Making Headlines (17 page)

‘Enough. I get the picture. Oh, and Rachel? Don't make a habit of being in the social pages. Newsreaders aren't celebrities. It makes you look like you don't take your job seriously. I'll get your new contract to you by Friday. Now get back to work.' He waved his hand at the door.

‘Yes, thank you, thank you . . .' She was almost out the door when he called out.

‘And good job yesterday.' He didn't look up from his paperwork.

As Rachel returned to her desk, Julia looked up from her keyboard and mouthed the words, ‘We need to talk.' She pointed to Rachel's phone, at the same time picking up her own. Rachel's phone began ringing.

She picked up, eyeing Julia curiously. ‘Hello?' she said.

‘Yes, I know you think I'm crazy,' hissed Julia into the receiver. ‘But I don't want Helmut to see us gossiping because he'll think you're telling me everything he said to you. Which you can do now, on the phone. What happened? What did he say?' She looked at Rachel, eyes popping.

‘Oh my God, you're unbelievable.' Rachel shook her head. ‘Look straight ahead, you idiot. And speak quietly.'

‘I am! So what happened?'

‘I got roasted over the photo. But I still get to keep my job.'

‘Thank God. Although I have to say, even though it was a pretty bad picture, it's hard to believe he'd get so het up about something that trivial a day after the most major story ever to hit Melbourne. I mean, surely he's got better things to think about right now? He just loves abusing people.'

‘I think I deserved it. It was a stupid thing to do. And he did tell me I did a good job yesterday.' Rachel glanced over to check Helmut's office. He was nowhere to be seen.

‘Oh, well, that's something. Did you tell him about the pile of shit you got in the mail?'

‘No. I will, but it wasn't the right time. Next week.'

‘You have to do it, Rach. He's getting crazier. Oh, and there's something else I wanted to ask you . . .' She paused.

‘Yes? What is it?'

‘Now that you've been promoted to weekend newsreader, I was thinking I'd like to try my hand at reading updates. Would you mind if I had a chat to the bastard to see if he'd let me?'

‘Of course not, Jules. You'd be great. Go for it.'

‘Thanks. Just didn't want you thinking I was trying to step on your territory,' Julia whispered.

‘Nah, it's only the pretty ones I'm worried about.' Rachel kept a straight face before they both burst out laughing.

‘Ladies!' A voice boomed from behind. They swung around. Helmut. ‘Nice to see you girls getting along so well.' He smirked and walked off. Rachel wondered how long he'd been standing there. They raised eyebrows, not daring to comment.

‘More trouble . . .' Rachel mumbled, when she saw Mitch approaching. Julia glanced up then busied herself at her keyboard.

‘Rachel.' Mitch stopped at her desk. His voice was tight.

‘Mitch.' She looked up at him.

He seemed taller than ever, his face matching his faded grey T-shirt. ‘Can we grab a coffee in the canteen?' Those blue eyes were paler than usual. Icier.

Behind Mitch's back, Julia pulled an ‘ooh' face.

‘Sure, love to. Need a caffeine hit.' Rachel stood up and reached for her handbag. ‘Need anything, Jules? An extra brain or a shot of maturity?'

‘I'm fine, hon. You just stay away from the grog and catwalks, okay?'

She whacked Julia on the arm with her bag then moved quickly to keep up with Mitch.

‘You're going to get quite a bit of that, I imagine,' he said tersely.

‘S'pose I am. My fault and I'll have to deal with it.' She hoped he wasn't asking her for a coffee to give her a lecture on morality.

They walked to the canteen in silence.

When they sat down in a corner sipping their lattes, Mitch seemed to relax a little. He leaned forward, squeezing his hands together. ‘The main reason I wanted to see you alone was about yesterday. First of all, are you okay? I mean,
seriously
okay? After the bombing.'

‘I think I am. I don't like to think about it, really.' Funny how her scandalous photo had actually been a welcome distraction from reliving the horror.

Mitch kept his voice low. ‘I know it must have been pretty bad. I've never seen you like that before. I could tell you were really rocked. You left work so quickly.' He reached out, placing his hand over hers, warm and disturbingly comforting.

‘I just wanted to get away.'

He sighed. ‘I'm sorry I didn't make more of an effort to make sure you were okay. I guess I was still pissed off with you after the fashion parade.'

She pulled her hand away. ‘What do you mean?' She gulped her coffee, the hot liquid searing her throat. She knew full well what he meant.

