“Hello, group,” he boomed. “Sorry to be late. Somehow our tech wizards can produce a hologram but can’t figure out how to get the video conference up and running.” A look of anger flickered across his face before he rearranged it into a smile. “Well, good to be here with you all! My A Team.”

A Team! That had a positive ring to it, Natalie thought.

Seen close up, the Chief’s face was like a carnival caricature, a collection of rough-hewn features whose only unifying principal was that they had been ordered in size extra-large. The one exception was his teeth, which Natalie could now see were small and slightly pointed. They lent his smile a subtly sinister aspect, giving the impression that this was a creature to whom other creatures submitted.

His eyes moved abruptly around the room, pinning each person with his gaze as he spoke. “I’d like talk about what’s next for ATN. We special few in this room will be the vanguard as we revamp news and give the viewers some relief.”

He searched the faces around the table until he located Natalie and smiled. “Natalie, I’d like to thank you for asking the question that was on so many people’s minds. A frank conversation about priorities is the perfect way to set the stage.”

She froze. Set the stage for what, my beheading?

“I’ve brought you here today because we have one job, for White House correspondent, and two of you who are suitable for it.”

From the corner of her eye, she caught Bibb and Ryan sharing a meaningful look.

“I’d like to take the next few weeks to see what each of you can do. Who can bring the stories with the most novelty and surprise? Who can give our customers the relief and diversion they crave?”

The Chief turned to face Ryan, who angled forward in his chair like a Labrador eagerly awaiting a pat on his head. “Ryan, your appeal to the Demo is a thing of beauty. Women, men—they love you. Hell, why wouldn’t they? Just look at you!”

Ryan flashed his best Bashful Look.

“And you, Natalie.” She felt her stomach go watery, panicked at what the Chief might say. “Natalie, you have credibility. We live in serious times and I have a hunch that some of our customers crave reporters with credibility.”

Natalie couldn’t hold back a smile. I’m still in the game! she thought, relief coursing through her.

“A couple notes for you, Natalie,” he said in a stern voice. “I want to see you smile more on air. People like people who smile. It’s attractive. Everyone has assets, so find yours!” Natalie felt herself blush crimson as the room turned to assess her assets. “And we need you to step up your hair and makeup a few notches.” He shifted his eyes to Bibb. “Agreed?”