Chapter 7
Present Day
Gemma
I watched on nervously as Martha Banks' eyes casually rolled over the page, an impassive look on her face. She was frowning lightly, shaking her head in places as she read.
“This isn't really what we're looking for Gemma,” she said after several awkward minutes of silence.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, quite frankly, this is boring. OK, so we get to know a bit more about Branton's new favorite son, but there's no edge to it, no spice. I want some drama, something that's going to get people talking. This isn't it.”
I knew it, I just knew that's what she'd say.
She leaned back in her seat behind her pristine white desk and placed the paper to one side.
“Gemma, are you serious about becoming a journalist?”
“Of course,” I said quickly, “it's what I've always wanted. I want it more than anything.”
“Well then, you need to be a little more cutthroat, more ruthless. Our readers want to know about people, warts and all. That Logan family must be teeming with juicy stories. I want you to find one for me, find something involving Cade, link it to his boxing somehow. It's what the job's all about.”
“But...”
“I know what you're going to say. He's your boyfriend, right? You're struggling with the moral dilemma of betraying him aren't you. Well, that's totally understandable, it really is. So, let's compromise shall we?”
“Compromise? How?”
She took a long breath.
“No one has to know of your involvement, Gemma. You find the sort of story I'm looking for, and we'll publish it under someone else's name.”
“So what, I do all the work and someone else gets the credit?”
“Yes,” she said bluntly. “Remember, you're doing this to secure a promotion, not to put your name to a great story. Once you're in your new role you'll have plenty of opportunity to build a name for yourself, but this one we'll keep on the down-low, OK?”
Jesus, the world of journalism was clearly more callous than I thought. I guess I could handle digging into things in general, but with Cade? I wasn't so sure.
….
I had tried to bring it up over dinner earlier in the week, when we'd sat down to smooth things over. We talked about the extra attention he was getting, how he was getting more famous in town by the day. Even nationally, his profile was growing, with boxing agents and promoters beginning to take notice of his successes.
He told me, as he had often, how my presence had helped him get to where he was and how he really cared about me. He'd literally never spoken to me about his feelings before, so I was pretty taken aback.
I told him that people would want to know more about him now, that they'd want to hear his story. He said he wasn't interested, that his brother Crash had warned him of the attention that might come his way and how he should shun it completely.
“But what about just a story about your boxing career so far and how you got into the sport,” I asked during dinner. “That's not too personal is it?”
He shook his head. “I don't really care about whether people know about me or not. I just want to box and get my shot, that's all.”
“But I know that our magazine would love to do a short piece on you. You know our readership is pretty much all women? Well, they'd love to know about their new pin-up.”
He stayed closed off to the idea, and strangely uncomfortable at the mention of him being a pin-up and a growing sex symbol in town and even beyond. It was probably a sore spot after our fight the other night and he wouldn't want to stoke the fire, especially after how I'd reacted. But then, there was a whole other reason for that...
“So, would you write the piece?” he asked after a few moments of quiet thought.
“Of course,” I said quickly.
“And do you think it would help your career?”
“Yes, definitely.” More than you know.
“Gemma, you've helped me and I'd like to help you. If it's going to be good for your career then I guess, maybe, I could do an interview or something, talk a bit about my boxing career so far.”
My face began to light up.
“But nothing too personal, nothing about my family, OK?” he continued, being sure to temper my enthusiasm.
I nodded. “OK, yeah that's fine. Would you really do that for me Cade? Give me an exclusive?”
He thought for a moment. “I doubt that Crash will be too pleased but, sure, I'll do it for you.”
“Babe, you have no idea what that means to me!” I exclaimed loudly. “That's great news!”
But it wasn't great news, not in the end. Not if Martha Banks didn't see it as such.
….
The paper in front of Mrs Banks listed that proposal – the option of an exclusive interview with Cade Logan about his boxing career. It was the proposal that she'd just dismissed, the only real option I had.
So, I was back to square one.
“Gemma, you need to think very carefully about this and realize that you've got a great opportunity here. Please don't think me so callous as to not see the moral dilemma you're in. I know this is hard, especially if you care for the boy.”
She took a break to take a drag of her electronic cigarette before continuing.
“However, you must also see that I am giving you every chance to distance yourself from this entire thing. Cade and his family will never need to know you were involved.”
Bullshit. Total bullshit. Who else would have supplied the information except me?
“With all due respect Mrs Banks, I think they'll probably see though it and know that it was me.”
She smiled wide. “That really depends on the spin you put on things and the story you end up with. You'll soon realize that there are always ways of distancing yourself from something, if you wish to.”
“Look Gemma,” she continued, “I'm giving you a lot of slack here, and you're getting preferential treatment for this promotion. My generosity has its limits. Don't let me down, or you may just find that not getting this promotion is the least of your concerns.”
Generosity! Yeah, right. I knew she just wanted to sell more magazines. It was all she ever wanted. She was using me more than I was using her, and she was the one holding all the cards.
“I understand Mrs Banks, and thank you for this opportunity.” I left a hint of sarcasm in my voice for effect. “I'll see what I can do.”