Construct a Couple by Talli Roland Read Free Book Online Page B

sooner have I hung up than Gregor’s leaning over me, breathing stale coffee fumes in my face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    I jerk as far away from him as I can. “Talking to a source, Gregor. Fact-checking. Isn’t that our job?” This guy is driving me bonkers.
    “Didn’t look to me like fact-checking. Instead” – he casts a glance at my open notebook – “it rather sounded like you were conducting an interview.”
    I shrug, feigning nonchalance. What the hell is his problem? I swear if he invades my personal space again, his sniffer won’t be able to sniff.
    “Listen, don’t mind G,” Lizzie says loudly, obviously not caring he’s right beside us. “He’s just bitter ‘coz he’s still stuck here.”
    Gregor’s lips tighten. “I won’t be stuck here for long,” he spits out. “You wait and see.”
    Lizzie rolls her eyes at me. “Yes, another twenty years, G, and then you can retire.”
    He turns back to the screen with a snuffle, and Lizzie shakes her head. Pushing stuffy Gregor from my mind, I glance down at the notes.  Time to focus on taking my first step away from Fact Check Row and into the real newsroom, even if it does mean glorifying Jeremy’s bitch of an ex-girlfriend.
    By the end of the day, I’m practically patting myself on the back, that’s how pleased I am. Despite Gregor’s constant glare, I’ve managed to talk to all but one client on the list Tanya sent over. The remaining client is off-site right now, and the receptionist assured me he’ll be available first thing in the morning.
    I smile proudly, reviewing the super-neat printing in my notebook. Given the magazine’s legal worries, I’ve been extra careful to get the quotes word for word. All I need to do tomorrow is call the final number, then type up everything in a tidy little package before handing it over to Jonas. That will show him how much initiative I have! I can’t wait until Helen sees my additions to her article. It’s meatier now, and even though it’s still a puff piece, at least it has quotes.
    I wonder if she’s in the newsroom, back from her undercover work or wherever? Maybe I can swing by her desk, bring her coffee, and show her my handiwork . . . I drift into a daydream where she stares at the article, complete with shiny new sources, then says: “You know, Serenity, your spirit and quest for the journalistic truth remind me of when I was young. Would you do me the honour of becoming your mentor? I’d love to pass down my skills and knowledge to the next generation . . .”
     “Where is Helen Goodall’s cubicle?” I ask Lizzie now. “I haven’t seen her around. Is she off on assignment somewhere?”
    “Off on assignment?” Lizzie snorts. “As if. The magazine doesn’t have the budget anymore to send reporters beyond the M25. And after what happened, they like to make sure everyone’s on a tight leash. Anyway, Helen keeps mostly to herself. She’s super paranoid someone will steal her stories.”
    “What do you mean?”
     “Well, with all the legal issues we’ve had, Seven Days is meticulous about checking everything.”
    I make a face. “Yeah, I know.”
    “Because of that, we’re often scooped by other papers – One World , in particular. They’re a daily, so it’s to be expected. But Helen’s always ranting there’s something fishy about them getting the jump on us. She has a theory there’s a newsroom leak.”
    Wow! My eyes pop at the thought of someone stealthily slipping stories to the competition. Here I was, thinking this was such a tame place, when underneath it all there’s intrigue befitting a Hollywood movie.
    “Do you really think there’s a leak?” My voice sounds a bit too excited, and I try to put on a serious expression.
    “I reckon Helen’s old age is finally setting in,” Lizzie says, tapping her head. “That, or she’s making excuses because she’s no longer able to get out the stories she wants. Jonas tries to keep her