Lee-Anne looked like she was going to cry. She looked straight at Jerry. “Jerr, do you agree with Manny?”
“Lee-Anne, you’re not stupid, so why would you think I’d disagree with my new boss, even if I thought he was off-base on this? Which, by the way, he’s not. Your ideas are just what this station needs, and clothes one size bigger are what your career needs. I will say this once and only once, and if it’s ever repeated outside this room I will deny it to the day I die, vehemently. Lee-Anne, you are absolutely one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. But, until you respect yourself, no one else will. Your awards and sales numbers are terrific, but I’ll be frank and tell you that my New Year’s Wish List for the station was a new Sales Manager, because you’re too high risk. If no one respects our Sales Manager, no one respects us. I’m not saying I want you in baggy pantsuits and sensible shoes, just more Glenn Close in Damages, and less Demi Moore in Disclosure. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. I guess so.”
“Whatever life you and Tom have at home, happy or sad, frisky or bland, I don’t care. I mean, I do, but I don’t. I care that all the team have lives they’re happy with, but I don’t care to see the fallout at work. Show us pictures of the kids, talk about your anniversary dinner with Tom, but…”
“I understand. Thank you. I love Tom with all my heart, and I’m sorry my behaviour has made you think otherwise. Our marriage isn’t perfect, but whatever issues we have at home stay at home. I get it.” She picked up the folder on the table in front of her and hugged it to her chest. “Since I hit puberty at eleven, my curves have got me more attention than my straight As or scholarships or awards. Thank you for shooting straight and giving me another chance.”
Manny spoke first. “Of course. And I’m sorry we didn’t have this chat sooner. We’re all family, and we all want to see each of us succeed.”
“Like Manny said.” Jerry nodded. “Now, can I talk to you about some changes to Rolf’s segment with an eye for syndication and SiriusXM Satellite Radio? His show is teetering on brilliant and if we can get him before a wider audience we’ll definitely see the impact on our numbers and his career.”
“My kids say he’s the funniest bloke on the airwaves, so tell me what you’re thinking, Jerr.”
But it was Lee-Anne who answered Manny. “Podcasting. Tom loves listening to those things.”
“Exactly. Manny, let’s get a podcast up and use it to take Rolf and the other on-air personalities to a whole new level. Ideally, I would love to be live streaming the station over the Net, but podcasting is a less expensive foot in the Internet door.”
“Podcasting? Now you’ve lost me. What the hell is podcasting?”
“Think of it as radio, but for subscribers only. Narrowcasting instead of broadcasting. Look, I’ve got a copy of Podcasting for Dummies I’ll bring in for you. Tee and Evo—the authors—explain the whole thing better than I can. It’s going to take some work, so maybe we should get back to Lee-Anne’s plan and see what we can do in the immediate future to shake things up. When is this ‘Nicely Naughty’ show, Lee-Anne?”
“Six weeks. Valentine’s Day weekend. I’ll talk to the organizers and set up a VIP package for about twenty people. We can give away four passes on air every Friday leading right up to the event.”
“Excellent. Perfect. I’m the new face around here, so tell me how I can help. I’ll take in any event you want, and I’ll bring at least one of the on-airs with me.”
“And your girlfriend, Ana.”
“Ana? How do you know about Ana?”
“Mika. She thinks Ana is adorable and perfect. She also said she talked you into bringing her to the First Night Ball at the Empress.”
“She did. Ana’s pretty excited.”
Manny leaned in. “Girlfriend? I thought you left her behind.”
“No, that was Haley. Ana’s someone I just met here in Victoria. Is it a problem, Manny? I just gave her a tour of the station. I wouldn’t exactly call her my girlfriend.”
“The only problem, mate, is going to be with Carmella when she finds out she hasn’t met her, yet.”
“Is New Year’s Eve soon enough?”
“It’ll be fine. Better not make plans for dinner the next day, though. Carmella will bloody insist that you two come have New Year’s Day dinner with our family.”
“Ana’s a bit shy.” And not much for eating or drinking, he thought.
Lee-Anne laughed. “That’s not what I heard, Jerry. Mika thinks we should put her on air, she’s so full of life and has that cute accent.”
“Ah, okay. Let’s table this discussion for a much later date. Please. We’ve only just started seeing each other and mixing work and home is—as we were just discussing—a risky business.”
“Whatever you say, Jerr-bear. Oops. Jerry. Sorry.” She blushed. “Anyway, if you’ve just started dating, you need to wow her. Remind me after we’re done here that I’ve got some comp tickets you two can use. Admission to Herman’s Jazz Club, and a free carriage ride around Beacon Hill Park. If jazz and a carriage ride don’t win her heart, she’s dead inside. Just saying.”
“Jazz and a carriage ride would be perfect. Thank you.” Dead inside? He nearly laughed aloud. Ana was more alive than most of the living people he knew, which was probably why she made him feel so energized, even when he was exhausted.
“Right then, you two. Mr. I-Haven’t-Got-A-Girlfriend and Mrs. Let-Me-Help-You-Win-Her-Heart, how are we going to promote this Nicely Naughty thing without losing our older listeners and landing ourselves in jail?”
TWO HOURS LATER they had their plan, Manny had hope for the station, Lee-Anne had solidified their respect for her and had a new confidence in herself, and Jerry had the passes in hand and a carriage ride booked for an hour after dusk that evening. He also had trouble focusing on anything for any length of time. He was thankful he’d left the Jeep at home and walked to the station.
About a block from the loft he ran into a wall of exhaustion, like someone had cut his strings, again. He found a bench and sat. “A two minute time out. That’s all I need. Then I can nap at home, rest my eyes.”
It was closer to ten minutes when Jerry finally admitted that his bed was calling his name louder than the bench was. He started off again and made it home quickly. Ana was nowhere to be seen, but her book was on the coffee table so he figured she was probably just saving her energy for when he got home. He hung up his coat, placed the passes for that evening’s entertainment next to the Blake book, and crashed, fully dressed, on the bed. He drifted toward wakefulness when he felt a blanket draped over him and Ana climb under and snuggle up against him, but exhaustion won the battle and he tumbled back into sleep.
AT FIRST JERRY thought the Belgian draft horse was going to spook and bolt down the street with the carriage in tow when Ana approached her. The chestnut mare’s eyes went wide and she pulled her head up, away from Ana’s reaching hand, but as soon as the Grand Duchess placed her slender palm on the big girl’s cheek, calm was restored. Ana stroked the mare’s neck and spoke softly to their sixtyish carriage driver, Bryce.
“She is beautiful, sir. Cheval de trait belge?”