Page 17 of Power Moves
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I snap. Ichooseto work on weekends because I like to be prepared. And I don’t mind that Boss couldn’t give me a lift to the station because we understand each other and we have a close working relationship predicated ontrust. Not that Archie would know anything about that.
Boss is one of the best people I know. He hired me when no one would, and he’s always been super patient and kind. Without him, I wouldn’t have found the career that’s set my life on a whole new trajectory.
The thought of losing this job and the seismic ripple effect that would incite makes a sudden lump swell in my throat. If I had no job, I’d have no income. I wouldn’t be able to pay rent; I’d have to move home. It’d be just me and Dad and his stubbornly flavourless arrowroot biscuits, and that wouldn’t even be the worst of it.
Before I realise it, my breathing has become loud and stuffy.
‘Millsy?’ says Archie. ‘I … I’m sorry.’
‘Oh fuck off, Archie. No, you’re not.’
‘Well, not sorry about all of it,’ admits Archie. ‘Harcourt is a wanker.’
UGH!The condescension of this man!
‘Don’t stress, Millsy. The Premier’s office knew a version of this story would break eventually. They’ve been planning for it for months. You won’t lose your job. Harcourt will be fine. They’re probably sending out the armoured guards and press releases as we speak. They’ll protect him. You’ll be okay.’
The thought of relying on the faceless chumps in the Premier’s office to decide whether Boss loses his job, and therefore whether I lose mine, makes me feel like throwing my phone against the glass window and watching it shatter into a thousand spiky pieces. Boss and I should be in charge of this. This is our fight to fight!
The call-waiting signal beeps in my ear. It’s Boss. For the second time in a day I don’t bother saying goodbye to Archie. I tap the ‘end and accept’ button.
‘Hello?’
I hear the rage in his breath before he explodes.
‘WHAT THE FUCK, CAMILLA?’
CHAPTER 9
‘Chill, Boss. Woah,’ I say, as though the State Minister for Education is a skittish stallion that needs calming. Boss has never been properly angry with me. I’ve seen him lose it at almost everyone else—the Premier, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, taxi drivers, cleaners, the random old lady at the CWA bake sale who said his head looked like a rock cake—but never at me. ‘I know this is not ideal,’ I say, ‘but honestly, this is like eight out of ten bad. We’ve survived worse.’
‘What was worse?’ splutters Boss.
‘Your white-trash headline was definitely worse than this,’ I reply, hoping this translates as soothing pragmatism. ‘There’s no need to stress. We’ll set up a casual photo with Nancy. You guys grabbing coffee or whatever. Say a couple of nice, noninflammatory things and it’ll blow over. I know you hate her, but you’re still on speaking terms, right?’
As much as media is about spin, honesty is still the best policy. It’s easy to spin a version of the truth but lies are lies and they always catch up with you.
‘Well, I think so,’ mumbles Boss. ‘She hasn’t told me we’re not speaking … but would she do that, if she’s not speaking to me?’
‘If you’re still speaking toher, then Archie’s headline is technically untrue. That’s all I need for a rebuttal. Now please excuse me as I write a damning comeback statement in time for the six p.m. news. I should be able to finish it on the train, so I’ll send it through in about half an hour. Okay?’
‘Will it be enough to kill this story? Are you sure you shouldn’t reach out to Archie?’
‘Leave the media strategy to me. I’ll email you the draft statement.’
‘Just promise me you’ll give him a call.’
My molars grind against themselves.
‘Remember,’ says Boss, ‘we keep our friends close and our enemies closer.’
My phone feels like a bomb in my hands. I want to drop it but I can’t. Out the window, I can see brown bricks and brown roofs hurtling past in a blur of indistinguishable sameness. I have no idea where I am; I only know that it will be ages before I get home.
‘Mill?’
‘Fine,’ I grunt.
If I keep Archie close, it’ll be easier to ruin his life.
