'Don't say it, Keith, I warn you!' Rosie cut in.
'Raaark,' the Big Man squawked back, knowing how much the perennial period jibe riled her.
Rosie couldn't help but smile as Keith laughed. She realised that when Keith was happy, she was too.
'Honestly, how do you expect me to keep you out of the news when every network CEO and publicity director was there at the Kennedys meeting? Look, I know you get nervous but you have to pull it in a little. Things have changed here. Bettina Arthur is a fact of life. As is digital. It's a different world from the one you're used to.' Rosie knew the Big Man was taking in her every word, despite hating what he was hearing. She had to stop herself from reaching over to hug him. He really was TV Rex out of his natural habitat.
'Hey, and thanks for chucking me out of the programming meeting,' she added, trying to lighten things up. 'It's not easy to tell the public and press what's on the network when you don't know yourself.'
'That's fucking Johnno and Nash,' Keith snapped irritably. 'They reckon you're talking to the Sentinel. Nash actually told me you used to have a thing with one of the reporters there, Greg Leach.'
How the hell did The Darkness know that?
'That was a long time ago, Keith, and I can assure you my former colleague and I are both respectful of each other's positions today. That doesn't mean I haven't grilled him as to who the actual leak is, though.'
'What does he say?'
'That it's closer than I think, which has me worried. Even the sales guys don't know half the stuff that's made it into the Sentinel.'
'Watch what you say there,' Keith said sternly. 'I'll protect my boys like I protect you – until I find out who's doing the talking, that is. Then I will personally fucking kill them.'
'Fine, Keith,' Rosie replied in a squeak.
'Now, you can piss off,' Keith continued, his attention back on the TVs on the wall. 'Just try to be a bit patient with the boys, okay?'
'Grrrr,' Rosie answered, scrunching her brows into her angry face.
Keith grinned at her pathetic attempt to scold him and waved his large hand to signal enough. Just as she reached the door he asked one last question: 'Rosie, do you think I made a mistake with Hunt?'
She looked back at the big mass of a man and saw how small and vulnerable he really was. 'I will never lie to you, Keith, so the answer is yeah, I reckon you did.'
CHAPTER 10
Rosie spent the time between her drama with Keith and her four o'clock with Bettina Arthur wisely. She wrote a press release with quotes that made Graham Hunt sound contrite. Then she instructed her staff that there would be no further comment on the matter and personally rang every journalist who had called earlier to ensure they had received the statement and would say no more. This was, of course, an opportunity for her to get a sense of how they might skew their stories or, in other words, just how high the sewage tide line would be the next day.
Like seagulls, everyone wanted a chip thrown their way but Rosie wasn't tossing. She knew they would be searching Hunt's closet for skeletons and she suspected it held many. She was also aware that her counterparts at Three would be only too happy to indulge in witch-hunts in any way they could. So much for the feigned sympathy her counterpart at Three, Val Richards, had tried to pass off at this morning's Kennedys meeting.
Once she'd dealt with the other journos, Rosie knew she could no longer put off the inevitable. It was time to call Greg Leach at the Sentinel. She was keen to find out how on earth Simon 'The Darkness' Nash had discovered they'd once had a fling, as it was a bonk buddy relationship at best, and she'd counted on Leach's discretion.
Before she picked up the phone, Rosie got up and shut her office door. After what had already gone on today, she didn't want anyone overhearing the conversation. As much as she tried, she couldn't believe one of her own staff could be the leak. Still, there was no point taking chances, even though she prided herself on having an open door policy with colleagues at all times. Yet another principle compromised, she realised.
Greg picked up his phone after two rings. 'Sentinel.'
'Greg, Rosie Lang, Network—'
'No need for you to explain who you are, Rosie. I'm glad you called, though. I've been trying you all day.'
'I know and I'm sorry. There's been a bit going on here.'
'You're not wrong. My editor is on my back about getting a follow-up on Hunt. I'm really going to need a comment from you. It was a lovely dinner last night, by the way. You looked quite beautiful in that dress. Wish I'd stayed on by the sound of things.'
'I have nothing to say in addition to the statement we released earlier, Greg. Sorry.' Rosie knew she needed to draw a professional line in the sand early.
'Come on, Rosie, you can't leave it like that. I mean, his marriage will need to be addressed in some way.'
'Greg, I'm sorry but the network has nothing more to say. Full stop. End of story. And Graham's marriage is his business.'
'But he'll need to say something about his ex wife's allegations, surely?'
Rosie sucked in a deep breath and braced herself. 'What do you mean, ex wife's allegations, Greg?'
