Chapter 18

"I'm sorry, Ed, but I just can't do it."

Kaitlyn Reese faced her editor across his desk, her hands curled into fists, her body vibrating with repressed rage. "You might not have any scruples, but I still have a few."

"I think I resent that, Kaitlyn." Ed Middleton stared at her, his eyes like two black weapons boring into her. "Are you saying I have no principles? No morals?"

She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, digging for her control. "What I'm saying is, I don't think it's good for our reputation to do a story on someone based on nothing but innuendo that could ruin that person's reputation and destroy his business."

"We have a source. I told you that."

She bit down hard on her tongue and chose her words carefully. "The source is a disgruntled employee who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar," she reminded him. "I don't consider that person's information very reliable."

"James Renzulli does, and that's good enough for me. The man, I might remind you, who ultimately pays your salary."

Ah, yes. The aggressive new owner who was rapidly turning Today magazine from a high quality publication with stories on celebrities and other important people in the news to a tabloid rag. He had folded Today into his publishing mega-empire and set about turning it into something she didn't even know any more. The stories she'd been assigned were becoming more and more about gossip and scandal and less about newsworthy articles. This wasn't what she gotten her journalism degree for.

"I understand."

"So then, you'll do the story, right?" He picked up a folder. "Here's the raw data we have."

She took a step back, shoving her hands in the pockets of her slacks and hoping she didn't throw up before she made her little speech.

"No, sir. I've done all the other stories you assigned since the change in ownership, and each was slimier than the one before. For my own self-respect, I have to draw the line somewhere. I'm sorry but the answer is no."

His eyes widened and his eyebrows rose almost to his hairline.

"You're refusing an assignment? Is that what I'm hearing? I'm correct in that."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, but I am." Here it comes.

"Then I'm sorry, too, because it leaves me with no choice. You're fired. Clear out your desk."

She stared at her boss, shock vibrating through her. Even though she'd been sort of expecting it, the words still were like a blow to the stomach. Fired. She'd never been fired in her life. Of course, this was only the third job she'd had since graduating college but she'd lasted a long time in each of them. She'd been at Today three years when Renzulli bought the magazine and it all went to hell in a handbasket.

"Fired." She repeated the word as if it were part of a foreign language. "Clear out my desk."

"Unless you want to change your mind." Ed studied her face. "Still time to do that."

She inhaled and let her breath out slowly. "No. Not changing my mind. But I want my severance. My contract calls for it." She dug her nails into her palms. "I'm sure that on top of everything else you don't want a lawsuit."

Ed's face twisted as if he'd swallowed something unpleasant.

"I'll call Human Resources. They'll have papers for you to sign before they hand over your check." He picked up his phone. "You'd better get going. I have to tell Renzulli. You know he'll want you out of here posthaste."

"Of course." She was amazed she sounded so calm when her stomach was twisted in knots and anger rose in her like a wash of vinegar.

"Human Resources will be ready for you shortly. Please go clean out your desk now." He shook his head. "You're making a big mistake here, Kaitlyn."

She gritted her teeth. "I doubt that."

Then she turned and walked out of his office, wishing she had the nerve to smash something against his ugly face. Things only got worse when she reached her cubicle and found a security guard waiting for her.

"Does Renzulli think I'm going to steal his cheap pens and crappy computer?" she snapped.

The guard, standing rigid in his uniform, looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else.

"I'm sorry, Miss Reese. I'm only doing my job."

"Aren't we all," she muttered. She stared at the desk, wondering what she was going to put all her crap in.

"I brought this for you to use." Emily, the receptionist, stood at the opening to her cubicle, holding a large cardboard box and wearing a sad expression."

Kaitlyn grabbed the box from her. "Didn't take long for the word to spread."

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger," Emily protested. "As far as I'm concerned, this is the biggest mistake they've made since Rat-zulli took over."

Kaitlyn nearly strangled on a laugh. "Rat-zulli? Who gave him that name?"

