Necessary People
Page 32
You say that now. A little voice, in my mind. But what if Jamie betrays you, like Stella did? What if he tries to ruin your career, like Ginny did? Wouldn’t you put ambition over love?
It was just a passing thought. A synaptic blip. So why was my heart racing, my palms sweating, my face flushing?
“Hey,” Jamie said, putting a hand on my knee. “Violet. You okay?”
I shook my head. “Just tired.”
Corey smiled sympathetically. “Long day.”
“Do you want to go home?” Jamie said.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I’ll stay.”
Calm down, I told myself. Take a sip of the cool beer. Feel the warmth of the fireplace. Listen to the sound of their voices. This is all in your head. This is merely theoretical. There are people right here who love you, and no one is actually asking you to decide. You’re ambitious, sure, but no one is asking you to commit murder. No one ever said that cruelty was a necessary condition to success.
But—the dark, terrifying voice in my mind—doesn’t that just prove the point?
To be selfish. To be cruel, at times. To harden your heart so that you need no one else. When you realize how powerful this makes you, you keep it to yourself.
Acknowledgments
For two books now, the most brilliant people in publishing have had my back. Three fierce, fabulous women in particular have made all of this possible: my agent, Allison Hunter; my editor, Carina Guiterman; and my publicist, Maggie Gladstone. I’m more thankful to them—my powerhouse trio—than I know how to say.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone at Little, Brown for their belief and dedication: Asya Muchnick, Reagan Arthur, Judy Clain, Craig Young, Ashley Marudas, Lauren Harms, and Pamela Marshall. At Janklow & Nesbit, I also owe great thanks to Clare Mao.
Several people generously lent their insight and expertise about the world of broadcast news. I could not have written this book without Molly Battles, Katie Wiggin, Kira Kleaveland, Paul Needham, and others (who know who they are!). A special thanks to Kira and Paul, who read an early version of the manuscript and offered sharp-eyed advice. I also found invaluable illumination in the writings of Gabe Sherman and Brian Stelter, who allowed me to understand the behind-the-scenes dynamics of this world.
In the midst of writing this novel, I read Richard Ben Cramer’s masterpiece What It Takes. It’s the best portrait of ambition I’ve ever encountered, and his observations made a permanent groove in my imagination. There are journalists who write like novelists, and I’m grateful to them for so vividly capturing the drama and comedy and tragedy that resides in the real world, not just in fiction—and for deepening our understanding of the world as a result.
Lastly, thank you to my family, the people who offer me grace and love, who allow me to find joy and meaning in both the hard times and good times. To my parents, Ed and Kate; to my sister, Nellie; and to my husband, Andrew: I love you so much.
Also by Anna Pitoniak
The Futures
Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.
To receive special offers, bonus content, and news about our latest ebooks and apps, sign up for our newsletters.
Sign Up
Or visit us at hachettebookgroup.com/newsletters