By Chance, No Choice (Stetson Series Book 1)

by Xyla Turner

  Diamond started to feel her pressure cooker begin to rise. It was one thing to give her a real reason, but it was another to dismiss her without even looking at her. She knew she did not have many options because as diverse as DC was, women in the sport’s broadcasting are rare. Companies will not admit this is a common practice, they simply do not hire them. If she went to another station, they would hire her, but not for sports. She wanted to do this since she was a kid, as she and her mother would often commentate about the game to each other. She had to do this. She could not fail at something else.

  “LeAnne,” Diamond said sternly. “I came to DC to work here because I was told that I would be a sports reporter and I do not mean for little league, middle or high school. Anyone can do that.” LeAnne looked up and over her glasses. “I came here to do the professionals and specifically during this season, I intend to do the NFL. There is no reason, why I should be denied that right, especially when you hired me for that. Now what will it be?”

  LeAnne took off her glasses, pursed her lips and asked, “Is that an ultimatum, Ms. Reeves?”

  “No, it’s a question.” Diamond refused to shift her weight and remained standing straight up with her eyes on LeAnne’s.

  She put back on her glasses and said, “Fine, we’ll try you out this season, on a local basis only. So all home games are yours.” LeAnne kept her eyes on Diamond, then she did the unfathomable. She smiled and said, “Nice to meet you Diamond.”

  Putting her glasses back on, she turned back to her screen as Diamond tried not to jump up for joy.

  “Thanks, LeAnne, I appreciate this.”

  “Don’t let me down,” She called as Diamond scurried out of the office.

  She briskly walked to the bathroom, looked under the stalls and began to pump her fist in the air in front of her and twist her hips. Whispering, “Yes, yes, yes!”

  There was a noise, so Diamond stopped her dance and chanting, went to wash her hands and proceeded to take an early lunch. She had to call Trudy and Bridget, who were probably just getting up since they were on California time, but if she called Eddie and Regina, they should be taking lunch soon. They both worked at MSNBC, but different departments. Eddie was an editor and Regina was the fashionista, who helped the anchors with what they wore on camera. They met at a community relations training when Diamond first started at WUSA. It was beneficial for her since she was new to DC, but Eddie and Regina were not pleased at all. Despite their upset about being at the day-long training, they took an instant liking to Diamond because she introduced herself as a sports reporter. Later they told her, it took a lot of courage to be in that pond full of men and survive. She explained to them that she was a reporter that started to work in sports at her last job in California, but she had to move, so she was now in DC.

  From that day forward, the three of them hung out for lunch, dinner and even planned weekend events. Eddie and Regina both knew about Diamond’s woes so they would be thrilled that she obtained what she wanted. As she was leaving, she texted them that she was on her way to their building, which was only a 10-minute walk. They were right off of Nebraska Avenue and she was on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest DC. The food was much better near the MSNBC building because the churches on the street sold dinners. Home cooked, southern cooking was the absolute best and with this news, she deserved a treat.

  “Giiirrlll, this is freaking awesome,” Regina exclaimed, in her bright yellow dress with cyan heels and light pink lipstick, after I told them what happened with LeAnne.

  Those colors might not look like they should go together, but on her, the bright colors contrasted perfectly with her skin, resembling a work of art. Diamond was blessed with acne-free skin, so she did not wear a lot of foundation. However, Regina said her father had severe acne, her father’s father had it and she was cursed with it too. To remain in the type of business she was in, she needed to look the part. This had reminded Diamond of LeAnne with her slacks and blending in with her men colleagues. This did not appeal to Diamond, but she was not naïve enough at twenty-seven years of age to say what she would and would not do.

  “This is awesome, Dye. I mean, you can’t beat that. Next season, you’ll be able to travel and maybe get a man.” Eddie chimed in.

  Diamond rolled her eyes, “Yeah, sounds like my life goals. The last thing I am looking for is a man. What I am looking for is my next level.”

  “Well, that could be a man too,” Regina added. “I’m just saying, girl. Those football players are just hot, even if they aren’t, they are.”

  “That’s because you’re looking at their pockets and not their faces,” Eddie said to Regina.

  “They all look the same to me.” Regina laughed, not offended at all.

  “You guys are a mess.” Diamond shook her head and walked ahead of them. “Can we please get to the church, before the line is around the corner?”

  They finally made it and fortunately, they were the first in line. After they had ordered, they went to the Massachusetts’s Avenue Park to eat.

  “So, did you tell your mom yet? She’s going to be ecstatic.” Eddie said with a mouthful of potato salad.

  Regina nodded her head in agreement while Diamond finished chewing on her deliciously flavored string beans.

  “Not yet, she on California time, so she’s not going to be up for another hour or so.” Diamond finally managed to get out.