"Almost everyone who's had anything to do with him since he bought the magazine." She stepped in closer. "Come on, Kaitlyn. I'll give you a hand. The faster you get out of here, the faster you can get rid of the stink of this place. I'll keep the box up at my desk until you finish with HR."

The guard, Mr. Unsmiling, was glued to her heels while she went to pick up her check and sign a ton of paperwork. Tim Van Allen, the director of the department, looked decidedly uncomfortable while he processed her out.

"You know, if I had anything to do with it, you'd still be here," he told her. "I told Ed he's making a big mistake but he's just Rat-zulli's messenger boy."

Kaitlyn actually laughed. "I guess that's going to be the owner's name from now on."

"Yeah," he grumbled. "Since we can use really foul language here."

"He's going to destroy the magazine, you know."

"It's already happening," Tim said. "Don't quote me but some of the other writers already have their feelers out for other jobs."

Kaitlyn sighed. "I probably should have done that myself after the last assignment but I kept thinking things would get better."

"Good luck to you, Kaitlyn. You're a talented writer and I wish you every success."

When she stopped to pick up her cardboard box at the front desk, Emily gave her a huge hug and nearly sobbed on her shoulder.

"I hate losing you like this. It sucks big time."

Kaitlyn shrugged. It's probably for the best. This place is turning into a slime pit anyway."

"I'll bet you get another job real soon," Emily called after her.

Kaitlyn headed out the door with the security guard hot on her heels. "I hope so."

But, two weeks later, she wasn't so sure.

"I can't believe that asshole put the word out like that," she told her friend Liz. "He's ruining me."

"Here. Have some of this. It will help us think better." She handed over a half gallon of salted caramel ice cream. "Ice cream cures everything."

In minutes, they were settled on the couch, each with a large bowl filled with the rich confection.

"I don't think it will cure this," Kaitlyn grumped. "Rat-zulli has put the word out all over town and no one will touch me with a ten foot pole."

Liz's eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. "Can he do that? Is he that powerful?"

"He's got that much money. And who the hell knows what he even told them." She waited while a spoonful of ice cream melted in her mouth. "Liz, I can't even get a job on a weekly rag right now. What am I going to do?"

Liz licked her spoon, brows drawn together. "Are you okay for money? Because I can—"

"No." Kaitlyn held out a hand, palm forward. She and Liz had been friends for more than ten years. She knew the easiest way to ruin a friendship was to introduce money into it. "Don't even bring that up. I am not taking a cent from you. Anyway, I've been stashing money away for a while so I'm good for another few weeks. Maybe by then this will blow over. Otherwise I'll have to rethink my career path."

"Okay, if you won't take money from me, how about something else?"

"Like what?" She scooped more ice cream into her mouth.

"I have a friend who knows someone who rents out cottages at Fort Myers Beach."

"In Florida?" Kaitlyn interrupted.

"That's where it was the last time I looked."

"But it's hot in Florida in June," Kaitlyn protested.

"Which is why the rental agent has empty cottages at an el cheapo rate. Not only that, he'll give you an even bigger discount because my friend once did him a huge favor and he owes her."

Kaitlyn stared at her friend. "You already talked to him? Her? Whichever?"

Liz nodded. "Things didn't seem to be falling into place for you here. I figured if you could get out of Dodge for a couple of weeks or so, things would simmer down. And who knows? You might think about relocating."

"I don't know about that. But how much is this very extra cheap rate?"

When Liz quoted her the price, she almost swallowed the spoon along with her ice cream.

"Is that for real? How can he afford that? He's practically giving it away."

"Say yes and don't ask any questions." She sat up and set her empty bowl on the coffee table. "You need this, Kaitlyn. You need to wash all this stuff out of your system and figure out what you really want to do with the rest of your life." She grinned. "And maybe you'll meet a hot guy down there."

Kaitlyn shook her head. "No, thanks. I've got enough troubles without some guy messing up my life. No guys. No. Guys. None." She leaned back and stretched out her legs. "But a few weeks on the beach sure sound great right now."

Liz pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. "Then I'll get right on it."