Page 82 of Chandelier Enthralled
Henry smiled at me. “You’re a Brown grad, that’s impressive to anyone.”
“Why do I sense abut?” I forced a smile as if that might keep their opinions at bay.
“I need you to keep an open mind,” said Cameron.
“About?”
He shared a knowing glance with Henry. “I want to introduce you to someone at CNN.”
I lifted my drink and took several sips. “Is this an ambush?”
Cameron shook his head. “This is how we show we care.”
I tried to deal with the sense of futility I was feeling, this imminent loss of control. Even if they weren’t pushing me into the business, it felt stifling.
Cameron dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “You’re a low-level journalist at Pulse360. We can do better.”
“That’s lovely of you, but I’m not leaving my job,” I said.
Cameron flinched as though he didn’t know I was still working there. As though he’d not been spying on me. Or talking with Greyson. Or Henry, and who knows who else.
It was a matter of who broke first, who admitted they knew the other one was onto them.
The waiter set down our entrees, the aroma almost taking my mind off the unpalatable conversation.
When the waiter withdrew, Cameron continued with a pained expression—clearly this wasn’t easy for him either. “What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.
I had a sinking feeling. “Did you arrange an interview?”
Henry drew in a sharp breath. “Sorry, Wills, you can’t return to Pulse360.”
“Why?”
“It’s complicated,” said Cameron.
“You can’t just say something like that without an explanation.”
“Actually, I can,” he said.
“I have a right to know why.” I set my fork down, losing my appetite. “When I told you about being headhunted, you asked if I’d met Jewel Hadley. Is she the problem?”
Henry hushed me.
I glanced around, trying to suss out why her name would cause concern. “I have my own desk,” I said, hating their sabotage. “I’m making friends.”
“We understand that what we’re asking is difficult,” said Cameron.
“I’ve been there less than a week,” I said, riled. “Imagine how this will look.”
“They’ll hardly notice,” said Henry.
“Yes, they will.” I sat upright. “I had a meeting with Julia Sterling. She wants to work on something with me.” It was kind of true.
And if I also managed to deliver these two up on an interview platter…
Just the thought made my shoulders slump. Cameron and Henry would never go for it—even if her name impressed them.
“She seems…” Cameron thought on it. “Intense.”
