Read Online Heart of the Matter by KI Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

was her agent, but knew he would only call back. She needed to deal with this situation.
    “Hi, Dean,” she said with little enthusiasm.
    “Kate.”
    He paused, and she knew he didn’t have good news. She braced herself, knowing what was coming but wishing somehow she could stop him.
    “Kate…”
    After a few more moments of hesitation, Kate couldn’t stand it anymore. “Just spit it out, Dean,” she snapped. “You don’t need to sugarcoat it.”
    “Sorry…the station wants to buy out your contract. It seems like a pretty good deal, and as your agent, I would advise you to take it.”
    He knew. He didn’t ask why, so Mike must have told him.
    She could imagine them all sitting around the conference table, discussing her life. “Poor Kate,” they’d probably said, and then went about deciding what was best for the station, and for her, of course. In a single morning, they had determined her fate, before the inevitable lunch at an upscale Washington restaurant. She was furious she was so helpless, but she had no choice. Her anchor days were through.
    “Send the paperwork over,” she said flatly. “I’ll look at it, and if it’s in order I’ll sign it.”
    “Kate, I’ve been calling some stations out West and—”
    “Well, stop right now,” Kate interrupted angrily. “I’m not interested in doing anything, either here or out West.”
    “But, Kate—”
    “I said, forget it. Send me the paperwork tonight. I’ll get it back to you in the morning.”
    She jabbed the Off button and flung the phone across the room.
    She swore she wouldn’t answer it again, especially if it was Dean calling. Glancing at her watch, she strode to the bar off the kitchen and poured a scotch. It was too early in the afternoon for one, but she didn’t care. She needed it.
    The first sip was strong and harsh, but after that, the taste was smoother. A couple of hours of channel surfing and several drinks later, she realized she had emptied the bottle. I better add that to my grocery list . Speaking of groceries . She glanced at her watch again; it was almost five o’clock. Normally Ellen would be home by now and would bring the items Kate was waiting for or come collect her list for the next day. But that wasn’t going to happen.
    Kate read the note she’d found slipped under her door the day before. The ultimatum was clear: Call Ellen and apologize or go screw yourself and get your own groceries.
    Nothing on her list was urgent; she had enough food to get by.
    But the scotch was a different matter. Kate inspected her last bottle and chewed at her lip. She had enough to last her five or six hours; then she would have to leave the condo so she could stock up. She shuddered. The very thought of leaving her sanctuary to go out in public and be seen made her ill. Only a few people knew of her predicament and mercifully had kept it to themselves, so far. If she were to go out, some fan might surreptitiously photograph her with their cell phone and her damaged face would be plastered all over the news.
    The more she thought about her situation, the angrier she got.
    Fuck them . What did it matter anymore if people knew what she was hiding? Her career was in the trash and there was no use pretending otherwise. If someone took her photograph and it wound up on the news, she’d merely get a head start on the station by beating them to the announcement. What was she going to do, otherwise? Stay in her condo for the rest of her life? The idea was absurd and infuriating.
    If she was going to get on with her life, she had to start now by getting her own damn groceries. It was unlike her to be such a wimp over something so stupid. She just had to buck up and take the hard knocks, as her father always said.
    ❖
    The symphony had definitely been the high point of the evening. The upscale bar had been rather awkward and unsettling, mostly due to Ellen’s insecurities about the dress as well as feeling uncomfortable on her first date