The Cost of Commitment - KJ2 (19 page)

Honey,” Kate took her lover’s face in her hands, “this is not a man who will be bullied into doing anything.”

So quietly Kate wasn’t sure she’d heard her at first, Jay said, “Maybe I should resign.”

“What?”

“I’m a liability, and the last thing I want to do is to damage the magazine.”

“Jamison, you are one of the finest writers
Time
has. You have done nothing but turn out masterpiece after masterpiece. Standislau told you so himself.”

“If I resign, then the whole story goes away.”

“If you resign, Jay, it will lead to speculation that you’ve done something wrong and lend credence to those questioning your work.”

Fresh tears shimmered in Jay’s eyes. “I did do something wrong, Kate. And now I have to pay for that mistake.”

“Honey, you are paying for that mistake. Look at you. You’re eating yourself alive.”

Jay glanced at the kitchen clock. “Kate, you’re going to be late for your Monday-morning briefing.”

“Screw the briefing,” Kate growled.

“No. If you let your job performance slip, then Breathwaite wins and all of this will have been for nothing. You need to be there.”

Kate hated that Jay was right. “Okay, but I need you to promise me that you won’t do anything without talking to me about it first. Deal?”

After a moment’s hesitation Jay said, “Deal.”

“I love you, Jay.” Kate kissed her on her forehead.

“I love you, too, Stretch.”

At the door to the garage Kate turned back. “Don’t let them get you, honey. We’re going to get through this, together.”

Jay simply nodded.

Lynn Ames

The meeting in Vander Standislau’s office had been going on for nearly an hour. Discarded coffee cups littered the small conference table in the corner. Half-eaten pastries were strewn about on paper napkins.

“Sir, I think this is the best course of action. We have to come out strong on this issue.”

The managing editor glared at the young man in the slick suit. Jeffrey Ochs was a capable PR man. He worked for Tandor and Wells, one of the top public relations firms in the country.

“Ochs, I’ve been in this business for more years than you’ve been alive. I’ve seen things you can’t even imagine. You are not going to sit there and tell me that my only course of action is to hang a very gifted reporter out to dry in order to stave off a little bit of crappy press.”

“Mr. Standislau, I’m telling you that if we don’t take decisive measures right now, in time for the next news cycle, you’re going to be facing a potentially insurmountable crisis. The papers are already smelling blood and they’re moving in for the kill. If you give them Parker, we can spin it that the magazine does not tolerate even the slightest hint of impropriety. The piranhas will be satisfied feeding on the firing of a reporter who violated
Time
’s high ethical standards, and the story will go away.”

Trish, sitting off to the side, thought she had never detested anyone more than she did this brash, arrogant spin doctor. To him, Jay’s career was totally expendable, her journalistic integrity just so much chum for the shark-infested waters. The editor stole a glance at her boss. It was clear to her that he was nearing the end of his patience. Trish could see that the other editors around the room sensed the same thing.

“Mr. Ochs,” Standislau said, “if every one of us was thrown to the sharks for making an error in judgment, I daresay there would be precious few of us left. The answer is no. I have no intention of firing Ms. Parker to satisfy the press hounds.”

Ochs started to say something, then seemed to think better of it.

“However,” Standislau raised his voice, “I do agree that we need to take the bull by the horns.” He stroked his chin as he contemplated his options. “Go ahead and book me on the morning shows for tomorrow; then I want you to set up an interview for Ms. Parker with Wanda Nelson for tonight’s
America’s Heartbeat
.”

“But—”

“Just do it, Mr. Ochs.”

“Yes, sir. Do you want me to contact Parker?”

“Heavens no. I’ll take care of it.”

“But, sir—”

The Cost of Commitment

“This might come as a surprise to you, Mr. Ochs, but I actually know a thing or two about publicity and PR. I’ll prepare Ms. Parker.”

“Yes, sir.”

Trish nearly wanted to laugh; the young man’s need to object was almost palpable, and she enjoyed watching him have to rein himself in.

“So you don’t want me to prepare either one of you?”

“You catch on quickly, Mr. Ochs. Now it seems to me you’ve got a lot of work to do. You’d best get going.”

“Yes, sir.” With a fleeting look around the room, he left.

