“What?” he snapped.
I rolled my eyes. I was so sick of his attitude. Opening the door, I said, “Allan.”
“Montgomery…” he growled, peering at me over his glasses.
I stepped inside uninvited, and he raised his eyebrows. “Something I can help you with?”
“There is.”
He sighed and pushed his laptop aside.
“There’s something I want to get off my chest.”
“I’m not your therapist, Montgomery.”
I gritted my teeth. He was such a smartass. “You’d make a terrible therapist with that scowl, Allan.”
He grunted his amusement and watched me with grudging respect. Yes, the grumpster had everyone around here tiptoeing around him, but I’d always found the balls to call him out sometimes.
“I’m sure you didn’t come in here to call out my lack of skill in the therapist department. Is this about the feature?”
“Yes… sort of. You said it was ‘good work’. Better than you expected.”
“Uh-huh.”
“That’s bullshit, Allan. It’sspectacular.” I sniffed. “At the risk of sounding totally cocky, it’s even better than the last oneWaltdid.”
Allan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a flicker of bemusement in his eyes. “What’s your point here?”
“My point,” I said, stepping closer to his desk, “is that I’ve been writing gossip and entertainment fluff for years while you hand the real stories to Walt. Or now, apparently, Mark—who hasn’t even been here long enough to know where the good coffee is.”
Allan’s expression didn’t change. “Mark’s got a sharp eye. And Walt’s proven himself.”
“So have I,” I snapped. “You promised me better stories if I did a good job with the feature. So why am I still stuck covering red carpet mishaps and celebrity breakups?”
He sighed clearly annoyed. “Because the political exposé has already gone to Walt. I considered Mark, but Walt’s got the contacts. It’s a sensitive story.”
I blinked. “You considered Mark? Over me?”
Allan didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.
I felt the heat rise in my chest, and my pulse pounded in my ears. “I pitched an exposé on Hollywood’s underbelly weeks ago. Bigger than Walt’s story. I have names, documents, and leads but you shut it down without even asking for the full proposal.”
“Because it’s risky,” he said. “And you’re not ready.”
I laughed—sharp and humorless. “Not ready? I’ve been here five years, Allan. Five years of proving myself. Of being passed over. Of watching men with half my experience get the stories. You know what, you’re the one who isn’t ready forme. I’m bigger than the damn entertainment column.”
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t let him speak.
“I’m done,” I said, voice steady. “I quit.”
His brows lifted, but he didn’t look surprised. “Are you serious?”
“I’ll email my resignation letter.” I turned on my heel and walked out, ignoring all the curious faces watching me. Back at my desk, I gathered my things.
“Ava, what did you do?” Melody asked.
I turned to her and exhaled. “I moved past this gossip column, Mel. Because it’s time and I deserve to.”
