Page 94 of A Bossy Surprise

I chuckle. “Nothing right now, but I’m still thinking.”

We continue to hold each other until her body tenses in my arms.

“What is it?”

“I just had an idea about what we could do to make GNN look amazing, but it’s insane.”

I pull back. “Oh yeah? What is it?”

“It’s an idea I’ve been toying with her a while, but I have always thought it’s too unrealistic. It probably won’t work, but I think it’s maybe worth a try it.”

“What is it?”

“So, when the presidential candidates emerge there are going to be presidential debates. The dates and venues have been selected. However, the moderators haven’t. We could apply to the Commission on Presidential Debates to have one of our people moderate one of those debates. If we get it, we will be the only ones televising. So that night we will have all eyes on us.”

I take a moment to digest Kayla’s words, then say, “That’s brilliant. If we’re able to secure a presidential debate, then there’s no way Dad will want me to pull out of GNN. It would look bad to the board if he should even suggest it. He’ll have no choice but to back off.”

“Yeah, but securing the moderation gig isn’t going to be easy.”

“Well, obviously. It’s a pretty big deal. What would we have to do to make sure we get it?”

“The problem is that no one knows the criteria the commission uses to choose their moderators. I mean, we know the general qualities they look for, which are basically your run of the mill journalistic ethics. Basically, almost every working journalist in the country can clear that bar on paper. However, there are some other things about us that could work against us or in our favor. It just depends on how you look at it.”

“Things like what?”

“GNN is pretty small. We are relatively new and untested. That could be a good or a bad thing. It could mean that we aren’t ready for such a major responsibility. Or it could mean that we will provide a fresh perspective to the debate.”

“I see what you mean, but isn’t that what the application is for? Aren’t we supposed to convince them that because of who we are that we would be the better choice?”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Also, I think we have a pretty good chance because of that story about Morehead. We broke into the national conscience with that story. So, we kind of have a leg to stand on. Also, ever since you started heading the news department here, you’ve made it a point to be balanced in our political coverage. So, we can also prove that we do not have any political bias toward any party or candidate.”

“You’re right. Plus, we have Consuela Alvarez. She did most of the work on the Morehead story, and she was the one who broke the news on TV. So people know her face. She’s pretty experienced and respected in our field. If we are able to talk her and GNN up, we will have a pretty good shot.”

“Kayla, this is an amazing idea. If we are able to do this, it will definitely save GNN.”

“I’m glad you think so. So how about we get to work?”

I don’t need any more convincing than that. We spend the rest of the evening putting together a preliminary application. Tomorrow at work, we will pull in Arthur, and everybody else who needs to be in the know to make this application the best it can be.

This is our ticket out of the corner Dad has painted us into. That means I’m going to put my all into it.

27

KAYLA

Brady and I have spent so much time at Adam’s place that it has started to feel like home. However, that’s not how it feels right now.

Tonight we are having dinner with both of Adam’s parents.

While we await their arrival, I pace back and forth in his living room while Brady watches cartoons and Adam is in the dining room laying out the food he had brought in for tonight.

I’m great with parents. All my friends’ parents adore me. Also, I met the parents of a guy I was dating once, and they were thrilled that I was seeing their son. However, I have a feeling that my past triumphs with parents won’t be helping me tonight.

As much as Adam has told me how wonderful his mother is, she can’t be happy that I kept Adam from his son all these years. And, how I understand it, Adam’s father didn’t even want to come to this dinner. It was his mother who forced her ex-husband to join us. So, I don’t imagine he’s going to be all that pleasant. Even if I didn’t have that little piece of information, I wouldn’t have been looking forward to meeting him considering the way I know he feels about me.

“Brady, come here. Your tie is crooked,” I say to my son.