The Boys' Club

by Wendy Squires

  * * *

  When the last ad break of the telecast came on, Rosie clicked off the TV and turned to the women chatting animatedly beside her.

  'Okay, it's time,' she announced, feeling waves of conflicting emotions churning within her. 'If anyone wants to change their mind, speak now. Please don't think you're in any way obligated. Each one of you needs to decide for yourself alone. Would you like Daniel and me to give you some time to reconsider?'

  Bettina Arthur was the first to pipe up: 'I didn't come all the way from Singapore to turn back now,' the former finance head exclaimed.

  'I'm in all the way,' Karen Day said next.

  Lara Green smiled. The former head of PR was already gathering her bag and shawl ready to make a move. 'I am more than ready, Rose,' she said firmly. 'I should have done this a long time ago.'

  'Me too, darling,' Alicia Charles chortled. 'This has gone on for too long. The suffragettes must once again rise against the oppressive patriarchy.'

  Rosie grinned. Alicia certainly had a way with words. Bless.

  Portia Richardson was the last to speak. Patting her pregnant belly, Rosie's former 2IC nodded to indicate she wouldn't be changing her mind.

  'Well, we had better get down there, ladies,' Daniel said, waving the affidavits in the air. 'Your writs await delivery.'

  The women applauded loudly, then excitedly left the room and made their way to the ballroom below.

  * * *

  Rosie was first into the auditorium, just in time to see the final moments of the closing tribute to celebrities who had passed away the previous year. As the lights came on and the tables of drunken revellers jostled to get out to the various after-parties scattered throughout the hotel, she took a deep breath and valiantly made her way towards Simon Nash's table.

  Any qualms she might have had about her actions quickly dissipated when the new CEO caught her eye and let go: 'You stupid bitch,' he yelled drunkenly, oblivious to the other guests at the table. 'How the fuck did you let that happen?' he went on, clearly referring to Keith's earlier speech.

  'I had no idea he was going to do that, Simon,' Rosie answered, trying to remain cool despite an overwhelming urge to faint.

  'Well, you should get off that lazy arse of yours and turn the press around or I can tell you, you won't have a job in the morning.'

  'Er, actually, Simon, I don't have a job right now.'

  Rosie fumbled with the clasp on her handbag and pulled out a copy of her resignation letter.

  'You will see when you read my contract, Simon, that I actually cease being an employee of Network Six tonight. You'll see the date beside Keith's signature.'

  Nash snatched the document from Rosie's hand and scoured its contents. Johnno Johnston, realising what was taking place, expertly removed himself from his chair, hoping to escape any potential fallout.

  'Where the fuck do you think you're going, Johnno?' Nash bellowed, but this time Johnno did not acquiese to his bullying, slinking off silently without looking back.

  'Good riddance to you,' Nash slurred as Johnno scarpered out the door. 'And good riddance to you too, bitch,' he added, screwing the document into a tight ball then tossing it straight and hard in the direction of Rosie's face.

  Without even flinching, Rosie delved into her purse and took out both of her ringing phones. She looked at each screen to delight in who she was hanging up on, then reached over and dropped one and then the other into Nash's beer glass with two loud plops. Then she turned to the auditorium entrance and beckoned the waiting women to enter. Heads held high, Alicia, Portia, Lara, Karen and Bettina strode across the room with their arms locked in sisterly solidarity.

  'Seems you don't know as much about television as you make out after all,' Rosie said blankly as she turned to face Nash for the last time. 'Or women.'

  As the united flank approached to deliver the new network CEO signed statements outlining their impending legal cases against their former employer, Rosie had one last thing to say. 'Good luck and good bye.'

  With the last tears she would ever shed over Network Six streaming from her eyes, Rosie turned towards Daniel, leaning against a far pillar in the room, his tie loose. Both their jobs were done. Now the real fun could begin.

  THANKYOUS

  There are not enough words to express how grateful I am to my adopted families: Dick, all the Hawes and Paddy; Gerri, Jess and Jacques; the Beans, Mia, Jase, Jules, Luca, Coco and Remy; Jo (my wing), Pat, Craig, etc.; my incredible UB and his much-missed Betty; Nix and McKenney; the Lang family, especially my darlings Nettie and Charlotte; Mark and Geoffrey (XX); and Rosscoe n@.

  Thanks also to my incredible friends and mentors not already mentioned above: Paula, Lisa W, Deborah and Robyn. And, of course, Kathy, Candace, Angus, Petey, Col, Roxy, Margiepops, Schippy, Kochie, Brook, Leigh, Stephen, Chantal, Cake, Jodes, Vic and Farmer.

  Last but by no means least, my wonderful agent Tara and everyone at Random House for your encouragement and support, especially Nikki, Larissa, Elizabeth and Jo.