Griffin looked up over his laptop and grinned at Jaggar. She had a pen between her teeth and was tapping away furiously. The more he worked with her, the more he respected what she could do.

She looked up with a grin. "What?"

“Nothing, you're just sort of cute that’s all."

"I know. Did you call your source for the Bateman story yet? I was thinking we could also pair him with the Rodriguez story, maybe see what benefits are to their community grass roots programs. A little feel good without political intrigue and murder mystery."

"Oh, uh. Yeah. That’s a really good idea. We could continue it from week to week. I haven't called yet, but I’ll do that right now."

He should have called them last week, even before the first show aired. What the hell was wrong with him lately? Jaggar. Jaggar is what's wrong with you. He'd been so caught up in her, he'd been making these little mistakes and he needed to pull that shit together.

There was a knock at the door and he glanced up to see Ryan. He waved him in. Truth be told, he'd avoided his friend since the night of the first taping. He'd been there for all the planning meetings with the producers, but he'd avoided all one on one contact with him.

"Griffin."

"Hey man, what’s up?"

Ryan didn't bother to acknowledge Jaggar. Jaggar didn’t miss a beat. The moment Ryan’s back was turned to her, she stuck her tongue out at him and flipped him the bird. Griffin had to work very hard to school his expression.

Ryan's frown was deep. "Do you have the numbers you said you'd get for the Soma drug story we brought up earlier last week?"

"Yeah, I sent you those on Friday."

"No, you didn't."

"Hold on, let me check my sent mail." He checked and in the drafts he saw the email he was referring to. "Shit, Ryan. For some reason I didn’t send it. I apologize, I'll fix it now. There's been a lot going on."

His friend stared at him. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? What the hell is up with you lately? You're distracted, distant. You realize this story was time sensitive? If we wanted the opportunity to interview the CEO of Soma, we needed this information this morning to make a decision."

Fuck. "I said I'm sorry. You're right. I’ve been distracted. All the responsibility of the new show. I’ll step it up."

Ryan shook his head. "Step it up? I don’t think you get it. We all took a risk with this show. We were banking on you, Griffin. When that guy, the real kind of badass that will traipse into a war zone and tell human stories, and be on his shit shows up, let me know. Because, this guy? I don’t recognize him. What the fuck was so important that you couldn’t get this to me on time?"

Griffin clenched his jaw. What the hell had been so important that he'd missed that? He didn’t make mistakes like this. His gaze flickered to Jaggar, grateful that she still had her earphones in. "Like I said, I’ve been distracted. But I'll fix it. It won’t happen again."

"It had better not. Not if you want to enjoy the same trajectory you have been. Get your shit together Griffin.”

He gave him a terse nod. What could he say, Ryan had a point.

Ryan finally turned to glare at Jaggar, then inclined his head out to the stairs that led to the balcony. “Follow me.”

This couldn’t be good if Ryan needed privacy. Griffin followed him and when they reached the balcony he asked, “What is it?”

Ryan handed him a file. “This is what we’re going to use to make your girlfriend quit.”

Griffin stared at the standard profile pack they got with each new story. The subject was, Bianca Collins. “What the hell is this?”

“That is your next story and a way for you to get back on your game.”

“She’s an old movie star. She hadn’t done a movie in what, five years? Ten? How is she relevant?” Even as he waited for Ryan to answer he sent up silent prayers that Ryan didn't know who she was. Hey Buddha, God, Allah, Whoever is up there, please don't let him—

“She’s relevant to us because tits and ass got it from her mama.” He tapped the folder. “They even look alike right? Well, anyway, a former employee is writing an autobiography on her. Apparently, America’s sexy sweetheart was not exactly mother of the year. More like Mommy Dearest. Miss Collins wants to refute the book with her own. And we’re going to give her a big old platform.”

“You can’t be serious.” He didn’t know all that had happened between Jaggar and her mother, but he did know that if they did this, it would hurt her. Maybe enough for her to quit. Certainly enough for her to leave him. His gut squeezed at the idea. “A story on her mother? That will humiltiate her.”

“Yeah well, you have to have thick skin to work in news. She’ll need to get on board or she won’t be here. I told you I’d fix it for you.”

“Jesus, Ryan. I told you not to.”

“Yeah well, you don't know what’s best for you. I do. And given you’re fuck ups lately, I’d get with the program. This story is happening. This is how you make up for screwing up. This is how you keep yourself top dog. You don't do it, someone else will. And there goes your show. You think about that while you ponder your soft spot for that ass downstairs. Speaking of ass, you think she likes that?” Ryan winked before turning to take the stairs.

Rage flooded over him in waves. His hands curled into fists as a protective possessive need overtook him. He could kill him. He would kill him. But then reason prevailed. He’s your boss. And this is a story. This is the job. The job he’d specifically asked for. He had to do it. At least for now. And maybe just maybe he could find a way to protect Jaggar in the process.