News With Curves Read online

  News With Curves

  by

  Iris Bolling

  Copyright © 2018 by Iris Bolling

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Printed in the United States of America

  ISBN: 978-0-9990176-3-0

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018909305

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are with the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, locales is entirely coincidental.

  SIRI AUSTIN ENTERTAINMENT LLC

  PO Box 937

  Mechanicsville, VIRGINIA 23111

  [email protected]

  http://www.siriaustin.com

  http://www.irisbolling.net

  Books by Iris Bolling

  The Heart Series

  Once You’ve Touched The Heart

  The Heart of Him

  Look Into My Heart

  A Heart Divided

  A Lost Heart

  The Heart

  The Heart Always Wins

  Night of Seduction Series

  Night of Seduction/Heaven’s Gate

  The Pendleton Rule

  Gems and Gents Series

  Teach Me

  The Book of Joshua I – Trust

  The Book of Joshua II – Believe

  A Lassiter’s Christmas

  Ruby…Red Slippers & All

  The Book of Adam – Hypnotic

  The Book of Timothy – Symmetry

  Phire: I’m Just Saying

  Brooks Family Values Series

  Sinergy

  Fatal Mistake

  Propensity For Love

  The Dunnings

  Invested

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Books by Iris

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Reigns

  More from Iris

  Chapter

  1

  The scene unfolding before Rachel Fontaine was unreal. Yes, she had been around newsrooms all her adult life, starting as an intern while in high school, then all during college. When she graduated with a degree in Journalism five years ago, she knew the news desk was hers to conquer. 'One day I will be the reporter covering the White House,' she would tell all her friends. Yet, here she sat on the outside of the production table listening to the same boring submission of stories the so called investigative reporters were presenting to the General Manager. After two years as a production assistant, Rachel asked the General Manager, Jerry Levine, about a place at the table. His words were "You have to pay your dues first." She understood that and it worked until Lisa Cahill arrived and was immediately placed at the table as weekend anchor. The woman had less experience, actually none at all, a degree in Art History, but her trump card was her last name. When Rachel met with Jerry about the placement of Lisa, he gave her a promotion to researcher and a raise.

  Rachel enjoyed research, digging in and finding the truth behind a story. She had a real knack for details. When she presented her findings, not a stone was left unturned. It was her breaking stories that brought attention to the Cahill Broadcasting Network news group. Rachel was proud of her work until a year later, when Lisa was moved to evening anchor. This was her chance, Rachel thought, the weekend anchor position was open again. She would get a chance at that position. It was a natural progression since she and Lisa worked closely together. By close that meant Rachel feeding Lisa the stories line by line. Yes, this would be her chance. Lisa even indicated she would talk to Jerry about giving Rachel a shot. It was not to be. Juan Santos, a tall handsome Latino with perfect teeth was placed as the weekend anchor. After this slight, Rachel decided anchor was not in the future for her and began concentrating on investigative reporting. For the last two years she had been doing the investigations and yet again, she found herself feeding the stories to others to report. Today, she was standing up for herself. After five years of making everyone else shine, it was her time...

  "You can do this," Ken, one of the road cameraman and a friend, encouraged.

  "Yes, you can.” Her co-worker and production assistant, Betty Ann Stansfield nodded. "You look good in your navy suit and that crisp white blouse. And who knew you had the legs of death,” she added with a smile.

  "Jerry would be crazy not to give you a shot with this story.” Ken nodded. "If he asks who you want to handle camera, don't forget yours truly."

  Rachel smiled, not feeling as convinced on the inside as she looked on the outside, but she was going for it. "Here goes nothing." She exhaled and walked towards Jerry's office.

  "You got this," Betty Ann called out.

  Rachel looked over her shoulder as she put one foot in front of the other towards her future.

  After giving Jerry the run down on the story, the outcome was the same.

  "Bring Lisa up to date on the facts," Jerry, the General Manager, replied.

  "Jerry," Rachel pleaded. "I know this story inside out. I put in a lot of time and research to get to the truth behind the embezzlement of government funds. Let me report the story."

  "Rachel, we've had this discussion before. We have our on-air talent. You pay your dues and you will get your chance. Now is just not the time."

  "You said that a year ago, Jerry. I’ve broken several major stories since then, hell, you received the National Newsman Award because of the money laundering story and Lisa received the Anchor’s Award, while all I received was a single mention with every other person in the newsroom. I've proven my abilities time and time again. Give me a shot. Let me do this story.”

  "Damn it, Rachel. I, is all I'm hearing from you. Part of your problem is you don't get the fact that we work as a team. A team," he emphasized. "We pay you top dollar around here for the work you do. Yet all I'm hearing is bitching from you."

