“Please have a seat,” Henry said, easing into the chair behind his desk. “I’m afraid my age is catching up with me too quickly to afford the courtesy you deserve.”
“Thank you for the flattery, but ceremony is unnecessary.” Inside, however, Hunter thought, uh-oh. In the last months, especially the last two months, she’d been noticing him growing increasingly frail. Was he that seriously ill and about to announce that they were selling Yarrow Communications? It would be just like his sweet self to insist on preparing her for the possibility of being without a job. “I am sorry to see you looking unwell, sir,” she said as though it was only him in the room. “I hope it’s only temporary.”
“I’m afraid not, my dear. On the other hand, while eighty isn’t much in this day and age, I’ve had a good run, so who am I to have regrets?” He settled back with a groan that he tried to muffle with a handkerchief he’d dug out of a pocket and pressed to his mouth. Recovering, he continued with, “Hunter, I wanted you to be among the first to know that I’m retiring. Cord will be taking over effective immediately. I wanted him present to assure you that your position with us is solid. You more than represent KSIO’s standard of quality, you are our star. Many of our hopes for the future of the corporation start with you.”
It took several seconds for Hunter to breathe normally, let alone accept what she’d just been told. And it got worse. Bad enough to see YCI taken over by total strangers, her future was also being placed in the hands of the man who had wooed her fiancé and co-anchor to Los Angeles at the cost of their relationship. Impossible! With that much cold-blooded maneuvering, she could never trust Cord Rivers to tell her the truth, let alone safeguard her career.
“I don’t know where to begin, sir,” she began, her tongue feeling foreign in her mouth. She was also painfully aware of Cord’s unblinking study; he was all but willing her to look his way, but she couldn’t if she wanted to. As desperation washed over her anew, she focused on the man who’d been an inspiration in her life. “Thank you for the compliment, but I understand what happens when there’s a big change in leadership—all bets are off. More important, I hope you know that I speak for many downstairs when I say that whether we are ordered to or not, we’re not ready to say goodbye to you.”
Henry’s gray but dignified face brightened and his blue-gray eyes—shades lighter than his grandson’s—grew overly bright. “Don’t let it get around, but that’s nicer to hear than a standing ovation at an industry banquet.”
“I’ll take your word for it. All I do know is that it’s true.” Known for her humorous quips to lighten tense or overly serious moments, Hunter leaned forward, all earnestness. “I also hope you know I personally appreciate all you’ve done for me. If I’m a fraction worthy of what you say, it’s only because of your generosity and guidance. Whatever happens, I’ll always remember that.”
As the old man frowned, his stormy eyebrows drew into an intimidating line that resembled a bitter, January cold front barreling down from Dallas and points north. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you have reservations about my decision.”
Reminding herself that her future lay in Cord’s hands if only to supply a letter of recommendation, Hunter dropped her gaze to the edge of Henry Yarrow’s massive mahogany desk. “I’m simply trying to say that your shoes will be difficult to fill.”
“Hunter is being more gracious than I deserve,” Cord said with impeccable timing. “I’m afraid that she still bears some hard feelings from when I moved Denny Brewster to the L.A. station, instead of her, two years ago.”
Both Henry and Hunter started with surprise. Henry recovered and spoke first.
“Do you, my dear? Why didn’t I ever sense that?”
“Because it’s news to me, too,” Hunter replied, sitting so straight her back was in danger of snapping. She slid Cord a look of disapproval for giving his grandfather the wrong information, not just the wrong impression. She would sew her mouth shut herself to avoid hurting the dear gentleman, but she couldn’t listen to this. “I didn’t have Denny’s experience. I had no right to want the job and, frankly, wouldn’t have taken it if it had been offered to me. What upset me was that Mr. Rivers was relocating my fiancé, which ultimately forced the end of our relationship, and apparently occurred with his complete blessing and—from my understanding—his encouragement.”
This time both Henry and Cord reacted as though the overhead sprinklers had suddenly turned on.
“You can’t be serious,” Cord said, sounding more incredulous than annoyed.
With cool reserve, Hunter arched her left eyebrow. “Did you or did you not tell him that his image as a bachelor was a major part of his appeal for the market he would be entering and that to remain ‘unattached,’ as you put it, would result in the fastest gain in ratings?”
“Because that’s how he presented himself to me,” Cord said, folding his arms in front of his chest. “In effect it was the ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ speech. There was no coercion or threat.”
“Denny said he was pressured.”
“Then he lied.” Shifting his hands to his hips, Cord turned away, shaking his head in clear frustration. Abruptly turning back, he said, “I didn’t see a ring on his hand—or yours.”
As his gaze settled on the hands she clasped tightly in her lap, Hunter lowered her eyes, too. They remained bare of jewelry, her nails clipped neat and short with only clear polish to enhance them. Her salon stylist complained about them whenever she came in for a haircut, but her argument was that the cameras were on her face, not her manicure.
“Denny’s file stated that he was single,” Cord added. “In all of my talks with staff, no one had a clue of any attachment. Not for either of you.”
