Then she leaves me alone in the kitchen with Ben’s plate.
For a brief moment I consider putting it in the dishwasher but decide not to tempt the bear. If Marie Louise says immediately, she means five minutes ago.
As I walk across the newsroom, I remind myself not to be ridiculous. Editors call people into offices all the time and most of the time it means absolutely nothing.
Probably.
Still.
The article did well. People engaged.
I’m not expecting applause.
But maybe she’s seen the numbers. Maybe she thinks the angle worked. Maybe she’s got feedback.
Good piece.
Strong angle.
Keep going.
That sort of thing.
Her door is half open so I knock lightly.
Nothing.
I push it open.
Then stop.
Marie Louise is behind her desk with her glasses pushed up into her hair and her phone pressed to her ear.
She glances up when she sees me, lifts one finger to tell me to wait and turns away again.
Her expression tells me absolutely nothing.
Her voice does.
“…No, I understand your concern.”
Marie Louise listens for another few seconds, writes something down and then says, “No, Josh. I understand.”
There’s a pause.
She glances at me.
Then back at whatever she’s written.
“No. I agree.”
Another pause.
“I apologise,” she says firmly.
That catches my attention.
Not because the apology itself means anything.
