Good news gone wrong...

"So what happens now?" she asked her boss who removed his spectacles and wiped them with the piece of the towel he removed from the casing.

"You keep their attention! Do more digging, research, whatever, and keep at it. You have captured their attention now you need to keep it. No one is subscribing to be fed crumbs, but the chunks and chunks of something spicy and that is why you have to do all you can to give it to them, you understand?" Dee racked her mind, trying to understand what her boss was saying.

Her job was to revamp the reputation of the Rossi family and wouldn't want to deviate from the priority just for the sake of bringing back the popularity of her firm or keeping them above the quarters.

" I would see what I can do, Sir," she said and stood from the chair slowly. This means her work just became more demanding because now it is more like she is fighting to satisfy the demand of two bulldogs. On one hand, stands her job and on the other stands the pillar of keeping the job.

"Dee, are you okay?" Chloe asked the minute she entered her cubicle.

"My reviews just increased."

"Really? Oh. M. G. I told you, you could do this. So what's with the long face?" she asked, noticing Dee's despaired look.

"I am confused, Chloe. Timothy expects me to publish just anything about the Rossi's just to keep the attention of the readers, being an infamous story and knowing how private Lukas can be which is why I suspect the traffic." she breathe out and reclined back on her chair. "I can't Chloe. First of all, there's a lot about the Rossi's, but the foremost is that Lukas doesn't appreciate too much publicity. This is why I work with him because he and only he can approve whatever I publish." she rolled her eyes about, holding onto the armchair which swung from one end to the other.

"Now I get. But you should have explained to the horse_face. I mean in as much as this is the jackpot kind of story, they should understand the implication of an aggrieved client, or would they rather garner the wrath of such an infamous dynasty than maintain the baseline?" Chloe wondered. She came out of her cubicle to her friend's cubicle and held her, suspecting her dampened spirit.

"I know you are unhappy about this and I trust you would know what to do, Dee. Don't let it bother you. If Champion acts up and fires you, in fact, I'm telling you here and now that I would quit and go back to my father's film and employ you, or even better we can start our own media firm." she induced, bringing a smile to Dee's face.

"By the way why don't we celebrate this night?" At that Dee's eyes expanded and she slowly raised from her chair. "No way in hell Chloe!" she howled. Chloe started laughing at her reaction.

"Stop you gonna make cry now. I am just kidding but by the way, you make it sound like it's a bad idea to go out with me," Chloe said and pouted her lips.

"That's not what I mean, Chloe, but for the fifth time that I have allowed you coax me into attending those dumb parties, see the outcome. Do I need to recount them to you?" Dee surged, sitting up from the chair, amused by Chloe's face at that moment. "You know what? I can't even go because I have to prepare a good storyline for submission to Lukas by Friday and I need to take my time because the man has eyes like a hawk and picks up the slight shift in tone. I am not surprised he made it in life." she shook her head.

"Dee, when am I meeting with the family? I mean I'm your best friend and they should meet me too," Chloe whined, crossing her hands over her chest onto her short oxblood gown with a plump arm. It made her look fatter than she is but still brought out her shape in an eye-catching way.

One great thing about Chloe is her good sense of fashion. She can skip dinner, dates, or any kind of party if her dress doesn't run out fine. It's a trait that Dee loved about her combined with her impulsive personality and the flair for getting whatever she wanted and she won't be surprised if she got this one.

"Chloe, I just resumed work today, can you at least give me time to adjust to my work as well as get to know the people I work with properly before I can introduce you to them? Please, Let me breathe. Sometimes you are just too much for a person," she said and pushed her off playfully

Chloe smiled and hugged her tight as she squirmed, struggling to breathe. "Chloe!"

"You still love me like that. I mean have you imagined what your life would be without me in it?" she shook her head and made the cross sign. "It would have been really dreary." Dee rolled her eyes and started packing up.

