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He nods and then focuses on the paper in front of him. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs rapidly, and I do my best not to laugh. When I first walked in, I was petrified, but now, I’m cool, calm, and collected because I’m the one with the upper hand while he’s on edge.
Our staff meeting goes on for an hour as the producers go over the schedule and the headlines that are up for discussion for the next day and the two exposés that will run at the end of the week. We never finished ours, so it’s on the back burner, but I don’t care because today’s my last day here. I’m going to the producer’s office to tell her that after the meeting.
The purpose of coming here was to give Jason a little scare. I’m sure Enrico’s probably not pleased with me even though he let it happen. I didn’t want Jason spreading lies and getting the police after Enrico or the rest of the Conti Family. Dario and the others saw the validity of my proposal, and if I hadn’t been who I am, Enrico would have as well.
“Marion, can we have a chat?”
“Sure, but it’s going to have to wait a bit longer, okay?” I nod and go about my day. When I go for my usual caffeine fix, I run into Jason getting his own.
Jason approaches me and says, “If I were you, I’d just leave without another word. It’s for the best.”
“I’m sorry. Are you threatening me?” I questioned, ready to call for Enrico.
“I’m giving you a friendly warning.” He pulls out the stirrer from his coffee cup and drops it into the trash before leaving the room. My brow raises up as I stare at the back of him even after he disappears from my line of sight. Shit. What does he mean by that? I really need to get out of here.
I make it through the morning and then midafternoon when Marion finally calls me into her office. “I’m so glad you could come into my office. I know you had a rough experience with Jason. Things with him can be difficult…if you know what I mean.”
I squint, wondering if she is talking about his activities or just the general egotistical bastard he is. “I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“Don’t play dumb with me, January. You can lie to everyone else, but I know everything about Jason.”
“Okay, so I don’t know what you think you know, but…I had to go back home.”
“You would have been a great asset. You could still do well.” I don’t think she’s talking about the news station anymore. I pressed the panic button in my bracelet that they fitted me with before I left the house. It not only alerts them to my whereabouts, but also records about ten minutes of conversation. Hopefully it won’t last that long because Enrico and several others will make their way through here to get me at any moment.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in working for the station anymore. I’ve been through a lot lately.”
“Is it because of the death threat?” she asks. Death threat? The only one I got was in…my underwear drawer.
“How…” Before I can finish my sentence, she’s on her feet with a gun in my face.
The look on her face has shifted. Gone is the sweet, kind older woman and in its place is an old hag, something out of an evil fairy tale. Her wrinkles are more prominent, the rage in her eyes visible and vibrant. “Get up and follow me out like a good girl, January, and there won’t be any problems.”
“What are you talking about, Marion? Why are you doing this?” I stand with my hands up in the air.
“Put your fucking hands down, you look stupid.” I follow her directive, but I bet it’s just to make her look less suspicious as we leave. Still, I need to find a way, to get some distance because this bitch is crazy.
“Marion, I don’t get it. Why are you doing this?”
“You weren’t supposed to make it through the weekend with Strongman, but fucking Coleman couldn’t control his temper with Johnson. I knew it wouldn’t be long until one of them killed the other, but then you had to run from Jason. He was my damn scapegoat. A man with too much ego and bravado who could take the fall when an innocent intern disappears or quits and too many questions get asked. If you hadn’t run away, I would have gotten you away from him by the end of the next day while he was interviewing the contact.”
“There never was an assignment there, was it?”
“So you were all working together? Coleman, Johnson, the cop Nick, Jason, and yourself?”
“No. Jason was working on a story, or so he believed. Soon, it won’t matter. The horn dog will take the fall for everything. Now get moving before I blow your brains out and say you came after me because I fired you.” I can’t believe this. Madam Marion here was the fucking ringleader.
