Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
What the hell was she doing?
“Aren’t you going to ask questions?”
“Would you answer them if I did?” she countered.
“I hadn’t planned on it. Bombing this interview is my easiest path to firing you.”
“Honesty. That’s new.”
“I don’t need to hide the truth from you. I want you gone. It’s that simple.”
“Why?”
I was already talking more than I’d planned, but something about her was making the words slip straight from my brain to my lips. “Because you’re dangerous.”
That earned a raised eyebrow. “Little old me? Dangerous?” She pulled her chin back, hanging her mouth open in mock offense.
“You are attached to the magazine. You’ll fight me on every attempt I make to modernize and expand its reach.” And I want to grab a fistful of that short, silky hair and bend you over this fucking table. I want to see if you can look so untouchable while I’m buried in you to the hilt.
“And why are you so motivated to change the magazine?”
“Because it can be more than what it is.”
“But why The Squawker? Why magazines in general? Most people say it’s a dying art. And if you’re going to try to push some sort of political agenda, why force it on a glorified gossip magazine?”
“I want to reach a new audience. I think there’s a way to bring them news along with their entertainment. People want to be informed, but they don’t want to be bored out of their minds. That’s my vision for The Squawker. News and entertainment in a highly digestible format.”
She worked her lips to the side, studying me.
Less than two minutes in, and I’d already probably given her more than enough to write her fucking interview. This was exactly why I needed her gone so badly. I couldn’t afford to keep letting this sort of thing happen with her.
“You sound very driven to prove you can do this. Where does that drive come from?”
Stop answering her questions. I sat back in my chair, glaring at her and saying nothing.
Darcy’s full lips curved into a smile as she gave a sexy little shrug. “Oops. Did somebody realize they were accidentally giving me the interview they didn’t want to?”
She went back to watching me and saying nothing.
“How long do we need to do this?” I asked.
“You’re free to leave at any time. You’re the boss, right? But you did say you’d let me get an interview whenever I wanted. So just keep in mind this won’t be the last.”
I knew I should’ve simply got up and left without a word, but I couldn’t fucking help myself. “Will the next session be this romantic?”
She smiled, biting her lip. “So far I’m one for one on getting information out of you in a romantic setting. So, yeah, I think we’ll try to stick with the whole romantic first-date vibe.”
“Spectacular,” I said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Are you going to stay to check out the art?” she asked. Something in her tone told me she was done with the interview. For now.
“No. I have work to do.”
“Dominic. It’s after ten. You’re seriously thinking about work?”
“The competition doesn’t sleep. Why should I?”
“I’m pretty sure everybody sleeps.”
Smart ass. I got to my feet and spread my arms at her. “Any more questions, Miss McClain?”
“Not tonight.” Darcy flashed a sweet smile, but I knew there was venom behind it. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you again.”
I found myself growling under my breath as I left. How the hell had she managed to get me to talk so much? I needed to make sure that didn’t happen again. Next time she scheduled one of these little interviews, she was going to be the one walking away disappointed.
11
DARCY
Dominic Lockwood was a royal pain in my ass. I’d been working for him for three weeks now. I knew he spent an unhealthy amount of time every day micromanaging his employees. He monitored our screens and was always checking in on our projects. He had endless suggestions and tweaks for our pieces. He was never satisfied with the way things were done and always seemed to want to change this and that.
Worse, his desire for change also meant the people I’d worked with for the last two years were dropping like flies. I admittedly wasn’t super sad to see Stinky Steve go. He apparently was running some sort of stuffed animal business through eBay and used work hours to keep up with it. I thought the real reason was that Dominic happened to walk by right as Steve was trying to get my attention from his desk in the corner.
Then Cathy had been axed. Technically, that one was also probably for the best. Cathy wrote an advice column responding to emails from readers and she’d been going more and more off the rails ever since she discovered the healing power of crystals. And then there was Jack from the research team. Apparently, he’d been caught interviewing with the competition and badmouthing the new leadership here, so Dominic relieved him of his duties.