Page 109 of A Bossy Surprise

That’s what we’ve all been working so hard for and I can’t wait for it to happen.

Already, we’re starting to see the effects of it with my father backing down. The last thing we need is a flop, because then he’ll be nipping at our heels once again. I can’t have that.

This debate is going to go off without a hitch. There’s no question about it. I’ll do whatever I must to make that happen.

No one and nothing will stand in my way.

31

KAYLA

My hands are shaking so badly that I grab the console in front of me to steady them.

The day has finally come. The first presidential debate is here.

I could be at the main auditorium at Cleveland State University to watch everything unfold as it happens. That’s where I would rather be. However, I’m in the crowded Master Control Room (MCR) at GNN. This is where I will be most useful should anything go wrong.

Arthur isn’t as selfless as I am. He’s at the University. I would’ve preferred him to be here, because with as many run-throughs as we’ve had, there aren’t likely going to be any problems onsite. Any issues we face tonight will be in transmission. However, Arthur is confident that nothing will go wrong, so he is at the debate.

The last month has been a whirlwind. In the wake of the debate announcement our viewership numbers have been steadily climbing. This has drawn advertiser after advertiser after advertiser to GNN. Adam told me that we have signed quite a few lucrative contracts with a good number of new advertisers.We have also had to turn away many others because we simply can’t accommodate them all.

It is true what they say that fortune favors the bold. If we hadn’t applied to moderate the debate, even though it was such an outlandish idea at the time, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It’s so unreal how quickly success has come for us.

With me in the MCR are Adam and what feels like 100 other broadcast professionals.

As I’m the producer of this broadcast, I stand in the middle of the room at my console with a headset on. Adam stands beside me in the flurry of activity.

We are exactly five minutes from going live when Amanda enters the room and walks over to Adam and me.

“Hey, can I speak to the both of you outside really quick?” she asks.

I squint at her, because surely she’s gone crazy. “Are you aware that we go live in five minutes? I can’t leave now. We’ll talk after the debate.”

“I know you’re busy, and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.” The look on her face is serious.

I don’t have time to waste deliberating. So I take my headset off and hand it to Margret, who is my Associate Producer tonight. “If for some reason, like, I don’t know, I’m hit by an asteroid in the next five minutes, don’t wait for me. You know what to do.”

Margret takes the headset from me and nods with a smile.

I quickly usher Adam and Amanda out of the room.

Once we are alone in the hallway, I turn to Amanda, “What is it?”

“I just heard something that I thought the both of you should know.”

“Okay,” Adam folds his arms as he looks down at Amanda. “What did you hear?”

“People know about the two of you,” Amanda says.

“What?” I ask. “How do they know?”

“Apparently someone—I don’t know who—saw the both of you at the park with Brady. This person saw you kiss. I’m sure they put two and two together, and here we are.”

“How many people know?” Adam asks.

“At this rate, I think everyone knows. It’s been spreading throughout the building since yesterday morning. It took so long for me to hear about it probably because of my friendship with Kayla.”

Adam sighs. “Well, we knew this day was coming sooner or later. It’s not a big deal. We will handle it.”