Page 71 of Ice Devil

“You’ve become so jaded.”

“I’ve become realistic, Matthew.”

I’d worked with him long enough to know which buttons to press. He took long strides back to his computer, his fingers flying on his keyboard.

Now I stood. At least he was finally getting to what this meeting was all about.

“The article you wrote about Beck Kendrick was… different.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

Every sound expelled from his mouth was one of contempt. “Well, it wasn’t what I asked for, but it’s trending, which in turn caught the eye of the executives.” His eyes flitted back to the screen. “What do you like the least about being a shifter? His answer? Constantly being forced to prove myself. I’m human with a different DNA and nothing more.” He shook his head. “Did he actually say that shit? If he did then he’s far less intelligent that I gave him credit for, which wasn’t much.” He laughed while scratching his head.

“Which wasn’t much?” I moved to the very edge of his desk. Don’t smack him. Don’t do it. “What?”

“Whoa, hold on. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Apparently, you did. “

“No, Sloane. I didn’t. Your take on the shifter aspect was fresh, the perspective what everyone needed. Not what I asked for, but it all worked out in the end.”

I was still skeptical.

“The article was written to provide his point of view, fair and equal representation, which I would think this media company would want.”

“I do. And you drive me crazy, Sloane. Don’t you realize that? You make me say and do things that should never occur.”

“At least we agree on something. What we shared should never have occurred.” If he wanted a glare standoff, I would win.

Matt bristled. Once again, I’d hurt his feelings, although not for any personal reasons. This was all about his bank accounts. “Well, you’ll forgive me if I don’t look at what we shared the same way. You were and are the reason I’m in this business. The love of sharing the world through truth and integrity.”

He really did want me to vomit all over his nice new suit.

“What is the issue other than that you didn’t appreciate my tone with the article?” I almost spit out what I knew. This was crazy.

“While I’ve come to understand how enamored you are with these… wolves, you said it yourself that providing fair and equal representation is what should happen. I’m actually agreeing with you. However, selling your point of view had been… difficult.”

Wait. Did that mean he’d gone to bat for me with the great executive team?

“What are you getting at?”

He grinned. “You’re a very stubborn woman, Sloane. For God’s sake, I’m not suggesting you forgo your beliefs or the very integrity I was talking about. I’m telling you that you’ve been asked to sit down with the gentlemen from Sports Today while you’re in Portland. The executives are thrilled. Do you have any understanding what this could mean for you?”

Sports Today was the number one rated, beloved program in the sports entertainment world. What Jesse Jacobs and Kyle Bradshaw had done in taking a podcast and turning it into a multimillion-dollar empire in four years was nothing short of amazing. They were now televised on every major news broadcast, their ability to lure in sports celebrities because of their straightforward, honest way of discussing sports and the lives of players.

“Why?” I asked because they had one ding against them I would never be able to forgive. They were also highly chauvinistic. In my mind, they were pigs.

Oink. Oink.

“What do you mean why? Does it matter? You have a spot, a shot at making the networks. Who knows. Maybe you could have your own show after this. Although…”

“Although what?” I folded my arms, cocking one hip because with Matt, there was always an ulterior motive.

“If you do well, word on the street is that you’ll be asked to step in for Wally Jacobs.”

Wally was the third broadcaster who’d been added. He was a bit of a hellion, which had been the only reason I’d bothered tuning in every so often.

“What happened to Wally?”