“That’s a good one,” Hadrian says. “You should come work for me.”
“I already do, thank you, but I appreciate the offer.”
On any other day, I’d love that they’re getting along so well, but I’m too focused on myself at the moment. “Good one, like it’s probably a question I’ll be asked? Or good one because it was creatively asked?”
“The former, unfortunately.” At least, he smiles as he delivers the news. Hadrian’s smile makes everything less daunting.
Thankfully, he’s been smiling a lot this last hour as he and Shiloh have helped me prep for all the interviews I’m booked for leading to the show’s debut while we finished breakfast. According to Hadrian and the PR team, our best way to get past the negative coverage is to flood the media with new headlines.
Up until now, the hardest question they’ve given me was explain your relationship with Hadrian Seymour, which flustered me for a hot minute until Hadrian coached me to answer truthfully, but only focus on the professional aspects.
“Okay, fine.” I blow the air out of my lungs, shake my arms out, and then lower my head. When I raise it again, I’m in interviewee mode. “Unfortunately, these are the kinds of comments that are made against any woman who makes headway in a man’s world. It’s a sad display of toxic masculinity and misogyny. If the roles had been reversed—say if Adly Seymour were the current CEO—and she gave an undiscovered male anchor a show, no one would call that man a ‘whore’—see there isn’t even a male equivalent for the word—but he wouldn’t be called any other names for that matter, and Adly wouldn’t be accused of nepotism because men don’t have to prove themselves in our culture the way that women do.
“Honestly, it’s one of the reasons Hadrian fought to get Our Nation Now on the air. Because women-led news needs to be normalized, and I’m grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to be part of this progressive change in programming.”
“Brava,” Shiloh says, clapping her hands.
Hadrian, though, wears a serious exp**ssion. “Follow-up question—if SNC is so focused on women-led news programming, why did they recently part with long-term female anchor Jessa Jones?”
My stomach tightens at the reminder of how my show replaced my idol’s, and I frown at the man who posed the question. “So you do the shit behavior, and I’m the one who has to answer for it?”
“You’re my employee, and that’s your job.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes and put on my happy interviewee face. “I’m not personally privy to Jessa Jones’s contract details nor her reasons for leaving SNC. You’d have to ask someone who gets paid a lot more than me.”
Hadrian is not amused. “You’d have to ask Jessa Jones directly,” he suggests instead. “You might even mention that she’s taken a job at SHE as a producer and part-time anchor, which could be considered a promotion.”
“She has?” SHE is a fledgling news network with a mission to deliver progressive and balanced coverage with transparency in all their decisions. While it’s also owned by a man, there are more women than men on the executive team, and the company has announced publicly that their salaries are commiserate.
It’s actually exactly the kind of place I’d like to work one day. When I’m older and nearing retirement. “Was that the real reason Jessa left SNC? Because she wanted to?”
Hadrian gives a slight shrug. “You’d have to ask Jessa Jones directly.”
“Ha ha.” I try not to give him the satisfaction of smiling, but I can’t resist when Shiloh bursts out laughing for real.
“It wasn’t that funny,” I insist.
“What can I say? I like the guy.” She stands, pulling her hair with both hands to tighten her high pony. “It’s been fun, but since we did your nails yesterday, B, I booked a full face job for noon. Which means I need to leave, like, now.”
Hadrian waggles his brows suggestively. “Full face job sounds like a euphemism.”
“I’m sure it would sound that way to you, Mr. I’d Like to Get To Know You Biblically Before You’re Hired. Should I be flattered or offended that I didn’t get the same proposal?”
“Oh my God, Shiloh. I told you all that in confidence.” My face is so hot that I don’t really dare to look at Hadrian, but I brave it anyway. “Sorry about…her.”
As always, he seems unaffected. As though he couldn’t care less that I told my best friend that he offered me a job in exchange for sexual favors.
Ignoring me, he addresses her directly. “Brystin signed up for double duty in your place.”
She gives me a faux scowl. “f**king Brystin. I could have handled him.”
“Are you suggesting we revisit your contract?”
I know Hadrian’s t**sing, but my ch*st tightens with jealousy all the same. Clearly, she needs to go.
“Okay, this is getting weird.” I stand up so that I can escort her from the apartment.
Well, that and chide her quietly at the door. “I can’t believe you said that out loud!”
“Oh, please. He already knows I know everything. He’s perceptive and so obviously into you. It’s not a detail he would have missed.”
“So obviously into me?”
“He asked his staff how you take your coffee, Brystin. And he’s f**king here, unlike Mr. Endlich.”
“Because Elvis knows you’re here.”
“Hadrian knew I was here too, and he still came running. Also, unlike the douche you call a husband, this guy seems to actually see you as a person instead of as a coattail to ride to the top.”
It’s my turn to say, “Oh, please. If anything, I’m the one riding Elvis’s coattails.”
“I love you, but you really need to get a reality check.” She hugs me quickly then opens the door, but pauses when she’s halfway over the threshold. “Also, also—Hadrian was always going to give you that job. You’ve said that. Have you asked yourself why he decided to play this game with you instead?”
“Because he’s a rich dick.” But even as I give her the standard answer I’ve given myself, I realize there might be more to it. There’s been chemistry from moment one. On both sides. “Clearly, he wanted to get in my pa**ies all along.”
“But just as clearly, you wanted to get into his boxer briefs—and do not correct me if that’s not what he wears, because a girl needs to be able to dream.”
I can’t help myself. “Well, today, I believe he’s commando…”
She closes her eyes and throws her head back like she’s enjoying the best dessert. “On that note, I’m leaving.”
“Bye!”
“Don’t be good.”
I close the door before she can offer any more nuggets of Shiloh wisdom that will threaten the carefully crafted belief system I’ve set up regarding the men in my life.
Men in my life.
Like I ever thought there’d be anyone besides Elvis.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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