21
“Whoa?” Lisa’s eyes took in the new sleek lobby. “I must be in the wrong place,” she said while looking around.
“We are not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure,” Mrs. Young laughed.
“When did all of this happen?”
“It started around seven this morning,” she mused. “The lobby was finished by noon and Mr. Levine’s office shortly thereafter.”
“They redid Jerry’s office?”
“They moved him to Dan’s old office and the copy room. Knocked down the wall and expanded his office. It is really nice.”
“You’re kidding,” Lisa said. “I have to go check that out.” She was still looking back at the lobby when she opened the door to the back offices. That’s when she collided with the man walking out the door.
“Holy crap,” she exclaimed. “Can’t you watch where you are going?”
“The door works both ways, Ms. Cahill.”
Lisa looked up. “Who in the hell are you?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Ross Tyson,” he said as he released the elbow he was holding to keep her from falling.
“Tyson? As in Tyson Broadcasting?”
“That would be correct.”
“But you’re….you’re….” She blinked. “Are you related to Wade Tyson?”
“I am.” Ross nodded. “He’s my brother.”
“Brother?” She laughed. “Oh, you mean like bond, friend….brother.”
“No. I mean what I said, brother. Now, if you would excuse me.” He started to walk away.
“Wait.” She reached out, brushed her hair from her face, then smiled. “Allow me to properly introduce myself.” She extended her hand. “I’m Lisa Cahill, Evening Anchor. You can understand my confusion when you indicated you were Wade’s brother. I mean…” She shimmied a little. “You’re White, he’s Black. One wouldn’t peg you two to be brothers.”
“I know.” Ross nodded then started to walk away again.
“Umm…it’s nice to meet you, Ross. Is Wade here?”
“No and the name is Mr. Tyson, for both Wade and myself. To find out more about your new employers you really should follow Mrs. Young’s steps and simply look us up. You are a reporter, correct?”
“I am,” Lisa replied a little salty.
“Research is key, Ms. Cahill. Now, if you would excuse me.” Ross turned and walked off.
Lisa stared at the closing doors for a long moment. “That was a shitty attitude.” She smirked then walked into the back office which was apparently going through major renovations. Workers were in different areas of the open space where the researchers, and production assistants worked. She could see, once it was all said and done, the pit, as they called it, would be just as impressive as the lobby area. Walking further in, the first office she came to was Jerry’s. The door was open and all she could do as she stepped inside was marvel at the vision.
“Whoa, did you hit pay dirt.”
“Nice, right.” Jerry smiled as he walked over to close the door. “I came in and this was done since last night. Check this out.” He walked over to the small refrigerator and coffee stand. “Is this crazy or what?”
“It’s nicer than my cabinets at home. And you have a conference table in your office.”
“Listen,” Jerry said as he sat back behind his desk. “I mean they are upgrading everything, the monitors, camera equipment, hell they are even expanding the newsroom. I found out they purchased the vacant lot next door. They plan to put in a connecting parking deck and more offices.”
Lisa took a seat as Jerry talked. “And check this out.” He handed her a folder. “It’s a new employment package.”
“What?” She eagerly took the folder from his hand then scanned through. She looked up with a scowl on her forehead. “You were demoted to News Director and received an increase in pay?”
“Damn near doubled what I was making as General Manager. Maybe this is not a bad thing for us after all.”
Lisa sat back in disbelief. “Are they upgrading everyone?”
Jerry shrugged. “Who gives a shit?” He smirked. “Look around. I’ve only dreamed of having an office like this one day.”
“That’s great, Jerry, but what about me? I want to get to the national stage. This is all nice, but I want the fame. I can’t get that in Richmond.”
“You’re on screen talent. They’ll probably hook you up way better than this and with Tyson being international, who knows, it may get you the exposure you need to boost you to the national level.”
“I don’t know, Jerry. What if they upgrade Rachel as well? If Rachel is doing her own stories where will that leave me?”
“That won’t happen,” Jerry assured her. “It would be a ratings disaster if they put Rachel on screen.”
“Maybe not. Like you said last night. The public is getting more concerned with the facts rather than the person who is delivering the news.”
“Screw the facts. We can make the facts disappear.”
Lisa looked stunned. “Jerry. We don’t change the facts of a story.”
“No, of course not. But facts can be omitted. Or even deleted from the computer. That’s where she keeps all of her notes. All we have to do is distort one story with the right person and Rachel’s career is down the drain.”
“Jerry, Rachel has done some great stories for Cahill. We’ve won awards because of them.”
“Well, darling, we don’t work for Cahill anymore.”
“That’s the point, we now work for Tyson. A worldwide organization. That plan could backfire and you, nor I, will have a career.”
“All right,” Jerry picked up the folder she placed back on the desk. “I’m sitting pretty. You’re the one who doesn’t know what’s behind the next door.”
“Take a look around Jerry. You’re pretty well set up here. Why would you do anything to jeopardize that?”
“They demoted me. Nobody does that to Jerry Levine. Nobody.” He sat back. “But don’t worry. The powers that be will think they have a well-oiled ship. I will make them believe I am thankful just to have a chance to work with the great Tyson brothers.”
“Speaking of which, I ran into Ross Tyson. Can you believe they are brothers?”
“Yes, their story is on the website. How did your run in with Ross Tyson go?”
“Not great, but have no fear, I can turn any man around.” Lisa sat back and crossed her legs. “The question is which one is in charge? Wade or Ross?”
“Make no mistake, Wade is the one in charge. Ross is only here to get things started. Read their story it will give you some insight on how to handle them.” He winked. “You know, it might not be a bad idea for you to make a play for Ross as a backup if Wade doesn’t bite.”
“The way things are going there may not be a reason to do anything.” Lisa stood. “It seems like they are being very generous to us.”
“I want my job back,” Jerry said as he put his feet on the desk and leaned back. He crossed his legs at the ankle. “When that door says General Manager again, I’ll be happy.”
Lisa shook her head as she opened the door. “We’ll see how things go.”
“Reporting live I’m Rachel Fontaine, back to you Lisa,” Jerry said in a female voice. He tilted his head. “You’ll be hearing that soon.”
Lisa walked out the door closing it behind her.