Sucking in a deep breath, Charlotte let it out quickly along with a torrent of words she hadn’t been totally sure were inside her until that moment. “I think I want to take the promotion. I mean I do, I want it. I can’t promise it will be easy, but the other day while that fire was breaking, I didn’t think about my anxiety or what people could be judging me about. I just thought about getting the story and getting it on the air. And beating all the other stations. Since then, my position on nights just doesn’t feel as…” Charlotte wracked her brain for the right word. “Fulfilling.”
“I think you’re making the right choice.” Michelle crossed her legs and leaned back, her hand resting on that tiny little bump. “I realize some of your anxiety issues are deeper than I probably realize, but I want you to know there is at least one point in every single day that I am convinced I’m still faking my way through this job and somebody is going to figure me out. It is no secret the only reason I was even hired in this position was because no one else wanted to come within a hundred yards of this place after the debacle with the old news director. But when I do doubt myself, I give myself five minutes to really wonder and wallow. Then I get down to the next thing. Figure out the next move. Any more than five minutes, and I know it will be hours before I come out the other side of that tunnel.”
It shocked Charlotte that the boss she so admired for her iron will and solid news judgement doubted herself on a regular basis. She had become one of the most respected journalists on the east coast over the few years since she started leading the WQUZ team. There had even been rumors that a national network tried to woo her away, but Michelle stayed because she didn’t feel her work was done at the little station that could.
“Okay. I’ll start the paperwork with HR. Everything should be official in the next week. We’ll start your new schedule in three weeks. That will give me time to get the guy I have in mind for the overnight assignment desk trained.” Michelle stood, going around her desk to grab a folder from her drawer. “This is your contract. Read over it, have a lawyer look at it if you like.”
“Wait, you already had the contract ready? You already have my replacement?”
“Yup.” Her boss winked at her. “I had a feeling you’d make the right choice. And as for your replacement, Stan from the production department has been wanting to make the change to the news side of things for a while. This will be a good way to cut his teeth before he inevitably decides he wants to be a reporter.”
Not knowing what to say should be something Charlotte would grow used to. But in that moment, the panic at not having a single word at the ready surged in her system until all brain power shut down and her mouth gaped open like a dead fish. Her eyes burned, but she held back the tears. Michelle stood before her holding out the folder containing Charlotte’s brand-new contract.
Hands shaking, Charlotte took the innocuous pieces of paper. In a rush of emotions completely unlike her, she stood from the chair and pulled her boss into a bone crushing hug. “I promise, you won’t regret this. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make this newsroom thrive.”
“I know you will.” Michelle pulled back from the hug, looking Charlotte square in the eye, not letting her doubt what she said next. “And if you ever start to second guess yourself, just know, I am behind you one hundred percent. I am very aware that you will be primarily in charge while I’m on maternity leave. Nothing could make me feel better about leaving this place for twelve weeks than that.”
Charlotte sniffed, nodding and repeatedly thanking her boss on her way out the door. The very first instinct to hit her as she shuffled to her car, still half in shock, was to call Trey and tell him the news. She’d told him about the possible promotion, and he had been so supportive. Encouraging her to go after what she wanted. No longer fighting the things she longed for, Charlotte pulled out her phone and pressed his name. For once, she didn’t dwell on the fear that her calling twice in twenty-four hours would seem clingy or pushy.
“Hey, I was just about to call you.”
“I couldn’t wait to tell you.” They laughed as they both talked over each other.
As soon as the news left her mouth Trey insisted on taking her out for pancakes and coffee to celebrate. And Charlotte agreed. She didn’t even hesitate.