  Rachel became defensive. She hadn't approached him in a negative manner. She had not raised her voice, nor had she cursed at him...yet. All she did was ask to be given a chance.

  "I'm not bitching, Jerry." There was a bit of a strong emphasis on the word bitching. "All I'm asking is for you to honor your word."

  "I don't have time for this, Rachel. I’ve got the producers chewing my ass off because of budget issues. You want to know whose salary they throw in my face every time we have a meeting? Yours. And this is the gratitude I get from you." He slammed his pen on the desk. "Brief Lisa on the facts and be grateful you still have a job."

  Rachel stared at Jerry for a long moment before she stood and spoke softly. "For five years, I've given you ground breaking stories. I've watched reporters come and go, but I stayed out of loyalty to you and Cahill Broadcasting. As soon as I find a network who will be willing to give a woman of color a chance, I will be leaving."

  "Then you won't be going anywhere." He sat up. "It's not the color of your skin that’s keeping you off the air." He picked up his pen. "Grow up, Rachel."

  "I'm sorry, Jerry, but I must be missing something."

  He looked up. "You really don't get it?"

  Rachel folded her arms across her chest. "No, Jerry. Why don't you enlighten me?"

  Jerry sat back and sighed. "Rachel, look, I have a meeting with the owner and some executives they are bringing through. I don't want to get into this right now."

  "I'm afraid you are going to have to. What is the problem? If it's not the color of my skin, what is it? It can't be my grammar. I speak better than you most of the time. So what is it Jerry? I'm a big girl, I can take it."

  "That's just it, Rachel. You're a big girl. Big girls don't bring ratings. Your on camera appearance will make you larger than what you are. Everyone knows the camera puts 10 pounds on your body. The people in front of the camera have to be appealing. The kind the guys dream about at night and the women want to be. You do not have that look."

  Rachel looked down at herself. She was a thick sister. The curves were all in the right places. She worked out regularly and ran three times a week. Looking up at him with those piercing dark brown eyes, her shoulder length hair, and make up that looked as natural as the trees against the blue sky, she did not hide her anger.

  “Look, personally, I like my women curvy
. And there is no denying you are a pretty woman, but you are not on screen material. You are good...damn good at investigations and I have no doubt you would be a good reporter. But no one is going to put you in front of a camera. Your size will distract from the stories."

  Seething through her teeth, Rachel spoke. "I am a size 12, Jerry. That is the average size of women."

  "That may be. But what people want to see on their television screen is not themselves. They want to see what they desire to be. You show them who they are." Jerry looked over her shoulder through the glass door. "The owners are here. Don't screw me on this, Rachel. Brief Lisa on the story and get back to work."

  Anger was blinding Rachel as she turned away from the open office door. "My ass is too big to screw with the likes of you."

  Gregory Cahill, the elderly owner of Cahill Broadcasting and two other men stared as the angry woman whirled by them.

  "Oh my God, Rachel," Betty Ann exclaimed. "I can't believe he spoke to you like that."

  Ken was up in arms. "You want me to whip his ass? I will do it," he yelled loud enough to be heard by the men walking into Jerry's office.

  Rachel slumped down into her chair in disbelief. Shaking her head, on the verge of tears, she mumbled. "He has used my work to build his newsroom to something respectable with no intention of ever allowing me in front of the camera."

  Betty Ann rubbed Rachel's shoulder. "Don't, whatever you do, don't let them see you cry. Walk out or whatever, but don't let these assholes see that they broke you."

  Rachel stood as she opened her desk drawer and retrieved her purse. "Well, for the first time in my big ass life...." She nodded. "I'm broken. Never knew it before today, but I have a deficit. My intelligence, work ethic nor teamwork mean anything." She slowly pushed her chair under the desk. "I'm going to take a walk."

  "Are you coming back?" Betty Ann asked.

  Rachel looked around at the eyes on her. The other reporters who were at their desks, the production assistant and a few of the producers all looked at her to see what she would do.

  "Don't quit Rachel," Dan Allan, the producer of the evening news said. "You are too good at what you do to be kept down. Fight this. Don't let him and his way of thinking break you."

  "He's right.” Juan stepped into the room. "You are one of the reasons I've stayed. Your in-depth reporting is superb. You leave, I leave."

  The men and women in the newsroom echoed Juan's sentiment. Then Lisa walked in.

  "What is all the fuss about?"

  "Jerry just said Rachel will never get in front of the camera because of her size," Juan replied.

  Lisa shrugged. "He's right."

  Everyone in the room turned to stare at her.

  “Look." Lisa walked over to stand next to Rachel. "Right or not, people would rather see me, than this." She motioned up and down at Rachel's form. "It may not be politically correct, but it is the truth."

