Page 4 of Wrong Car, Wright Guy
“That’s a bit OTT, Andy. I think I’d give her the silent treatment right back.”
He shakes his head. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t do that to her. It doesn’t feel nice. I don’t want her to feel bad.”
“But it’s OK for her to makeyoufeel bad?” Andy is a sweet guy—completely lacking a backbone, but sweet. I don’t think it’s fair he feels like he’s in trouble half the time.
He scrunches his nose up. “Itdidsmell.”
“Well, I guess you’ll work something out then,” I say, pressing the lid onto my cup with a sigh. I haven’t rested my brain enough to delve further into this. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you, Ruby.” He waves at me with his hand over his head like I’m really far away.
By the time I make it to work, almost everyone has gathered in the meeting room, ready to go over today’s schedule. Sucking on my coffee like it’s my lifeblood, I push through the door and take my regular seat next to Vee, the female half of the morning show’s duo.
“What are you doing here?” she whispers, a slight frown on her delicate brow.
“Uh…I work here?”
“You’ve been reassigned.” I almost choke on my coffee. “Weren’t you told?”
I manage to swallow before any major foul befalls me. “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“Someone should have called you. The station has some bigshot DJ taking overTheDrive Home. You’ve been requested to work the panel.”
My jaw falls open. “Requested? By whom? The bigshot?”
She shrugs. “Seems that way.”
“Well, who is it? And how the hell did they know to ask for me?”
She shrugs again. “Some guy called Tanner Wright. He’s been poached from Z-100, but I hear he’s a little boorish, has an opinion oneverything,and he isn’t afraid to say what he thinks. I listened to one of his shows, I think he gets a kick out of riling people up. Word is, he demanded that you were moved to his show, requested you by name.Maybe he heard you’re the best board operator at the station?”
“I am?” Perhaps I should have been asking for a raise before now? I had no idea.
Vee eyes me carefully. “Do you seriously not know any of this?”
I shake my head, about to ask more questions when the big boss, Gerald Brooks, walks in. “Ruby, what the hell are you doing here? Don’t you check your messages?” he barks, frowning my way. “Go home.”
“I—” I start.
“Stop flapping your mouth, girl. You aren’t needed until three,” he cuts in, never a big one for back-and-forth conversation. He’s a bit like the chief in Brooklyn Nine-Nine—great at giving orders, low on personality.
Nodding quickly, I gather my things and stand.
“Good luck with your promotion,” Vee whispers, giving my hand a quick squeeze before I head out the door.Did I seriously just get a promotion?
When I get out onto the street, I pull my cell from my bag and power it up, checking my calls. Sure enough, there’s a message telling me I’ve been reassigned. Ireallyneed to check my phone more often. I could have gotten myself a few hours extra sleep! Nevertheless, this reassignment could be a big opportunity for me. I kind of thought I’d progressed as far as I would ever go in this job, but if moving to the afternoon show is apromotion,then it looks like my job isn’t so dead end after all.
Still, why would thetalentrequestme? It doesn’t make any sense.
* * *
Climbingthe four flights of stairs for the second time that day, I make my way to the meeting room with my heart hammering in my chest. I’m not nervous, I’m annoyed. I spent the day listening to past recordings of thisTanner Wright, and honestly, I don’t like what I heard. He’s what the media labels as a shock jock with most of his shows dissecting current events in a way that an internet troll would. There was one particular show he did a while back thatreallypissed me off. It was back when the laws around gay marriage were changing, and he asked his listeners what their stance on the topic was. Every bigot and armchair activist listening called into the show, and Tanner Wright encouraged them to have an almighty debate. Needless to say, things got heated, and all the while, Mr. Wright just sat in the middle playing devil’s advocate—like he could actuallyunderstandorsympathizewith a person who was against two people being in love and having the right to marry one and other. The guy who was against the change even suggested that being part of the LGBTQIA+ community was a ‘lifestyle choice’. I almost threw my headphones out the window so I didn’t have to listen anymore. I was so mad!
I suppose these kinds of ‘conversations’ make for great ratings—controversy always does—but it isn’t something I’m particularly happy being affiliated with, especially when my brother is gay, and I know for a fact he had no choice in it. He struggled for years before he came out. The fact Tanner Wright didn’t object when a caller suggested otherwise really got my goat.
So, I’m pissed at Mr. Wright before I’ve even met him.
“Casey!” I startle at the sound of my surname, turning to find the boss glaring at me with his hands on his hips. “My officenow.”
