“I’m sorry, what?”
“Thad’s right,” Stern added. “We need to take a few days, let the family grieve the loss of their dog, let America catch its breath. I heard from three different CEOs today that they don’t want their spots aired until the furor dies down.”
Ethan breathed a silent sigh of relief. For a moment he had been afraid that the board was going to cancel the show.
“Okay, Roger,” Ethan began again, careful to talk directly to the chairman and not to Thad. “I understand. But at least let us conduct some interviews with the family. We need to get some footage in the can about the incident, for when we go back live.”
Stern looked at Thad, who nodded his approval. That more than anything stung Ethan. He was no longer in control, if he ever had been.
“And Ethan,” Stern said, leaning in close.
“Yes, Roger?” Even Ethan withered a little under the tycoon’s glare.
“Don’t let another fuckup like this happen again.”
Ethan nodded, making a mental note that truly powerful people didn’t need to include an “or else.” At that level the threat was de facto implied.
***
After her father left, Jackie opened her phone again, this time ignoring the Facebook news feed and going straight to the chat. Max was already there.
Max
Solnyshko, I am so sorry. I do not know what to say.
Max already knew what had happened. Jackie wasn’t surprised.
Jackie
How did you find out?
Max
It is all on the Internet.
Jackie
Of course it is. Why shouldn’t it be?
Max
Solnyshko, do I say something wrong?
Until that moment, Jackie had been feeling worn out, beaten. But now anger was starting to creep in around the edges of her resignation.
Jackie
No, Max, it’s not you. It’s me.
Max
For how long will your show be off the air?
Jackie
What?
Off the air? This was news to Jackie.
Max
The Internet is saying that Life and Death will be on hiatus. I have to look this word up.
Jackie
Max, I haven’t left my bedroom since it happened. You know more than I do. What else did it say?
Max
You wish to know?
Jackie
Yes.
Max
The man who does this to your dog, he is very wealthy man. Billionaire. Sherman Kingsborough. I have heard name.
Jackie had heard the name, too, though she didn’t know much about him. Something about climbing Mount Everest and getting in trouble with police in some Asian country.
Jackie
I am so sick of this whole thing, this whole stupid television show. I wish it would just go away.
There was another long moment of silence. Jackie, who was thinking about Trebuchet, just watched the screen, hoping Max would say something to make her feel better.
Max
Tell me, Solnyshko, you do not like being on television?
Jackie
No.
Max
But doesn’t everyone in America want to be on television?
Jackie
Not everyone, Max. But that’s not the point. It’s the show. It’s awful. They edit it to make my dad look more confused than he is, and … and it’s so hard at school now. I wish I was dead.
Max
No, Solnyshko, you must never ever say this.
Jackie felt bad. She wanted Max to like her, but she was doing everything she could to make herself thoroughly unlikable.
Jackie
You’re right. I’m sorry.
Max
No. You must promise me you will never say this again. “Max, I promise you I will never say this again.”
Jackie
Okay, Max, I promise.
Max
Good. This is good.
Jackie
But it doesn’t help me. I’m still stuck here.
Max
If you do not like their television show, make your own.
Jackie
What do you mean?
Max hadn’t meant to type that, but now that he had, an idea was starting to take shape, a devilish idea that would help Jackie and would bring the two of them closer together.
Jackie could sense his fingers, eight thousand miles away, working across the keyboard like a tsunami. She could feel his excitement building, and that got her excited, too.
By the time they were done chatting, Jackie, in a completely unexpected twist of fate, actually found herself smiling.
***
Sherman Kingsborough woke up in jail, disoriented. He was the only tenant of a small cell with a cot, a sink, and a toilet. He couldn’t remember where he was or how he had come to be there. This was not an uncommon feeling for the young billionaire. The only thing he knew with certainty was that his bladder was about to burst.