Page 11 of Chasing Hope

‘Oh yes, sir, got it.’ Understanding dawned on her and she pounced out of her chair. ‘I’m on it,’ she said and sprinted out of the room.

‘Who do we have next?’ He shifted his attention back to the remaining crew members.

‘Sir, Herbal Health has reached out for ad slots during the primetime news. They are willing to pay in crores. Sir, this will give a boost to our revenue. We need to make hay while the sun shines.’ Dinesh, the advertising representative, smiled, adjusting his glasses.

Ethan swirled around in his chair and his eyes tightened as he observed the tool. Dinesh was a smart chap but on occasions the glitz of money blinded his vision. Ethan cleared his throat and his voice hardened. ‘Dinesh, what was the last news you heard about Herbal Health?’

Dinesh’s Adam’s apple bobbed and his fingers fumbled on his keypad. ‘Sir… there was a serious allegation that the products of Herbal Health contain large amounts of harmful chemicals and fertilisers.’

Ethan slid back his chair and got to his feet. His hands skimmed into his pockets, broadening his stance.

‘First Up News has grossed the highest network ratings every night for the past year. Agreed; TRPs and advertising revenues serve as the bedrock of any news channel. At First Up News we air unbiased and honest news. Who we promote and what we promote is a reflection of our character. No matter how much they are willing to pay us, being associated with corrupt organisations which are a threat to society goes against everything we believe in. Nothing precedes our integrity. We—’

‘Sorry I’m late.’ Hope rushed into the room like a whirlwind, dumped her bag on the desk and plopped down on the empty seat furthest away from Ethan. Her plump cheeks were red, probably from being out in the sun for too long. A black t-shirt half-tucked in a faded pair of blue jeans had the words ‘Winter Is Coming’ – a reference fromGame of Thrones– printed in white across her breasts. Her breasts rose and fell as she breathed deeply.

Inappropriate. Look away man. She will slap you with a lawsuit so quick your head will spin.

Nope. He wasn't going to reflect on why his dick just twitched.

The way she shook out her shaggy hair reminded him of Phoenix. The rosy glow in her cheeks heightened as Ethan’s lazy gaze rambled on its perusal. Tearing her mink-brown eyes from his she scooted away from the sun’s rays streaming in from the glass wall.

‘I’m assuming you have a good enough reason for being late and also for interrupting our session?’ Ethan dragged his gaze from her face. His voice, as stiff as a rod, alerted everyone in the room. Ethan hated tardiness. Punctuality was a prerequisite of a news agency.

Defensiveness. That was always the stance she went with. ‘As a matter of fact, I do.’ A smirk spanned her face. She sashayed her curvy hips and approached Ethan, careful that she kept an arm’s length distance from him. Ethan’s body stiffened at her annoying behaviour. Hope ducked her head and rummaged through her backpack. Certain that she had deliberately delayed the proceedings, Ethan huffed out a tired breath. The day had just begun and he was already tired of her juvenile antics.

‘Come on, Hope, we don’t have all day.’

‘Oops, sorry,’ Hope mumbled and lifted her head from inside the bag. ‘Oh, here it is,’ she chirped, plucking her phone from her back pocket and waving it in front of Ethan’s face.

Calm the fuck down.That was Ethan’s mantra when it came to Hope.

Hope plugged in the USB and her mobile screen displayed on the life-size monitor. The second she swiped the screen the room erupted with the sounds of moans and groans. A sex scene fromGame of Thronesplayed on the wide screen. ‘Oops.’ Hope pressed pause on a couple doing it doggy style. The woman’s tits flashed in their faces. The entire room burst into boisterous laughter. Ethan did not even crack a smile. He closed his eyes trying to simmer his fury.

‘Not everything is a fucking joke Hope.’ A vein in his neck inflated. Silence dropped like a hammer.

‘What? As journalists we lead stressful lives. We need a release now and then. I don’t see—’

‘Jesus Christ. Just play the goddamn footage, Hope. We are not here to discuss your sexual fantasies. Do that on your own time.’ Ethan slammed his palms on the table, rattling the desktop. Apart from the slight quiver of her chin, Hope did not react to his outburst.

Fuck. Ethan’s hand fisted in his hair. At that moment he was mad enough to chew up nails and spit out barbed wire. Ethan inhaled a deep breath. Instead of calming him, the lungful breath of rose perfumed air spiked his annoyance.

Hope eyes flared with scorn and she spun around to face the screen.

A close-up of Hope’s laughing face filled the screen as she reclined in a chair of what looked to be the studio of a tattoo artist. Dressed in a black lace bra and a pair of hot denim shorts, Hope’s eyes, drowsy with seduction, dawdled over the artist’s face. Ethan’s breath jammed in his throat. The man wore a black pair of cutoffs exposing his muscular arms and shared an intimate smile with Hope. His eyebrows drew together as he concentrated on the design he was inking on her smooth porcelain skin.

‘Is that—’

‘Yes, that’s celebrity tattoo artist Derrick D’Costa’ Hope cut Ethan off with a brusque reply.

With a brisk nod, Ethan continued to watch the recording. ‘My God, that's fabulous, Derrick,’ Mahika, Hope’s friend, said as she zoomed in on the tattoo. Mesmerised, Ethan’s eyes glided along the long-stemmed red rose inked between the smooth valley of Hope’s breasts. Red, the colour of fiery passion and seduction, suited her perfectly. Her ethereal beauty bushwhacked his senses. Irritation slithered along his spine.

‘It is, isn’t it.’ Hope’s husky laughter spilled out of the speakers as she trailed her palm along Derrick’s biceps. ‘Thank you, Derrick,’ Hope seductively whispered. Ethan’s heart jackhammered. If he reacted this strongly to Hope’s pretentious display of seduction there was seriously something wrong with him. Aarav was right. He needed to get laid… and soon.

‘Derrick, you’re so gifted,’ Anjana, Hope's friend who had tried on several occasions to flirt with Ethan, spoke to her boobs.

‘Could she make it any more obvious that the camera is hidden in her top?’

Hope let out a harsh breath and refused to answer Ethan’s question.

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