Filthy Doctor(14)

Work was never slow or easy. To the contrary, producing a one-hour live network newscast was like juggling a dozen running chainsaws in the air while tap dancing on hot coals and whistling Dixie out of your ass. It was fast-paced, frenetic, chaotic, and absolutely wonderful. A total adrenaline rush night after night. After two weeks on the job, even Bryant gave me an occasional smile at the end of the newscast. I considered that a big step in getting the famously cranky anchor on my side.

It was weird when Cole came on set every Friday to do his two-minute segment. We didn’t try to hide the fact that we were sleeping together, but we didn’t advertise it either. Just to make sure there was no conflict of interest, and to keep the rumor mill running at a minimum when Cole came onset, I stayed in the control booth and resisted the urge to whisper filthy things in his earpiece. Cole would slide into the chair beside Stephanie at the news desk while an assistant clipped on his wireless microphone. He would make small talk with Stephanie and Bryant before the cameras came on. It was apparent how enamored they both were of him. Even Bryant couldn’t seem to stop smiling at him. And who wouldn’t be in awe of Dr. Cole Walker? He looked like a Greek god sitting next to an aging Ken and bouncing Barbie. Stephanie giggled like a horny teenager at his every word and constantly put her hand on his. Cole would casually pull his hand away and smile at the camera, knowing that I was watching.

I was sure the only person who knew I was seeing Cole was Ed, and even he hadn’t mentioned anything about it until the Friday afternoon that he came into my office with a grim look on his face an hour before show time. He closed the door and slumped in the chair across from my desk.

“What’s wrong, Ed?” I asked, alarmed by the deep frown cutting across his forehead. Ed’s usual expression was a frown, but this was different. “Did somebody die?”

“Yes, our Friday ratings,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I just got off the phone with the guys upstairs. Dr. Cole Walker is not renewing his contract because he got an offer to do a syndicated show for Kingston Television. He will not be here today for his usual Friday spot or in the future, so we’ll need to fill the time with something else until we can line up a replacement talking head. His time at WNN is through.”

I blinked at him because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Cole and I had not discussed his contract negotiations with WNN since the morning after we reconnected two weeks ago, and he hadn’t mentioned a word about the syndication deal coming to fruition. Surely, he would have shared such monumental news with me. I mean, we weren’t officially a couple or anything, but Jesus, when you spend most nights with a guy’s cock inside you, you expect a little consideration.

I picked up my phone to see if I had missed a message from Cole. I hadn’t. The last time I’d talked to him was at breakfast around seven. I knew that he had a heart valve replacement surgery scheduled for mid-morning, so I just assumed he was really busy. I set the phone aside and stared back at Ed.

I asked, “When did this happen?”

“I just got the call five minutes ago that the deal is officially dead,” he said with a shrug. “But it’s my understanding that Walker’s manager gave our people notice yesterday. They tried to hammer out a last-minute deal, but it was too late. Walker signed with Kingston Television yesterday and there will be a press release today. Turns out, we were probably just a bargaining chip he was using to get a better deal in syndication, the son of a bitch.”

“Yesterday? You’re fucking kidding me. He signed the deal yesterday?” I felt the heat rising from my chest into my head, like lava flowing up to the top of a volcano about to blow sky high. “That son of a bitch.”

Ed cocked his head at me and frowned. “What?”

“He didn’t say anything to me about the deal,” I said, nostrils flaring like an angry bull. “And he didn’t say that he wouldn’t be here for the show today, either.”

Ed narrowed his eyes at me. “Have you two talked about his plans?” he asked, trying to act nonchalant but failing miserably. “Are you sure you didn’t know this was coming?”

I blinked at him. “What? No, of course not. I mean, we briefly talked about it when I first got into town, but he made it clear it was not something he wanted to discuss with me.” It was my turn to frown back at him. “Why would you ask me that?”

Ed took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He put his elbows on his knees and leaned over them, then spread his hands. “I won’t sugarcoat it for you, Lucy. Management is concerned that there may have been a conflict of interest at play. They know you and Walker were seeing each other and there is speculation that maybe Walker or his people used that relationship to his advantage.”

My blood ran cold as I stared into his eyes. “That’s ridiculous,” I said, gritting my teeth, doing my best to retain my composure. “We never discussed it. And I certainly would not have revealed anything about WNN’s position. Fuck, Ed, I didn’t know anything to reveal!”

“I know that,” Ed said with a heavy sigh. “I told them that, but they have egg all over their faces and they’re looking for someone to blame. They think you knew about Walker’s plans and just didn’t say anything.”

“They think I picked my lover over my job.”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

I leaned back with my arms folded defensively over my chest. “Ed, how did management know that Cole and I were seeing each other? The only people here who knew that for sure were you and me. Did you tell them about us?”

Rather than get defensive and try to deny the truth, Ed pushed himself back in the chair and gave me a slow nod. “Yeah, Lucy, I’m afraid I did. I was having lunch with Larry David in programming and let it slip that you two were high school sweethearts and there might be a rekindling of the flame. Honestly, it was just a quick comment made in passing. I never suspected it would come back to bite you in the ass.”

I felt the muscles in my jaws tighten. “Is this going to bite me in the ass, Ed? Is my job in jeopardy?”

His round shoulders went up and down. “Honestly, Lucy, I don’t know. Management would like to meet with both of us on Monday to discuss the situation.”

“Fuck…” I slumped back in the chair and rubbed my eyes. “Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.”

“There’s something else, Lucy,” Ed said. “I just mentioned to Larry that you two were old flames. That was at lunch over a week ago. However, when I talked to Larry today he seemed to know every detail of the relationship. Or at least acted like he did.”

“What do you mean?”

Ed glanced over his shoulder at the door to make sure it was closed. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “He asked me how a woman could fuck a man every night for two weeks and not know what was on his mind.”

My mouth dropped open. It was such a ludicrous question that I had to smile. “What?”

“You heard it right. Those were his exact words. My question to you is, how does Larry David in programming know that you’ve spent every night for two weeks fucking Dr. Cole Walker?”

“How indeed?”

We stared at each other for a moment, both knowing the answer, then Ed put his palms on his knees to push himself out of the chair. “We’ll get it all cleared up on Monday, Lucy. Don’t let it ruin your weekend.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” I said, looking up with a forced smile that was anything but happy.

Ed nodded. “I know. And I’m sorry. What are you going to do?”

“I have a show to produce,” I said, glancing at my watch. “Then? Who the fuck knows?”





Chapter 15: Cole





Fifteen million dollars.

Fifteen fucking million dollars.

That’s how much Kingston Television was going to pay me under the three-year syndication deal I had signed yesterday. They would also put up the money to produce five, one-hour shows per week and get the show syndicated into every market in the country by the end of the year. There were also six-figure bonuses for meeting ratings milestones every quarter and the promise of more good things to come if the show caught on like they believed it would.

One of the best parts was that I could recruit and hire my own staff. In my mind, there was no one better to executive produce the show than the woman who was walking into my kitchen at that very moment. I pulled a bottle of Coors from the fridge and twisted off the top and set it on the kitchen island. I knew better than to offer her a glass. Lucy liked her beer ice cold straight out of the bottle. I gave her time to drop her computer bag in a chair and was about to give her the great news when she pounced on me with her teeth and claws extended.

“I can’t fucking believe you did this to me,” she said, balling her hands into tight fists and shaking them in the air between us. “I thought you cared about me, Cole. How could you keep this from me?”

I planted my palms on the island and gave her a confused look. “Excuse me?”

“The syndication deal,” she said, throwing her hands in the air as if she were tossing pizza dough. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me you had signed a deal?”