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She followed Gary around as he passed by the news anchor sound stage. He slipped passed the cameras and she clipped at his heels. “C’mon Gary, this will be a great piece. You know it. Just let me have the day off.”
“Last minute like this?” Gary stepped into a small office and tried to close the door halfheartedly, as if he expected Stephanie to step through. He sighed and gave her an annoyed look. Stephanie knew he had wanted her to drop this about ten minutes ago.
“Sometimes the best stories come up last minute. I’ll get the footage. I’ll be respectful.”
Gary’s eyes shifted as he picked a folder off the desk. He flipped through it. “Trying to win back some favor, huh?”
Stephanie knew she had to be honest if she was going to get him to agree with this. Which meant she needed to swallow her pride—something she was never very good at. “I was out of line with him, letting my perceptions color my behavior. Just trying to fix a wrong. I was out of line. Let me just do my job and get a good segment. That’s all.”
She was still sure Bret was all smoke and mirrors but to act unprofessionally on camera crossed a line. Stephanie wouldn’t do it again.
“All right but as soon as you get back tomorrow morning, you call me. I want to see the raw footage before you piece the segment together.” Gary let out a long deep breath. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t. You won’t regret it, I promise.” Stephanie felt the uneasy urge to hug him or squeeze his side but she let the feeling pass. “Can I borrow the compact camera? It’ll make the footage easier to grab.”
“Is there anything else you want?” Gary asked, scowling.
“Just the camera. That’s it.”
“Grab it and go. Before I change my mind,” he grumbled and stormed out of the office.
Stephanie felt a rush of excitement and clapped her hands together once. It was going to be quite the adventure and if Bret had the skills he professed he did, Stephanie would apologize—sincerely this time. But, if he didn’t, she’d catch it on camera. Either one would make for a great television.
Which one she’d end up with was anyone’s guess, but either way Stephanie would end up with a big scoop for the local news and maybe even her career.
******
Morning came hard and fast. Stephanie barely had her first cup of coffee before she setout in the morning. She dressed in cargo pants, a long sleeve t-shirt and a jacket. In her backpack she backed everything she was told to: extra socks, water, first aid supplies, a hat, and granola bars. Stephanie stuffed some string and rope in the side pocket since she had the room.
Plus an extra camera battery and her cell phone.
She called her sister Macy about taking care of her small dog, April, while she was gone. “But I promise I’ll be back early tomorrow morning.”
“You better! Please be careful!” Macy said. “You know how I worry. Don’t make launch a rescue party.”
“I’ll be with the Wilderness Billionaire! What could possibly go wrong?”
After that conversation, Stephanie had nothing to do but to meet Bret at the small regional Sweet Falls airport. She was let in the main building and taken to the stairwell that led to the basement. Up there a single helicopter waited. The pilot sat inside, going over his system checks, wearing his headset and a pair of mirrored avatar shades. Soon, they’d be ready to go.
Stephanie’s stomach flip flopped from mostly nerves but a little bit excitement. Calm and confident, she strolled across the rooftop. When she was nearly halfway there, Bret jumped out of the helicopter and sauntered over to meet her. If Stephanie walked with calm, Bret was effortlessly a celebrity with his long strides and movie star smile.
He wore a pair of cargo pants and a nice plaid white and gray shirt. “I’m glad you made it. I wasn’t sure if you would.” He offered Stephanie his hand.
Stephanie took it and gave it a hearty shake. “I said I would. Everything’s worked out just fine, Mr. Mitchell. I’m ready when you are.”
Bret grinned. “This will be a trip of a lifetime.” He gestured to the helicopter and let Stephanie take the lead. As she gripped the metal insides, Bret offered to help her.
She just shook her head. “I’ve got it!” She pulled herself on board and took the seat closest to the window. As she got herself buckled in, Bret slammed the helicopter’s side door shut and he made introductions.
“This is my ace pilot, Richie. He’s been with me for over five years now. Richie, this is Stephanie.”
