where am I now and think there’s always room for improvement. But I do credit the success I’ve had so far to my dedicated team at Summit and to the support of my family.”
“You’re constantly listed with other notable young businessmen in Great Britain, including Alastair Holden. Obviously your background is quite different from his but do you see his success as something you’d like to emulate?”
I sat immobile, clutching a pen. That question wasn’t listed on our sheet of talking points. Sneaky bastard.
Brent smiled slightly. “As you said, our backgrounds are quite different. I wasn’t born into an established, worldwide conglomerate but I can certainly appreciate how he’s contributed to the ever-changing atmosphere of the media industry.”
“Tragic childhood aside, he’s had it pretty easy when it comes to his career. Do you see your success as more satisfying because you weren’t handed a company like he was?”
It took every ounce of my strength not to leap out of the chair and run into the studio. Livid was too weak of a word to describe what I was.
This is what he wanted the extra time for? Ass.
“Now Julian, we all work hard at what we do,” Brent answered smoothly. “Nobody’s success is more satisfying than another’s. Alastair Holden is a smart and savvy businessman. Being handed a company or building one from the ground up has no bearing on whether or not one’s success is more deserved.”
Breathing out slowly I was thankful and more than a little shocked at Brent’s diplomatic answer. When the interview concluded and the show went off the air at six, I relaxed.
“Great show, Lia,” Robbie said, patting me on the shoulder. “I could tell you were caught off guard by those last couple of questions. Not many people would have handled that with such grace.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I muttered, rising to my feet. Visions of Julian being catapulted toward the sun put an extra spring in my step as I walked into the studio. Brent stood just to the left of the desk, waiting patiently to have his lavalier mic removed. A broad smile curved his mouth.
“Hello, Lia.”
“Hi, Brent.”
“I heard you’d started working here. How’s it going so far?”
“Fine.” I plastered on a fake smile. “Thanks for coming in for the interview. You did a great job.”
He shrugged, fixing his suit jacket once the mic was removed. “Interviews are generally boring. I could recite all that in my sleep.” He angled toward me. “Those last questions were Archer’s way of goading me. Regardless of my history with your boyfriend, I hope you know I’d never embarrass him or myself like that in the press.”
His admission came as a surprise. Nodding, I thanked him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me.
“If you ever get tired of Julian, give me a call. I’m always looking to add good talent to my media relations team.”
I took the card and stuck it in my notebook. Standing here chatting with him like it was no big deal felt weird.
“I’m having a few people over to my place tonight. You and Alastair should come. I’ve already invited some of the staff at Finley’s, so your friend Stephanie will be there. Nice seeing you, Lia.”
More than a little suspicious at his invitation, I thanked him again. Tonight? Stephanie didn’t say anything about this earlier. I decided to text her after I dealt with Archer. He was still at the anchor desk, writing intently and ignoring my presence. Laying my hand on the paper, I blocked his furious scribbling. He looked at me with a noticeable level of dread.
“If you ever pull a stunt like that again without telling me, I will sound a foghorn into your IFB. Are we clear?”
The right corner of his mouth ticked up. “It wasn’t intentional. Lots of people have thought the same thing.”
“Leave Alastair out of your on-air curiosities unless he’s sitting in front of you. And even then, keep
“You’re constantly listed with other notable young businessmen in Great Britain, including Alastair Holden. Obviously your background is quite different from his but do you see his success as something you’d like to emulate?”
I sat immobile, clutching a pen. That question wasn’t listed on our sheet of talking points. Sneaky bastard.
Brent smiled slightly. “As you said, our backgrounds are quite different. I wasn’t born into an established, worldwide conglomerate but I can certainly appreciate how he’s contributed to the ever-changing atmosphere of the media industry.”
“Tragic childhood aside, he’s had it pretty easy when it comes to his career. Do you see your success as more satisfying because you weren’t handed a company like he was?”
It took every ounce of my strength not to leap out of the chair and run into the studio. Livid was too weak of a word to describe what I was.
This is what he wanted the extra time for? Ass.
“Now Julian, we all work hard at what we do,” Brent answered smoothly. “Nobody’s success is more satisfying than another’s. Alastair Holden is a smart and savvy businessman. Being handed a company or building one from the ground up has no bearing on whether or not one’s success is more deserved.”
Breathing out slowly I was thankful and more than a little shocked at Brent’s diplomatic answer. When the interview concluded and the show went off the air at six, I relaxed.
“Great show, Lia,” Robbie said, patting me on the shoulder. “I could tell you were caught off guard by those last couple of questions. Not many people would have handled that with such grace.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I muttered, rising to my feet. Visions of Julian being catapulted toward the sun put an extra spring in my step as I walked into the studio. Brent stood just to the left of the desk, waiting patiently to have his lavalier mic removed. A broad smile curved his mouth.
“Hello, Lia.”
“Hi, Brent.”
“I heard you’d started working here. How’s it going so far?”
“Fine.” I plastered on a fake smile. “Thanks for coming in for the interview. You did a great job.”
He shrugged, fixing his suit jacket once the mic was removed. “Interviews are generally boring. I could recite all that in my sleep.” He angled toward me. “Those last questions were Archer’s way of goading me. Regardless of my history with your boyfriend, I hope you know I’d never embarrass him or myself like that in the press.”
His admission came as a surprise. Nodding, I thanked him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me.
“If you ever get tired of Julian, give me a call. I’m always looking to add good talent to my media relations team.”
I took the card and stuck it in my notebook. Standing here chatting with him like it was no big deal felt weird.
“I’m having a few people over to my place tonight. You and Alastair should come. I’ve already invited some of the staff at Finley’s, so your friend Stephanie will be there. Nice seeing you, Lia.”
More than a little suspicious at his invitation, I thanked him again. Tonight? Stephanie didn’t say anything about this earlier. I decided to text her after I dealt with Archer. He was still at the anchor desk, writing intently and ignoring my presence. Laying my hand on the paper, I blocked his furious scribbling. He looked at me with a noticeable level of dread.
“If you ever pull a stunt like that again without telling me, I will sound a foghorn into your IFB. Are we clear?”
The right corner of his mouth ticked up. “It wasn’t intentional. Lots of people have thought the same thing.”
“Leave Alastair out of your on-air curiosities unless he’s sitting in front of you. And even then, keep
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