  "You know, Lisa, at least you are honest and stupid enough to say what's on your mind." Rachel took a step closer bringing her nose to nose with Lisa. "Refer to me as a this ever again and I will break that perfect little nose your parents purchased for their lily white princess."

  Betty Ann stepped between them. "Rachel, don't."

  Rachel’s angry eyes held Lisa's for a long warning moment. She was about to walk out of the newsroom when the men from Jerry's office entered.

  "May I have everyone's attention please," Jerry called out, not looking too happy.

  Everyone in the room turned to the four men standing in front of Jerry's office.

  "You have the floor, Mr. Cahill,” Jerry said then took a step back.

  "Good morning everyone," Mr. Cahill began. "This announcement is going to be taken in different ways by each of you. I see it as a positive step for the news. Cahill Broadcasting has been sold to Tyson Broadcasting Systems."

  There was total silence as the reporters, producers, cameramen and production assistants glanced at each other then back to the men.

  "Mr. Wade Tyson, the new General Manager, will give you more details."

  The man dressed in the grey, three thousand dollar suit, who looked as if he’d stepped off the pages of ‘what every man should look like’ magazine, stepped forward as Mr. Cahill stepped back. Rachel stepped to the right to get a clearer view of the man who was about to speak.

  "Wow." The whispered sentiment escaped her lips before she could stop it.

  Lisa stepped up. "What do you mean Cahill has been sold? Does Daddy know about this?"

  Robert Cahill, Lisa's grandfather, stared at her then turned to the man in the suit. "It always took her a minute longer than the other children."

  The man ducked his head and smiled.

  "Wow," Betty Ann echoed Rachel's previous exclamation.

  "Good morning..."

  "It's afternoon," Rachel unceremoniously corrected.

  Wade Tyson looked up into the eyes of the woman who’d stomped by them when they first arrived. His first assessment of the woman was where in the hell had she been all his life. When she screamed out something about screwing with the General Manager, that threw him for a moment. Now there she stood with defiant eyes correcting him in front of his employees...new employees. Yet, the only thing he could concentrate on was those thick milk bottle legs of hers.

  He had a choice to make and the wrong decision could make the transition more difficult than it needed to be. He glanced at his watch.

  "You are correct.” He flashed a smile in the woman's direction. "It is indeed afternoon."

  The woman did not relent. "Yes, well, we deal with the facts around here," she replied with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

  "An appropriate segue-way into what I have to say. My name is Wade Tyson. As most of you know my family owns several networks around the world. I have four brothers and between the five of us, we handle different areas of the networks. I am the news man. Cahill caught our attention with several breaking news stories in the area. We would like for you to do that worldwide. Whenever companies change ownership there is a fear of employees losing jobs. No one here will lose their jobs. Will there be changes? Yes, however my promise to you is to keep you abreast of changes before they take place. You are the news department. You will be the ones to break the story to your co-workers in other departments." He took a breath. "I believe in reporting accurate, un-sensationalized facts to the public. It is for that reason my family purchased Cahill Broadcasting. You have proven to continuously deliver factual news. Which of you did the story on the government employee embezzlement of funds from the school board?"

  "I did.” Lisa stepped up.

  "Good story.” Wade nodded in appreciation. "How did you discover the discrepancies?"

  "Good investigating."

  He noticed the people in the room all turned to look at the woman who had corrected him moments ago. She seemed agitated as she took a seat and crossed her legs then her arms over her chest.

  Lisa glanced at the people looking at her, then turned towards Rachel. "Great team work," she quickly added with a nod.

  "I produced that story," Jerry chimed in.

  "Well, you did a great job on the investigation. I checked the facts personally. Every one of them were verified. We look forward to your investigations on a larger scale, Ms. Fontaine."

  "I'm Lisa Cahill," she stammered out.

  Wade frowned in confusion. "My apologies. My sources indicated the story was investigated by a Rachel Fontaine.”

  "Your sources are correct," Betty Ann spoke up.

  "Well," Lisa clarified. "Rachel worked on the story with me."

  Wade nodded as he looked around the room. "Who is Rachel?"

  "That would be me,” the woman with the milk bottle legs replied a bit perturbed.

  "I see." Wade truly did understand now. The woman, Rachel Fontaine had reason to be upset. On the surface it appeared Lisa Cahill was taking credit for her work. He would have to find a way to correct that. "Excellent investigation, Ms. Fontaine. I look forward to more." He looked away from the somewhat skeptical look on the woman's face and continued. "The integrity of our stories is foremost in my mind. Stick to the facts. We will report our findings regardless of where the facts may lead. It's called public trust and I intend to make that our number one priority." He looked around the room. "I've observed the operations from the outside. Beginning on Monday, I will be an integral part of your daily life as we expand Tyson Broadcasting." He smiled. "I look forward to working with you."