Page 2 of Out of Bounds

She looks up from her desk smiling, instantly putting me at ease.

"Ohh. You must be Olivia Torres. Persistent Olivia Torres as we like to call you around here." She winks as she stands up. "Let me show you to your desk."

"Thank you so much, Miss ..."

"Please. Call me Liz.”

After a few months of learning the ropes, interviewing soccer, American football and baseball stars, Liz calls me into her office. She invites me to take a seat.

“Here you are,” she says handing over a large brown envelope. “Your first assignment."

I take the envelope from her. I didn't know I would be given an assignment so soon. "What? You think I’m ready to go it alone?”

Liz laughs out loud and smiles at me fondly. "Boss thinks you're ready ... and that’s good enough for me!"

Once back at my own desk, I stare at the sealed envelope, containing my new assignment, with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Landing a job with a prestigious sports magazine is a dream come true, it's something I have been waiting for my whole life. Why do I feel so nervous? This is what I've been preparing myself for my whole life.

I open the envelope slowly and bring out the black file. Goosebumps erupt all over my body as I turn the page. My first task is to interview the notorious basketball megastar, Jesse Edison. I’m to get an exclusive interview with him and I have been given just 30 days to do it.

Why oh why did this have to be my first assignment?

Jesse Edison. He and Hal were best friends, and I vaguely remember him from my childhood. However, after reading the tabloids it seems he’s turned out to be an arrogant pig. I’m not even sure if Hal has anything to do with him anymore.

I couldn't refuse this task, unless I wanted to end my career before it had even started. But what do I do? Jesse Edison's arrogant reputation precedes him. There's a reason why he's the only sports star that has never been featured in an interview. He wears his arrogance like a second skin. If no other sports magazine have gotten close to him, why on earth does my boss think I can? The whole thing makes me apprehensive.

Perhaps I can talk to Liz about this and hopefully she can change the boss's mind and give me a different assignment. I walk gingerly to her office and she raises her head. Her brows knot with concern immediately when she sees my face.

"What's wrong Olivia?"

"Can we talk?"

"Ok." She offers me a seat.

"I hope you don't mind?"

"Of course not. Is everything ok?”

"The thing is … I don't think I can do this assignment."

There's a puzzled expression on her face as she stares at me.

"Why? What's wrong?"

“It's Jesse Edison. My assignment is Jesse Edison."

She laughs and shakes her head. "Oh is that all? Forgive me for laughing. Listen, I know you might be a bit apprehensive but I know you’ll smash it."

"I'm grateful for the vote of confidence but … it's just ... it's Edison. You know his reputation."

"Yes, but that's pretty much hearsay. Have you ever met the guy?"

I look at her for a few seconds. She's right. Everything I know about him I’ve either read or heard. One thing I did hear was that he hated journalists, the paparazzi, and certainly wasn't silent about it. I’ve also heard he is incredibly rude, smug, and has tons of women in every state.

"He's mysterious so he's fodder for the gossip columns. That's why we need you, Olivia. We want to show the world who he is. We're a magazine company like all the others, but what sets us apart is that we favor the truth. We want the world to know people for who they truly are and not what they've heard. I believe that if you approach him this way, he'll open up to you."

Feeling a little relieved, I nod and walk back to my desk, pondering over what she said. As frightening as this task is, it's also an opportunity for me to show Sportza how good I am. Perhaps Mr. Hollingwood is testing me.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

---