Page 26 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

By the time she sat down, I was scanning the pages. I could see that she had done a thorough assessment. I hadn't doubted that she would, but I knew that if there were questions about her abilities, I'd have some explaining to do, especially to Alan. So I was glad to see she was giving her A-game.

"The news network posts regularly on social media." Admittedly, her assessment on the news network confused me.

"That's true, but you're mostly posting on places that older demographics use. Millennials and younger people are also interested in what's going on in the world, so you should expand to the platforms they use too."

I arched a brow. "Are you saying the news anchors are going to have to do dances on TikTok?"

Her lips twitched up in a smile, and for a moment, I was mesmerized by it. She really was a beautiful woman.

"Your news people don’t need to do dances on TikTok. But you can have clips of the news like you do on the other platforms on TikTok. At the same time, I have watched many of your opinion hosts, and I suspect some of them would be interested in making short snippets of news or commentary for the platform."

My father had been resistant to bringing all our media outlets onto the Internet. But I knew that the company would die if we did not adapt and adjust to all the new ways that people were looking for and consuming their news information. And while I thought that I was keeping up on top of all the trends, Samantha's assessment was a reminder that how people got their news was still changing and would likely always be changing, probably faster now than it ever had in the past.

"Of course, I'd like the opportunity to go to the news station and talk with your staff who take care of social media and online content before making a final decision."

I nodded. "Of course. I'll make the arrangements." Feeling certain that we had talked enough that Lucas the lawyer was out of the building, I rose and buttoned my coat. "It's the end of the day. I'm heading home. Why don't you ride with me since we are heading to the same place?"

Samantha didn’t say anything, instead turning off her laptop. Finally, she said, "I don't know if that's a good idea."

The words felt like tiny stabs in my chest. "I don't know why not."

She shrugged. "I don't want people to think I'm getting special favors from you. Or giving them."

It took a moment for her statement to sink in. Anger brewed deep in my gut, although I couldn't be sure why. "I would never—"

"I know, but others could think it."

I frowned, wondering where she got such an idea. "Did somebody say something to you?"

She looked down, her fingers fiddling with a pen. "It's just how it might look."

I leaned over the desk toward her. "Who said something?"

She closed her eyes, clearly not wanting to tell me. "I don't want any trouble or hostility in the workplace. Besides, it's not a problem. I just don't want to look like there's something going on between us because there isn't."

"I can't imagine why anyone would think there would be anything between us." My words came out harsher than I had intended.

Samantha flinched but then gave me a curt nod.

"You are my daughter's friend. If anybody's going to think anything of this situation, it would be that. It was the same reason I gave you an internship." It felt cruel to remind her of that. I needed to pull my annoyance into check. “It’s silly for us to take two different types of transportation when we’re going to the same place."

She was quiet for a moment, but then she nodded. She retrieved her purse, and we left her office together. As we headed up the hall past Alan’s office, I saw him talking with his secretary. He looked up, and upon seeing us, his eyes narrowed slightly. I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he hadn't been the impetus to Samantha's concern.

"You head on down to the garage. Knightly will be there. I'll be down in a moment."

Samantha didn't say anything. She continued to the elevator.

I took a detour toward Alan and his secretary. "I like to have a word with you, Alan, if that's possible."

"You're the boss." I followed him into his office.

"I just wanted to check and see how things went today with Ms. Layton up the hall."

He stared at me for a moment, as if he was trying to read my mind. "Did she say something?"

To my mind, that was a confession. “Is there something she should've said to me?"

He shrugged. "No."

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