'Holy shit, you don't know, do you?'
'Don't know what, Greg?'
'Rosie, I can't tell you . . . although I guess you'll find out soon enough. What's the time by the way?'
'Greg, please, don't stuff me around. I'm not in the mood. What don't I know?'
'Look, I'll give you the heads-up. Watch Around Australia at six-thirty then call me back.'
'Greg, please. I've had a horrible day. Just tell me, will you?'
'Three has an exclusive with Hunt's ex wife that'll be front page news for us tomorrow . . . Rosie, you still there?'
'I'm here,' she finally answered, the phone hanging limply in her hand.
'Not a good day, huh?' Leach replied, trying to sound sympathetic. 'You can always come back to the light side and leave that place, you know. You're a nice writer, Rosie, always have been. I think that husband of yours tried to overshadow you. Just because he's won awards doesn't mean he's bloody Hemingway. He's a first-class wanker, if you ask me.'
'I didn't, but thanks, Greg. For everything. I mean that. But I'm sure you can imagine I have a lot to do now.'
'I sure can imagine that,' he laughed. 'I'd love to be a fly on your office wall.'
'Well, someone from the paper already is, Greg, so there may not be room,' Rosie replied sharply. 'You seem to know more about what's happening here than I do.'
'Rosie, I've told you a dozen times, I can't reveal my sources. You know that.'
Rosie understood only too well but it infuriated her that her old friend was privy to the leak's source and wouldn't share.
'I understand, but it's not easy,' she replied.
'That's PR for you,' Greg responded. 'Bitch of a job if you ask me. I don't know how you do it.'
'I don't either,' Rosie answered.
'I feel for you, babe, I really do. Hey, I heard about Jeff and Heather,' Greg continued. 'That's gotta be tough.'
Rosie took a second to control herself. Of course the entire Sentinel knew about her ex's marriage plans, she rationalised. Jeff still wrote a weekly column for the paper.
'Yeah, divorce. What can I say? It ain't easy,' Rosie said, trying to sound chipper and failing miserably.
'Well, if you need a shoulder to cry on, you know where I live . . .'
Rosie was almost tempted. Just to curl up in a man's strong arms was what she needed, but even her old port in a storm from her single days was off-limits to her now.
'Thanks, Greg, you're a sweetie, but I think you understand that might be a little compromising. Hey, can I ask you one more question – did you ever tell anyone else about you and me, you know, in the old days . . . ?'
'Of course not! You know I wouldn't!'
Greg's anger at her accusation relieved Rosie momentarily. She didn't think he would be the Johnno Johnston type, big-noting his sexual conquests to all inter
ested parties and those, like Rosie, who would rather not know.
'Cool, I believe you,' she said, and meant it.
'Hey, babe, good luck and don't forget to call me. I'll be waiting by my phone. We'll want a fresh quote from you guys when you've seen what the ex has to say. You know our deadlines but, as always, sooner is better than later.'
'I'll do my best,' she replied curtly.
'And, Rosie,' Greg continued, 'it would be good if it could be exclusive.'
'Yes, it would, wouldn't it,' she said cheekily, then hung up and frantically dialled Mae's extension.
'He's not here,' Mae answered when she saw Rosie's number light up.
'Mae, I need to speak to him. It's urgent.'
'He's actually gone home sick, if you can believe it,' Mae replied. 'First time I can recall in twenty-four years. What's happening?'
'Armageddon, that's what.'
Rosie shocked even herself with the efficiency of what happened next. First, she rang Allan Bales's PA and told her to clear whoever was in his office out – and pronto – as she was on her way up to see the head of news right now. Then she rang legal and told the network's top lawyer, Richard Barker, to meet her in Bales's office immediately. She gave Lisa the job of finding Hunt and getting his sorry arse to the news department – fast. As she was scrambling for a notepad, she looked up and saw Bettina at her desk.
'Oh hell, I'm so sorry, Bettina, but something's come up and now really isn't the best time. I'm going to have to reschedule our chat.'
Bettina gave her one of those looks that said, wordlessly, she thought Rosie was a dishevelled, out-of-control mess. 'Dear me, Rose, you are hard to get five minutes with,' Bettina said icily. 'What I have to say to you is quite important, you know.'
'I know it is, Bettina, honest I do, but I have a bit of an emergency on my hands.'
'Perhaps I can help?'
Yeah, you could get out of my face.
'Oh no, Bettina, I'll be fine. Just a hiccup. Happens every so often.'
