“Since you’ve been working with him on a specific program, he might take it personally that Noah and I poached you for this.”
Claire shifted as if she were uncomfortable. And maybe she was—Ziggy didn’t know her well enough to make that judgment call. However, Ziggy figured everything was calculated.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little confused.” Claire glanced between Ziggy and Noah.
“You may not be aware of this, but Matias Salazar has wanted to be on my show for years. I’ve always said no because his story has been told, but I changed my mind. I agreed to it, and he’s coming on tonight. Live from the prison.”
Claire clutched her chest and gasped. She tilted her head back and forth with her lashes fluttering wildly over her eyes. It came off as genuine surprise, not a rehearsed reaction.
But Ziggy still didn’t buy it.
“Oh my God," Claire said. "Are you serious?"
“We are,” Ziggy said. “And since you worked on some angles with Hugh, we thought you might bring some color into the show tonight.”
Noah held up his hand. “Only if you’re comfortable doing so. We’d understand if you said no. Loyalties and all.”
God, he was good. Scary good.
"That's—that's huge. Yes. Yes, of course, I'll help." Claire inched closer to the edge of the seat. How she balanced her tiny little butt that far off the base of the chair, Ziggy did not know.
Claire rested her fingers on his desk. “I’ll do whatever you need, and I have some solid notes on Matias.”
“Wonderful. You can send them to Ziggy’s email. She’ll sort through them.” Noah slid an envelope across the desk. “This will get you up to speed with what we’ve been doing and what our angle is. You can make your own notes, and if you can, get them back to us before lunch.”
Claire grabbed it so fast Ziggy barely saw her hands move. "I won't let you down," Claire said. "I promise."
"Be ready to leave with the crew at one," Noah added. "We'll meet you there."
Claire jumped to her feet. “I can ride with you and give you my comparison. That might make the process go faster.”
“Ziggy and I have some things to do, so we’re heading out early. Just send what you can to her ASAP,” Noah said. “We’ll chat more at the prison.”
“Perfect.” Claire moved to the door. “Thank you so much for this opportunity.” And with that, she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.
Ziggy leaned back, letting out an audible breath. She flattened her hand over her stomach. "It's too bad she can't actually call Matias,” she said. "Tell him everything we just fed her. The bullshit angles in that folder.”
“I’m glad she can’t because my dad would see through it. I’m not so sure she… shit. Here comes Hugh, and he doesn’t look too happy.”
Noah pressed his hands on the desk and stood.
Ziggy wasn’t even out of her chair when Hugh stormed into the office like a twister tearing through a cornfield.
His face was flushed, his jacket was open, and his fists were clenched at his sides. “Who do you think you are? You have no right to steal my interview. You can’t just take this from me because you believe you’re some big fucking deal.” He pounded the center of his chest. “I landed Matias. Me. Not you.”
“Let’s calm down and discuss this like?—”
“You want me to calm down? Are you fucking kidding me?” Hugh’s face turned a brighter red. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, and he leaned closer to Noah. “And now I hear you’re poaching one of my researchers from that story. Not cool, man, not cool.”
Ziggy inched closer as something unexpected tugged at her heartstrings. She didn’t believe Hugh was the architect here. He'd probably been used the same way Monica had been. Moved around on a board by someone sitting in a prison cell who’d always been good at finding people who wanted something and giving them just enough of it to make them useful.
She reached out and gently touched Hugh’s shoulder.
He jerked his arm, pushing her off.
“That wasn’t necessary.” Noah inched closer. "This isn't about you."
“Like hell it’s not.” Hugh cocked his arm back, and before Ziggy could open her mouth to say anything, he swung. It wasn’t pretty, but he threw his entire body into it.