look me in the eye before making that decision.’
Staring up at him, Katy opened the door. Oscar made no move to stop her. Stepping out she faintly closed it. Oscar clenched his fist wanting to punch the wall in frustration. There was a knock at the door. He opened it.
‘Only kidding,’ winked Katy, pecking him on the mouth. ‘Call me later!’
Chapter Seven
Walking into the office, Katy checked her watch noting it was early afternoon. Whether it was her absence from the courts or tardy time management, John’s temper was alight.
‘Seriously Katy, are you looking for ways to make me fire you?’
Her boss was not issuing an empty threat.
‘No, of course not. When have you ever known me to be late or call in sick?’ she challenged.
Understandably, he was annoyed she was missing work, but it wasn’t as if it was regular behavior. It strayed greatly from her norm.
‘A call might have been helpful.’
‘I know and I’m sorry.’
‘What happened, then?’
If ever there was a juncture to bring up embarking on Exclusive Love dating it was now. Katy refrained. She didn’t want John knowing about Oscar.
‘I was out last night. I had a migraine come on. They take a while to recover from if I don’t get my medication on time.’
‘I take it you didn’t.’
‘As a matter of fact I did. A severe migraine used to have me off school for three to five days. That I’m a only few hours late is relatively inconsequential.’
‘To you it may be, but you’ve had two quiet days at court. Nothing published. Given your absence today, we’ve had a bare judiciary section in the paper thus far.’
‘It’s not like it matters.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Katy, and demonstrate a poor grasp of our demographic. We’re a small town rag, and small town folk love small town talk. Our readers want to know who lost their license for drunk driving and which family reared the delinquent who was in court two months ago for hurling firecrackers into unsuspecting cars and has since been caught siphoning petrol from the mall.’
‘They do?’
‘Yes, they do.’
‘Toby Miller.’
‘Marie and Cliff’s son. What a surprise.’
Katy shook her head as John leant back in the chair, salivating like a dog given a juicy bone.
‘On that note, I should get—”
‘You are not getting off anywhere, young lady. We write for our readers, because the more readers we have, the more advertising we generate, the more...’
As a chastised child, Katy waited for the end of the sentence.
‘The more...’
John nodded for Katy to finish it for him.
‘The more revenue we generate.’
‘Give the girl a gold star!’
‘John, I’m having a rough day.’
‘You said your extra-curricular project wouldn’t interfere with work.’
‘It hasn’t.’
‘No because you haven’t started it. Trouble is Katy, you seem to be struggling to keep up. Few stories from the courts. If you can’t manage that role, I can hardly support you with the other piece. Perhaps we should pass it to Shauna.’
‘You can’t. I’ve done the ground work.’
‘Give her your login and password. She’ll do the research. You’ll have your turn another time, when you’re older with more experience.’
‘You can’t. I’m already dating someone. I’ve taken the maiden steps so it has to be me following up.’
‘When? Why didn’t you tell me? How’d it go? What was he like?’ interrogated John.
‘Last night. It was sudden, I couldn’t consult you but I managed all right.’
‘Just one date?’
‘Yes.’
‘Shauna could pick it up. It’s early days.’
Desperately wanting to spare Oscar from this, at that precise moment with her article on the line, Katy resorted to using her only draw card.
‘I have to do it. I’ve already been invited to spend the weekend at the Hamptons with him. It’s like an ‘access all areas’ pass to the rich and the richest. Think of the wealth of information I can gain.
Staring up at him, Katy opened the door. Oscar made no move to stop her. Stepping out she faintly closed it. Oscar clenched his fist wanting to punch the wall in frustration. There was a knock at the door. He opened it.
‘Only kidding,’ winked Katy, pecking him on the mouth. ‘Call me later!’
Chapter Seven
Walking into the office, Katy checked her watch noting it was early afternoon. Whether it was her absence from the courts or tardy time management, John’s temper was alight.
‘Seriously Katy, are you looking for ways to make me fire you?’
Her boss was not issuing an empty threat.
‘No, of course not. When have you ever known me to be late or call in sick?’ she challenged.
Understandably, he was annoyed she was missing work, but it wasn’t as if it was regular behavior. It strayed greatly from her norm.
‘A call might have been helpful.’
‘I know and I’m sorry.’
‘What happened, then?’
If ever there was a juncture to bring up embarking on Exclusive Love dating it was now. Katy refrained. She didn’t want John knowing about Oscar.
‘I was out last night. I had a migraine come on. They take a while to recover from if I don’t get my medication on time.’
‘I take it you didn’t.’
‘As a matter of fact I did. A severe migraine used to have me off school for three to five days. That I’m a only few hours late is relatively inconsequential.’
‘To you it may be, but you’ve had two quiet days at court. Nothing published. Given your absence today, we’ve had a bare judiciary section in the paper thus far.’
‘It’s not like it matters.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Katy, and demonstrate a poor grasp of our demographic. We’re a small town rag, and small town folk love small town talk. Our readers want to know who lost their license for drunk driving and which family reared the delinquent who was in court two months ago for hurling firecrackers into unsuspecting cars and has since been caught siphoning petrol from the mall.’
‘They do?’
‘Yes, they do.’
‘Toby Miller.’
‘Marie and Cliff’s son. What a surprise.’
Katy shook her head as John leant back in the chair, salivating like a dog given a juicy bone.
‘On that note, I should get—”
‘You are not getting off anywhere, young lady. We write for our readers, because the more readers we have, the more advertising we generate, the more...’
As a chastised child, Katy waited for the end of the sentence.
‘The more...’
John nodded for Katy to finish it for him.
‘The more revenue we generate.’
‘Give the girl a gold star!’
‘John, I’m having a rough day.’
‘You said your extra-curricular project wouldn’t interfere with work.’
‘It hasn’t.’
‘No because you haven’t started it. Trouble is Katy, you seem to be struggling to keep up. Few stories from the courts. If you can’t manage that role, I can hardly support you with the other piece. Perhaps we should pass it to Shauna.’
‘You can’t. I’ve done the ground work.’
‘Give her your login and password. She’ll do the research. You’ll have your turn another time, when you’re older with more experience.’
‘You can’t. I’m already dating someone. I’ve taken the maiden steps so it has to be me following up.’
‘When? Why didn’t you tell me? How’d it go? What was he like?’ interrogated John.
‘Last night. It was sudden, I couldn’t consult you but I managed all right.’
‘Just one date?’
‘Yes.’
‘Shauna could pick it up. It’s early days.’
Desperately wanting to spare Oscar from this, at that precise moment with her article on the line, Katy resorted to using her only draw card.
‘I have to do it. I’ve already been invited to spend the weekend at the Hamptons with him. It’s like an ‘access all areas’ pass to the rich and the richest. Think of the wealth of information I can gain.
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