'Well, if it's just a hiccup, I can have at least a minute then,' Bettina said, closing Rosie's office door behind her.
Go away, will you, pest? Shoo!
'Rose, we need to speak about that meeting this morning. I have never in my entire working life witnessed such behaviour,' Bettina said, taking a seat. Rosie wasn't sure if she was talking about the Kennedys meeting or Graham Hunt's performance but knew neither was a good option.
'I think this network needs some big changes at the top. Plans are in place and I need to know whether you want to be part of the new Network Six or stick with the old. It's that simple.'
What Rosie really wanted to do was get on her knees, grab Bettina's feet and beg her, for the love of God, to give her a payout and release her from this living hell. But unforunately Rosie needed the money, especially now she was paying for Leon's daycare as well as most of the ridiculous mortgage on the Bondi house Jeff had insisted they buy so he could be close to his beloved surf. Instead, she thanked Bettina for her honesty and told her she would give things a lot of thought. She was not about to betray Big Keith for anything or anyone despite a nagging feeling that he might not reciprocate the loyalty.
'I do hope to have you onside, Rose,' Bettina said. 'Let's face it, the network needs more women like us.'
Rosie balked at the thought that she was a woman like Bettina.
'However, as much as I want you onside, I must also point out that you can be replaced. I might come from a different world than TV but I know business. Human resources are just resources. Everyone – even me – is expendable in the end if it betters the product and the bottom line.'
Rosie blanched at having been called a resource – and an expendable one at that.
How does she expect to run a business fuelled on ego when people are referred to as commodities?
'If I were you I wouldn't go calling the network talent "resources", Bettina,' Rosie cautioned the steely woman in front of her. 'Morale is low enough around this place.'
'This is no longer a vanity business run by old men intent on ratings, not revenue, Rose. We will be moving on, that's all I'm saying.'
'I hear you, Bettina.'
'You may well think I'm the villain here, Rose, but behaviour like this morning's simply has to stop. Keith's performance was absolutely intolerable on every level. Tell me you agree. You can't possibly defend that type of behaviour?'
Poor bloody Keith, Rosie thought. He didn't win any friends today.
'I understand things have to change, Bettina, and as I said earlier, I'll give a lot of thought to what we've discussed. But in the meantime I really have to go. There are several people waiting for me in a meeting, so if you don't mind?'
'All right, Rose. I've said what needs to be said. It's up to you now.'
CHAPTER 11
The news department was probably the place Rosie felt most comfortable and familiar in the entire network, which was surprising given the cool reaction she received from the journos on the floor. For a while she took it personally, until Allan Bales explained to her that, just like newspaper reporters, they tended to look down on one of their own who had gone to the dark side.
Rosie wasn't surprised when she learned this, as her very own husband had done the same, deeming publicity a soft and humiliating option for the wife of an award-winning writer.
As she entered Bales's office, she saw that Hunt and the lawyer were already there as she'd requested, with the addition of Simon Nash and Johnno Johnston.
'Gentlemen,' she said to the unwelcome duo, 'you're a surprise. I don't know what this matter has to do with entertainment or programming.' Even as she said the words, Rosie knew she shouldn't have. She just didn't need matters to become even more complicated than they already were.
Of course, it was Nash who fired back first, never one to take a slight lightly. 'I hardly think it's up to you, Rose, to determine which executives should be involved in such matters, especially when you've done very little to help the situation thus far.' He shot her his insidious grin, the one that made Rosie reconsider her pacifist philosophy. She wanted to strangle the mean bastard until his hair plugs popped.
'As Keith has gone home ill,' he went on, 'I am effectively in charge, as instructed by Bettina Arthur, who, by the way, I have also asked to join this meeting.'
Instructed by Bettina Arthur? I can imagine what Keith would think about that!
'Now, if we can get to business, I hear we have quite a mess on our hands with your charge Graham Hunt.'
My charge? I hardly hired him!
Rosie glanced at Allan Bales, who looked as pissed off with the situation as she felt. Then the door opened and in came Bettina Arthur.
'Good of you to come at short notice, Bettina,' Nash smarmed as she took a chair beside him.
'Not a problem at all,' Bettina answered, clearly flattered. 'From talking to Rose earlier I had no idea the matter was so serious.'
Great. Anyone else care to take a kick?
'It seems Rose's communication skills aren't quite up to par at the moment, Bettina,' Nash replied. 'Frankly this concerns me, considering she's our public mouthpiece.'
It took Rosie all her strength not to flee the room and keep on running. The only thing that saved her was that she didn't want to give Simon Nash the satisfaction.
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