by Di Morrissey
‘It’s the latest in social and managerial experiments. It forces the staff to confront not only the issues at hand, but how they deal with analysing their true motives, and it enables them to assess the worth of their ideas within the big picture.’
Nina decided not to venture further into this territory for fear she’d laugh, lose her cool or tell Ali what she thought of her managerial skills. She’d find out about it soon enough. She merely gave a low, ‘Hmmm. Interesting.’ And left Ali’s office.
On the way back to her office, Nina found herself comparing the different editorial and managerial styles of people she had employed over the years.
Lorraine, Miche’s mother, had been such an effective editor, utterly devoted to the firm and her craft, and totally professional until booze, pills and emotional insecurities started to destroy her.
Ali was so different. A hard worker, but she was out for herself, loyalty beyond self-interest counted for nothing. Typical of so many of her generation of hard-nosed, ambitious women precariously balancing on the executive tightrope. Proving they could be as tough and as ruthless as the men. And then there was Larissa. Fifteen years younger than Lorraine, but a similar character with similar skills, but choosing a different path. Who could blame her for deciding to be with the man she loved?
Through informal meetings with staff, Nina found many of them cautiously defensive about the level of morale and the quality of their teamwork. Everywhere she detected antagonism towards Ali. Nina began to unravel a picture of a ruthlessly ambitious young editor who wanted the magazine to be successful at all costs. This meant breaking the long-established Triton ban on doing editorial deals in return for contra arrangements, accepting free inducements to promote or favour an advertiser’s interests. It also meant forcing staff to limit their initiatives and follow her ideas so that the content of Blaze reflected Ali’s views and vested interests.
When Nina pushed Reg about the wine club, he was vague and fobbed it off. ‘They’re top-quality wines, it’s not schlock stuff with our name on it,’ he ventured, and then blushed as he saw Nina mentally registering the idea that cases of wine had most likely landed on his doorstep. ‘If they want to offer wine at a bargain price to our readers – and by having our name attached to it, readers know it’s a good product – what’s wrong with that? They’ve bought six months worth of ads.’
‘And who is behind this club?’ asked Nina. ‘I’m sure you’ve checked it out if Blaze is endorsing it.’
Reg shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘It’s been Jacques Triton’s baby. It’s a special deal through a European group that’s running the club internationally. The wines come from all over the world and include a few Australian ones. So long as our readers receive a good deal, the structure of an offshore company doesn’t concern me.’
‘It should. Ali thinks it’s a shady operation. Maybe a front for God knows what. So, who is the client or agency placing the ads and on whose behalf?’ pressed Nina. ‘It seems odd the editor wasn’t informed and the ads were placed at the last minute.’
At the mention of Ali, Reg’s eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened. ‘When Jacques presented me with the deal, he said they wanted to be in this issue, so something had to go. Can’t help a last-minute change when it’s a potentially big, long-term client.’
Nina was quiet. It sounded reasonable, but she was not convinced. ‘So tell me about Ali. I understand there is a bit of conflict. I know she isn’t the easiest person to work with, what are your concerns?’
‘Can I speak openly, off the record?’
‘That’s why I’m here.’ Nina leaned back.
Reg suddenly unleashed a torrent of anger against Ali. ‘She’s a predator, a conniving bitch. She has set everyone against each other, not just me. She brings in April, she brings in Eddie, she flicks off Miche, she stops the perks and still sets up her own deals.’
‘What do you mean?’
Reg had exposed his feelings and they poured forth. ‘Hell, everyone used to be swamped with freebies. Ali says it’s a no-go area, that’s the Triton way, and then she turns around and expects to be handed everything that isn’t tied down.’
‘But Reg, you know Triton’s policy is we pay for everything. Blaze is not like those women’s magazines where contra rules the content of every page.’ Nina reminded Reg they had gone over this thoroughly before the magazine was launched.
‘We pay for everything in order to maintain our objectivity and credibility. In the rare instance that we do accept a deal, we say in print the travel or accommodation or whatever was paid for. That doesn’t mean we are under any obligation to write about it – or favourably if we do.’
