Carly’s first week at the paper passed quickly. She got all her computer programs set up, managed to have at least a quick conversation with everyone in the building, and had lunch with Jackson three times. Donovan never came by the breakroom to see them, but he did walk past several times when Carly and Jackson were chatting in the hallways. And Jackson began sitting right next to Carly in the morning story meetings. She would often see Donovan’s jaw clench, but the editor didn’t give any other indication that Carly’s budding friendship with Jackson gave him any concern. It certainly didn’t seem to make him jealous.

As the meeting ended on Friday morning, Carly felt frustrated. Donovan hadn’t assigned her a story again. She’d understood the first few days, knowing he probably wanted to give her time to settle in, but she was well and truly settled now. Oh, she’d had writing to do. Donovan had come by her cubicle a few times and dropped a stack of papers onto her desk. He wanted her to take some other reporter’s notes, do follow-up calls to tie up any loose ends, and write a piece. It was fun, and Donovan had seemed more than happy with the results she’d provided him, but Carly wanted to do her own investigating, not work from someone else’s notes. She wasn’t even getting a byline on those pieces.

Her pride wouldn’t let her ask why Donovan wasn’t assigning her anything to do on her own. If he wouldn’t give her a story, she’d just have to track down her own.

She marched back to her cubicle and plopped into the chair. She stared at her blank computer screen for a few seconds and then sighed. She might as well be truthful with herself. Carly wasn’t only irritated because Donovan wasn’t giving her a story. Her pride was also injured because her scheme of making him want her through enticing jealousy wasn’t working.

Well, she’d just have to try something else.

She tapped a pencil on the desk for a few minutes, wondering what she could do. Nothing came to her, so she dug in her purse for her cell phone and texted Penny. Ever since Carly had realized Donovan was her editor, she’d kept her best friend well apprised of the situation.

He’s not getting jealous. What else can I try?

She only had to wait a minute before Penny texted back: Cold shoulder.

Carly pursed her lips, thinking. Could that really work? Could she make Donovan crazy by ignoring him—acting like she didn’t care?

She didn’t have any other bright ideas, so she decided to give it a whirl.

With that decided, Carly turned her attention to figuring out how to find herself a scoop to work on. Maybe if she talked with Jessica. The receptionist had the low-down on everything that went on in the office and, more broadly, all over the county. Carly thought the woman would be a good reporter herself. She had a sweet disposition that encouraged people to open up to her.

Carly found Jessica at the front desk in the lobby. They exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, and then Carly dove in. “I’m looking for a scoop,” she said. “Mr. Parker isn’t assigning me my own stories, and I’m eager to get started. Do you know of anything going on in the community that he doesn’t have someone on already?”

A strange look crossed Jessica’s face, but it was gone before Carly could identify it. “Not really,” she said. “Everything I can think of is covered.”

It didn’t ring true, and Carly wondered what the receptionist could be hiding, but she didn’t want to make any enemies this early in her career here. So she just thanked Jessica and wandered back toward the cubicle room. Just before she got there, she saw Jackson coming down the hall toward her. He waved and smiled, and Carly stopped to wait for him.

“Hey,” he said. “How are you?”

“I’m okay,” she said. “Just looking for something to do.” She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Donovan still isn’t giving you a story of your own, huh?”

“You noticed that?”

“Yeah. It’s weird because I’ve seen the pieces you put together from other reporters’ writing and you’re good.”

“Thanks. Did it take him this long to give you your first story?”

Jackson shifted his feet and looked down. “Actually, I got mine at the first story meeting I attended.”

Carly’s jaw dropped. She’d assumed Donovan wasn’t giving her a story because it was his habit to let new reporters ease in for their first week or something. But now she wondered if there could be a more personal reason.

Over Jackson’s shoulder, Carly caught a glimpse of Donovan coming out of his office. He looked up the hallway, spotted her and Jackson, and moved toward them.

“Hey, I’ll see you later, okay?” Carly hurried away from Jackson into the big room. She went to her cubicle and sat down. After a few minutes, she saw Donovan out of the corner of her eye.

He stopped beside her. “Morning.”

She didn’t look at him. “Good morning,” she mumbled, clicking like mad at her keyboard as she pretended to be engrossed in editing a document.

She felt Donovan shift beside her. “So how did your first week go?”

“Fine,” she said, still not looking up.

He hesitated for a second and then she heard him walk away. She glanced at his back as he left the room.

Following Penny’s advice and being as aloof to Donovan as she could might be harder on her heart than Carly had expected.