AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry.” I look away from him, embarrassed. My hair falls down around my face hiding my blush.
“Like I said, are you going to just follow me around all day or are you actually going to talk?” He stands over me, a severe look on his face with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What do you mean? I haven’t been following you.” I reply.
That’s right Ella, deny deny deny.
“I saw you through the cafe window early this morning and again just now behind me, walking with a book covering your face really doesn’t make you blend in.” He tilts his head to the side and squints at me.
“I wasn’t following you, we just happened to be in the same places at the same time. It’s not like I’m a stalker or something like that.” I pick up a napkin and start to twirl the corner of it just so my hands stay busy.
“This is fucking ridiculous.” Percy huffs out a breath and slides into the other side of the booth so we’re face to face. His knee rubs mine under the table and I jump, this time not in fright.
“You can’t follow me around places, I already told you what you can do with your little fucking video.” He snarls at me.
“Percy, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” I raise an eyebrow and his mouth opens slightly.
“Pardon … I’m … No.” He fists his hands on the table and takes a deep breath. “What do you expect? You’re trying to strong arm me.”
“Strong arm you? Seriously? Percy, just sitting for a talk is a little far away from strong arming. I promise you I’ll be nice. I’m not going to take any low blows. I just want a little taste of what makes a mogul like yourself so successful.” I give him my sweetest smile.
He rubs his thumb against his bottom lip, “Do you think that innocent girl routine is going to work on me Ms …”
“Ms. Ella Sayers.” I put my hand out like the respectful woman I am.
“Ella, do you try to pull that sweet girl act on everyone?”
I chuckle and toss the napkin in his direction. “Act, I don’t have the dramatic prowess to put on an act. I’m being straight with you. Look if I’m honest with you, will you ease up a little?”
“It can’t hurt.” He steeples his fingers leaning on his elbows.
“I’m a reporter, but I’ve never been the type to chase celebrities. I want the real news. Unfortunately, real news about what’s going on in our community or in the government isn’t what sells papers so if I want to keep my job and eat on a regular basis, I need to come up with something exceptional. You’re exceptional. I don’t want to make up lies or just run some fluff piece about what beer you like to drink. Just let me in a little bit, let me in and I promise all of this will go away. “
He stares at me for a long time and I just hold his gaze, “You’re not trying to headhunt my talent?”
“Headhunt your talent? No, absolutely not. I’m more interested in giving you head.”
His eyebrows shoot up and a small smirk crosses his lips.
“Shoot, no I mean, getting head … oh kill me now.” I mutter sending up another prayer to anyone who’s listening.
“So none of that then?” He asks, trying to move the conversation along.
“Uh, no, I want to know about your dreams and aspirations. What you do on your off time. How your employees act toward you. I’ll show you every last one of my articles, I don’t go for the jugular unless I have to.” I lean forward in the seat getting closer to him. He’s breaking down. This is going to work. I can’t believe it.
“Give me your phone number, let me consult with a few people to see how this will affect us. I’ll reach out in a few days to let you know what my decision is.
A few days, I don’t know if I have a few days. Sam is already going down the line firing people. If I tell him that I have a chance to interview Percival Snow he’s going to try and take over. If I sit around without giving him something I may be the next one up on the chopping block. No, a few days won’t do.
“You have until tomorrow afternoon.” I write my number on a napkin and slide it over to him, “If you haven’t made a decision by then, I’ll have to release the video.”
“Fucking vultures, all you paparazzi bastards.” Percy slides out of the booth, stuffing my number in his pocket and walking out of the small diner.
He’s not going to let that video go up, that I know for sure. All I need to do now is make sure I get every last drop of information out of him so I can come up with a good piece.
This is going to be the highlight of my career whether Percy knows it or not.
9
