“Buchard is on hold,” Ellen said. “Privateline.”
Crockett entered his office and jabbed the speaker button. “Mr. Buchard, CrockettWilde.”
“Hello, Mr. Wilde. Stacy called me quite upset. Any particular reason you’re refusing to redo theinterview?”
Seriously?“Why don’t you tell me why the interview needs to beredone?”
“Conflict of interest. Alexandra Reed is a Mitus. You’ve done business with her brother. She should never have interviewed you in the first place. It showsbias.”
Bullshit. “My business deal with Mr. Mitus had nothing to do with herstory.”
“I’d encourage you to reconsider, for yourpoorsister’ssake.”
Either Buchard was trying to incite him or play him for a fool. “I’ve met Ms. Blunk before. She doesn’t strike me as someone who has the experience to realize my missing sister is the focal point of thestory.”
“Stacy is our most promising new on-air talent. With Alexandra as her mentor, she’ll do justfine.”
“Which circles back to my original statement. I see no reason to redo it.” And then he realized Buchard’s true motivation. His dick. Crockett’s stomachsoured.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Wilde. I have to adhere to the rules of journalisticintegrity.”
What integrity?“Even if I did agree to be interviewed again, I wouldn’t discuss my sister with her. Please find another winner. Goodbye, Mr. Buchard.” Crockett ended the call, then found Gavin’s businesscard.
Gavin answered his cell. “Aviato.”
“Hey, Gavin, Crockett Wilde. WildeInnovations.”
“How you doing?” His friendly voice was agodsend.
“I need yourhelp.”
* * *
Alexandra’s heartpounded wildlyas she tapped the record button on her phone app just before entering Max’s office. “You wanted to seeme.”
“Have a seat,” Max said from behind his desk. When she did, he glared at her. “Mr. Wilde has refused to redo theinterview.”
Alexandra bit back a smile. “Run the story,Max. It stands on its ownmerit.”
“I’ll give you credit for one thing,” he said. “The crux of that storyishis missing sister. If the story doesn’t run, there’snochance Sophia’s abductors will ever befound.”
Her cheeks flamed and she bit the inside of her lip. How dare he use Crockett’s sister asleverage?
“I told you to convince him to change his mind,” he continued. “You failed.” She anticipated the worst and muscles running along her shoulders turned tostone.
“I hired you because the network forced my hand, but your services are no longer needed.” He folded his hands over his paunch. “Before you go, give Stacy your interview questions for the Wilde story and rewrite her copy for whatever she’s currently working on.” With a satanic grin, he added, “That girl can’t write her way out of a paper bag, but her other talents far outweigh hershortcomings.”
What apig.
Her head pounded. Though she could have unleashed a plethora of comments harking back to his indecent behavior at the California station, she rose and exited his office. On the way back to her desk, she stopped therecording.
“Employee list is ready,” texted Crockett. “It stays in myoffice.”
To her surprise, Gavin was waiting at her desk. “Let’s grab a bite,” hesaid.
Ten minutes later they were sipping sparkling water in a quaint Italian restaurant around thecorner.
“I got canned.” Alexandra told Gavin what hadhappened.
