Page 102 of Fake It For Glory

MERIDA

Ireturned to the Full Disclosure office just as the workday was winding down. The energy was palpable, a combination of anticipation for the evening and the usual buzz of the newsroom. A few of the writers had picked up the ball and run with it on the Jensen story. The fashion writer dissected his suits, and the tech guy was diving deep into Lox. They were all riding high on the success of my article.

Dalton was there, his desk cluttered with papers, and so were a handful of other staff members. I couldn’t let this wait any longer, so I marched right up to my father, who was engrossed in conversation with one of the editors.

“Dad,” I said firmly with my chin raised and my back ramrod straight. “I have another piece to run about Jensen.”

My father’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. “Really? Already?”

He eagerly took the pages I offered him. He started to read, and I watched as his expression shifted from excitement to confusion. Within moments, his eyes narrowed, and he looked up at me, incredulous.

“What the hell is this?” he demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for his reaction. “It’s a follow-up piece on Jensen Loxley,” I explained. “I need to provide a more balanced perspective. The first article was one-sided, and I owe it to our readers to present both sides of the story.”

My father’s face contorted with frustration. “Merida, do you have any idea what you’re doing? You’ve already caused a firestorm with that first article. Running another one now will destroy your credibility and that of the publication.”

I knew he was worried, but I couldn’t back down. “Dad, I need to do this. It’s the right thing to do. I’ve gotten to know Jensen better, and there’s more to his story than what was portrayed in the initial piece. I won’t let Full Disclosure be responsible for perpetuating a false narrative. That piece was written early on in my relationship with Jensen. It doesn’t tell the full story.”

He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “Merida, I understand your desire for balance, but this could have serious consequences. You’re taking a huge risk, not just for yourself, but for the reputation of this whole organization.”

I held his gaze, unwavering. “I’m willing to take that risk,” I said firmly. “I became a journalist to tell the truth and shed light on important stories. Running this piece is the right thing to do.”

He walked into his office like he was just going to walk away from me. I was on his heels. I made up my mind I wouldn’t take no for an answer. It wasn’t like I had anything more to lose.

“No,” he said and tried to push the papers back at me. “I won’t do it.”

I squared my shoulders and looked my father in the eye, determined to stand my ground. “It’s the truth, Dad. The full truth. And isn’t that what Full Disclosure is all about? Transparency and honesty? Isn’t that what you’ve built your reputation on?”

His expression remained skeptical, but there was a hint of resignation in his eyes. “Merida, you have to understand the consequences of running a piece like this. You’ve already rocked the boat with the first one. I’ve got Loxley’s lawyers up my ass. They’re threatening to sue for defamation and all kinds of shit. This could make things even messier.”

I took a deep breath, steadying my resolve. “I didn’t give permission for the first story to be run. Dalton ran with it when he shouldn’t have. The piece is biased. That’s my name that’s going to be discredited and ruined. I should have a say in this.”

As if on cue, Dalton poked his head into the room, clearly overhearing his name. Before he could interject, I cut him off sharply. “Shut up and sit down, Dalton. I have the floor, and you’re going to listen.”

My father raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by my determination. Running another story about Jensen Loxley was a risky move, and he was well aware of the potential consequences.

But I wasn’t about to back down. This was my chance to make amends, to rectify the mistakes of the past, and to show that Full Disclosure could indeed live up to its name.

“This piece will provide a more balanced perspective on Jensen’s story,” I said. “It will show that there’s more to him than what was portrayed in the initial article. It’s the right thing to do, Dad. It might actually get his lawyers off your back.”

He let out a sigh, acknowledging my determination. “Merida, I hope you know what you’re getting into. This won’t be an easy path. You’ll face a lot of backlash. You’re going to trash your reputation.”

I met his gaze with resolve. “I’m willing to take that risk, Dad. I became a journalist to tell the truth, even when it’s difficult.”

He still wasn’t convinced. I could see him wrestling with ratings and clicks and being my father. Over my twenty-nine years, I knew there was a better chance of his paper winning than me. But I had to believe he would see how important this was to me.

“Merida,” he started.

“Don’t,” I said. I took a deep breath and began to explain, my voice trembling slightly with emotion. “The last month has been a whirlwind, to say the least. It started as an effort to make you notice me, to finally be taken seriously in this field. I wanted a story that would put my name on the map, something that would show I could handle the big stories.”

He stared at me with his brow furrowed.

“However, being ‘noticed’ was not even close to worth what it cost me.” I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. “I’m in love, Dad. Madly in love.”

There was a stunned silence in the room. Dalton, who had been sitting there quietly, suddenly perked up, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Wait, come again?”

I glanced at Dalton, then back at my father. “I said I’m in love with Jensen Loxley.”