Blaze by Di Morrissey Page B

was more than another client on his impressive list. They were friends who trusted, liked and respected each other. If she ever had a doubt about a decision, she dined with Ian who loved fine food and wine. At the end of an enjoyable meal, Nina came away satisfied in every sense. Ian’s advice, questioning and analysis, sandwiched between courses, always proved invaluable.
    Larissa looked at Ali and wondered what was going through her mind. With Lorraine sadly out of the picture, the path was clear for Ali to intensify her campaign for the editorship, a position Larissa suspected Ali had been quietly lobbying for in recent months. Larissa didn’t have the ruthless dedication to a career that drove Ali. Probably because she had a stable personal life with a man she loved, whereas Ali – as far as anyone knew – was very single. And very single-minded. Ali was thinking rapidly. If Nina stayed out of New York long enough, she could entrench herself with senior management and implement her ideas. Already Ali was assuming her appointment as the next editor of Blaze USA.
    She glanced at Manny and the three other vice-presidents of the Triton company who were sitting at the same table. That was where the power was concentrated. She hadn’t worked her butt off as deputy editor to impress Lorraine Bannister or Nina Jansous. Ali had slaved hard and made sure she’d been noticed by the male hierarchy . . . Even if it sometimes meant resorting to sexual innuendo and low-cut tops that showed her braless, small, pointed breasts. They controlled the money. And whoever controlled the money had the power. They ran the company. While Nina had powerful input, it was always the dollar that underscored the big decisions.
    Nina was certainly no figurehead, but since Triton had recently gone public, and although she held substantial A-list shares, she had less say in running the corporate flagship. Now the company had to answer to shareholders, meet the responsibilities and obligations of a public company, be even more disciplined over profit margins, and watch out for possible takeovers.
    Manny reached into his pocket for a cigar, but it was then he remembered his wife had removed the temptation as the invitation had politely requested they refrain from smoking. He picked up his brandy and spun the goblet between his pudgy hands. ‘So what do you make of this, Roberto? She’s not doing it for money. In fact, they could blow a helluva pile. The Baron must have agreed to the idea. Is he indulging Nina or does he want to make money? If Triton is backing this, he must think she can pull it off.’
    Roberto agreed. ‘Though why would a woman at her stage in life, with so much achieved, want to start over again? A helluva risk. People remember the failures, not the successes. Why is she bothering?’
    â€˜The challenge,’ chimed in Larissa. ‘It’s fantastic to think that when you turn sixty you could be starting a whole new life.’ She gave the two executives a wide-eyed look. ‘What are you both going to do when you turn sixty?’
    Neither man wanted to answer. Manny changed the subject. ‘There’s always politics, eh Roberto? In fact, I wondered whether Nina may be considering running for something, or working on someone’s campaign in the near future.’
    â€˜Nina has always been a political animal,’ agreed Roberto. ‘Though she’s never let her views interfere with her job as far as I can tell. Tempting when she wields so much power.’
    â€˜Yeah, it always amazes me that a magazine has such political influence. I mean Blaze isn’t the Washington Post .’
    â€˜Do you read it?’ asked Roberto with a grin.
    â€˜ Blaze ? Yeah. But then it’s part of the job,’ confessed Manny. He quickly turned to Ali and Larissa, ‘Not that I don’t enjoy it, of course.’
    The girls rolled their eyes.
    â€˜I bet you