‘Tell that to Ali. There’s been more stuff sent to her than you can poke a stick at. And you can double that for what has been sent to April’s home. And we’re not talking free perfume and night cream here – we’re talking serious gifts from all manner of first-class shops. April puts out the line that it’s no one’s business if some company sends their products to her.’
‘Hmmm. They receive favourable mentions, I assume,’ said Nina tightly.
‘You bet,’ boomed Reg. ‘But I’ll give April her due, she’s clever and that story on Heather Race was a ripper. Anyway, my problem is Ali undermining me. Sure, she brought in a few clients – with help. But I draw the line at that goddamn, stupid sandpit. Her power trip is out of control if you ask me. I think she has lost the plot, and if you hadn’t come back the workers would have mutinied against Captain Ali Bligh.’ He was breathless from pouring out his angst.
‘Thanks for your opinion, Reg.’ Nina’s tone betrayed no reaction. ‘If you find out more on the wine club, please let me know.’
Reg left Nina’s office wondering if he’d said too much – or not enough.
Nina wandered casually around the offices, popping in to say hello and pass a few minutes in relaxed chat. Kaye, Fiona, Bob, Barbara showed huge relief that she was back – ‘to take over’ – as they put it. Barbara decided she’d rethink leaving if Nina was back to stay.
Nina merely commented, ‘Blaze is selling well, thanks to all your hard work. I gather it hasn’t been easy for you guys.’ This unlocked a series of complaints, whinges and cynical anecdotes – and the underlying common theme was, ‘Ali is a bitch and she’s going to run the magazine into the ground in her personal drive to surge ahead.’
Nina merely nodded, smiled and moved around the building, listening to her staff. And they all told the same story. Ali was a dragon. But, grudgingly, they’d also had to admit she was very, very clever.
The painting in the office high in a tower block overlooking Sydney Harbour and its spectacular opera house was a mysterious creation of dots and a rough geometric network of intersecting lines. It defied easy interpretation, but had something about it that never ceased to capture the attention of even the most casual viewer, and then almost hypnotise them. It was created by an artist who was represented in many of the world’s major galleries, an artist who lived in a tin shed with a dirt floor in a remote part of Northern Australia. An Aboriginal artist. Nina swivelled in her chair and gazed at the painting on her office wall in an effort to lose herself in the maze of images formed by the tiny daubs of ochre. She felt herself drawn into the vortex of the picture, travelling through the surface layers into the heart of the story. The secret country of the artist’s spirit. It stilled her mind, steadied and calmed her. She sat in thought for some time then came to a decision.
She called Belinda. ‘When Ali is available, I’d like a private meeting with her in my office.’
Ali had been waiting for the call. She mentally encased herself in protective armour and walked purposefully down the hall. Belinda watched her go. Ali radiated confidence that bordered on the defiant.
When neither had emerged after half an hour from behind Nina’s uncommonly closed door, half the staff had stopped working and were waiting to see from Ali’s face whether she’d won or lost.
Ba
rbara dropped by Kaye’s office. She gave a shrug. ‘No news from the lioness’s den. An Olympic-standard event almost, don’t you think?’
‘They should have sold tickets,’ said Kaye with a chuckle. ‘I bet there’s a bit of fancy footwork and sparring going on. By Ali. Nina will be asking a few hard questions.’
‘I wonder if Nina knows someone in this office leaked a cover story to a rival mag.’
‘Ali lucked in with her replacement cover, but it must feel nasty knowing you’re being undermined by your own staff.’
‘Yeah, it could only have come out of here. Who do you think could be talking to the gossip columns and giving out content secrets?’
Barbara shrugged. ‘Could be one of the junior staff before Ali cracked down on security. Could be anyone Ali has upset.’
‘Well, that covers all of us.’
‘Reg hates her, but he’s still loyal to Blaze.’
‘Unless he’s leaving and has had a better offer,’ mused Kaye.
‘Everyone has a reason for revenge on Ali, but most of us are loyal because the magazine is Nina’s.’ Barbara sighed, ‘Poor Nina, I bet she’s wishing she never started this now that she has a love and the chance of a different life.’
