Page 117 of Mr. Fixer Upper
“Did you kill someone?” Paige demanded.
“No! Where do you get these ideas?” Cat rolled her eyes.
“With you, anything is possible.”
“Well, let’s see if you can predict this. Gannon’s been talking about your documentary a lot, and I think you should interview me.”
“Uh, what?” Cat was one of the highest paid new talents on the network, and with endorsement deals, she was sitting pretty.
“When Gannon and I were in talks with the network, they offered me half of what they offered Gannon.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I wish,” Cat confessed. “They low-balled me believing that either I’d feel so grateful just to be included that I’d accept or that Gannon wouldn’t tell me what his deal was.”
“That is crap,” Paige hissed.
“Yeah, well, Gannon of course went to bat for me, and we ended up with equal deals. But then they tried it again at the beginning of this season. We were offered raises, but Gannon’s was significantly higher. We threw down with the production company. Both equal, or neither one of us would do the show.”
“Cat, I’m so sorry. That’s horrible.”
Cat rolled her shoulders back. “I took Cindy, one of the VPs from Sumshit-Wingendick, out for drinks one night. Got her shitfaced.”
Paige snorted at Cat’s nickname for their production company. “What did she tell you?”
“That it wasn’t a ‘sexism’ thing. It was just that production companies know from experience that women are usually willing to work for less, so it’s standard operating procedure to low-ball them. In cases when their male counterparts don’t share their cashola info, most women don’t even know to ask for more.”
“You’d be willing to talk about this?” Paige asked. “You could get into serious trouble with the network.”
“More than willing. If no one talks about this garbage, it’s just going to keep happening. Just because I’ve got great tits and a vagina doesn’t mean I’m worth less money or respect.”
“Preach, sister!” Paige gave Cat a quick hug. “I’d love it if you’d be part of it. And we can talk to a lawyer, too, beforehand to make sure you won’t get into too much trouble. One of Becca’s college roommates went to law school.”
“Good, we can consult about Cindy, too. We stay in touch, and she left the company mid-season. She’s interested in talking to you.”
An insider with personal knowledge of industry discrimination against women?“I could freaking kiss you right now,” Paige told Cat.
“Yes! Lesbians!” Cat punched her fist into the air in victory. “I knew you’d get sick of my brother eventually.”
Paige laughed even as she felt the air in the room electrify. She didn’t even bother questioning it anymore. It’s just what Gannon did when he walked into a room. “Speak of the handsome devil,” she breathed.
They studied each other from across the room, the air thick between them.
“I think he’s waiting for you to make a move,” Cat whispered. “He doesn’t want to force you into going public if you’re not ready.”
He’d do that for her. It would piss him off, but he’d play pretend if that’s what he thought she wanted.
“I guess I’d better go give him a professional, cordial greeting then.” Paige told Cat.
Cat grinned. “I guess you’d better. Oh, and Paige?” Cat stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’m proud of you.”
“You know something, Cat? I’m proud of me, too. Also, I love the crap out of you.” She gave Cat a smacking kiss on her cheek and made the long walk across the bar to where Gannon waited for his beer, hands in the pockets of his very sexy leather jacket.
He didn’t say anything when she stopped in front of him, but his eyes were far from quiet. She hadn’t seen him since this morning, yet it felt like longer. She’d missed him, and she very well could have missed out on him.
If she’d learned anything this year, it was that Gannon was worth more than a job.
She stepped between his feet, looping her hands behind his neck and kissing him softly.