He snorted, running a hand through his hair. ‘Damien, of course. What were you thinking? You must know his reputation for using women and spitting them out. He's only in it for the chase.'

‘Ouch. I guess I deserve that. What I did was pretty stupid. Very stupid, in fact. But just so you know, things didn't go any further. Evie made sure I got home in a taxi.'

‘Good. You shouldn't waste time on someone like him.'

‘Still reputations are dangerous and not always correct. What about you? Newsroom gossip has it that you're down the coast every weekend with a string of different women.'

An irritating grin formed on his face as he sat back in his chair. ‘Don't believe everything you hear, Rach. And I'm not the one with my picture in the paper having a public pash.'

She stirred her coffee briskly. ‘Wow, first Helmut, now you. Jesus, I best get to church, pronto, and pray for forgiveness.' She shook her head.

‘Somehow I just can't picture you at church.' Mitch folded his arms, examining her. ‘Now I think about it though, there is a place that might help. After the bombing and all.' He paused, tapping his chin. ‘Time outdoors. By the sea. I'm heading down to Bells Beach on Sunday. Might drop in on the folks at Angelsea. Why don't you come along? Just sit on the beach and read. Or I could even teach you to surf. It'd do you good.' He leaned forward, his blue eyes warming.

‘What, and get a chance to meet your harem?' She gave him a look of mock-horror.

‘You'd fit right in.' He gave her a cheeky look. How did he do that? Switch from maddening to charming in ten seconds?

He placed his hand over hers again, his eyes searching her face. This time she let herself breathe in the moment. She watched his thumb stroke the top of her hand.

When she looked up their eyes locked. A warm rush swept through her body. A flush stained her cheeks. His eyes promised so much.

Then she remembered Helmut's words.

‘It really sounds great,' she said, pulling away. ‘Really. It's just that Helmut's given me an earful about that photo too and is about to hand me a new contract. He said it's just as well I'm single and not to stuff up again. I think it might be too soon to do something like this.' She sighed deeply. ‘I'm so sorry.'

Mitch drew his hand back and his face closed over. ‘A shame. Could have been fun.'

‘It's just bad timing. Don't write me off completely.'

They pulled back their chairs. She wondered how much time before it would be okay and if he would believe her. His face was clouded and she felt just as disappointed. But at this critical point, her career had to come first. She just hoped it wouldn't be too long before they could head down the coast. She really wanted to see that smile again.

Rachel trudged through the supermarket. Kate had organised a girls' lunch as a mini housewarming at their place and she was picking up a few last-minute groceries. The group included Evie and Julia, as well as two of Kate's friends, Bronte and Jacinta. Kate had even spontaneously invited her mother after Margaret mentioned wanting to visit and see their new home. Usually Rachel would have looked forward to it. But after turning down Mitch's invitation, it seemed like a poor second-best.

To add to Rachel's disappointment, it was a shatteringly perfect day with warm blue skies teasing her with a last taste of summer. Ideal beach weather. Instead her morning was to be filled with shopping, cooking and cleaning. To her credit, Kate had done most of the shopping. Rachel only had to pick up some ice-cream and lemons.

She scanned the reams of ice-cream in the freezer aisle looking for a tub of Sara Lee vanilla bean. Kate insisted it was the best and God forbid she pick the wrong brand. With the door open a chill blew down her bare arms, prickling her skin. Vulnerable flesh. Her mind flashed back to the bombing. The screaming, the bloodied wounds of the injured and dying. That shard of metal sticking out of a shin. That burnt face. That waving hand. She grabbed the ice-cream and hurried to the checkout. She kept moving until she reached her car.

In the driver's seat she rested a moment before turning on the ignition. Her limbs felt light, sapped. She drove home carefully, forcing herself to concentrate.

Groceries in hand, she walked down the hallway, calling out, ‘Hey, Kate, it was Sara Lee you wanted, wasn't it?

‘Yeah, sure. You'd better come and look at this . . .' She sounded wary.

‘Look at what?' Rachel put the ice-cream in the freezer. Kate was at the dining table looking at the Sunday newspaper.

‘The social pages.' Kate's lips pursed as she stabbed at a page with her finger.

Rachel leaned over to take a look. Jeannie Friedrich's column. The headline read, ‘TV Host's Surprise Engagement'.

‘TV host and renowned womaniser, Damien Wilde, has announced his engagement to on-again off-again girlfriend, Lisa Black. Wilde says he's deliriously happy Lisa said “yes” when he popped the question on Friday. After the Collins Street tragedy, Wilde said life was too short not to seize the opportunity for long-term
happiness. Earlier in the week, Wilde was photographed kissing up-and-coming TV newsreader and reporter, Rachel Bentley. He says his days of outrageous partying are now behind him, prompting the question — did his public kiss make Lisa lay down an ultimatum to the Wilde-child?'

