Again, her father shook his head. ‘You always seemed above it. You never got as involved as your siblings.’
‘Think, Dad! Think back to what it was actually like. I never saw the point of fighting with my siblings who didn’t really want me in their club anyway. This year I got to put an angel on an amazing tree, and it was one of the best moments of my life. Lukas made me feel seen in a way no one else in my life ever has.’ Her skin replayed the memory of him lifting her up so she could reach the top of the tree.
Her father looked as if he’d been struck.
‘I’ve always liked coffee, Dad. Every time we went out it was the first thing I ordered and yet you still didn’t know that I liked it.’
She could see the shame in her father’s expression, and it hurt her to see it, but she wanted more from her family. Hell, she wanted more from the world. From her job. She wanted respect and recognition.
‘I need to apologise to Lukas,’ she said softly. ‘And then I need to go to the office.’
‘Do what you need to, Kittykat,’ her father said gruffly, ‘and maybe after that you and I can talk. Maybe I have some making up to do as well.’
‘Dad,’ she croaked, and he went to her, engulfing her in a hug.
When he pulled away, Katherine could see his lashes were wet. ‘I’m proud of you and I love you and I’ve failed you, but I promise that will all change. Go make your call. I’ll be right here waiting.’
Katherine raced up the stairs to the bedroom she used to share with Paige. She tried Lukas’s number, praying he would answer, but it rang until she got his voicemail.
‘Lukas, I know I messed up. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the article, for how unfairly I treated you, for everything. Please, please can we talk?’ She ended the call and sent a text. She held the phone in her hand, waiting. And waiting. And waiting. It had been delivered and seen but there was no response.
She had to find a way to get Lukas to talk to her. This man she loved didn’t threaten her dream, he made her see a better one. And now she needed to fight for him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jennifer and Robertwere in the small meeting room when Katherine arrived at Aero TV. After a long talk with her father, she had called them requesting a meeting asap.
She was done being disrespected, had enough of her career being weaponised to control her. It ended now. Her heart pounded because she knew if this meeting went badly, it would be the end for her at the Alpha One official broadcaster. It would be a step backwards. The thought made her feel ill but enough was enough.
‘What’s this about, Kat?’ Robert asked.
Katherine took her time pulling out a seat at the round table, ensuring she was visibly calm, then looked at him and Jennifer.
‘We have some issues to discuss.’ She placed her hands on the table. Fingers loosely knitted together.
‘You’re not still upset about the article, are you?’ Jennifer asked. ‘Do you want to see the traffic stats since it went live? It was great for you.’
‘No, I don’t.’ Anger blazed through her. ‘And it was great for you. Aero. Not me. Not Lukas.’
‘What does Lukas Jäger matter? You were faking a relationship, badly I might add. Our needs are more important than any driver’s.’
Katherine never wanted to work with Jennifer again. ‘You have no respect for people’s lives, Jennifer. No respect for my work or reputation. For that reason, I am quitting the column.’
Jennifer threw herself back in her chair with a huff. ‘Don’t be so dramatic, Kat.’
She battled for calm with all her might because she wanted to rage at these people. ‘Let’s look at the facts, shall we? With no concern for our well-being after being stuck in a snowstorm, Aero forced Lukas and me to pose as a couple purely for publicity. Threatened our careers, threatened my reputation by blackmailing me with the article that we both knew contained false information, but still you used it to control me.’
‘Controlis a bit harsh, don’t you think?’ Robert said.
‘What would you call it?’ She cast her glare on him. ‘Either I was fired if I didn’t comply or the article was released which would call into question my ethics and integrity, my ability to be impartial and truthful. It would paint me as ruthless to the point of unscrupulousness. Who would hire me after that? Thatiscontrol, Robert.’ She wanted to throw herself out of her chair and pace the room, but she couldn’t be emotional here. ‘Tell me, if I was a male journalist would either of you have demanded this of me? Toyed with my career like this? I suspect the answer is no.’
Robert looked away while Jennifer refused to say anything.
‘So here’s how things are going to go. First, you’re going to pull the article and issue a retraction—’
‘Absolutely not!’ Jennifer all but yelled.
‘I’m not done.’ Katherine stared her down. ‘Second, the manipulation of me and my career stops now. You told me about the trip to Lapland at the last possible moment, Robert, when you would have known long enough to acquire service providers to carve a literal track in the snow. I’m not a pawn to be used, I am a journalist and deserve to be treated with the same respect you give my male colleagues. Third, in the place of the column, I will be added to the panel onTrack Talkevery Tuesday night. I know this sport, have great insights and bloody good access to information.’
