Page 7 of Vicious Hearts

“Ariadne,” I correct him. Four years of service, and not once has he addressed me accurately.

‘Yes, well, Ariana…”

“Ariadne.”

I should probably stop now. I’ll get fired just because my boss wants to call me Ariana. He ignores me and pushes on.

“There have been some concerns raised about your performance,” he tells me.

“Raised by who?” I shriek.

“That’s not important. But let’s just say I’m not overly impressed with your performance of late. You’ve been last to arrive and first to leave. You’re tardy and high-strung. Your appearance leaves a lot to be desired. And dare I say, you’ve missed two deadlines.”

“I did mention I was going through a rough patch,” I defend myself.

“Your rough patch is affecting your work. Which is costing us time and money. Neither of which we have much of.”

I frown and wonder what the hell he’s going on about.

“I’m sorry Mr Hinkelbaum, I’ll try harder.”

Please don’t fire me.

“Please don’ttry, Ariana.Do. You mustdobetter. And you haven’t… You’ve been…”

Oh my God, I’m going to get fired. Before I know it, I’m on my knees and I’m at his feet, begging for another chance. I can’t get fired now. My wage just barely covers rent and living expenses. If I get fired, I’ll be forced to stay with Nina and Michael, and then I’llhave todeal with Michael’s toxic advice.

“Please, Mr Hinkelbaum. Pleeeaasse don’t fire me. Please, please, please, I promise I’ll do better. I’ll doanything.”

He looks at me like I’ve grown two heads, then he kicks me off his feet and looks at me thoughtfully.

“Anything?” he asks.

* * *

Mr Hinkelbaum is givingme an impossible task. And when I say impossible, I mean Mission Impossible. There is just no way I can pull this off, and I start to think that he gave me this task knowing full well that I couldn’t pull it off, and it’s his out to get rid of me. So I have to try extra hard to make the impossible possible.

I start by calling a few sources, asking a few questions. It takes me two days, but finally I get the lead I’m looking for. Someone puts me onto someone else who puts me on to someone who can get me an in with Caleph “King” Rojas. I wait on the line as the contact I’ve made dials me into Rojas’ private line; no one is willing to give me the direct number, and I’m willing to do anything to speak with the man who’s at the center of my latest exposé.

A deep masculine voice reaches my ears through the phone. I don’t know why I’m expecting someone with a Spanish inflection, but he speaks perfect English in an American accent that does not belie his background. The man could’ve been born and bred in the US. I quickly shoot off my name and the reason for my call. In return, he asks how I got his number. I don’t really have his number, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“This is your chance to go on the record before we go to print,” I tell him, and I’m hoping he’s enticed enough to grant me an interview. I’m practically begging him, but the man doesn’t seem like he’s one to be swayed. If he doesn’t agree to this interview, I’m as good as screwed.

“No.”

One word, but it’s heavily laden with refusal and finality.

“No?”

“There will be no interview.”

“That means I will have to rely on what I get from my sources.”

A warning. Usually when people hear a reporter will resort to external sources, they like to step up and tell their own story. Not this man. He’s tight lipped as I continue to plead my case. I drone on and on and on before I hear the click and the phone goes dead.

6

CALEPH

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