Bad Liar (The Reed Rivers Trilogy 1)

My eyebrows rise. I didn’t see that one coming, I’m ashamed to admit. Gorgeous, witty, magnetic, sexy, curvaceous Georgina is also an excellent writer? Well, I’ll be damned.

CeeCee continues. “She’s still a bit green, of course. Definitely needs some real-world experience. But with some guidance, I think she’s got potential to become a top-notch journalist.”

My heart is crashing in my ears. Holy fuck, I want this for Georgina. “It sounds like the event was a win for us both, then. I found myself an expert witness for a frivolous lawsuit, and you found yourself a newbie journalist to hire.”

“Actually, no, I don’t think it’s going to work out for me to hire her, I’m sad to say.”

My heart stops. No. “Why not? From the way you’ve been talking about this girl, it seems like hiring her is a no-brainer.”

“It would be, if only I had the right position for her. But, unfortunately, I don’t.”

I take a deep breath to make sure my voice doesn’t sound over-eager. “Surely, you could move things around to make a spot for her. Good talent is hard to find.”

“The problem is we don’t hire kids straight out of college for Dig a Little Deeper. Only seasoned professionals. And at Rock ‘n’ Roll, which she said wasn’t her first choice, anyway, writers with no experience are required to funnel through an unpaid, three-month internship as a proving ground before we even think of offering them a paid position on the writing staff.”

Another deep breath. “Okay, so, offer her an unpaid internship at Rock ‘n’ Roll. Let her hone her chops and earn her way to a paid gig.”

“Why are you fighting so hard for this girl? In fact, why are you even wasting your time talking to me about her at all? Normally, you’d have brushed this topic aside faster than a sneeze.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“You absolutely would. Is it because she’s so beautiful? Or didn’t you happen to notice that with your eagle eye from across the lecture hall?”

Shit. “I didn’t notice that, actually. I only saw her from the back.” Fuck. “Maybe yesterday’s panel inspired me to want to give back.”

“Uh huh.”

I audibly shrug, hoping it sounds authentic. “Maybe yesterday’s event made me remember what it was like when I was first starting out, and every bit of mentorship meant so much to me. Especially yours.”

“Mmm hmm. What aren’t you telling me, Reed?”

“Nothing. I’m just trying to help a young woman with a dream, out of the goodness of my heart—thereby helping my dear friend. You said she’s got something special, and I want you to have the best people on your staff because I love you so much.”

She laughs. “Wait. There’s goodness in your heart?”

“That’s what you took from everything I just said to you?”

She laughs again.

“Hell yeah, there’s goodness in my heart,” I mutter defensively. “It’s just hard to notice because it’s hidden underneath so many mysterious, enigmatic ‘layers’ of my onion.”

She hoots with laughter.

“Seriously, Ceece, you should hear the way you’ve been talking about this girl. You’re obviously smitten with her.”

“Oh, I am. She was exceptional, Reed. The brightest, most charming and charismatic newbie I’ve met in a long time. Maybe, ever. I sat across the table from her in that coffee place and thought, ‘Anyone this girl interviews wouldn’t stand a chance. She’d get them to spill all their secrets in the first five minutes.’”

I smile to myself. Truer words were never spoken. “Well, there you go,” I say breezily. “Don’t let someone like that get away.”

CeeCee sighs. “The thing is, I’d feel like an asshole offering Georgina an unpaid internship. After Georgina left the coffee place, my friend, Gilda, told me Georgina’s father recently battled cancer, and Georgina needs a paid position after graduation to help him afford some expensive medication he still needs to take.”

My stomach drops into my toes at this unexpected revelation.

“Under the circumstances,” CeeCee continues, “I’d feel terrible offering Georgina an unpaid internship. Actually, I was thinking of picking up the phone and trying to help her get a paid position somewhere else.”

“What? You can’t do that. Break your rules and hire this girl for pay, CeeCee.”

“I can’t. My hands are tied. If I make an exception for Georgina and let her bypass the internship program, my staff would flood me with résumés, insisting their best friends and nephews should get the same treatment.”

“It’s your company. Surely, you can make an exception, just this once.”

I hear a slapping noise. Like CeeCee’s just slammed her palms onto her desk. “Okay, Reed. That’s it. What the fuck aren’t you telling me?”

My heart stops. “Nothing. You just seem particularly moved by this girl, and I don’t want you regretting your decision later. To be honest, I’m moved by her, too—by this thing with her father. I know what it’s like to want to do whatever it takes to help a parent in need.”