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“Ten minutes, Chase!” Lucy called over her shoulder.
She led Annie down the hall. When they hit the open office belly, eyes found them from every direction.
“What’s your favorite kind of cake, Annie?” Lucy asked.
“Um...”
“It’ll be less awkward if we’re having a conversation while everyone is staring,” she muttered. “It’s a trick I tell my clients: if you’re uncomfortable with people watching you, pretend you’re talking to someone, even if it’s nonsense.”
Annie quietly laughed. “Carrot, actually. But I guess it’s really just about the cream cheese frosting.”
“I can’t argue with that.” They rounded the bend to the stretch leading to her door. “I think we should eat cake whenever we want it, not only on special occasions, don’t you agree?”
Annie shot her a glance like the idea was revolutionary.
They arrived at her office, and Lucy shut the door behind them. Her damp sundress hung from her bookshelf and her makeup pouch still half spilled onto her desk from her pre-lunch mini makeover. She did not stop to explain either but gestured to the chair her clients used.
“Have a seat.”
Annie sat while Lucy took her place behind her desk. She pulled up Annie’s email to the whole company and opened a blank document. She folded her hands and looked at the nervous young woman sitting across from her.
“Annie, I have to say, when I told you to stand up for yourself earlier, I didn’t expect something this extreme. But I think you’re right: we need to go public. You’ve already set something in motion with your email to the company, and I’m wondering if you’re willing to go even more public.”
She blinked her big brown eyes. “What do you mean?”
Lucy stared at her and wondered what would have become of her own career if she’d spoken up when she was Annie’s age. Annie had the guts to do what Lucy only dreamed of, and the reason Lucy held back was because she feared no one would support her. There would be no net if she took the leap. Losing her job and being blacklisted from the industry was her biggest fear, the biggest barrier. If only there was someone she could trust, someone she knew would have her back if she spoke up.
Sitting in that room with HR, answering all their painful questions and fearing nothing would ever change, made her realize that she could be that person for Annie. Not only could she come forward and corroborate Annie’s claims, she had the power to amplify them to the world.
Lucy clicked her track pad to bring up her contact list. She angled her computer screen so Annie could see. “This is a list of editors at every publication in the industry. Any of them would kill for this story on Jonathan, and I think it’s the only way anything has a chance of changing. With your permission, I want to write a statement and send them your email.”
If Annie felt fear, it didn’t last long. Her face lit with hope, and Lucy saw it.
“There will be blowback, I guarantee it,” she warned. “You’ll be criticized and doubted. People will be upset and they’ll come after you; you’ve seen it all happen before. Once we do this, we can’t undo it, so I want you to be sure.”
Annie sat up straighter, eager. “I’m sure. As long as I’m not alone.”
“You’re not alone, Annie. I’ll back you.” She checked the time; she had seven minutes to whip out a statement. She didn’t worry; she’d done more with less before. “And I’m pretty sure I can get someone else on board too. Now, let’s get started.”
The time crunch was self-inflicted but served two purposes: getting Annie out of the office and away from ridicule as soon as possible and beating Jonathan to the punch in case he decided to mount a counterattack in his own defense. They spent the next seven minutes drafting a statement, pulling in pieces of Annie’s email to the company and fleshing out details. They set up whomever they chose to champion the piece with a headline that would stop people scrolling in their tracks.
Right on time, Chase knocked on her door.
“Come in!” Lucy called, pleasantly surprised that he didn’t just push it open like normal. Such progress.
“It’s been ten minutes,” he greeted when he opened the door a crack and peeked inside.
“I’m aware. Shut the door, please.”
He came all the way inside and gave Annie a soft smile. Lucy couldn’t help but note what looked like guilt shading his face. Perhaps for being aware of Jonathan’s behavior and not saying anything about it.
“Remember that conversation we had about an hour ago?” Lucy said. “Well, the time has arrived for you to speak up, Chase. Come here and read this.” She waved him behind her desk.
He obeyed, looking more than a little wary. He leaned down beside her to look at her screen, and she watched his eyes read over what she had written.
“This is really good.”
“I know.” Lucy realized how refreshing it was not to deflect a compliment for once. “I want you to back it.”
