Page 1 of Hung Up
1FAITH
SAN FRANCISCO
what the hell have I gotten myself into?
“I’m notsure what gave you the impression that I care about your feelings, but just so we’re clear? I don’t.” I spin on my heel, slamming my notebook onto the conference room table as I narrow my eyes on Adam, my ex, and unfortunately, the cameraman here at All In Sports News.
“And you wonder why I broke up with you.” He scoffs, leaning back in his chair and crosses his ankles together as he stares at me with those infuriatingly judgmental pale blue eyes.
A laugh of disbelief escapes my lips, my hands resting on my hips. “Is that really what you’ve made yourself believe? I ended things with you after I walked in on you sleeping with someone else.”
“Maybe if you were around more and didn’t care about your job more than you did about me, I wouldn’t have done what I did.” My entire body goes rigid, my hands fisting at my sides.Is this motherfucker for real?“What did you expect me to do,Faith? Just sit around and be a doormat? If you weren’t so closed off, maybe it would’ve been easier to love you.”
The door flies open, and I force my shoulders back in an attempt to appear stronger than I feel. I refuse to let him see the physical impact his words have on me. Never again will I let him influence me—at least, that’s what I try to convince myself. Pretending I’m unbothered? Acting aloof? I can do that.
“Am I interrupting?” Rylie, a fellow reporter and friend of mine, pops her head in, her brows furrowed as she glances between us. Her brown hair is freshly cut and styled, stopping just above her shoulders, and she’s wearing a simple, black long-sleeved top with bright pink dress pants.
“No,” I say at the same time Adam replies, “Yes.”
She claps her hands together as her lips form into a thin line. “Perfect, thanks for clearing that up. Faith, Alicia has called an impromptu meeting with all the reporters.”
“I’ll be right there.” Rylie doesn’t leave the room, instead leaning against the doorframe as she stares Adam down. “Or I’m coming now.” I turn to the bane of my existence. “We’re done here.”
Grabbing my notebook, I keep my head held high as I walk past Rylie, making a beeline for the largest conference room in the building. I hear her heels clicking on the floor behind me as she rushes to catch up, reaching for my wrist and looping our arms together once she’s by my side.
“If you’d just tell Alicia what happened, you know she’d put you on a different team,” she whispers as we make our way past the offices.
“I don’t want to be on a different team.” I sigh as we turn the corner. “I’m a professional. I’ll be fine.”
Rylie tugs me to a stop before we reach the door, a concerned expression on her face. “Faith, we have to do something. He can’t just get away with what he did to you.”
“What do you want to do, Ry? Go tee-pee his house?” She narrows her eyes at me. “We’re not teenagers, this isn’t high school. We’re adults, and I believe in cosmic karma.”
“Well, karma needs to hurry her ass up,” Rylie mumbles as I reach for the handle. “I’m tired of watching that smug prick walk around here like he’s better than you.”
“You and me both.”
I swing the door open, and Rylie files in behind me, the two of us the last to arrive. Our boss, also the owner of this sports news outlet, stands at the head of the table, flashing a small smile as we take our seats. Pulling the pen out from behind my ear that I always keep there while working, I lean back in my chair and cross my ankles together as everyone else stares at her, waiting for her to speak.
Alicia has eight different news teams here at the studio. Most teams consist of five people: reporter, camera operator, photographer, audio operator, and journalist. Some teams have a video editor who travels with them to make changes on the fly, while others have two reporters or journalists to keep up with the stats and background of whichever team or person we are reporting on.
My team is one of the few that consistently contains the same four people: Adam, my camera operator; Evyn, my audio operator; Laila, my photographer; and me, the reporter. Sometimes, if I have to cover large teams, Jade, one of the journalists, comes to help me with research prior to the interviews. Two brains are better than one, or something like that.
Once in a blue moon, Alicia sends Rylie to help me cover the teams. Two reporters interviewing at once helps the day go by a lot faster. And, according to my boss, she’s the only other reporter willing to join me. Something about me being too bossy and always wanting to take control. Supposedly, that makes theothers uncomfortable. Not my fault they aren’t driven enough to fight for the best assignments.
“Based on the ratings this last month, I have already given five teams their assignments. Do you have any questions regarding the details?” Alicia takes a seat in her usual white leather chair.
I pull out my phone to check the assignment sheet so I can prepare for what’s up for grabs when I see a text from Rylie.
Rylie
My name can be karma if you want.
Me
I said no, Ry.
Rylie
