doing plenty of coffee runs together.”
I rolled my eyes and rested my head back, only to straighten again. I couldn’t relax. Everything inside of me was like a tightly wound spring, ready to explode. “Trust me, I don’t plan on this being a long running gig. I don’t even know why Mr. Jones put me on this.”
“He’s testing you, Jo.”
I turned to him. “Testing me? Why would he do that? What do you know about it?”
He shrugged. “It’s the same everywhere. My last station was the same way. The bosses test the new talent. You have to earn your air time. You can’t go waving around your degree and demanding it.”
“Ouch!” I winced. That was exactly what I’d done.
Danny chuckled. “Don’t worry, Jo. We’ll get it done and then you can ditch me and run off to chase the big stories.”
I laughed. “I’m not trying to ditch you, Danny. If we make a good team, who knows, this might be a long term thing.”
He glanced over and flashed me a sideways grin.
“Working together, I mean,” I hurried to add.
He just laughed and took the next exit off the highway.
Right at the top of the hour, we pulled into a parking spot at the small, private airstrip. Danny threw the van into park and I was already flying out the door. “Come on! Come on!” I prodded, tugging at the hem of my shorts. Good lord…This better be worth it.
Danny grabbed his camera and I turned my mic on. “Testing…”
He nodded, tapping at his earbud. “Got ya.”
I blew out a long, slow breath. “Here goes nothin’…”
Danny gave me a half-cocked grin. “You’ll be great.”
“Well, first, I have to manage to get his attention. Looks like we’re a little late to the party,” I replied, pointing beyond the chain link security fence to show a gaggle of reports gathered in front of one of the hangars.
“Come on. There’s no way he’s gonna miss you. Not in that .”
I gritted my teeth together and marched toward the front doors of the airport. We flashed our press badges and Danny’s friend led us out to the hangar where the rest of the media teams were assembled. The private jet was taxiing down the runway. Within minutes, Trey Delgado would come out and I’d have ten, maybe fifteen minutes to try and get his attention. If I could get a snippet of conversation with him on camera it would be a great start.
“He doesn’t do interviews,” one of the other reporters whispered over my shoulder.
“Well, let’s just hope he doesn’t try to smash our camera,” her partner replied.
Obviously, I wasn’t the only one worried. Danny on the other hand, was cool and confident, his camera hoisted on his shoulder like a seasoned pro. Not a drop of sweat on his brow. He caught me looking at him and flashed a smile. “It’ll be fine.”
I nodded. Right. Fine. Not career ending. The plane came to a stop and the media teams surged forward.
“Showtime,” Danny said in my ear.
Chapter Five
Trey
The pilot announced we were safe to exit the plane and Mason unlocked his seat belt. I stayed glued in my seat, my shoulders pressed against the back of the seat. Mason eyed me as he packed up his computer. “You coming?”
I flicked another look out the window and watched the plane get swarmed by the reporters gathered on the runway. I hated reporters. “Do I have a choice?”
Mason laughed. “Nope. Not a one. Come on.”
I unbuckled my seatbelt and heaved up from my chair. I stretched my arms over my head and then twisted, releasing the tense muscles in my low back.
“Remember, be nice, polite, professional. Smile, don’t snarl. Give them the ‘new leaf’ or ‘fresh chapter’ bull. Throw in something about the current team and winning the division. I guarantee, if you do that, you’ll have the whole city eating out of your hand.”
“And that’s…good…?”
Mason scoffed and shook his head. I heard him mutter something that sounded a lot like ‘asshole’ under his breath. I laughed and clapped him
Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry