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Austin and Tess were still hanging around, and their late-night poker parties with the rest of the crew had grown to be a hit.
With filming going steadily, Ben had worked himself into a steady rhythm, and he had everything operating smoothly.
I was in my tent working on my paper when someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” I said, looking up to see that Ally was already on her way in.
She carried the satellite phone. “You have a call from the States.” She didn’t bother to look me in the eyes, and I had a feeling she didn’t like me and Jake spending so much time together.
“Thanks.” I took the phone, and she walked to stand outside the tent to give me privacy. “Hello?”
“Kate?” a staticky voice asked. “This is Ashton. I take it you are doing well.”
I was a little taken aback by Ashton Gilfoyle calling. He was the university president, but I almost always dealt with his secretary or Kenneth, my department head. “Yes, good actually. Things here are going smoothly, and it seems Ben only has another week until he wraps this production up.”
“That’s good. Very good. So the reason I’m calling is to let you know that Arthur Scott contacted me. He’s a magazine journalist from New Vison. He wants to talk to you about your work.”
“Oh? Well, I’d love to do a sit down just as soon as I get back.”
He quickly cut me off. “No, you don’t understand. He’s doing some promotion for the production you’re on, and he will be in the area to interview you tomorrow.”
“Why is he coming all the way here? It seems a little silly since we’re leaving soon anyway.”
“It’s part of his schedule, I suppose, but he called and asked about you and your consulting job. I would like for you to make sure you plug the department and all of the research and what outstanding work we do.”
I felt great pride in my job with the university and was willing to go the extra mile to make sure we had a great interview. “Of course. I’ll take every opportunity to draw awareness, sir.”
“I don’t care about all that. My concern is only with admissions. Enrollments are down, and unless we can get more people interested in anthropology, we’ll have to start cutting back on faculty.”
I hadn’t realized that our department was in trouble. In order to save my own job and that of the people across the entire department, for whom I deeply cared, I’d do whatever had to be done. “Yes, sir, I’ll do what I can.”
“Very good. I will say he was very interested in you. He asked all about how you got the job and said you were keeping very close with the cast. I have to say, I’m really hoping you’re making this task a success.”
“I’m trying, sir. Thank you again for the opportunity.”
“Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t,” I said, hearing a click. The static in the phone went dead, and I realized that he had hung up. “Well then.” I walked the phone to the door and found Ally on the other side, looking at her nails. “Here, I’m all done. Thanks again.”
She gave me a curt nod. “You’re welcome. I’m just doing my job. You know, that’s what we should all be focused on.” She strolled away, and I was left to wonder if she was referring to my focus. I had been working my butt off to ensure that everything was done properly.
Sure, I’d gotten close with Jake again, and while we didn’t care if anyone knew, we still managed to keep our rekindled romance on the down-low as much as possible.
“Ally,” I called. “I needed to ask you something. Is there supposed to be a journalist coming later? He wants to talk to me about the production and my work. Could you give me a timeline of his arrival?” I figured she was the person to ask since she had been so far up Ben’s rear the entire time, and he went to her for pretty much everything that went on.
“He’s not just coming for you,” she said with little enthusiasm. “He is coming to talk about the movie, and he’ll be speaking with Jake, Tess, and Ben first. So I’m sure you’ll have a heads-up.”
“I just wanted to know when he’d arrive at camp.” I didn’t see why it was so hard to let me know that one tiny detail.
She let out a sigh and smiled, although I felt as if she wasn’t happy with me. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks.” I tried to be sincere, but I could tell that Ally was not my biggest fan just then.
Just when I thought I’d made a friend, it became obvious that she had her suspicions about Jake and me and that she didn’t approve.
