Chapter 6 – Diana

 

I had enough info to write up a column about Kyle. I decided to focus less on his policy ideas, which everyone knew anyway, and speculate about what was driving him to run for Senate. I finished my title and hit the submit button.

 

KYLE SWANSON: WHY DOES HE WANT TO BE A SENATOR ANYWAY

 

A few hours later I get a call from my boss Janet. She wants to meet and discuss. So I drive to meet her in a coffee shop in Newport where we often get breakfast.

 

“Sorry I’m late again, drank too much last night,” I say as I slide into the booth.

 

“No problem,” Janet says, eyeing me furiously. “Well I went over your column. I have to say its very interesting and unexpected. We’re going to let it publish but the editorial board was a bit concerned.”

 

“Why? It seems pretty harmless.”

 

“Well Diana, I have to say I found your conjectures very interesting, but remember we specified this was about reporting, not editorializing. This goes beyond just reporting the facts, you’ve put your own interpretations in here with quite a bit of speculation.”

 

I chuckled. “Yeah but you know I’m right, right? The man has a domineering father complex. He’s trying to prove his manhood – to his deceased father. That explains everything. His pushy attitude, the demeaning way he talks about women, why he insists on remaining as CEO of five different companies, and why he’s running for Senate.”

 

“So you think his trash talk about women is to please his father?”

 

“No not at all. Everything I’ve read about his father, as far as people knew his father was a completely decent man. The complete opposite of Kyle in this one regard. Or maybe in all ways they were opposites.”

 

Janet sighed. “Well that’s an interesting theory. I can see the ridiculous way he drives himself, I mean what kind of idiot would continue on as CEO of five different companies?”

 

“Janet, I have my doubts. I think he is focused on Zylent and he’s nothing more than a figurehead at the other companies. He keeps himself listed as CEO for the public perception that he is some kind of demigod.”

 

“I think you’re onto something Diana. You know that reading over your column, its going to put a lot of doubt in people’s minds about his fitness for office. After the Trump phenomenon most journalists are backing off from trying to have direct influence on a political race, unless its clear that they are writing an editorial. ”

 

“Yeah I know. But I have something important to tell you.”

 

I took a big drink of coffee and sat back, eying Janet tentatively.

 

“Go on,” she said.

 

“Janet, I’m asking you to move me off this case. I can’t see Swanson anymore, be around him or talk to him. This is my first and only column on Swanson, and that’s one of the reasons I let all my feelings out.”

 

“Diana, is he really that hard to be around?”

 

I laughed. “Well he is that, he’s domineering, rude, cocky to a fault. Sexual harassment is his default way of interacting with women.”

 

Janet folded her arms across her chest, cupping her large breasts. “And what else? We hired you because you were known as a hard nosed reporter. You can’t let the way he talks drive you off the job.”

 

I sighed and glanced down at my coffee cup. “Janet, there’s more to it. I feel a massive physical attraction to him and last night I let him touch me. I even let him,”

 

“You what?” Janet said incredulously. “Diana, that’s a major breach of ethics!”

 

“Yes Janet I know. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever let happen, or did, as a reporter. I let my guard down, we had some wine and got relaxed while having dinner together. That’s why I need to quit. If I stay on this job he’ll be fucking me before too long.”

 

Her face scowled. I think she was more upset with me than she was with Swanson, if she was upset with him at all. For a good minute she wouldn’t look at me or say a word.

 

Her face snapped toward me. “Diana I’ve been familiar with your work for a really long time, and if it wasn’t so high quality I’d jump across the table right now and strangle you. First lets be clear about one thing. Swanson bears no responsibility for this. It’s all on you. You’re the professional here, the journalist representing California’s biggest media organization representing the Democratic Socialists. If a man tries touching you on the job then you’re responsible for reporting it and not allowing it to continue. I can’t believe you were drinking wine with him. He isn’t your friend, Diana. He is the subject of your job.”

 

“I know Janet, I know I let you down. It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my career. That’s why I need to quit.”

 

Janet couldn’t look at me and the angry expression in her face wouldn’t dissipate.

 

“I don’t know if we can do that Diana. I have everyone on staff assigned to cover people that need to be covered all the way up to the election. Most of them have done detailed research on their subjects, moving people around now, I just can’t see it. We’d lose all their research, it would be like starting over just as the election season begins heating up.”

 

“I see your point, but you know I’m a fast learner.”

 

She smirked. “Fast learner indeed. What did Swanson teach you in the bedroom.”

 

“Well we haven’t been in the bedroom yet.”

 

“YET? What is that supposed to mean?”

 

“Well there is a big chemistry between us. It can’t be denied. If I stay on the job how do I get him to back off?”

 

Janet’s tone became forceful.

 

“Diana, are you a teenager? This is the kind of whining I’d expect from a student intern. And it’s the kind of behavior I’d expect from a student intern.”

 

I chuckled. “Well he kind of makes me feel like a teenager. He’s hard to resist. You gotta admit he’s pretty sexy.”

 

“I can’t believe the words coming out of your mouth, Diana! This is not the kind of professional attitude I expect out of my reporters.”

 

Janet took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

 

“Diana I’ve lost my appetite. If you were anyone else on my staff I’d fire you right now. Your Pulitzer prize might be the only thing keeping me from doing it.”

 

I looked down at my coffee again. Janet’s normally playful personality wasn’t exactly coming to the surface.

 

“OK Diana, here’s the deal. You can quit if you want to, but that means you leave the Democracy Action Network. If you want to stay, you have to cover Swanson. But there are going to be some ground rules.”

 

“OK,” I murmured.

 

“I can’t believe I have to have this conversation with you, as if I am your mother! Well the first thing we need to get straight is no drinking allowed. You absolutely can’t consume alcohol with Swanson or around Swanson. The second thing is you’re not to meet him in private again, ever. I am going to assign you to the regular reporter pool that trails him around. Maybe you can meet someone there who can help with your libido.”

 

I felt ashamed. Janet and I had been friends for a long time, and she always admired my work. Now she was looking at me like I was some kind of trashy teenager. I’d lost all her respect. She thinks I can’t control myself and maybe she’s right. There is a desire in my body that can’t be satisfied.

 

“Well Diana, make your choice. You can either move on, or you can accept my conditions.”

 

“Yes Janet, I will accept your conditions.” I hung my head.

 

“One more thing – as I said before no editorializing. You’re in this role strictly as a reporter. I’ll let this one publish but from now on no more speculating on what makes Swanson tick.”

 

I agreed to everything Janet said, then she tossed a twenty on the table and walked out without saying goodbye. My carelessness had ruined our friendship, and my reputation as a reporter. Before this happened she was giving me a free reign, now she’d put me under tight control. I sat there hoping that Janet wouldn’t tell anyone else what had happened. Everyone else at the network would notice that Janet was keeping close tabs on me. They could probably see how…Kyle and I looked at each other.

I sat there looking out the window wondering if Kyle was worth it. The truth is he made me feel alive. I got lost in a fantasy of him taking care of me, the powerful billionaire who would take over the U.S. Senate. I wouldn’t need a job, I could stay home and take care of our children. Leave it to people like Janet to sit around stressed out about everything all the time.

 

As I saw Janet drive off in her silver Mercedes I snapped out of it.

 

I knew I had to keep Kyle away from me from now on. The challenge would be in getting him to back off. I didn’t want to hurt him. But I couldn’t let this continue.