Stephanie’s head popped up from where she had been staring at her computer. Her messy desk splayed out before her like someone had overturned all the drawers on top of it. Stacks of papers teetered, and Post-its fluttered like rainbow eyelashes. A coffee mug that had likely held coffee earlier that morning had become a pen holder. “Olivia,” she said with a serene smile. “How can I help you?”
“Good morning, Stephanie. I wanted a quick word if you’ve got a few minutes.”
She looked around at her desk like something there would inform her of her schedule and looked back up. “Sure. Come in.”
Olivia got right to the point because she knew Stephanie’s time was limited. “So, I’m going to be on a TV show?” She wasn’t sure why she said it like a question. Perhaps because she was still in shock.
“Oh? Which one?”
“Name Your Price.”
Stephanie arched a knowing brow. “Would this have anything to do with the video of you online?”
A hot flush curled into Olivia’s cheeks. She grimaced. “You’ve seen it?”
“I think everyone’s seen it,” Stephanie said with a gentle smile. “I’m sorry to hear that you and Chuck broke up.”
Of course Stephanie knew about Chuck. She had been the one to send Olivia on assignment to interview him, and she’d been the one Olivia had to tell that she couldn’t keep the assignment because their relationship had crossed from professional to personal faster than a lightning strike.
“Right. Thanks,” Olivia said awkwardly and unsure how else to respond. “Anyway,Name Your Pricewants us to live locked in a house together for a month. If we make it without leaving the house, we win.” Theifin her statement came out with a bit more emphasis than she meant.
Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Interesting. Do you need time off?”
“Oh, um, well, I was thinking I could work remotely because I’ll needsomethingto keep me sane in there, but—”
“I know you have plenty stored up, Olivia. You never take time off.” She said it almost as if scolding her. It was true. Olivia hoarded her time off in case she needed to use it to care for Grandma Ruby. “And the timing is rather perfect what with you submitting your Power Couples piece last week—which is excellent by the way. Your interview with Jack and Gemma Lincoln was the cherry on top.” Stephanie lifted her hand into the OK symbol.
“Thank you,” Olivia said with a proud smile. She’d spent months tracking down meetings with six Hollywood couples for a feature piece inMix. Turned out, getting two busy, powerful people in the same place at the same time for an interview was a tall order. For the final couple, she’d spent last Monday chatting with the daughter of a famous music producer who had her own radio show and her Emmy-winning screenwriterhusband in their home. Stephanie was right: with that project wrapped up, right now was fitting for taking time off.
“Take the time, Olivia. You deserve a break,” Stephanie said.
Olivia involuntarily huffed a laugh. “You make it sound like a vacation. I’m going to be locked in a house with my ex-boyfriend and a bunch of cameras.”
Stephanie laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, maybe not. But I’m serious. I know you’re under a lot of pressure caring for your grandmother, and maybe a little change in routine will do you some good.”
Olivia had confided in Stephanie on more than one occasion. She knew about her family history, of course she did. And even with the potential to bust her career wide open by leveraging it, Stephanie never pushed her to. Olivia had always respected her for that.
“Thanks,” Olivia said.
“Of course. And maybe when you get back, we can talk about writing one of the harder-hitting pieces you’ve had your eye on.”
She never pushed her on her parents, but she always pushed her in other ways.
Olivia had written profiles on actors, musicians, famous directors. Her dream was to one day be a best-selling biographer, but she was still cultivating relationships and earning enough clout for anyone to trust her with their life story. Stephanie was always passing her opportunities to earn that clout and encouraging her to take a risk on writing a splashy breakout piece.
“Sure,” Olivia said, grateful but not exactly committing. “That would be great. Thanks, Stephanie.”
“Good luck with your TV show,” Stephanie said.
Olivia left her office in another daze. Everything was falling into place. All she had left to do was tell Grandma Ruby she’d be gone for a month.
When she returned to her desk, she found a new email waiting at the top of her inbox. One from Parker Stone.
Subject:Move-in Schedule for NYP
Hey, gang. We’re excited to get going. See attached for details.
See you soon!