Closing the door behind him, his mind raced. She’d claimed he betrayed her. But how? Why wouldn’t she say?
His phone rang, and he hurried to answer it, praying it was Zoe coming to her senses, but it wasn’t.
Gerard Driscoll, his editor, spoke with an edge to his tone and jumped directly to the point. “Is your girlfriend Zoe behind the candy canes around town?”
“She’s not my girlfriend… not exactly… and what do you mean?” Had he entered the twilight zone?
“WTCH ran a story on their morning show identifying Zoe Daniels as the mystery benefactor behind the candy canes.” An unrestrained tone of censure filled his voice. “What do you know about it?”
Oh no. No. NO. NOOO. “I knew she was the person behind it, sir.”
“And you let the competition have the story?”
“Absolutely not. I gave Zoe my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone.” He blew out a breath. “Not even for a story. And why would I give it to WTCH when I could have kept it for a hit story for myself?”
“I don’t know, Donovan, but I have Talbot on my case, and he’s not very happy.” Gerard sighed.
“Isn’t our mottopeople first? Tell him I put Zoe first by keeping her secret.” He prayed his bosses and their longstanding traditions would come through for him. He couldn’t handle losing Zoe and his job.
“Fair enough. I’ll do my best to smooth this over because I know your character. If you kept it quiet, you must have had a good reason.”
Donovan released a silent sigh of relief. “I’ll find a way to make it up to the paper.”
He didn’t know how, but he’d figure out something. First, he had to find who at WTCH uncovered the story and how, and then he had to find Zoe and make her see he hadn’t betrayed her trust.
Her lack of faith in him hurt, but considering her past, he understood.
“Now that the story’s out, do you have anything you could add? Maybe exclusive insight to who Zoe Daniels is?” Gerard asked in a hopeful tone.
Anger bubbled within his chest, and he tried to keep it out of his answer. “First, I haven’t seen the clip to know what was said. Second, I won’t break Zoe’s trust in me. Anything that could be added to the story would have to come from her directly.”
“I was afraid you’d say that, and I have to admit, I respect you for it.” Gerard paused. “It’s not easy when integrity clashes with a good story, but integrity always wins.”
Thank You, Lord, for their understanding and commitment to ethical journalism. “I agree.”
“If you do get permission to share anything, please let me know immediately.”
“I will.” When the call ended, Donovan logged on to WTCH’s webpage to watch the clip from the morning news.
He grimaced when they flashed a still shot of her at the hospital, and another at the mall. The story didn’t reveal the initial source but once given a tip, the investigative reporter had secretly followed her. On a night Donovan hadn’t been there. He groaned. One more reason to make Zoe suspicious of him.
There was only one thing to do. He’d drive over to the station, use every connection available to him, and find out who tipped off the station. If he had to offer a compromise or even first take of his next big story, then so be it. Zoe was worth whatever effort it took to correct the situation. He’d track that person down and ask them to come with him to Zoe’s apartment to offer an explanation and prove Donovan’s innocence.
One way or another, he’d get his girl back and restore her trust.