‘Oh my God.' Rachel shook her head. ‘What a complete and utter liar!'

Kate put her arm around Rachel, giving her a squeeze. ‘Bastard. All that time he spent chasing you, telling you things were over with what's-her-name.'

They stared at the photo of the happy couple smiling up at them. Rachel slumped into a chair. ‘I'm fine, really. I haven't had feelings for him for a long time. Just shocked that he could be such a blatant fraud. Hopefully his engagement will put an end to his philandering. And why did Jeannie have to bring up that bloody pash again?'

‘Hmm, not good. At least they didn't reprint the photo.' Kate took a pen and drew horns on Damien's head.

‘Thank God for small mercies.' Rachel snatched the page from her, screwed it into a ball and threw it in the bin. ‘Want any help with the cooking?'

‘Don't be ridiculous. I want our friends to
eat
the food. Get on with the cleaning, you hussy.'

Rachel grimaced. ‘If only cleaning up my reputation were as easy.'

***

Rachel set the table, wiped down the bathroom, vacuumed, swept the floorboards, put on some background music, arranged the flowers, prepared a jug of iced water and collapsed on the couch. She stared at the silent television. It didn't matter what was on. All she saw was scenes from the bombing on constant replay with no remote control to turn them off. It was the shrieking that stayed with her most. If only the music would deafen the noise.

A sudden double ping from the doorbell made her jump. It was exactly twelve thirty-one.

‘Guess who?' called Kate from the kitchen.

‘I know, I know.' Rachel groaned. She plumped up the cushion she'd flattened and headed up the hallway.

Her mother. Wearing a floral shirt and navy trousers, pulled up just a little too high around the waist.

‘Hello, darling,' gushed Margaret. ‘What a gorgeous place you have here! It's so sweet. And modern too. So lovely of you to have me to lunch with the girls. How are
you, darling?' They hugged and Margaret handed her a bottle of Yellowglen sparkling wine and a potted palm.

Rachel gave her a quick tour of the house before the doorbell rang again and the rest of the girls arrived within minutes of each other, well armed with bottles of wine and presents.

As they walked down the hallway, Evie put her arm around Rachel's waist. ‘You okay after that bombing? It must have been awful, actually being there.'

‘Oh, I'm fine. All part of the job.'

Evie gave her a squeeze.

Leaving them in the sunroom, Rachel went into the kitchen to arrange drinks. With the open plan kitchen, she could still hear all the chatter while pouring the wine. Conversation bubbled along as everyone talked over each other to get a word in.

Kate began opening their housewarming gifts. Evie was chatting about her boyfriend, Russell, when Margaret piped up. ‘Oh, but, Rachel, we have to ask — what on earth is going on with that boy, Damien? I read in the paper he's engaged! Surely that can't be true?' There was silence as everyone looked at Rachel.

‘Well, if Jeannie Friedrich says it's true, I guess it must be.' Rachel shrugged and reached for another piece of pizza.

‘I'd better check on lunch.' Kate escaped to the kitchen.

‘But that's absurd,' exclaimed Margaret. ‘After kissing you like that? It's just not right.'

Rachel wished her mother would eat more and talk less. ‘Some guys in this world are just outright players. And I guess Damien Wilde is one of them.'

‘Lunch is nearly ready.' Kate returned, interrupting. ‘Time to sit up everyone. Your gourmet feast's ready to be served.' Kate headed for the kitchen to serve the entrée.

Rachel helped Kate hand out bowls filled with chilled gazpacho.

‘You know, Rach,' said Evie, ‘when I was in high school, I dabbled in witchcraft. Maybe I should pull out some old curses to use on this Damien guy.' She waved her hands in the air, mimicking the casting of a spell.

‘Oh, no,' said Rachel, smiling. ‘I really don't care enough for you to go to the trouble.'

‘That sounds creepy,' said Julia. ‘Though there's a few people I wouldn't mind cursing.'

‘Really? Who'd dare cross you?' said Kate.

Julia shrugged. ‘It's a work thing. Helmut.'

‘Oh, no. What's he done now?' Rachel said.

‘Well, I went to talk to him about the possibility of me reading updates. No joy. In fact, it was horrible. He basically told me I was too fat to be a newsreader.'

