Both women just shook their heads and chuckled.
“Alright, kids,”Adamsaid, turning to depart from the studio. “I’llsee you soon for showtime.”
Ace was walking toward me and was about to say something, butIcut her off. “You’reincredible up there.”
The shocked look on her face let me know she was not expecting that to come out of my mouth.
“You handled yourself well but never softened to that woman’s bullshit,”Itold her and saw a small smile and blush creeping out. “Youmade your dream job come true.I’mproud of you.”
At my final words, her smile retreated, blush now gone, and in its place a mask of neutrality.
“I have to go to hair and makeup for a quick touch-up and then the bathroom.I’llbe right back.”
I had been following her from desk to studio to hair and makeup and everything in between all day.Mostly, it was to get a lay of the land here at her job soIwould know her routine and could check security at all the spots becauseIdidn’t want to follow her every moment of the day.Securityguards manned the front gate to the building, and you needed badges to access every point of entry.Onceshe was inside, she was relatively safe.Iwas just an added layer of protection.
I decided to hit the bathroom myself before the show started.Iwas nearly at the men’s room whenAcewalked out of the women’s.Shelooked up at me as she walked from the end of the hallway and in my direction.
Something in her face told me she wasn’t right. “Youokay?”Iasked her and reached out to put my hand on her upper arm.
“Archer, don’t,” she replied, her voice strained, and she wouldn’t make eye contact with me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Please stop being nice to me,” she said quietly.
I was taken aback by her words.Clearly, she didn’t like my compliments from earlier. “Youwant me to be a jerk to you?”
She finally looked up and made eye contact with me, only for me to see her eyes welling up.Hervoice, however, was strong. “It’seasier to hate you when you’re a jerk.”
“I don’t want you to hate me,Ace,”Itold her honestly.Infact,Imight as well make it very clear whatIwanted. “Iwant you to give me a second chance.Iknow you may not be ready yet, andI’mwilling to do whatever it takes to help you get there.Idon’t want you to hate me.”
“Archer, just…please don’t,” she said, holding up her hand to stop me from talking again.Shewalked by me and made her way down the hall back toward the hair and makeup room.
A few minutes later,Imade my way back to the studio, all the while realizing it was going to be tougher thanIthought to get her back.Icertainly had my work cut out for me.
I don’t know whatIthought a news studio looked like or howIthought a show operated, but it was interesting to watch it all unfold.Isat off to the side, out of the way of all the cameras but still nearby in caseIwas needed.
The show had just gone to a commercial break, andTaliaandDanhad walked into the studio.
“Anna, your boyfriend is emailing us again,”TaliatoldAceandDanas she walked over to the desk.
“The weirdo bird guy?”Danasked, looking up from his spot at the desk.
Boyfriend?IknewAcewasn’t dating anyone right now, so maybeTaliawas referring to a weirdo ex.Ifthis were some stalker creep, thenIneeded to know more info to add him to my background search.Axelhad only found one previous ex namedPhilBachin his deep dive into her, but that man lived inOhio, soIdoubted he was involved.Still,Ineeded more information.
“Weirdo?”Iasked, hoping one of them would give me details.
“She didn’t tell you about weirdo bird guy?”Taliaasked, almost offended on my behalf thatAcehadn’t filled me in. “Hisname isTed—or so the email says.Heemails us at least once a week, always to the attention ofAnnahere.Hewants her to do a story on how birds aren’t real.”Sheheld up her hands to use air quotes. “Pigeonsare really drones that the government set up back in the seventies to spy on us.Soif you see a pigeon…it’s not real.”
What did she just say?
“He’s just mad becauseAnnadid a really good piece last year on the new bird sanctuary that opened up on the north side of town,”Danexplained. “Thedumbass is upset becauseAnnawasted her time covering a sanctuary for drones.Nowhe emails the station every week, upset and demanding she correct her story.”
He’s mad.Great.Anotherperson to keep an eye on.
Dan turned toAnnaand pointed at her. “Youshould let him read the emails.He’dget a kick out of them.”
Ace rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Itis entirely possible to read something you don’t agree with on the internet…andsimply move on with your life.Asad fact that many people clearly do not understand.”
