Kendra
As I walked with Tina toward the parking lot, the scorching sun beat down relentlessly, turning the asphalt into a shimmering sea of heat. Each step felt like a chore, but Tina seemed completely oblivious, chattering away about the new recruit in the media team.
“Can you believe it? She thinks she’s some hotshot photographer just because her dad’s buddies with the MD!” Tina scoffed. “I mean, I’ve seen her work. It’s laughable. She can’t even frame a shot properly!”
We stopped beside Tina’s sleek black sedan, and she unlocked the doors with a quick beep. The sudden blast of air-conditioning as we slid inside was a welcome reprieve.
“I swear, Kendra, it’s all about connections these days. Talent doesn’t matter; it’s all about who you know.” Tina shook her head, exasperated. “I’ve seen her fumble with the camera settings, and yet she gets to cover the mayor’s press conference.”
As Tina started the engine, the smooth hum filled the car, but I barely registered it. Tina’s voice faded into the background as my thoughts were elsewhere, drifting toward Antonio.
Tomorrow marked our one-month anniversary, and the thought sent a flutter of anticipation through my chest. Our whirlwind romance had swept me off my feet, leaving me dazed and giddy.
His deep laughter, the way his eyes softened when he looked at me, the way he melted into my arms after a long day—like I was his solace… Everything about him made me ache with happiness.
“Kendra!” Tina’s sharp voice jolted me back to reality. “You gotta be kidding me… You’re spacing out on me, girl.”
I blinked and turned to her, forcing a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I was just… lost in thought.”
“So you didn’t hear a word I said?”
“Not really… Sorry.”
Tina’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What’s going on? You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Trouble in paradise?”
I hesitated, then took a deep breath and blurted out, “Tomorrow’s our one-month anniversary.”
Tina’s face lit up. “Aww, congrats! I had no idea. You’ve been keeping that quiet.”
I shrugged, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. “I didn’t want to jinx it. Besides… it’s really something to be happy about?”
Her smile faded, turning thoughtful. “You know, sometimes, I forget the…situationyou’re in. I want to be happy for you, and then I remember…”
“I want to be happy for me too,” I murmured softly.
As if on cue, my phone vibrated with a text from Antonio. My fingers tremble slightly as I read his message, and the troubled look on my face deepened.
“What is it?” Tina asked, her features mirroring my concern.
“Antonio wants me to meet his family.”
Before Tina could respond, a knock on the passenger-side window startled us both. Mr. Thompson, my supervisor, stood outside, his expression serious. The harsh afternoon sunlight only deepened the creases in his forehead.
Tina rolled down the window. “Good evening, Mr. Thompson.”
“Hello, Tina.” He nodded briefly, but his gaze remained fixed on me. “Kendra, can I have a word?”
I sighed inwardly, my stomach twisting in knots. I knew what this was about.
I stepped out of the car, and we walked a few feet away before he turned to me, his tone curt and impatient. “How much longer until we get the story?”
“Soon, sir,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Don’t give me that, Ms. Ryan. You’ve already had over a month for this. If we don’t publish soon, it’ll lose its relevance.”
He was referring to me by my last name—he was furious. “Sir, the thing is—”
“What are the most important qualities of a good news story?”
