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I walk out of my cubicle and walk a bit closer to Megan, there is one sure way to get details on a story and that’s by talking with the angriest person involved. An angry tongue is a loose tongue.
“Megan, what happened? What’s going on?” Another one of my co-workers asks as I perch myself against the wall of her cubicle.
“That egomaniacal windbag had the nerve to tell me that my stories are washed up. That I’ve been recycling the same things for the past year. How the fuck is it my fault that these trustfund babies don’t do anything different? It’s either a drug or sex scandal, that’s it. If they did something else then that’s what I’d fucking report about.” Megan slams her ergonomic mouse into a small box before she moves on to the next item on her sparsely decorated desk.
Drug scandal.
That’s pretty much all I have right now with Percy. He’s involved in a drug scandal. If I bring this story the way I have it right now to Sam’s attention, what’s to say that I won’t be out in the next round of layoffs? He’s already given me a warning that I need to give him something fresh and inventive. I don’t think another drug scandal is going to do it.
No, I need to figure out a way to get a story I know would knock everyone’s socks off. It’s either the interview or bust. The key to getting what you want is to stay present. Basically annoy the hell out of someone until they do what you want them to do. It’s not the most subtle technique, but in my lifetime that’s what has worked the best.
I’m not giving up on the green eyed enigma that is Percival Snow. I’m going to find a way to get that interview even if it means I have to follow him into the bathroom to do it. If he has no toilet tissue I wonder if he’d talk to me then.
“I’m so sorry Megan, this is fucked up.” I say, trying my best to offer her some condolences, even though in my brain all I can think is thank goodness it’s you and not me.
“It’s more than fucked up, it’s fucking criminal. It has to be. He wants us to lie Ella. That’s what he’s going after, he wants us to lie in order to get the biggest story. This may not be the most reputable newspaper around, but I thought we were fucking better than just printing fucking libelous articles.” She rolls her eyes and another of my coworkers asks her a question. That’s my cue to slide on out.
My quota for public interaction is at its maximum for today.
I slide over to my cubicle and pull out my phone, I flip back and forth between the photos and the video trying to find out if there’s any other angle I could use. Maybe once I find out who this mystery man is, I could use him against Percy.
Right now I’m going to focus all my energy on breaking Percy down. It’s time for me to get to the best part of my job.
Sleuthing.
Stalker powers activate!
* * *
Investigating a mystery is all about how well you can wait. Lucky for me I’m perfectly happy in my own company. I’ve been out of the office for most of the day already just trying to keep tabs on Percy. He’s come and gone two times today. Both times he’s escorted by a man with curly brown hair who seems to be very animated and excited about whatever it is they are talking about. I watched Percy go to the newsstand and pick up a few papers, from what I could see through the window of the coffee shop. He skims through each of them before he folds them up and hands the papers to the curly haired man. He’s probably checking out the competition. That would make sense.
Even though Percy has gotten in and out of luxury vehicles no one really notices that there's a billionaire in their midst, one of the perks of living a private lifestyle. You can still walk around without being hounded by people like … well, people like me.
“I’m not a hound, I’m just a small town girl trying to get a piece of the big town pie. It’s only one stupid interview.” I whisper to myself.
“Excuse me?” The waitress asks as she pours my third cup of coffee.
“Oh no … sorry, nothing. I was talking to myself.” I try to get my words to come out of my mouth the right way, but the caffeine in my system tongue ties me.
“Yeah … Okay, are you going to order anything else to eat? We really need to save the tables for other customers.” She takes a step back like I’m going to attack her or something. Sure I can’t keep my hands from shaking, but that’s just because I’ve been sipping on caffeine since I woke up this morning.
“Sure, I …” I close the menu when I see movement coming from Percy’s building. I jump in surprise when I see it’s Percy by himself. When I jump, so does the waitress. I laugh before I toss the menu down, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. On second thought. I’m all done.” I leave a small tip, take another sip of the coffee before I pick up my book and walk outside.
Percy has been flanked by someone from his office every time I’ve seen him today. What is he doing out here alone now? This might be the only time I’ll have to see what he likes to do on his own. What if he’s going to do another deal with someone? Maybe that guy he was with at Keg Garden will be there too!
My heart starts beating double time in my chest as I step out of the small cafe and walk a few paces behind him. I take my book out of my bag and open it like I’m walking and reading. I don’t want him to see that it’s me behind him, even though I’m sure he doesn’t even remember what I look like. In his world he must be surrounded by stars and socialites all day long, why the hell would he remember me?
I follow him for a few blocks and watch him go about his errands. He walks into the strangest stores, but who am I to judge? Then he walks into a large Starbucks beelining straight for the bathroom.
Crap!
I find a table and sit down to wait for him to come out. I’ll just follow him for a little while—
“Are you just going to follow me all day or are you going to grow a pair?” Percy says in my ear.
“Ahh! What the hell!” I nearly shit my pants, my arm swings and the book that I was using to hide from him collides with the side of his face. “Oh shoot. I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that. I’m so sorry.” I turn in the booth and put my hand up to assess the damage I’ve done to his face. His cheeks are warm in my hands and my eyes lock onto his. It feels like an electrical current fuses my fingers to his skin and every nerve ending I have pulses with the need to keep on touching him.
“I’m fine.” He grits out and I wrench my hands away.