‘I would be out of here like a shot,’ agreed Kaye. ‘I’ve seen Lucien interviewed on TV talking about his films. A really charming and talented man. She deserves him.’
A sudden thought struck Barbara. ‘You don’t think she’d close the magazine? I mean, she doesn’t need it now if she’s going off to live with Lucien.’
‘We don’t know that. I think the Tritons would have a say in that. But it is a worry.’
Both women were silent, trying to imagine this worst-case scenario.
Kaye voiced what Barbara was thinking. ‘We shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a job with another magazine now that Blaze has been such a success. And there’s always radio. They’re looking for more women.’
‘I’d never be able to do that!’
‘I might find an editor who’s more in line with my interviewing style than Ali seems to be lately,’ said Kaye with bitterness. ‘April has landed the next two big features after that profile on Race. I could never have written a cynical, tough piece like that. I wouldn’t want to. Couldn’t live with myself.’
‘You’re too nice, you mean. I’m amazed Heather Race hasn’t gone ahead with the defamation suit against us.’
‘Hard to prove, I imagine. I mean, April didn’t print any actual untruths, just made the facts as she saw them look pretty ugly. It was a damned clever article. I have to say she’s made a big leap from bitchy gossip to surgically removing a subject’s public face. I’d like to see her tackle a few of our politicians,’ said Kaye thoughtfully.
Barbara gave the star feature writer a strange look. ‘You’re sounding like her mentor rather than her competitor.’
‘I’m tired, Barb. I’m forty. That’s over the hill in magazines these days. I’m fed up with Ali. But I can’t afford to quit. I suppose I’ll find a job with a PR firm writing press releases. Thank God I’ve always made it a policy to be nice to everyone. You never know who’s doing the hiring.’
Barbara touched her immaculate hair with a perfectly manicured hand. ‘I’m already half out the door. I wish I had Tiki’s guts to tackle something new. She’s not that much younger than me. I pass my time doing stuff I did when I first started out as a cadet.’
‘The beauty biz here ain’t what it used to be, that’s for sure. So you had the high-roller times – perfume launches in Monte Carlo, trips to Grasse and dinner with Karl Lagerfeld. They were the days, eh?’
Barbara smiled, remembering when she was one of the top beauty editors that advertisers fawned over and her cupboards overflowed with free products. ‘Yes, you’re right.’ Then, aware of where she was now, and recalling Ali’s uncharitable shoving of her to the background and her plan to resign, Barbara seemed to deflate. The present was a pale life indeed.
‘And how do you see your future panning out here Kaye?’
‘Let’s say I’m looking at options, and over my shoulder.’ She gave a laugh. ‘For once I’m glad I’m not the editor. It’s a job for the young lionesses these days.’
Ali and Nina had reached a stalemate. Neither was prepared to concede any ground.
Ali again listed the advances the magazine had made under her leadership. ‘That’s the bottom line and that’s what counts, Nina.’
‘How gains are achieved is just as important. If we abuse our advertisers, they won’t come back. Trust in Blaze is paramount. We trade on our name and reputation. I won’t have that jeopardised,’ said Nina angrily.
‘I have no knowledge of, or have ever condoned, anything that wasn’t totally above board,’ rejoined Ali.
‘But it is your responsibility to know exactly what is going on in the organisation and if anyone is taking advantage of their position, to put a stop to it.
‘This feud between you and our advertising manager hurts the magazine. No matter what personality clashes you might have, it’s essential you work as a team.’
‘I’m well aware of that. I don’t need lessons in personnel and corporate relations,’ snapped Ali. ‘Why don’t you attack the boys upstairs, the finance guy that Manny put in is a closed shop. He and the management men protect Reg. They operate on the divide-and-conquer principle, like the way they kept digging at Eddie about his expenses. We lost a terrific talent. And someone in here is leaking stuff to rivals, undermining me and the magazine. Tony Cox has lost the plot and he and Jacques are running riot through Blaze – and this town, from what I hear. If it hadn’t been for Eddie tipping me off, the situation could be a lot worse. If I don’t know about problems, I can’t fix them.’