Noting Henry’s unhappy countenance, Hunter chose not to participate in this lose-lose debate. If Cord was to be her boss, so be it. But first thing, once she got back from this trip, she would start polishing her resume to put out feelers for job openings at other networks, even north of Alaska or south of Australia—anywhere to get away from him.
“Hunter, a good portion of Denny’s work was to be interviews with some of the most beautiful actresses and entertainers in Hollywood, eventually the world,” Cord offered. “It was good marketing to sell him as available and use his personality and chemistry with the camera to appeal to women viewers.” Resting his palms on the surface of his grandfather’s desk, he leaned toward her, but he spoke almost gently. “After the contract was signed, Denny and I had little to say to each other. As far as I’m concerned, for all of his on-air charisma, he’s an opportunist with a smile. And for the record, he wasn’t in Los Angeles a full week before I saw him cozying up with his new co-anchor. I suspect that if a better offer comes from one of the magazine-formatted news shows, he’ll ditch our L.A. station without a twinge of remorse—along with whatever relationship he’s in at the time. You’re better off without him.”
Swallowing the bitterness building in her throat, Hunter replied quietly, “Perhaps…but we’ll never know, will we?”
As Cord opened his mouth to reply, Henry raised his hand, then directed a disapproving look at his grandson. “That was—well, you know what it was.”
Cord hung his head. “I apologize.”
But when he looked up again, directly at her, he still looked more determined than apologetic, which left Hunter humiliated anew for being all but forced to expose so much in front of his grandfather. In the end, maybe she had been played for a fool by Denny, but that didn’t excuse Cord Rivers. With those enigmatic stares and his Prince-Charming-with-an-edge good looks, he made Denny seem like an amateur.
“All I was trying to point out was that you both hid the fact that you were involved very well,” Cord said, breaking into her thoughts.
At least he didn’t try to lay on any guilt citing corporate policy, because there was none. Hunter had discreetly checked into that before agreeing to go out with Denny. “We didn’t think it would be professional to d
o otherwise,” Hunter said. Apparently, it was more difficult for her to contain herself than Denny, because after giving her the news about the California offer, he had agreed with Cord’s supposed logic and suggested they take a break on their commitment while he settled in at his new position. The engagement had been so new, they hadn’t even had time to get a ring, so there had been none to return.
In the uncomfortable silence that followed, she noticed something she couldn’t remain silent about. Henry looked as unhappy with this conversation as she felt. “I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your image of me, sir,” she told him.
“Nonsense, my dear. You’re entitled to your personal life. What I am is troubled that you’ve undoubtedly held this in for all of this time. It speaks all the more to your professionalism, but I can’t imagine what you suffered in private. Cord, I want you to sit down with her and fix this. You need a better foundation of trust and cooperation if you intend to communicate well and freely with each other.”
“Of course,” Cord said immediately. “Are you free for lunch, Hunter?”
“No!” Hunter reached for her purse which she’d set beside her chair. “What I mean is that I’ve already missed a flight. I was to do a commencement speech in New Jersey this evening. I thought you might have been told about it. It’s the high school I would have graduated from had I stayed up there,” she said to Henry. “They knew about it downstairs, but this morning’s events obviously caused it to slip their minds. I was about to see about catching another flight.”
Distressed anew, Henry checked his watch and then the clock on his desk. “You’re due to speak tonight? Good heavens, the time. Cord…?”
“I’ll take care of everything,” Cord replied. “Grandfather, if you don’t mind rescheduling our dinner plans, I’ll call the airport and get the jet refueled and ready.”
“I heartily concur. Make it as easy as possible for Hunter to continue doing us proud—and stay close. They’ll obviously have advertised this up there, so don’t let another station have a chance at stealing her away from us.”
Hunter looked from one man to the other, feeling a growing panic. “Excuse me?”
Cord’s blue-gray eyes lit with either satisfaction or amusement—or both. “We’ll get you to your function in the corporate plane.” Before she could react, he stepped away from the desk, pulling out his BlackBerry and keying in a few numbers. “Change of plans, Murray,” he said into the device moments later. “Gas up and get a flight plan to—” he turned to Hunter “—where in Jersey exactly?”
“Mahwah. That’s the northernmost part of Bergen County. But—”
“Mahwah, New Jersey. And tell Lane to arrange for limousine service to the high school. We have to be there by—” Once again, he glanced at Hunter.
“Six was when they were going to have a short reception for staff and special guests. The program starts at seven,” she added with resignation.
Glancing at his watch, Cord said, “ASAP, considering the hour difference and traffic congestion. We’re leaving the building now. Thanks.”
As he disconnected, Hunter launched into her protest. She figured it was more professional than exhibiting an all-out panic attack. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Why not? We’re the cause of you missing your flight and, as you heard my grandfather say, you and I need to talk.”
“Absolutely,” Henry Yarrow said with an encouraging sweep of his hand. “Now you two run along and I’ll finish up one or two things and be on my way myself before Lenore calls and drafts half the building to come after me.”
Seeing that she was trapped, and not willing to upset the man she owed so much to, Hunter rose and sought a calmness she didn’t feel despite her years in the business. “Mr. Henry…I’m afraid I’m stuck with the redundant, but thank you, again. For all you’ve done for me. Please know you’ll be in my prayers and in my heart every day.”