“Ahh, the journalist? Very good, Miss Stephanie. I hope everyone is ready and waiting for take off because here we go!”
“I’m ready for anything!” Stephanie said over the churning of the helicopter blades. Here went nothing. Bret sat across from her and buckled his seat belt. Stephanie could smell his cologne and it was fresh and alluring. She hoped she really wasn’t beginning to find him attractive because that really would be quite annoying.
Annoying indeed.
The helicopter began its ascension above Sweet Falls. The town was beautiful as they hovered above. The tree buds were just beginning to grow and each branch held a hint of green. While some roofs still had a tiny bit of snow yet. It was half spring with a foot still stepped into Winter. An unusual time but a time of beauty. As they began to fly away from civilization, Stephanie took her camera out of her bag and aimed it at Bret.
“Now?” He asked with a smirk.
Stephanie gave a little shrug as she adjusted the focus on the lens. “Why not? Just a little introduction. I promise I won’t say anything that’ll embarrass you.”
Bret gave a humble little smile. “All right, but you know I don’t usually fear a little embarrassment.”
Yeah right, Stephanie thought. She turned the camera on. “Here we are with the legendary Bret Mitchell as we fly toward the mountains of Sweet Falls. I don’t know where he’s taking us yet but soon, all will be revealed. Any hints, Bret?”
He raised his hand. “Not yet. I’m afraid I’m a man of mystery, Steph. But you’re going to love it. Regardless of where we end up.”
Stephanie panned to the window to take an exterior shot of the mountains surrounding the town. Being it was still so early in the morning mist surrounded the peaks but the sun would break it up as it rose in the sky. With her shot complete, Stephanie turned the camera off and lowered it. “That was great, thank you.”
Bret leaned back and his seat, giving her an appraising smile. It wasn’t all together unpleasant and Stephanie had to admit, he was easy on the eyes. Not that it meant she’d go easy on him. She had agreed to go on this trip to catch him in a lie, or a series of lies. Stephanie would do what was necessary to ensure that happened.
Ethically, of course. It wasn’t like she was going to start throwing things out of his backpack when he wasn’t looking. She would keep her eye on him and ask him questions as they went. She thought it might be fun. Bret was quiet as the flight continued and she thought it a little odd but maybe he was gathering his thoughts before they landed.
Finally, he pointed his finger onto the window. “We’ll be let off over there. There’s a cliff called Widow’s Peak. It’s supposed to have an excellent view.”
Stephanie gazed where he pointed and saw a small clearing jetting out from the trees. It looked awfully high up. It was part of the trip she really hadn’t given any consideration—was Stephanie really up to the challenge of keeping up with an experienced hiker and mountain climber? She hoped her fear of heights wouldn’t keep her from keeping up and doing her job well.
“I’m sure the view will be great,” Stephanie said with a hard swallow.
“You look a little green all of a sudden.” Bret leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. “If you don’t want to do this, I don’t mind getting off alone.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.” Bret grinned. “Not everyone is up for this kind of a challenge.”
“Not everyone is me,” Stephanie said sternly.
Bret held his hands up. “Fair enough, fair enough. Let’s have a great time then. If you’ll excuse me.” Bret stood and ducked down low as he made his way up to the front to talk to the pilot.
When he was gone, Stephanie blew out a long slow breath. Relieved, he was gone for a minute and she had a chance to take a quick break. Settle her thoughts. She had to settle her mind and her stomach if she was going to pull this off. She felt a dark sense of foreboding hanging over her head. Stephanie hoped it was just nerves and nothing else.
You used to be an athlete, Stephanie reminded herself. She ran track, she climbed rock walls at the local Y. With Bret as her guide, there was nothing she couldn’t do. She could do whatever he asked. Stephanie was sure of it, but as the clearing of Widow’s Peak came into view, she wiped her sweating hands on her jeans. She was nervous and she was scared. Stephanie just hoped Bret wouldn’t notice.
Suddenly, she hoped he wasn’t a phony and he knew the things he said. She was after all putting her life in his hands.