He cupped her chin, kissed her. “You had a nightmare. Don’tremember?”
“No.” She’d hoped they’d goneaway.
“Lock yourself in, babe. Good lucktoday.”
After one more delicious kiss, she ushered him out.I adore thatman.
With a lingering smile, she returned to the dining room and opened her laptop. Before beginning her research, she hopped over to Incognito’s site and sighed. The club was stillclosed.
Two hours later, she’d learned enough about Ruth Lizzard and her new employer, Maryland-based No Man’s Land, to feel confident enough to make thecall.
“Good morning, No Man’s Land,” answered the perky receptionist. “How may I direct yourcall?”
“Ruth Lizzard,please.”
“Onemoment.”
Tooeasy.
“Ruth Lizzard’s office. Cecespeaking.”
“Hello, Cece. This is Alexandra Reed. I’m a news reporter who recently interviewed employees at Wilde Innovations for a segment calledDC’s Brightest Tech Star. Larry Berry spoke highly of Ms. Lizzard. I’d like to speak with her about her contribution to Wilde Innovations before the segment airs. What’s heravailability?”
“Holdplease.”
For the first time in her career, Alexandra wasn’t affiliated with a news station. She felt like she’d been stripped of her identity.I’ll find another job.She cleared herthroat.
“Ms. Lizzard’s schedule is jammed. She can meet with you in twoweeks.”
“If I can’t do the interview in the next day or two, the window for the segment closes. Any chance I can catch her during lunch or after work? I’m happy to accommodate herschedule.”
“How long will thistake?”
“Twenty minutes at themost.”
“Hmm, she has a fifteen-minute window today at ten thirty. I’ll check. Hold forme.”
Alexandra paced on the hardwood.C’mon. Sayyes.
“Hello?” askedCece.
“I’mhere.”
“Is this for thesegment?”
“Yes. Mr. Berry explained that much of Wilde Innovations’s success is due to Ms. Lizzard’s contributions.” Alexandra sucked down a breath. She didn’t want to push too hard. On the other hand, she wasn’t taking no for ananswer.
“What station did you say you werewith?”
Alexandra’s heart dipped. “The tech story is for News CableFifteen.”
“Onemoment.”
A few moments later, Cece returned. “Sorry, no can do. Try back in two weeks.” The assistant hungup.
As a news reporter, Alexandra had become accustomed to doors being shut in her face, especially when she covered volatile issues. She hadn’t expected Ruth would agree to be interviewed for a story about Wilde Innovationsanyway.
After throwing on her coat, she grabbed her handbag, and left. Going at a snail’s pace in rush hour traffic, she pulled into the parking lot of the three-story building just before ten. As Alexandra entered the first floor office suite, two women were busy raiding the candy bowl on the receptioncounter.
