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Of course, the only day it actually matters, I’m late.
“The rest of the hiring committee wants to hire Jon Slugman instead of you.” She cuts straight to the chase.
My stomach falls like an elevator car cut loose from its cables. I clutch the notepad to steady my hands and fight the tears that sting the back of my eyes.
“Oh.” My voice is trapped in the panic clogging my throat. I clear it and try to look her in the eye.
“Can you tell me why?”
“Because he’s a man. This business is a boy’s club.” She says dispassionately.
“I see,” I whisper to my hands. That feels worse than knowing that I fell short somehow.
“Thank God money is mightier than sexism. And my husband has more of it than almost anyone. I write the checks around here. So, it’s my vote that counts,” she says in her cool silky way.
My head snaps up. I’m afraid to hope, but I clutch at the tiny ember of it she just threw my way. “And how are you voting?”
“He’s good.” She says and shrugs. My shoulders fall.
“I think you’re better.”
That ember roars to life.
“You do?” I gasp.
She nods.
“I detest tears,” she hands me a tissue and I dab at the tears I didn’t quite manage to stem.
“I’m sticking my neck out here, Kal. You need to show the rest of the editorial board that you’re the best person for the job.”
“How? If I haven’t managed to do that already—”
“You’ve written some great pieces. But you’re holding back. Dig deeper into the stories, find the human aspect. Give your audience some hope while you deliver the gloom of the story. You need to be twice as good as him. Bring your A-game.”
I thought I had been. But clearly not. I swallow a ball of disappointment.
“I’ll try harder.”
“You fucking better. I’m throwing you a big bone.” She steeples her hands under her chin and nods at my notebook.
I open it.
“I got a lead today and I think you’re the perfect person to pursue it. If you can bring it home, it would be the making of you.”
“Wow. Thank you. Your faith in me is—”
“Please, don’t prove it misguided,” she says with no warmth at all. “I’ve been waiting for a woman I could champion. You’re it. Do not let me down.”
“Okay.”
“If you don’t come back with this story, not only will you not get the producer’s position. You’re also not going to have this job anymore. We’re making cuts to junior staff and your current role is on the chopping block.”
“Tell me about the lead,” I say, getting straight to business. Getting fired isn’t an option. I need this job. If I lose it right now, I won’t be able to sell my place fast enough to keep us from losing everything. No, nothing will stop me.
“You’re from Houston, right?”
Surprise straightens my spine. “Yes. I mean… I haven’t lived there in over fifteen years, but yes.”
