You’re no fun.
Rylie
I promise it’ll be worth it.
Me
I don’t doubt that, but believing in karma means I believe in both bad and good. I don’t need any more bad karma than I already have.
Rylie
Alright, fine.
Rylie
I’m still gonna plot, though.
“Yes, it’s four months of exclusive access,” Alicia is saying once I tune back into the conversation. “The events are every weekend from now until about the middle of May. Lodging and travel will be covered?—”
Four months of exclusive access? This is the kind of assignment every reporter dreams of. The relationship you can cultivate with the players in that time only amplifies the content of the interviews, which, in turn, only helps your viewership and ratings. I glance across the table at Rylie to see her staring at me with a raised brow. The corner of my mouth tilts and she starts to shake her head at me, but I’m already turning back to my boss.
“I know this isn’t what we normally cover?—”
“I’ll take it.”
All the eyes in the room turn to me with a mix of surprise and contempt. Alicia, however, looks the most taken aback. “I always appreciate your initiative, Faith, but I don’t think?—”
“I can guarantee there’s no other assignment on that list I’d want more than this.” I lean forward, resting my hands on my notepad. “I know I can knock this one out of the park.”
“I don’t doubt that, Faith, but I’m not sure that?—”
I push back and stand, looking my boss in the eye as I muster all the determination I have within me. “I want this assignment, Alicia. Please.”
She sighs as she leans back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest as she studies me carefully. I refuse to look away, even when I see Rylie trying to get my attention out of my peripheral vision. No one and nothing will get in the way of me and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Okay, Faith,” Alicia says, breaking the silence and tension that was beginning to fill the room. “You want this assignment? It’s yours.” I have to bite the corner of my lip to contain my triumphant smile. “First event is tonight in Sacramento. You have three hours until they’re expecting you. I’ll send you the address and the schedule.”
Three hours later, I’m showing my credentials to the security guard in the ticket booth, and he grants me entrance into the reserved lot at the Golden 1 Center arena. Once I’m parked, I grab my work bag with my laptop, notepad, and folder containing all the notes with important information Alicia had given me before I left the office that I haven’t had the chance to look at yet.
Glancing in the side mirror of my car, I quickly fluff my curly, honey-blonde hair and check my makeup. I set my bag down and grab my lip gloss, reapplying a coat to my lips before I’m satisfied. Brushing down the front of my white pantsuit, I put my bag on my shoulder and head into the arena. My heels clicking on the pavement and the cars driving are the only sounds reaching my ears, since fans don’t arrive for at least another hour and a half.
“Hello,” I greet the man at the desk once I enter the building. “My name is Faith Thompson and I’m a reporter from All In Sports News. I was wondering if you could show me where the media room is.”
“Of course,” he says, giving me a smile. As he walks around the desk, I don’t miss the way he scans my outfit with what appears to be a very judgmental glance. My brows furrow as I follow behind him.What the fuck is his problem?I’m about to question him about it when I get a whiff of…dirt?
Before I can speak up, he stops outside an elevator and turns to me. “Just go down to the basement level. There should be someone at the end of the hall when you step out to tell you where you need to go.”
“Basement?” I ponder, brows furrowing. “Not up in the press box?”
“Not if you’re interviewing them, no.” He turns on his heel without another word.
“Okay, then,” I murmur to myself as I hit the button for the elevator. I’m in the basement a minute later, walking down the narrow, dimly lit hallway. Once I reach the end and turn the corner, I’m met with a burly man sitting on his phone behind a podium labeled ‘checkpoint’.
I clear my throat to get his attention. He holds a finger up to me as he continues to type away on his phone, making me wait as he finishes his text message. Tapping my foot impatiently, I fidget with the green emerald ring I wear on my middle finger and roll my neck. He finally glances up and does a double-take, his eyes going wide slightly as he bites his lip.
“Are you here to cover the event?” he asks, laughter lacing his voice.
“I am.” I cross my arms over my chest. “If you could just point me in the direction of where you’re placing your media, that would be great.”
