Chapter Two
IT hadn't proved an enjoyable day for Harry. He'd spent most of it focused on weather updates, despite there being nothing to report. "Give me gales and blizzards", shouted Pete, the news editor. "Not fucking unsettled."
In truth, Harry hadn't enjoyed many days since arriving at the Beacon. He was out of his depth, he worried, and every passing minute only added to this concern. He'd been born and brought up in a tiny village in Herefordshire, and started out as a local reporter at the nearest town. He'd stayed there for six happy years. He had friends in the news room, he could stay with his dad and, for a while, at least, he had hoped to move things on with Callie, who had started the same day he had. Give it time, he had told himself. Things will develop. But they hadn't. And then, two years previously, she had moved to London. He still wished he'd had the courage to ask her out. He had always been planning to but the right moment had never arrived. Then she was gone.
Now here he was, in London, too. He told himself otherwise but Callie was the only reason he had finally made the leap. He had hated every second of it.
He scanned the room. Next to Pete was Julie, deputy on the desk. She was one of the few who was nice to him. She seemed to be nice to everyone, a foil to Pete's anger, albeit one with a steel core. He'd seen her when she took on the editor directly. He'd been impressed; he couldn't dream of doing that. She caught his eye and she smiled. He blushed and he tried not to stare at her breasts, which were the topic of much discussion amongst his male colleagues.
On the desks opposite, although you couldn't see them because of the size of the screens, were the senior reporters. These were the best known faces at the title and none of them spoke to him. There was Simone Harrison, on the royals; she was often on the TV and he was always slightly starstruck around her. She was plumper in real life, he thought, but also more naturally beautiful away from the studio lights. Beside her was Alice Tanner in politics. Funny, tough and gorgeous. The go to when the paper needed a talking head outside Parliament, often referred to as a beauty with brains. Phil Arnold on defence and Dave Russell, crime, were laughing together. Neither looked his way.
Those were old hands in their 40s or 50s, even. His peers were to his left, joking away. They were younger, louder and more playful. Why don't they just get on with their work, he wondered, and he suddenly realised that they were - the difference was they enjoyed it. He thought of Callie, at the art gallery in Pimlico. She had a boyfriend now, he had discovered, shortly after taking out a six month lease in a chaotic flat share in Archway. He wondered how often they had sex. He often wondered about Callie's private life.
"Hiya Harry." It was Katie, arriving at the desk next to his. He'd always liked Katie and she would always find time for him, making sure he knew about the office drinks and introducing him to people as they came by. She was bright and fun, sometimes one of the lads, others a girl's girl. Once, in a planning meeting,, she had brought up a potential story about the best anal sex lubricants, without stammering, blushing or missing a beat. He could never have managed that. He often imagined sidling up to her and making suggestive comments - "need any help with the research?"
"Hi Katie", he managed, instead. As she sat he got a glimpse of her cleavage and hoped she hadn't seen. They both knew he had. He quickly checked his watch. It was coming up to 3pm, the change of shift time. Harry had hoped to get off early but, as he made to shut down, Pete yelled over. "Not yet, I need the 3.30 predictions."
"Bummer," said Katie.
"Bummer," said Pete, pleased they had both used the word. He still remembered the lubricant story. Katie frowned and gestured at the entrance."What does she want?"
Alice, the assistant to the CEO, was pacing towards them, hand raised. Pete looked over and Katie stood but Alice shook her head. She was heading straight for Harry.
"Hello Harry", she said. He had gone bright red. She made him nervous. She had sent him a filthy email once which she claimed had been meant for her boyfriend. He still wasn't sure if it wasn't some kind of joke at his expense. It usually was.
"The CEO wants a one to one with you in her office." This loudly enough to draw stunned looks around the desk. "New thing she's bringing in," said Alice. She laughed and shrugged to the room. "Yeah, I know. Another one."
"You'd better go," whispered Katie, as Harry made no obvious sign of movement. Pete stared over. "Fucking go, then", he said. Harry stood. He walked side by side with Alice, who was humming to herself. "You're not in any trouble", she assured him, as she turned the special key needed to get the lift to the executive floor. "And it's nothing to do with that email, by the way. That's our secret."
He often thought of that email. It had given him the perfect ammunition under the covers in his tiny room. He thought about her pussy. He realised he was staring at her bottom as she led him into the boardroom and only noticed Emily Cole, the top dog, a second after stepping in. He froze. And next to her stood... it couldn't be.
"Sorry to disrupt your working day, Harry," said Emily. "We've not been properly introduced but of course, I've heard about the excellent work you've been doing."
Now he really was confused.
"This, of course, is our owner, Carlton Hughes."
Carlton clicked his heels together and gave a salute. Harry stood open mouthed.
"You know how important he is, both to our organisation and the information eco-system at large," said Emily. Carlton interrupted, "don't worry, the boys not going to start calling me names". He fixed him with a stare. "Are you?"
Harry froze and managed the slightest shake of his head.
"Good," said Carlton. He clapped his hands again. "Let's stay standing for now, we'll have a seat in a moment. No, Alice, you stay too, please. Close the door."
Emily stood next to Carlton at one end of the table, Harry and Alice the other.
"I'm working on a project that's very close to my heart and I'd love for you to be involved," said Carlton. "But I need to ask you one question first." He stroked his chin. "Maybe two," he conceded. "Are you willing to answer?"
Harry suddenly took in the view over London, the floor to ceiling windows, the fine art on the wall. This really was it. This really was the CEO and, yes, this really was American owner Carlton Hughes. Fuck, he thought. Wait till I tell Callie about this.
"Of course", he said, with a stutter he hoped no one caught..
"Good," said Carlton. He turned to Emily. "You know Mrs Cole, of course? Not intimately, I mean." Forced laughter. "But who she is. The first CEO under me. Your boss."
"Yes," said Harry. He had only seen her twice before, in the days after the Queen's death.
"So my question is this. Yes or no answer."
Harry waited. Emily waited. Alice held her breath.
"Does Ms Cole, in your opinion, shave her crotch?"
"Carlton!" Said Emily, slapping his arm. Harry was bright red. He looked to Alice for support. She winked at him and he went redder still.