  “Speaking of this new gig, how in the hell are you going to handle the mob and the one and only Shane Sinclair? He hates reporters, plays tricks on them and even debases them when they try to engage him.”

  “Oh, I won’t be engaging with him at all. The last thing I need is for LeAnne to pull me off this new assignment because he made me cry. Hmm, I cry at all the animal and sick kid’s commercials.” Diamond shook her head.

  “I highly doubt that you will cry. If anything, I think you’d give him a piece of your mind and that would go viral.” Regina laughed.

  “Yeah, I see you snapping on him. Might serve him some good.” Eddie mused.

  “No, I’m not engaging with that brooding man. I have no intentions of doing that.” Diamond clarified.

  * * *

  The next day Diamond was so elated, her stomach was in knots, so she decided to go for a run before she left for the game. Exercise always put her at ease ever since middle school when she started to play basketball and run track. Before a big test, she ran and prior to a game or a meet, she would attempt to work out in some form. Diamond continued to compete in both sports in high school and college; winning multiple awards. As a student-athlete, she excelled in both the classroom and on the field/court. She always attributed that to her ability to relax and remain calm after exerting all of her nervous energy.

  When she arrived, she was greeting by several guys and fellow reporters in a flirtatious way, until they saw her press badge. Then they ignored her. Diamond had on another light pink blouse with no frills or fluff and a black A-line skirt with black four-inch heels. The Redskins had just won their division championship game and Diamond knew they would be in a good mood. Apparently, the win was so good, that Shane Sinclair and a few other players were singing ‘We are the champions’ at the top of their lungs. The reporters in the front were trying to get their attention and ask them questions, but Shane kept singing loudly, even when the other players stopped. One player tapped him and motioned for him to stop, he did but pulled out his phone.

  At the table, sat Shane Sinclair, running back. Keith Tuto, Linebacker, and the quarterback, Matthew Cunningham. All three men were specimens to admire. Matthew was the smallest of the three men, then Shane and finally Keith, who looked very menacing. He was on the end, but Matthew was the one to hit Shane. Sinclair had been with the Redskins for five years, even when his contract was up. It showed loyalty, yet what he gave off was arrogant a disregard for other’s professions. Reporters have a job to do and while most people don’t like the intrusiveness of the job, it’s still their livelihood and the n
ews still needs to be reported.

  Diamond completely disregarded what she just said she would not do and raised her hand to ask a question to the sullen linebacker. She was too far in the back, so she started moving people out of the way, so she could make her way to the front. A few reporters weren’t budging, so she went around them and as soon as she reached the front, Cunningham pointed to a reporter in the back.

  “Yes, Mr. Wiggins. What can we do you for today?” His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

  Tony Wiggins was a known jackass and he seemed to marvel in his title. He was also a bully that nobody liked and the players equally did not care for him because he always hit below the belt. Even with a win, he had a way of turning things around so that a player or coach could feel like they were just blown out and their contribution to this sport was insignificant. How he was a reporter, nobody knew. How he stayed a journalist because he was always surrounded by some controversy and that meant ratings. It meant something when the most laid back player of all time, Matthew Cunningham, made it plain he did not want to call on him. Diamond would bet her paycheck, that he had to call on him. That was probably in the contract too.

  “Actually Matt, this one is for Shane over here?” Wiggins responded.

  Oh boy, Diamond thought. Most reporters left Shane Sinclair alone, even Wiggins. Since he had a few showdown with the mouthy linebacker before. However, any question directed at him would probably be the end of this fiasco. What Diamond did not expect was for Wiggins to say the most horrific thing in sports history on national television. It was actually the most horrible thing in television history.

  * * *

  You have just read Chapters 1 & 2 of Under Further Review.

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  About the Author

  Xyla Turner was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is an avid reader of romance novels and a sucker for sassy females and dominant males. She is a high school educator and a groovy Aunt.

  Outside of reading, Xyla likes to spend time with her family and friends and travel. She writes different genres, but her favorite is romance.

  Xyla has her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Masters in Education Administration.

  To Enter into Xyla’s World

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  Also by Xyla Turner

  Series: Stand-Alone Novels:

  Love Under Attack: FRCC Series

  10:80: Line of Duty Series

  Just Ride: Legion of Guardians MC

  Under Further Review: The Pro Series

  Series Books:

  The Chase, Part I: The Double XX Series

  The Chase, Part II: The Double XX Series

  Bookstore Chronicles 1

  Bookstore Chronicles 2

  Non-Series Book:

  BOMBSHELL

  Across the Tracks

  Power of the Pen

  Short Stories:

  League of Bosses: The Client

  League of Bosses: Judge Me

  XYLA’S CONTACT INFORMATION

  Xyla Turner can be reached at the following locations!

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