Rachel dropped her spoon into her bowl. ‘What exactly did he say?'

‘That there's a certain kind of look required to read the news and I didn't fit the bill. He said the camera always puts on a few kilos and, in my case, that would be a few kilos too many. I don't care, it's no big deal.' She drank deeply from her wine glass.

‘My dear, you should take that up with senior management. Someone above this Helmut man,' said Margaret.

‘Not if I want to keep my job. No, really, it's fine. I was just toying with the idea. Reporting's really my forte anyway.' She twisted her napkin around her fingers. ‘And I'm busy planning my wedding.' Her face brightened and she sat up straight.

‘That's lovely,' said Margaret, ‘but you've still got to look after your rights.'

‘It's disgusting,' said Rachel. ‘And if you're not going to say something, I will.'

‘No, you stay out of it,' said Julia firmly. ‘Things are going well for you. Don't get involved.'

‘She's right, Rach,' added Evie. ‘I know you want to help, but you're only going to make matters worse for both of you.'

‘Yep, getting emotional in the work place is a big no no,' said Bronte.

Rachel stood up to collect the soup bowls.

‘You should take heed and watch out for Mitch,' said Kate. ‘Even though he is bloody gorgeous.'

‘Don't be ridiculous.' Rachel felt her cheeks flush. ‘I keep telling you we're just buddies.' She set the bowls down heavily on the marble bench. She thought about telling them how Mitch had asked her down the coast and how much she wanted to go, but with the Damien experience already leaving her red-faced, the prospect of another failed romance was too much.

Kate threw her hands in the air. ‘Oh, really? I live with you and you talk about him five times a day.'

‘Don't be silly. With our work schedules we barely see each other five times a week, let alone have heart-to-hearts.' The smell of pesto salmon gave her the excuse she needed to change the subject. ‘Come on, Kate,' she called. ‘Let's dish up before the fish turns to charcoal.' She clapped her hands sharply.

‘Aye, aye, captain!' said Kate, jumping to her feet. As they neared the stove, Kate lowered her voice. ‘You should have another wine. You need a little attitude adjuster.'

Rachel gave a meek smile. She had been a little snappy. She saluted. ‘Aye, aye, captain,' and went to refill her glass.

***

Back at work the next day, Rachel sat at her desk, waiting for Shirley to give her the nod as to when would be a good time to go see Helmut. Rob still hadn't assigned her a story, so it was the perfect opportunity to raise the matter of her Devoted Admirer. The package delivered last week was too sinister to ignore.

Her phone buzzed five minutes later and, taking the latest letter, she went to his office.

‘Good to see you didn't make the social pages this weekend,' Helmut said as she walked in.

‘No, keeping a low profile.' She took a seat.

‘Excellent. So what's up now?'

She leaned across his desk to hand him the letter. ‘This is from the same guy who wrote the letters I showed you last time. Only now they're becoming more threatening. Plus this one came with a package — dog crap in a lunch box. I really think I should go to the police again.'

Helmut guffawed as he glanced over the letter and once again scrunched it up and chucked it in the bin. ‘Nah,' he said. ‘Are you kidding? After those pictures in the paper of you last week, the media would have a field day. Someone from the cops would leak it and then it'd be in the papers. “Newsreader Pash Queen in Shit Storm”. I can just see it now.' He laughed at his own headline.

‘But they're really threatening. I'm finding it quite stressful.'

‘You'd find it more stressful when a story like this in the paper sparked another dozen copycat stalkers. Then you'd really have a shit fight on your hands.' He couldn't stop laughing at his own puns about the lunch box contents.

‘So you seriously don't you think it's a worry?'

‘He's just an attention-seeker. Playing a prank. If he ever shows his face or does something even remotely physical, then we'll get onto it. Get my mates from the Special Operations Group and they'll cut off his balls quicker than you can blink.'

‘Right. So I shouldn't do anything?' She couldn't believe he was being so
flippant about something this sinister.

‘Nah. Just get on with your job and stay out of trouble. Okay? He waved his hand to the door. She was dismissed.'

‘Okay then. Thanks anyway.' Standing to leave, Rachel thought about retrieving the letter from his bin, then decided against it.

‘Your first weekend news in a couple of weeks — just focus on that, alright?' He jabbed his forefinger at her.

‘Sure, will do.' She forced a smile and returned to her desk. Still feeling unsettled, she was half-tempted to phone the police anyway to try and track down a connection to her Devoted Admirer's post-office-box number. But if that led to any further negative publicity, she could kiss her career goodbye.