Chapter 43

A dog fashion show isn’t quite like anything I’ve ever been to before. Armed with my borrowed work camera and my press pass, I enter the large circus tents and walk straight into something like a parade of dogs in hats and coats and sparkling outfits.

There’s no real rhyme or reason to what’s happening here. It’s chaos mostly, but everyone is laughing and drinking and having a good time.

It’s then I realize… this is not necessarily an event for the dogs, but one for their owners.

This isn’t a contest. It’s nothing serious at all.

It’s a networking event with cute dogs thrown in for positive vibes. Honestly, it’s my kind of place.

I’m in my element here. Some of the people recognize me from the country club. When I tell them I’m working for the Harbinger News Company now, they even seem pleased. They eagerly talk to me and give me quotes about the event.

In the end, I’m able to record direct quotes from several prominent people, including the mayor himself, who insisted that I take a picture of him with his dog for the article.

I return to the office with my head held high, proud of my conversations, my networking, and my many pictures of dogs and people alike.

Lila comes out of her office when I arrive. “Show me your best photo.”

Lifting the camera, I jump to the photo of the mayor and his dog. Looking at it, Lila pales. She grabs the camera and looks closer.

“Is this… the mayor?”

“And his dog,” I say, pointing.

Lila looks up at me, her expression unsure. Like me, she probably didn’t expect any prominent members of society to be there. This story, to her, suddenly becomes more interesting; I can tell from the spark in her eye.

“Get me the article,” she says and hands the camera back.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, and set to work.

“It doesn’t matter if she made a connection with the mayor,” Amber says so loudly in Lila’s office that I can hear here even from where I am, approaching.

I have a hard copy of my article in my hands ready to deliver, but Amber’s raised voice makes me stop in my tracks.

“She’s still grossly underqualified for this job,” Amber says. “You can’t just hand her an assignment that someone else has earned.”

“She did as I asked. She made the story better than it would have been otherwise…”

“By sheer coincidence,” Amber says. “If you must, give her another test run, and she’s guaranteed to fail.”

“Forgive my intrusion,” I say, knocking on the door. They both jump realizing I’m there. Lila seems a bit embarrassed but Amber just stares at me. I take my article to Lila and leave it on her desk. “Here’s the hard copy.”

Standing at Lila’s desk, I look at her, then at Amber, and back again. “For the record, I will excel at any assignment I am given.”

“Confident,” Lila says.

I correct, “Capable.” I pause, then add, “And with something to prove.”

Amber huffs a sharp breath.

Placing her elbows on the desktop, Lila weaves her hands together and looks me over. I stand tall, hoping to impress her.

I’m not backing down. At the end of a very long first week, she should be able to see that in me.

After a long moment, Lila leans back and sighs. “Esther, as you are so confident – or, capable, as you prefer – I have one last test for you. This is something that has eluded us for some time. If you are able to achieve it, not only will you prove yourself to me, but the entire company would be forced to take notice.”

That’s exactly what I need! I wait with baited breath, my heart up in my throat.

“There is one man, whose interview we have been trying to secure for months, but who keeps rejecting us time and again,” Lila says. “We need you to find a way to convince him to finally accept the interview.”

I can do this. I have connections all over this city. If I pull the right strings, call in favors with the right people, I’m sure I can make anything happen.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Miles Hamilton,” Lila says.

In an instant, my heart drops from my throat, down to the floor. “Miles Hamilton?” I repeat because I’m not totally sure that I didn’t imagine it. Miles has been on my thoughts so much, it’s possible that I –

“The youngest Representative of Congress?” Lila says, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve never heard of him?”

“No, no, I’ve more than heard of him,” I say. “I… Well, we’ve met.”

“Then it should be no problem for you to convince him…” Lila says.

I glance at Amber beside me, expecting her to be annoyed at this request. Instead, she’s smirking like she knows some big secret that I don’t. I can’t confront her in front of Lila though, so I bite my tongue.

Maybe she thinks I can’t do this. Her lack of faith in me is apparent.

“Out of my office,” Lila says. “I have actual work to do.”

Amber smirks as she turns her back and struts out of the office. I wait a breath or two, then follow her out.

Out in the main office, Amber walks straight into the cubicle pit and sticking her fingers in her mouth, loudly whistles. All eyes turn to her.

“Everyone. Guess what?” Amber announces. “Lila just gave the newbie a new task, and you’ll never guess what it is. She has to bring Miles Hamilton in for an interview!”

Some reporters roll their eyes and return to their work, but the majority join Amber in some uproarious laughter.

Even with my belief in myself working as a shield, a bit of humiliation sinks into me. No one likes to be laughed at by a full room of their peers.

But then, a door to one of the larger offices opens, and Hugo steps out. “Hey!”

The laughter immediately cuts off. A few people pale. Almost everyone returns to their work. Only Amber takes a moment longer, making enough time to glance back at me with a vicious glare. Soon, however, even she too returns to work.

Gathering my dignity, I walk to my desk and sit down. I’m alone for only a moment before Hugo approaches me.

Standing beside me, he lifts his arm like he wants to place his hand on my shoulder, but he can’t quite bring himself to. His hand lingers there in the air for a long moment before he lets it drop to his side.

His voice low, he says, “I did not bring you here to be heckled, Esther. If you are being mistreated in any way, you only need to tell me about it. I’m the boss around here. I can fix it.”

“Thank you, Hugo… uh, Mr. Harbinger.” I shake my head lightly. “But this is nothing I can’t handle myself.”

“If you are sure…” The doubt is obvious in Hugo’s face. He knows I’m lying; I’m not hiding the truth all that well.

If I run to the boss at every hardship, my co-workers will only resent me more.

No. The only way to win them over is to prove myself.

To do this, I need to find a way to convince Miles to agree to an interview.