Page 20 of Striking Heat
Maxwell turns to me, shaking his bony finger in my direction. “She has the right to not answer any personal question. If she says no, then it’s a no. And you will not print the questions she hasn’t answered. Got it?”
“Of course,” I reply. “I don’t want this to be like the piece I wrote about you earlier.” I turn to her, trying to reassure her that this will be different. “You can pass when you don’t want to answer. Or tell me to go off the record if you want to talk about it but don’t want it printed.”
August chuckles. “She’s a spitfire, Danny, are you really sure you want to interview this one?”
I chuckle too and watch her scowling at me. Maxwell is looking from me to her, smirking. I’ve got my work cut out for me.
“Yeah, I’m sure she’s who I want to interview.”
Clapping his hands once, Maxwell rises. “From what I understand, I’ll work with your editor on the due dates once you two have talked.”
Nodding again, I tell him, “I’ll have Martin give you a call.”
I get up and shake his hand. He returns it with a strong handshake.
“When do you want to start?” I turn to Mackenzie with a grin.
She rises. “I’ll call you.”
“You don’t have my number,” I remind her.
She just grins, like this was her plan all along. Makenzie turns to leave Cromwell’s office.
“Mackenzie, please,” August replies with a chuckle.
“Yeah, okay, let me give Danny my phone number.” She pulls out her phone and gets ready to take down my number.
“Thank you, Mackenzie. Great game last night,” Maxwell says, returning to his spot behind his desk.
August must take this as his sign to leave the office too. The three of us file out and back into the elevator.
“You hungry?” she asks me.
I turn to her in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, why not?” She shrugs it off like it’s nothing as the elevator descends.
When the doors open, August leaves me with some parting advice. “Don’t poop where you eat.”
I cringe. I’ve always hated the expression,
Mackenzie swats my arm. “I’m not that bad; you know. You just chose to hate me.” She pauses, her eyes darting around before she adds, “For no reason.”
I chuckle. “Alright, let’s go get some lunch, Mackenzie.”
“Please call me Mac,” she replies, leading the way out of the building. “I’m driving.”
Chapter Ten
~DANNY~
The ride to lunch is quiet. Soft music plays over the radio, but I can’t hear what it is. I think maybe it’s Coldplay or something.
“I’m sorry if you don’t want me to interview you.” I try starting a conversation with her, but it fails, just like the last time I asked her where we’re going. “I didn’t ask for this assignment.”
“Food first, talk later” is all she says.
“It would be great if you could tell me where we’re going.”
