An overwhelming urge flooded Avery’s system to point out that putting her “in line” with her competition was an insult. She had beaten her head-to-head competition in the ratings every week for the past year, so the network should compensate her not for being on par with the other network personalities, but for being far above them in every demo. She also wanted to mention how inappropriate it was for these two pompous egomaniacs to isolate her out on the beach and use their positions of power to intimidate her into negotiating a contract without her agent being present. But she swallowed her urges and offered a fake smile that told them without words what she thought of the offer.

“Like I said, I promise to take a hard look at the contract this week, now that I have a bit of free time. And Dwight will get back to you right away with our thoughts.”

“You do that,” David said. “We look forward to hearing your thoughts. American Events is on hiatus for summer, but we can’t allow the show to be in limbo for too long. American Events finished first in the ratings, and we want to pick up in the fall exactly where we left off. If for any reason you decide not to be part of that effort, we’d like enough time to choose your successor.”

“The list is long,” Mosley said. “Of potential suitors. American Events has the ability to make a star out of anyone who helms it. If you decide to part ways, the network would appreciate some time to prep the new host on exactly what leading AE requires.”

She wanted badly to call their bluff. Replacing Avery now, after the show’s most successful season, would be suicide. But she played along.

“I’ll call Dwight in the morning,” she said. “We’ll get right on it.”