Kim was typing when she saw Chloe arrive. Chloe didn’t so much walk into the office as quietly slink in, sliding into her chair as if hoping she had miraculously shrunk to an inch in height.
A split second after she had sat down, Kim’s phone rang.
An internal call.
From Helen.
She picked up the handset.
“Get her in here,” Helen said before Kim even had a chance to speak.
The line went dead. Kim put the handset down and stood up. She walked over to the digital department. Natasha hadn’t arrived yet. Thankfully, Pippa was in the meeting room with Tess on a conference call. Fiona was on the phone, as she had been solidly since she got in. All good news that meant Chloe was still in one piece.
As she approached the desk, Chloe looked up at her sadly.
“Hey,” Kim greeted.
“Hey,” Chloe said miserably.
“Helen wants to see you.”
“Yeah, Darcy said she would.” Chloe stood up. “Shall we get it over with?”
Kim nodded. They both walked towards Helen’s office. Chloe’s cheeks were bright red and her eyes were wet with unshed tears. Kim wanted to hug her, tell her that it would be okay. But she knew that Chloe was barely holding it together.
They approached Helen’s open office door. Chloe hesitated. Kim stepped around her and into the office.
“Chloe’s here,” she announced.
Helen continued to focus on her monitor. She lifted her hand and pointed to a chair opposite her desk. Chloe hurried into the room and sat down.
“Kim, did you hear the podcast last night?” Helen asked without looking up.
“Yes.”
“Then you should be here, too. Close the door behind you.”
Damn, twice in one week, Kim thought. She stepped into the office and closed the door. She took the seat beside Chloe. Helen continued typing, finishing up whatever she was doing.
The office was quiet except for the loud clacking of the keyboard, each letter pierced the silence like a gunshot. Chloe’s knee started bouncing.
Finally, Helen reached for the mouse and clicked a button. She removed her glasses and turned to face Chloe.
“I didn’t hear the podcast,” Helen started. “I’m not one of the tens of thousands of people who apparently listen to it. While I’m aware that I should now listen to it, I sadly don’t have time to. Because I’m receiving around five emails a minute from investors, shareholders, sister publications, advertisers, journalists, and more.
“From what I understand, you were interviewed on a podcast last night? One with a very large audience. And it was said that Honey is in financial difficulty, is that true?”
“The host pushed her,” Kim jumped in. “Chloe didn’t actually say anything like that. Not directly.”
“I said that all magazines were experiencing a dip in sales,” Chloe confessed. “And I said that Honey had experienced a decline in readership. I’m so sorry.”
“Do you understand why we wouldn’t want that information to be public knowledge?” Helen asked.
“I didn’t. But I do now. I was just trying to help; my friend runs the podcast. I thought if I could speak to her about Honey, the word would get out there and more people would be aware of it and hopefully buy it.” Chloe ran her palms over her skirt.
Helen leaned back in her chair. “It was a very irresponsible thing to do. You do not speak for Honey. And it goes without saying that private financial information is not to be shared outside this office.”
“O-of course. I would never give information like that. I was… I just wanted people to know about Honey. The show was edited to make it sound a lot worse than it was.” Chloe stopped and sucked in a deep breath. “As I say, I’m very sorry. I… I understand if I’m fired.”
Kim wanted to melt into the floor on Chloe’s behalf.
“You’re not fired,” Helen said. “You made a mistake. If we all got fired for making mistakes there wouldn’t be a solvent company in the world. But there will be a lot of work now; damage control.”
Chloe nodded. “If I can help in anyway—”
“You can promise me to never do a podcast ever again.” Helen’s stare was hard and cold. She may have decided to give Chloe a second chance, but it was still clear that she was furious with her.
“Oh, trust me, I’ve learnt my lesson. I don’t think I’ll even listen to a podcast ever again.”
Helen stared at her for a few long moments. The tension in the air was thick. Kim had never seen Helen so angry in the office. Irritated, sure. Peeved, definitely. Angry? Never. It wasn’t something she wanted to see again.
“Go back to your desk. Don’t contact your friend anymore. Don’t speak to anyone without my permission,” Helen instructed.
Chloe jumped to her feet and rushed out of the office, closing the door behind her.
“Her heart was in the right place,” Kim defended.
“Clearly her thought process wasn’t.” Helen leaned forward and interlaced her fingers. “You heard it; how was it?”
Kim winced. “Not good. She wasn’t on for long and the host, Donna, kept pushing that Honey was in trouble. Chloe didn’t exactly confirm or deny anything, but by then the damage was already done.”
“She said it was edited?” Helen asked.
“Yes, the show was recorded last night and then edited and uploaded. Obviously, I don’t know what was edited out, but I felt it sounded like the host was fishing for dirt. I don’t think Chloe is stupid, I believe her if she says it sounded a lot worse than what she said.”
Helen nodded. “Very well. Do you know if Lucy heard it?”
Kim nodded. “She immediately started drafting replies to the messages she knew she’d get today. I think a couple of her new clients are considering pulling their advertising, but I know she’ll get them back.”
Kim hoped she sounded confident. She didn’t feel it. Lucy had been in a blind panic the night before, convinced that her job was really hanging by a thread now.
“I hope so.” Helen stretched her arms in the air. Her back popped. She slumped back into her chair. “I have a meeting with Celia this afternoon, apparently she listens to the show, which I don’t mind telling you surprises me a great deal.”
“Is she angry?” Kim made a mental note to tell Darcy about Celia’s expected visit.
“Celia doesn’t really get angry. She’s… concerned. She’s an investor, and while she’s not stupid enough to panic and pull her funds, she could be caught in the crossfire if other investors do.”
Helen’s attention was caught by something on her screen. She sighed. “I’ll be happy to get away from my emails for an hour. You’d think the world was ending.”
“Can I do anything?” Kim asked hopefully. She wanted to help. She felt like she was partially to blame. She knew that Chloe was doing the show and had kept it a secret for her. Not that she’d willingly admit that to anyone. No, she’d keep her guilt to herself. It had company, and her secrets were forming a stomach ulcer to swim in.
“No, we’re a little beyond canned responses. Just keep taking messages for any phone calls that come in. And block out my diary from two onward for this meeting with Celia. Oh, is Fiona in?”
“Yes, she’s been on the phone since she got in. I think she’s having the same issues you are.”
“Any news on whether or not we have a photographer?”
Kim shook her head. “I’ve not heard anything or seen Nicola.”
“Okay. This little disaster buys Fiona a little more time.” Helen sat forward and pulled the laptop towards her. “Thanks, Kim. That’s all for now.”
Kim stood up. “What happens if she can’t convince Nicola to come back?”
“My ex will get the house, because I’ll be in prison for murder,” Helen deadpanned.