"Thanks for the frequent reminder. So now, can you pack up so we can go? I am craving for KFC spiced roasts"

Chloe jumped up and twirled around. "I was just about to suggest we go too. I miss their chicken breast sauce. Oh, Dee, I miss my mum to nuts," she moaned and went back to her seat.

"I am now your new mum, baby. Do I not try? Not to mention your step mum_

"Don't mention that witch. Spare me the bad humor." she snagged at Dee who reached out and tickled her, causing her to gasp and jump away, sending Dee her signature "stay the fuck away from me" glare.

"You make it sound like I said the devil should take you," Dee quipped and stood, carrying her bag. "hurry up am famished," she told her and walked towards the elevator with Chloe running after her with her bag slung on one shoulder.

"So how's the hot dude coming up? No new gist on him?" Chloe quizzed meeting up with her. They entered the elevator and punched in the floor number.

"A lot happened with him, Chloe, but I will be honest, I do not want to talk about some rat-ass arrogant bastard," she hissed, her countenance bearing no expression.

"Deandra Sparks I don't care if you are in the mood to talk or not, but for the sake of friendship and making me live till tomorrow, you will spill everything that happened between you and that sweet nonsense," Careened Chloe as they climb off the elevator and walked to the double automated doors. They waved at the receptionist and left the building.

"Dee," Chloe surged the minute they climbed into her car.

"Chloe, what do you want me to say? Okay, Andrè is getting on my last nerve, and if there's a way I will make him not come around to see me while I am around, trust me I will do it. Can you imagine he asked me out for a dinner date?" Chloe's eyes expanded the size of a saucer.

"You lie!" she screeched in disbelief, almost swaying her car.

"Chloe! Do you want to get us killed because of? _ oh. My.god!" Dee shrilled in alarm.

"I am sorry but that piece of information is enough to shake me out of my mind. However, he asked you out! And what did you say?" she quizzed further, darting her eyes between Dee and the road.

"Of course I refused, Chloe. Are you kidding me right now?. Would you rather I went on a date with a guy that could possibly be featured in the next Forbes nomination for award-winning casanova of the century? He is a dickhead! He fucks literally everything on a skirt, and there's no way I would allow myself to get me into that situation!" Dee concludes, laying back on the seat.

Chloe was processing the entire information. She was certain her friend has gone nuts and that is one thing she wants to rectify. There was no way she was going to sit down and watch her ruin this one opportunity for herself. She always has an excuse for every single man that has walked up to her because of some dump past relationship with a stupid rat-face.

Noticing Chloe's withdrawal, Dee turned to face her wondering why she didn't say anything.

"Why ain't you saying anything? Are you okay, Chy?" she used her special fond name for her anytime she want to get her back to her raucousness.

"Mmm? Yeah. I mean fine if you don't want to go out on a date with him, who cares? Maybe you are actually right. He is a douchebag!" she waved her free hand about, producing a smile to back up her rant.

"Just like that?" Dee asked, having a feeling there was something off with the way she just accepted her excuse. Chloe is not easily laid off just like that, especially with men. She has been on her neck since her woeful break-up with her ex and just like that she agreed.

"Of course what would you have me do or say? I have decided to let you have your way these days since you have made a path with the devil to die lonely because of all your fears. So as your best friend, I just have to help achieve the feat without no hassles." Chloe said in sarcasm. Dee glared at her and hissed, turning her face away to look out of the window.

••••••••••••

That evening after they got home, they sat on the couch to devour the Frisbee spicy recipes they had stopped to acquire on their way home. The television was showing a commercial and they were both engrossed in their thought when the doorbell rang.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Dee asked Chloe who shrugged, "No"

"It should better not be Peter, I am not in the mood for his tantrums this evening. It's already 7 am why won't he just go to bed?" Dee whined while she went open the door.

The minute the door flung open, her eyes widened.

"Hy, sweetness," came the calm hoarse voice of Andrè, his cologne saturating all of Dee's senses that she just stood looking at his well-sculpted visage, unable to utter a word until... "Hope I'm not intruding. It's 7 am and you aren't already dressed? Interesting, coz I might have to dress you myself."

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