Chapter One
“I’m very pleased to have you here as my latest acquisition. You’re just in time for the holiday rush. I apologize if that is offensive. You still have a lot to learn, but you show amazing potential. Your articles are sound and written articulately.” Tanner Murphy was the editor at the New York Times. He was considered a throwback to a different era.
Yvette’s opinion of him was biased. She had followed his career for years and watched him rise from one position to another. They had even stayed in touch. This was supposed to be her career, but her ex-husband had kept her on a short leash to make sure she didn’t become too independent.
“We’ve been talking about this for years and something always got in the way. We were both in journalism school at the same time. It would’ve been nice to catch the world by the tail by working together. It’s better late than never.” She was conservative with only a modicum of skin showing. Her Latin blood gave her an attitude.
The plane beige skirt went below her knees and the white blouse was buttoned to the top. Her black hair flowed freely over her shoulders and her dark black eyes captured the attention of the opposite sex from the moment she made eye contact.
From where she was sitting in the leather chair there was a view of the New York landscape. The buildings overshadowed each other and made her feel small in comparison.
“I’ve had my eye on you for quite some time. Making waves in the underground community has gotten you a cult following. It’s fortuitous you showed up. We are just about to lose one of our greatest assets. He’s taking early retirement and moving down to Florida with his wife.” Tanner was willing to give her a shot. The bold words in her articles written anonymously were in direct contrast to the woman he was seeing up close and personal.
“I don’t know how you found out those articles were written by me. I should have known the journalistic community would go digging into my stories. There is nothing like cracking open a good secret. We all have that in common.” Yvette crossed her legs demurely and twirled her hair nervously in the presence of a journalistic giant.
“I’ve heard about your divorce. It’s about time you got rid of 230 pounds of dead weight. We might’ve been colleagues and somewhat friends in college, but I’ve always wanted the best for you. You start tomorrow at 9:00 AM sharp. I want you to take over the exposé of illegal cross cutting. Most of the legwork has already been done for you.” He stood and hovered over her scrutinizing her every move. He felt like a father figure to all of his children and never once mixed business with pleasure.
“You won’t regret this. I have some ideas which I have already forwarded to you by e-mail. We can talk about them and see which one makes the most sense to pursue. If I’m going to begin tomorrow then I have a lot to do today. I’m moving into my new place.” She was reluctant to mention the penthouse suite was courtesy of her ex-husband’s unwillingness to keep it in his pants.
“I see great things in the future for the both of us. I’m taking a chance on you, but only because I feel you’re going to exceed my expectations.” He had old-fashioned suspenders and was holding onto them like a lifeline. He was emulating one of his mentors and good personal friend.
“I might be a few years late, but I will make up for it with enthusiasm.” She was slightly smaller in height at 5’5 and 145 pounds.
Her breasts made her feel embarrassed and she tried to cover them up to avoid those guys ogling the merchandise. Some were not very subtle when she’d finally developed at the ripe age of 14. She was able to hold onto her hometown values due to her religious background.
Her wedding night with her ex-husband Tony was a dismal disappointment. He was all about his own pleasure and never once made sure she was pleased before attempting to get off. He was a selfish lover.
“You’ve always been a little too straight-laced. This will give you the chance to broaden your horizons and go outside of your comfort zone. Life is about taking risks. You can’t stand on the sidelines and wait for the world to come to you. I have many of these intellectual nuggets I can share with you.” He was close to inviting her to dinner with his fiancée but felt that maybe it was too early to rekindle the shaky friendship they’d had in college.
“I just finished with human resources. There was so much paperwork, but I’m finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.” She got up and smoothed her skirt to make sure there wasn’t even the briefest hint of impropriety.
“There’s a lot of red tape, but it will be worth it when you get your first paycheck. I expect nothing but the best. Nothing goes to print until I personally approve it. Some may consider me a harsh taskmaster, but I only want the best possible product for the public. We both know print media is dying, but I want to bring it back to life.” The readership had diminished.
Bringing aboard an Internet journalist assassin was going to give them more credibility than they had ever had before. It was a departure from the old guard. If they were going to keep up with the changing of the times it was necessary to boldly go where no journalist had gone before.
“I was a little stunned when you agreed to meet with me. I don’t know how many times I threatened to make the phone call, but I never did get around to it. It is liberating to finally be able to do something I love. I doubt seriously my mother is going to share the same sentiment.” Yvette knew her mother was a bible-thumping religious zealot. The sanctity of the marriage bed was far more important than her happiness.
“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you might want to improve your dress code. It’s true about what they say. Sex does sell. You can get a lot more flies with honey than you can from vinegar. To be honest, I like your style, but it requires a little tweaking. I have a stylist on retainer. I’m going to make an appointment for you.” He turned his back and looked out the window, thinking of all those stories waiting to be written.
“I don’t know about changing my style, but I’m willing to entertain the idea.” She had one risqué dress and was waiting for the right opportunity to wear it.
It would have given her mother the much-needed push into the grave. She smiled and then found herself guilty for thinking that her life would be far more productive without her in it.
“I know how your father dying at a young age affected you. Your mother has always had you underneath her thumb. The only way you could stretch your wings was by going away to college. As I recall, there was some debate and some screaming matches when you took a full scholarship in journalism.” He knew her mother had a different way of thinking, grounded in tradition.
“She had my life mapped out for me from the moment I was born. I didn’t even love Tony. It wasn’t exactly an arranged marriage, but it may as well have been. Our families have been friends for years. It was practically agreed upon when we were old enough to marry that we would bring the family even closer. I sense there’s going to be long and awkward holidays in my future.” The very thought of spending any time with her mother for any length of time was giving her anxiety attacks.
“We can’t always live for our parent’s approval. We need to find our own happiness. That’s my last bit of unsolicited advice you’re going to get today. I’ve kept you for long enough. I have some work to get done.” He was dismissive and didn’t even wait for her to leave the room before shuffling through some papers.
Yvette’s mind was whirling with how she was going to make her mark in the city that never sleeps. The moving van was set to arrive at her new residence in about an hour. She was anxious, but also hesitant to live in the very same place her ex-husband had found pleasure in another woman’s arms. She made that part of the agreed settlement for no other reason than to stick it to him.