Morning before work for Lance was a typical affair. Get up, defur, shower, dress and breakfast. With his pregnant wife Lila, the added step of a little morning cuddle was an added bonus. A big breakfast that Lance prepared; consisting of eggs, toast, several different cuts of bacon and coffee. Juice for Lila as caffeine is considered harmful for a developing fetus. While Lila was just entering the second trimester of her pregnancy; in no way it meant she was unable to head to work. Wearing a professional blouse and matching slacks with an elastic band; Lila was ready to join Lance at the Gazette. A chartered professional accountant; Lila was dubbed the beast with the books all along Knight Media.
“You almost done breakfast,” Lance finishing off his coffee; “or do you need another few more minutes.”
“I need a to go bag,” Lila looking at her plate loaded with pea meal bacon; “that way I can have a snack later on.”
“Since when is a back bacon sandwich considered a snack,” Lance looking at Lila take slices of toast and stuffing pea meal in between the slices.
“Since I’m about to add an egg and some cheese to it,” answering Lila; “do we have any cling wrap left?”
“Should be in the pantry,” Lance shaking his head as he starts to collect the plates; “please take some juice and fruit as well. You don’t want constipation with all the heavy food you just ate.”
“Way ahead of you,” Lila grinning as she grabbed a container of pitted dates and a couple bottles of fruit punch.
*******
Roughly twenty minutes and at the Gazette’s main entrance; Lance’s cheerful demeanor started to sour as he saw the security guard being harassed by several out of town reporters wanting a comment from the employees. Thanks to his acute hearing, lance knew it was regarding Frederick Parker. Thinking to himself that these vultures will leave once Frederick is carted away; Lance is even more thankful that the vultures could not get past the security desk without keycards. So as he and Lila entered the elevator, Lance sighs as the security guard kept the reporters from running towards him and Lila.
“Its going to be a fun day for me today,” Lance sighing as the elevator heads on up.
“Why is that,” Lila asking as she sneaks a licorice stick from her purse.
“Frederick Parker,” Lance groans; “press got wind of his arrest and are now hovering around the town because of it.”
“Oh,” Lila nibbling on the sugary treat; “not regarding that Crawford expose?”
“Nope,” Lance shaking his head as the elevator chimed and the doors open; “but I’m sure Jack Crawford will be reeling from that with several phone calls. As well as other issues,” Lance chuckling; “meet up for lunch?”
“Let’s order in,” Lila kissing her husband; “don’t want to get mobbed by those yahoos downstairs.”
“Deal,” Lance smiling as he watches Lila head back to the elevator; seeing the elevator door close as she heads to the floor with the accounting department, Lance turns around to see the bull pen buzzing as he walks to his office.
Passing the various reporters and offer greetings and nods; Lance makes his way to his office to see his secretary and Ella waiting for him.
“I take it I have messages,” Lance looking at his secretary; “let me deal with the messages first and then will talk with you Ella.”
“Your brother called,” the secretary answered; “the stack of papers you sent over was a nice read.”
“I figured he’d get a kick out of that,” Lance chuckling; “anything else?”
“Sheriff Cooper called,” the secretary handing Lance the slip of paper; “as well as a couple of editors from Seattle and Spokane.”
That is why I’m here,” Ella commenting; “they also called me.”
“About the Crawford expose I take it,” Lance thinking; “alright. Let’s deal with that.”
As Lance entered his office; followed by Ella, his phone rings. Picking it up Lance was greeted with a few swear words.
“Well that is a fine way of saying hello,” Lance rolling his eyes; “do I take it, this is not a social call Jack?”
Ella perks up as she hears Lance speaking; watching his put the call on speaker as he too sits down.
“You know bloody well this isn’t a pleasant chat,” Jack growling; “how dare you print those lies about me and my wife!”
“They are not lies if they are true,” Lance answering bluntly; “and you know it. And before you start up about threatening to sue me to poverty and what not,” Lance speaking; “know that I don’t print a story without triple checking the facts. So good luck trying to sue me and all the papers that printed the story about you and Kenya.”
Lance disconnects the call and looks at Ella; “how the hell did he get this number?”
“Does it matter,” Ella looking bemused; “It’s clear my story touched a nerve.”
“I’ll say,” Lance smiling; “pity Jack called me directly and not the switchboard. If he did, I would have been prepared and ready to tape the conversation.”
“So about the expose,” Ella looking at her boss; “I got a call from a few editors in Seattle and Spokane. They are interested in hiring me for their national sections.”
“That means a larger audience for you,” Lance looking stunned; “more than what this paper can provide. I take it the salary offer is something you want me to try and match or beat?”
“Well,” Ella smiling; “it’s not why I came to see you. But it doesn’t hurt to try. I do like Moon Lake,” Ella speaking; “growing up here, being able to shift into my fursona without risking exposing our kind.”
“Yet the offers,” Lance looking thoughtful; “require you to move to a new city and as such makes being in your fursona more difficult.”
“That is correct,” Ella looking sad; “I couldn’t possibly work for a national paper and live here at the same time.”
“The best I can give you,” Lance looking at Ella; “is you got to take care of you and you’re family. If that means you intend to take up the offer, I can give you a letter of reference. Lord knows I doubt I can match their salary offer and if the job doesn’t work out, you can always come back here. You know this town is a sanctuary for us weres.”
“It’s not as if I need to give them an answer right away,” Ella getting up; “but an offer like this doesn’t come often.”
Lance nods as he gets up to open his office door to let Ella out. Seeing her head back to her desk in the bull pen; Lance sighs as he closes the door.
“Wasn’t expecting that this morning,” Lance speaking to himself; “so let’s see what Sheriff Cooper wants from me?”