Standislau turned to his editors. “Can you imagine? Yes, let’s take every one of our fine writers and nail them to the cross for screwing up.

How many reporters would we have left?”

“Vander,” said Ivo Norvika, editor of the international desk, “you do realize the threat to the magazine’s integrity is real?”

The managing editor sighed. “Yes, Ivo, I am well aware of our situation. I am confident that both
Time
and Ms. Parker can survive this episode intact.”

Terri Van Hotten, the lifestyles editor, piped in, “What do you want us to do?”

“I want you to have conference calls with your reporters—tell them to keep their heads down and not to discuss this matter with their colleagues or speculate aloud. The same goes for all of you.”

There was a chorus of “Yes, sirs.”

“I meant what I said: I am completely convinced that we will emerge from this matter just fine. I expect all of you to convey that confidence to your troops. Let’s get back to work.”

As they started to file out of the room, Standislau said, “Patricia, can you please spare me a moment?”

“Of course, Vander.”

When the rest of the editors had gone, Standislau said, “Sit down, Trish.”

He had never called her by her nickname, and it unnerved her.

“How is Jamison doing? Have you talked to her this morning?”

“Yes, sir. I talked to her shortly before this meeting.”

“And?”

“She’s distraught at the thought that her actions have raised questions about the magazine’s integrity. She wanted us to know that she would do whatever was necessary to protect us.”

“Mm.” Standislau nodded. “I’m not surprised. That woman has a lot of courage, and she’s very loyal.”

“Vander, Jay Parker is one of the finest human beings I know. Not to mention the fact that she’s a fantastic writer.”

Lynn Ames

“You don’t have to convince me, Trish. I’m well aware of her talents.

How did you leave it with her?”

“I told her we were meeting and that we’d be in touch in a few hours.”

“Okay. Call her and tell her we’re sending a car for her.” At her raised eyebrow he added, “It’s time to fight back.”

Trish smiled broadly as she turned to go.

“Oh, and Trish? Tell her to bring Ms. Kyle with her.”

The limousine trip to New York found Kate and Jay reminiscing about the last time they had made a similar journey. It was hard to believe it had only been five and a half months earlier.

As Kate put her arm around Jay in the back seat, they sighed simultaneously.

Jay said, “It’s amazing how much my life has changed since the last time we took this ride.”

Kate smiled. “Mine too.” She looked at her thoughtfully. “Are you sorry, Jay?”

“What?”

“Are you sorry for all the upheaval? As stressful as things have been over the past few months, I worry sometimes that you might regret the choices you’ve made.”

Jay turned more fully on the seat to face Kate, reaching out at the same time to link their hands. “Katherine Ann Kyle,” her voice broke with emotion, “you have made me happier than I ever thought I could be.

My life is so full of love, my heart is bursting. What we have is worth everything that’s happened and more. Don’t you ever doubt that.”

“I wish things could be different, though, Jay. I wish you’d never gotten dragged into this ugliness. I keep trying to think what I could have done to change that.”

“Stop it, Kate. Stop beating yourself up. I’ve had choices to make every step of the way, and I’ve made them. You said it yourself: we’ll get through this together. And you’re right—we will.”

“I know we will, but at what cost, Jay? Your privacy, your journalistic integrity, maybe even your career? It’s too much.”

“Hey.” Jay lifted the hands she held to her lips and kissed the backs of each one. “That’s my decision to make, honey, not yours, remember?

I’ve told you before—the only thing that matters to me is you, and us.

Whatever happens with this scheme, we’ll find a way to turn it around.

As long as I have you by my side, every thing else pales in significance.”

The Cost of Commitment

Kate ran her thumbs over the backs of Jay’s hands. “Have I told you lately how much I love you, and how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life?”

Jay pretended to think. “Probably. But feel free to tell me again.”

“I love you more than life itself. And I am the luckiest woman alive, Jamison Parker.”

“Good. I like the sound of that.” Jay pressed her lips sweetly to Kate’s, trying to convey the depth of her love in the essence of her kiss.

“Now that we’ve got that settled, can we discuss our strategy for this meeting with Standislau and then tonight’s interview?”

Kate laughed. “Ever the practical one, aren’t you, Scoop?”

