, pointing at an empty cubicle.
A tall, curvy, goddess of a woman with chestnut hair slicked back into a high ponytail pops up on the other side of the cubicle. She eyes me for a moment before grinning and walking around the half wall with her hand extended.
“Hey, I’m Lilah Williams, sports,” she says as I take her hand. Her handshake is firm and she looks me directly in the eyes. She’s all powerful energy and tenacity. No wonder she’s writing for the sports section. She’ll be able to handle the egos of the professional athletes in our city and get through the male-dominated segment of journalism without crumbling. It’s an interesting contrast to her perfect, red-painted pout and cat eyeliner that’s sharp enough to cut a man. She’s a true femme fatale . A smokeshow.
“Ainsley Montgomery,” I say, not sure what else to add.
“Ainsley will be covering the business beat as well as entertainment and lifestyle on occasion, if she’ll deem us worthy of her critical eye,” John supplies.
Lilah laughs. “I’ve heard about you and was an avid reader of the Haute List before I knew you were behind it. You’re an amazing writer. You’re going to be an asset to our team. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”
“Actually, Lilah, can you show Ainsley around a bit more? I have a one o’clock meeting near Buckhead. I need to head out now or I’ll be stuck in traffic for an hour.”
Lilah nods and salutes John. “Of course. I give a better tour anyway. I’ll show her where the best coffee shops within a four-block radius are, which cafés will cave and give her day-old pastries for free if she tells them she’s a poor reporter, and all the best after-work drinks places.”
“Could you at least start with the building and pretend to work, please?” John says with patient exasperation, like he’s used to Lilah’s humor and flippant ways.
Lilah crosses her arms over a generous chest that’s covered by an Atlanta Condors football T-shirt tucked into wide-leg jeans and pristine white high-top sneakers. “Just leave, John. I’m fully capable of giving her a tour.”
I like Lilah’s assertive attitude. I can see us becoming work friends and maybe even real friends.
“Welcome to the team, Ainsley. I know I speak for everyone when I say we’re looking forward to having you on staff.” John shakes my hand and leaves, his meeting now his priority.
Lilah cranes her neck and watches him go, then unfolds her arms and beams at me. “Halle-freaking-lujah! I’m so happy to have another woman my age on staff. Everyone else is over thirty, which isn’t bad, but I’ve needed a work buddy without kids and an ex-husband to complain about,” she says, motioning for me to follow her as she starts power-walking past the cubicles in the bullpen. “This is where we work, blah blah. That’s the supply closet you’ll want to raid to steal pens and notebooks,” she says, pointing to a door on the left. “That’s the gross bathroom. Don’t use it. Mike from legal eats gas station burritos every day and takes a massive shit around eleven that ruins it for everyone. Give yourself extra time to make it to the bathroom that’s a slightly longer walk.”
“Can you slow down? My legs are shorter than yours.” I’m nearly jogging in my heels to keep up with her pace. Fuck being short. This sucks. It occurs to me that Payton always matches my pace, never making me stretch to keep up with him. I’ve never noticed that before, but it’s just another way he’s been quietly considerate of me from the beginning. I love that stupid man.
“Oh, shit, sorry, I’m not used to anyone dressing up in the office. John’s super lax about the dress code, so feel free to wear sneakers and dress casually whenever you want. If you have a high-profile subject coming in for an interview or you’re going to cover some big story, keep a blazer and heels in your car. That’s what I do.” She slows her strides and I’m able to stay by her side. I swipe my hair behind my ear, taking measured breaths.
“How long have you worked here?”
“Two years. I was in Seattle before this but moved home to be closer to my parents when my mom was diagnosed with MS. I grew up in Athens, so not too far away. My parents are still there.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your mom. MS sucks.” Damn, that’s intense and so sad to see a loved one deteriorate to a disease like multiple sclerosis.
She shrugs, dismissing my comment, and points at a doorway. “That’s the break room. Mark your food but expect it to disappear anyway. We have an office lunch thief and I’ve narrowed it down to Tammy from advertising or Cheryl from finance. Both of them are shady as hell and would absolutely steal your yogurt or eat your takeout. They even play pickleball together. What the fuck even is that? A stupid hybrid sport for lunch thieves who can't play real sports is what it is.” She scrunches up her perfectly manicured brows and shakes her head, clearly disliking these women and their activities. “The nice bathrooms are just around the corner and have multiple stalls, so we don’t have to share with the men. We can cry in peace when we need to if the patriarchy becomes too oppressive before we remember heads up, tits up, let's fuck shit up, because we rule the world, anyway.”
“Sounds like my kind of bathroom,” I deadpan.
She laughs as she whips around and starts marching us back the way we came. “That covers it for the office. Let’s get out of here and I’ll show you my favorite place to grab a coffee and breakfast sandwich. They make their own biscuits that are incredible and melt in your mouth. You can build your own sandwich, so it’s fun to change up what you put on it.”
“Yes, I need coffee. My adrenaline’s dumped now that the anxiety has worn off and I’m dragging.” I was too anxious and amped up to stop for a coffee like Payton suggested before coming to the Free Press.
We walk a few blocks from the office to Hestia’s, a cute café that smells divine and is incredibly welcoming. The exposed brick walls and worn, wide plank wood floors are rustic, but the pink and white striped counter topped with gleaming white marble, the small tables and groups of pink chairs, and the pink accents everywhere are luxe and girly.
“This isn’t really a place I imagined you would like from the very brief introduction I’ve had. I guess I need to slow my assumptions,” I tell Lilah as she looks through the glass of the pastry case, checking out the sandwiches and desserts.
“Don’t let my big attitude and job as a sports reporter fool you. I’m girly and love to indulge in the finest female things. If you ever want to go for a mani and pedi after work, I have the best place nearby.” She wiggles her fingers, showing off her long, almond-shaped nails that are red and white with black designs and even sport the Condors’s logo painted on a few. She’s fully committed to the team, it seems.
“Noted.” I laugh, looking at my short, natural nails that I don’t bother to do much more than file semi-regularly. I’ve never made much money as a reporter, so I carefully budget my funds, and getting my nails done wasn’t a splurge I wanted to make. Obviously, Lilah has different priorities, judging by the complicated design she’s chosen and the really nice sneakers she’s wearing. I shouldn’t judge or assume I know anything about another person’s finances, so I stop.
We order our coffee and biscuits, find a table in a corner, and sit with our food. I take in a breath, knowing it’s about to be awkward like a first date where you have to learn about someone while eating, when Lilah speaks.
“You have one shitty ex. I’m sorry he did you dirty like that with the Haute List. I hope he gets what’s coming to him. If not, let me know and I’ll casually slip you some information for some enforcers I know who don’t mind fucking up men who treat women badly.”
I huff an unamused laugh. “Oh, don’t worry, he got what he deserved. He was arrested this morning in connection with his other cyber crimes.”
“Thank goodness karma or fate decided to work in this case.”
Or Payton Olsen did . “Yeah, something like that. I’m just relieved it’s behind me and I can move on from this whole situation.” I’m keeping my cards close, not willing to open up completely to this relative stranger beyond what’s common knowledge.
“At some point, I want the full story, but for now, cheers to seeing that motherfucker’s tears!” She holds up her iced latte and I toast her with my sweet cream iced coffee and grin.
“I like that, and I’m way better off now. I’m finally happy.”
She smiles at me. “That’s adorable. Now if I can just find myself a hot athlete, I’d be set. Know any big dudes with bigger dicks that need a fine-ass honey to cheer at all their games? Because I’m available.”
Yeah, I like Lilah Williams.