“Would those sweet words by chance come with a hug?”
Hunter rushed to him but was careful as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, dear and wise young friend,” Henry murmured near her ear. Then he kissed her cheek and held her at arm’s length. Looking all business again, he huffed, “They’ll ask you to do the announcement on the air tomorrow. You will be back, won’t you?”
That was his way of saying she was his choice. Her throat grew so raw, she didn’t think she could speak. “Of course,” she rasped.
Henry relaxed. “I’ll be watching from home. Make me immortal. Ah, Hunter…thank you. For all of the pleasure of watching you grow and for your delightful humor.”
“Please stop. You’re scaring me.”
“Nonsense. I’m being the male equivalent of a diva. Truth is, I’m counting on being around to take bows for your long and illustrious career.”
Hunter didn’t see Cord circle the desk, but when she felt him take gentle hold of her elbow, she didn’t resist him directing her to the door. Once outside, she saw that despite Henry’s directive, Kym hadn’t yet left for lunch.
“Would you call downstairs and tell my driver we’re headed that way and need to get to the airport pronto? And do your best to make my grandfather keep to his plan of leaving here as soon as possible. If you run into headwind, call me without hesitation.”
“Absolutely, Mr. Rivers. Have a good flight, sir, Ms. Harding.”
This time on her way down the hall, Hunter was oblivious to any or all curious onlookers who were back at their desks. The shock of Henry Yarrow’s illness-forced retirement and dread over Cord Rivers taking over things—including her personal travel plans—weren’t easily taken in stride. How was she to endure being stuck in a plane with him for hours?
“I’m sorry for the way we had to break this to you,” Cord said. “He wanted to hold off as long as he could.”
“I understand.”
“You’re in shock.”
While he didn’t say the words with any sarcasm or accusation of any kind, Hunter blinked back hot tears as another stab of pain struck her. “He’s been more than boss and mentor to me, he’s been a—a friend.”
“A friend who didn’t know about you and Denny any more than I did.”
But as soon as he was sliced with her scathing look, Cord cleared his throat. “Do you have any luggage you need to retrieve from your office or vehicle?”
As they arrived at the elevators, Hunter watched him punch the nearest down key. “No. I was going to catch the red-eye back, so baggage wasn’t necessary.” Accepting that she was sounding way too hostile, she forced herself to voice her next words with more reason. “Do you really have to come, too? You must have more important things to do. And you have to admit, it’s a little ridiculous to be delegated a babysitter, despite Mr. Henry’s kind references about my value.”
“Showing support to our star journalist is hardly a waste of my time,” Cord replied. “Besides, as Gramps pointed out, this will give us the perfect opportunity to talk.”
Hunter stared at his reflection in the polished brass doors. For all of his striking presence and his new stature, she refused to go to her strategic guillotine without a fight. “At the risk of annoying you to where you buy out my contract, I’m not going to discuss Denny with you.”
He whistled softly. “You are still angry. Were you really that serious about him? I saw live feeds of your news reports only days after he left Texas, and you looked and performed better than ever. There wasn’t the slightest hint that you were suffering an emotional meltdown.”
Hunter seethed. For the better part of a week, she hadn’t been able to eat more than toast without losing it in seconds. She’d been afraid to pass a copy editor her adjustments to a field writer’s report for fear that someone would see how badly her hands were shaking. She had felt totally humiliated and had lost all confidence in her judgment, which for a person trained to analyze was the most bitter of pills. But to Cord Rivers she offered a cold smile and said, “That’s why you pay me what you
do, Mr. Rivers.”
“I don’t buy it.” The elevator doors parted and Cord followed Hunter inside. Once they turned to face front again and the doors slid shut, he continued, “All I’m saying is that if we were in love, you wouldn’t be able to hide it, and I know I sure as hell couldn’t.”
Hunter wasn’t prone to blushing, but hearing the undertones of passion in his voice, she felt an unwelcome heat flood her body. She gripped the strap of her leather shoulder bag to keep from yielding to unwanted fidgeting that would give away her physical awareness of him. “Mr. Rivers—”
“Cord.”
She would choke if she tried to call him by his first name. She was already feeling queasy because the elevator was doing its best to beat a record to the first floor. Pressing her free hand to her tummy, she blurted out, “I can’t take this trip with you. If you’ll drop me off at the airport, I’ll see about that alternate flight.”
“Do I frighten you that much?”
“Try annoy.”
“Honesty at last. Thank you. We have a launch point to work from.”
“Better yet, start from the fact that your personal comment just now was inappropriate.”
Unbuttoning his suit jacket to slide his hands into his pants’ pockets, Cord shrugged. “Maybe I’m less formal than my grandfather, but then I’m not eighty nor have I ever been the cookie-cutter, politically correct type. The point is that you have issues with me, and that simply can’t be left unaddressed.”
“As long as I get your station good ratings, what do you care what I think about you?”
“Because I have been thinking about you since the day I talked my grandfather into moving Denny to L.A.—longer, if you must know—and it’s time I do something about that.”
It's News to Her Page 2