“Only when I’m about to be hung out to dry in front of several million people.”

“Don’t worry, love. You don’t really think I’d sit by and let that happen, do you? Over my dead body.”

“My protector.” Jay laid her head on Kate’s nearby shoulder. “Nope.

I’m counting on you to bail me out if it comes to that.”

“It won’t, honey. Wanda is doing the interview. She likes you—she told you so when you met her on the set last May.”

“That doesn’t count. I wasn’t on the hot seat then. She was too busy interviewing journalist and heroine Katherine Kyle.”

“As I recall, sweetheart, she told you she was quite taken with your work, and that was apart from anything having to do with me. Don’t you remember her saying that she and her husband read your stories and thought they were top-notch?”

“How could I forget? It’s not every day an intelligent, gorgeous movie star turned talk-show host pays you a compliment like that.”

“Exactly. I can’t believe she’d be out for your blood now.”

“Just the same, I don’t want to take any chances.”

“I agree. I’ve put together a mock interview, trying to anticipate the most troublesome questions she could ask. I thought we could do sort of a dry run. That way there won’t be any surprises, and we can refine your answers as we go along. What do you think?”

“I think I love you, Stretch.” Jay kissed Kate again. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. That’s perfect.”

“I just want you to be as comfortable and confident as possible, Jay.

Want to go through this stuff now or wait until after we meet with your boss?”

“Now. I want Standislau to know I’ll do a good job tonight.”

“Jay, if he didn’t think you’d do a great job, he wouldn’t allow you to give an interview, never mind set it up for you proactively the way he did.”

Lynn Ames

“I’d still rather get drilled now, while we have a couple of uninterrupted hours.”

“Okay then, here goes.” Kate pulled a reporter’s notebook out of the briefcase that rested at her feet, scrolling through several pages of questions and notes she had made.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you’d already given this some thought.”

“No, sweetheart, I wasn’t. I fully intend for America to know that Jamison Parker is one of the most upright, honest, talented, intelligent, impartial reporters there is.”

Jay laughed. “Is that all?”

Kate smiled. “Well, it’s a start.” She kissed Jay on the forehead.

“Here we go...”

Trish was waiting in the lobby when they arrived.

“Trish, this is Katherine Kyle. Kate, meet Trish Stanton, editor extraordinaire.”

Trish nodded at Kate in acknowledgment before asking, “How are you guys holding up?”

“Okay,” Jay answered for them. “How about you?”

“Me? Piece of cake.”

“You’re a terrible liar, have I ever told you that? Remind me to play poker with you. It’d be like taking candy from a baby.”

“You wish, kiddo. Let’s go. The boss is waiting for us in his office.”

“Is he in a good mood?”

Trish gave Jay a playful shove. “Don’t be a chicken.” To Kate she said, “Is she this difficult at home?”

“You have no idea.”

Moments later they were ushered into the managing editor’s suite.

“Hello, Patricia, Jamison.”

“Hello, sir. This is—”

“Katherine Kyle, I presume,” he finished for Jay as he strode across the room and grasped Kate’s hand in a firm grip.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Standislau. I only wish it were under different circumstances.”

“I’m glad you could make it. Please, sit down, everyone.”

When they were seated, Standislau said, “As you know, this has become bigger than any of us anticipated.”

“I’m so sor—”

He waved off Jay’s apology. “Don’t, Jamison. None of us thought this essentially personal matter would rise to this level. What’s done is
The Cost of Commitment

done. The important thing now is to nip this thing in the bud. I’m tired of being on the defensive. It’s time to fight back.”

Sitting directly across from him, Kate smiled. She’d never met the managing editor before, though his reputation was legendary. He was known as a straight shooter—tough, gruff, fair, and fiercely protective of his magazine and his employees. She could see that the description was well deserved.

“My experts tell me Wanda Nelson is a skilled interviewer. I hear she’s not afraid to ask the tough questions, but she’s also not obnoxious about belaboring issues ad nauseum. Ms. Kyle, my recollection is that you have some experience with her?”

“Yes, sir. I would say your assessment of Wanda and her style is accurate. I have always found her to be fair. I think we have the added advantage of knowing that she is familiar with, and respects, Jay’s work.”