‘Ali, this is not a war,’ said Nina quietly. ‘While I appreciate you have Blaze’s best interests at heart, you can’t achieve the right solutions with animosity.’
Ali leapt in well prepared, knowing the ground was shaking under her feet. ‘Nina, let’s talk about solutions. I have drawn up the business strategy for the next six months – promotion possibilities, potential advertisers to tackle, better package deals for existing big advertisers. I also have ideas for a series of articles that could be sensational. April is turning into one hot writer. I think she should be the major features writer and Kaye should be moved into something more administrative.’ Ali tried to soften her voice, ‘She just doesn’t fire on all cylinders when it comes to going in hard, fast and deep. Like a shark,’ said Ali helpfully. ‘Kaye is more from the softly, softly school.’
She paused, feeling quite pleased with her enthusiastic ideas, backed up with a slick, point by point presentation.
Nina folded her hands and leaned forward, not reacting at all to what Ali had said. Her voice was low and gentle, her eyes sympathetic as if telling a child there was no Santa Claus. ‘Before plunging too far ahead, I have to deal with the immediate, and that means finding solutions to our internal personnel problems.’
‘You have a solution to these internal problems? Other than moving Reg?’ asked Ali somewhat superciliously.
‘I do. I’ve thought long and hard since I have been presented with the rather unpleasant facts of the manoeuvrings within the company. And moving Reg on isn’t part of the solution.’
Ali frowned. ‘If I’m stuck with having to deal with a recalcitrant advertising manager, it could be difficult.’
‘You won’t be in that situation,’ said Nina smoothly. ‘I won’t move Reg. It’s better that I move you.’
Ali jerked as if smacked. She blinked, trying to clear her vision that had momentarily lost focus. ‘To where? Why?’ Her voice was raised, shocked. She attacked instantly. ‘Why should I be the one to be forced to wear the mantle of blame? I figured the buck stops with the editor-in-chief. That’s you, Nina. I have been incredibly vigilant. I came down hard whenever I found a problem. Moving me isn’t going to fix the situation.’
Nina was soothing. ‘I
t’s an upward move, Ali. A promotion. You’ve had almost six months here, more than enough time to have launched and established Blaze Australia and move on to the next challenge.’
Ali couldn’t believe this nightmare was happening. What was killing her was that suddenly she was in the same position as Lorraine had been in. There was no promotion above editor, except editor-in-chief and Nina wouldn’t be giving that up. It was a gentle sideways push. Well, she was damned if she was going to give them the satisfaction of jumping off a terrace, or jumping ship. Ali’s body language signalled fight not flight. ‘And what is my next challenge?’ she asked, knowing she had no call and wouldn’t like whatever Nina said – unless it was editor of Blaze USA.
Nina knew what Ali was thinking. ‘I can’t offer you New York. Irene da Costa is doing a fine job and so is her deputy. I am proposing that you become publishing director of Blaze in Australasia. That includes Australia and New Zealand, where we may open a local edition in time. We’ll talk later about where you’ll be based. I’d like to hear your suggestions.’
Ali didn’t answer until she was able to spit out the words, ‘Publishing director?’
Nina nodded and Ali shook her shoulders, a movement like a wet dog shaking itself. Nina had a sudden bizarre image of the letters that spelled out Publishing Director being fragmented and sprayed around the room like splashes of water from a dog’s coat.
‘Nina, publishing director is the same as saying special projects manager . . . it means nothing. It wouldn’t matter where I was based, you’re consigning me to nowheresville.’ Ali didn’t add it was a slap in the face and would be considered a demotion among those who knew the print media. ‘And who do you have in mind to replace me?’ Her voice was hard.
‘I have given this a lot of consideration, Ali. I think it best for the magazine and in view of the staff problems and the abuses, which I realise you did not condone. It is not a reflection on your abilities. Having Jacques override you on occasion was . . . unhelpful. I intend to stay on and run the shop with you until I appoint a new editor.’ Seeing Ali’s furious face, she softened. ‘Ali, I will make sure this is seen as an important career appointment – which it is. You’ve been with the company a long time, you’re very valuable to Triton Communications, how you are treated will send a significant message to those inside as well as outside the company.’