Page 3 of Ride the Wave

‘You’redoing this feature at her behest, yes. So no pressure,’ she confirms unashamedly. ‘I don’t know whether you’re aware, but Michelle is the subject of a new documentary. Cameras following her day-to-day life, that sort of thing.’

‘Hasn’t she already done that?’

‘A long time ago. This is a new one. Her team are currently guiding her through a bit of a…’ she pauses to search for the word ‘…publicity crisis. Or, as one of her team put it, “a PR shitshow.” There are rumours that the Bind Inc. board isn’t thrilled by her reputation – and neither am I, to be honest. I assume you’ve seen the backlash she’s had on social media?’

‘I heard that there had been calls to boycott the Bind Inc. publications after some of her more… brutal remarks,’ I say, trying to tread carefully.

‘Exactly. Not helpful at all in today’s climate. We’re struggling to retain readers as it is. But a glittering documentary is hoping to change all that. Give the people therealMichelle Martin behind the fiery façade and win them over.’ She rolls her eyes.

‘Fine. But what does a feature on her surfer son have to do with her documentary?’

‘Ah.’ She straightens. ‘Apparently, our boss wants the world to know that her wayward son is a new man. The reformed son of a supportive and loving mother, a surf star who hasn’t given up on himself, an inspiration to budding athletes everywhere.’ She gives a wave of her hand. ‘You get the gist. They want to go big on his comeback.’

‘Which is?’ I prompt.

‘Leo has accepted an invitation to take part in Australia’s famous Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest this April. Michelle and her camera crew will be travelling there to cheer him on. Good optics, that: the devoted mother as well as a savvy businessperson. And to add a dash more entertainment to the already-moving narrative, one Ethan Anderson – Leo’s old rival, apparently – has also decided to emerge from retirement to face him once again.’

I take a moment to let this all sink in.

‘It’s a good story, Iris,’ Toni presses. ‘The troubled son of a famous media proprietor, a surf prodigy who went off the rails, disappeared from public life and hid away in a tiny town in Portugal. Now he’s back in his mid-thirties to face his former rival once again and is ready to heal old wounds with his mother. I sense it will be quite the tear-jerker and, if he wins…’ she exhales, tilting her head at me ‘…it’s a Hollywood movie in the making.’

I roll my eyes. ‘It also sounds like it’s been constructed and contrived by an overzealous production team and camera crew.’

‘Tell me you’re not tempted,’ she says, jerking her head at the screen.

‘Honestly, I don’t know anything about surfing and I’m not sure how I feel about writing a feature for the head of this corporation,’ I say bluntly.

‘Her team has assured me we have full control, no funny business.’

‘What, she’s not going to ask to see it pre-publication? Let’s be real.’

‘It will go to press how I see fit,’ she assures me impatiently. ‘I’m sure she trusts me to do what’s best for the magazine.’

‘If she trusts you, then why don’tyouwrite it?’

‘With my boundless free time? Iris, I barely see my daughter as it is. I don’t have time to write articles. Editors rarely have time to actually write,’ she says with a hint of regret. ‘Besides, according to her team, Michelle Martin asked for you specifically.’

I stare at her, waiting for her to laugh her statement off as a joke, but she doesn’t.

‘Really? But why?’ I stammer, bewildered she’s even heard of me.

‘Apparently, she was distinctly impressed by your last piece forStudio, the one on the playboy skier who no one took seriously until your piece on him went stratospheric. She also mentioned your article on the gymnast who got injured, became addicted to painkillers, went to rehab and came back to win gold. And Kieran O’Sullivan’s interview of course: the lost tennis champion saved by love.’

‘So… Michelle Martin likes the way I write sport stars.’

‘She likes the way you writeredemption,’ Toni emphasises. ‘You remind readers that athletes are human. You make them relatable.Likeable. That’s not easy. This is Michelle’s son. She needs to know that it’s in safe hands.’

I sigh. ‘It’s a lot of pressure, and I’m really not a beach person…’

She snorts. ‘You’re not a gymnast or a cyclist either, are you? But you managed to capture those worlds beautifully. I’m talking about sending you toPortugalhere, Iris. You’ll have two weeks there to shadow him. Don’t be a moron; take the bloody job.’

I hesitate. ‘Isn’t the big competition in Australia?’

She quirks a brow. ‘Don’t push it. Our budget won’t stretch to cover those long-haul flights. But you needn’t worry; Michelle will be out there to cover that part of the story with her documentary crew. You can get back to England and she can tell us how it ends.’

‘Let’s say we’ll play it by ear.’

Toni allows a small smile. ‘You know, Iris, I had a meeting this morning with Elena Cerenzo, our European editorial director. We discussed the idea of creating a role of a sports feature director, an editor who would work across our European publications. Your name was mentioned in that discussion.’

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