Page 146 of All Too Well
Of course I get noticed when I’m leaving.
I smile warmly. “You do have great staff, Mr. Knight, and I will deeply miss being a part ofMetro NY. It’s been both my honor and privilege to work here.”
“That sounds like you’re leaving.”
“I am,” I say with sorrow.
“Where are you going?” Carson asks, coming farther into the room. “Surely after writing an article like that you’re not being fired?” He looks to Mr. Krispen, who is shaking his head.
“Absolutely not, Mr. Knight.”
“Please, call me Carson, Charles. We’ve had this conversation.”
Mr. Krispen looks like he might be sick. “Of course, sir.”
Carson grins and turns to me. “If you’re not being fired, then why would you be quitting?”
“Can I be honest?”
“I’d hopeyou would be.”
I smile. “I fell in love with the man in the article—more than I already did before I went there.”
He laughs once. “Did you?”
“Yes, we grew up together—it was a thing—but I’d rather give up everything than live my life without him.”
“My wife would love you,” Carson says with a grin as he sits on the couch and motions for me to do the same. “And I’m assuming this man in the article feels the same?”
“I think so.”
Carson leans back. “You think? You’re taking a pretty big chance on love.”
“I am.”
That seems to impress him in some way. “In business and in life, sometimes that’s what we have to do. Buying this paper, for instance, was a bit of both.”
The purchase of our paper was a huge thing. One day we were owned by a different company, and thenMetro NYwas bought by Carson Knight. No one knew why or how, but the staff who didn’t agree to his rules were let go, and everyone else stayed. We didn’t print for about a month, though.
“I think, sometimes, the biggest risks bring the greatest rewards,” I explain.
“I’d agree. Let me ask you, what would it take to get you to stay?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think ...”
“Don’t answer too fast. Is there a dollar value? A promotion?” Carson asks.
“No.”
He nods once. “I see. So it’s Ember Falls or bust?”
I grin at that. “Pretty much. I think, if I stayed, I’d be unhappy and then leave anyway. It’s better that I take the leap now.”
He gets to his feet and starts to pace. “I don’t think that’s going to work for me.”
I blink. “I’m sorry. What?”
Carson turns to me. “I don’t like letting competent people go. Let’s negotiate.”
