“Yeah,” she says.“And the only new option has a giant red flag plastered on his forehead.”
“Exactly.”I sigh.“If I ever move to the city, maybe I’ll actually find someone worth dating.But for now?”I gesture around us.“Slim pickings.”
“Tragic.”
I chuckle.“Yeah, well, I should take this article to Luna.”
Violet nods.“It’s really good.She’s gonna love it.No question.”
I hesitate.“You sure?”
She gives me a flat, unimpressed stare, lips twitching at the corners.“When am I ever wrong?”
I smile, but my stomach knots.For some reason, this part makes me nervous.I’m not usually the anxious type, but something about Luna’s reaction to this article sets me on edge.Her approval matters more because of the promotion.
Bracing myself, I grab my laptop and stand.
The glass door to Luna’s office looms ahead.I take a breath, square my shoulders, and knock.
She calls out, “Come in.”
I step inside, where Luna sits behind her desk, the large window behind her spilling afternoon light across the office.
“Hi, I just wanted to show you my article from the welcome party.”
She looks up, a small smile tugging at her lips.“It was a great event, wasn’t it?”
“It was.The town always knows how to show up.I had a great time.”
Luna nods, gesturing toward the chair across from her.“Send it to me.”
I take a seat and email it to her.As she reads, I pick at my nails.The silence stretches, broken only by the occasional flick of her eyes across the screen.
Finally, she leans back, exhaling.“Great photos.And the article is solid.You did a great job.”
Relief washes over me.“Thanks.”
She pauses, tapping a finger against the desk.“But...I think we’re missing something.”
I stiffen.“We are?”
“Seeing him at the event….Adrian.It just didn’t seem like he was the villain we made him out to be.”
The thought of this jeopardizing my chances fills me with dread.“You didn’t like the article?”
“No, I loved it.It was sharp, scathing… everything it needed to be.But I think we need his side of the story.It would add balance and depth.”
I can’t even imagine asking him.“You want me to interview him?”
“Yes.If you can get his perspective and write a new article with his photo, it’ll be even better.Honestly, your last few articles—including this one—are phenomenal.You’ve really stepped it up.”
For a second, I just sit there, stunned.A flicker of pride swells in my chest.Relief floods in behind it, chasing away the knot that had been lodged in my stomach since I walked in.But the glow doesn’t last long.I need to do a follow-up interview where I get up close and personal.
I inhale deeply, knowing there’s no other answer unless I want to kiss goodbye to my promotion.“Okay.I can do an article on Adrian.”
Luna nods, seeming satisfied.“Good.We’ll put this one online and straight to print, and you can get working on the next.”
I should be grateful.She’s trusting me with more than just the dull town announcements and simple local updates.For once, I’m getting real stories.Poor Violet, though.She’s the one stuck covering all the boring assignments.Not that she seems too mad about it.
