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Chapter twenty-three

O delle’s head rested in Antony’s lap as he mindlessly flipped through channels on her television. She was happy to see the crisp picture intact after he had indeed managed to take it apart and reassemble it that morning. She considered getting up to work but his nimble fingers lazily carding through her hair kept her rooted in place.

Besides, she had already submitted dozens of job applications and sent out plenty of feelers over the last few days. Stressing over them now wouldn’t make anything go faster. She was only going to take a job with a network that supported her ideals of reliable and honest reporting. The right position would be worth waiting for, even if her urge to get back to climbing her way up the television ladder nagged at her thoughts from time to time. She also didn’t want to think too hard about having to move out of the city for a new job. Antony assured her that portals to the Sanctuary existed all over the world—that he could follow her wherever she went. She didn’t want to leave her home and her sister behind though. Not when she finally felt that she and Nora lived in the same world again. Some things couldn’t be helped, and for now, she was determined to focus on the soft fingers stroking her scalp.

Odelle’s phone rang and she groaned at having to sit up to grab it, despite having just decided she could indulge in some well-earned laziness .

“Odelle Zvezda speaking,” she answered, not recognizing the number. Now free from her weight on his lap, Antony stood and moved to the kitchen island, no doubt to raid her chocolate stash.

“Hello, Ms. Zvezda, this is Bob Seymore. I’m a producer from National News America,” crackled a voice through her phone.

That made Odelle straighten from her slouch, brow furrowing in confusion. She hadn’t even bothered to send a resume there, assuming she’d have to start her career climb over in a smaller network.

“Hello, Mr. Seymore, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Odelle’s snappy reporter voice came back at the drop of a hat. It felt good to use it again. Like flexing an underused muscle, even though she had only been away from work for a week.

“I’m calling because I hear you’re in the market for a job,” the man continued gruffly.

Odelle blinked in shock, but apparently he didn’t require a response as he barreled on.

“I heard that broadcast you did during the signal outage, and honestly, I was impressed with your cool head under fire, even if some people don’t think it was above board. That’s what being a journalist is about! Anyway, we’re moving our weekend anchor to the weekday position, so I wanted to offer you the weekend position.”

Odelle’s heart stuttered and warred between incandescent joy and confusion. Only years of training kept her from stammering as she asked, “Isn’t Amy Biderman your weekday anchor? She’s a legend in the national news circuit.”

Drew and Thad had informed her that Biderman recovered physically from her temporary possession, but said she seemed emotionally rattled. She didn’t seem to remember what had happened to her at all. Odelle had asked Thad if there was anything they could do for her mind, but he had shaken his head sadly and told her that things like this would take time. Not many people had been freed of the Shadow’s influence after being corrupted through the years. There wasn’t a protocol for it.

“Biderman has been our weekday anchor,” Mr. Seymore agreed. “But honestly, she’s been a bit off the rails recently and now she’s asking for an extended medical leave, so I’m going to have to let her go. More trouble than she’s worth at this point.”

Odelle’s heart plummeted. They had gone out of their way to save Biderman’s life, and now the rug was getting ripped out from under her for something that wasn’t her fault—just like Odelle had her career ripped to shreds from her involvement with the Eteria.

Now though, Odelle had an opportunity to have all of that back. Everything she had lost and more. But she pictured the look of fear flickering across Biderman’s face as Antony had been about to destroy the crown. She remembered how Mallorie had thrown Odelle screwing her over back in her face, shedding light on her tendency to not realize how her actions might affect others. She had recently learned all too well that one’s strengths could be a double-edged sword. Odelle’s drive could turn to ambition, and her confidence could turn to pride.

As much as Odelle itched to accept the offer instantly, she realized she couldn’t knowingly sacrifice somebody else’s career for her own. Not when she had so recently come face to face with the demons associated with her own ambition.

“Ms. Zvezda?” Mr. Seymore’s voice prompted her back to reality.

“I’m sorry, I was just considering. You know, Amy Biderman is one of my role models as a reporter. I would be happy to take the weekend position until she recovers and then let her have the spot when she returns,” Odelle bargained .

“Really?” His tone was taken aback. “You’d be willing to do that? Not many reporters would make that deal.”

“Well, I’m not just any reporter,” Odelle stated firmly.

A chuckle crackled through the phone. “I can see that. You’re plucky, and I like that in my reporters. How about I see if I can get you a field position once your time as weekend anchor is up?”

“That would be fantastic,” Odelle admitted. As much as she loved being an anchor, a field reporter for a national network was nothing to turn her nose up at. Besides, she had liked getting her hands dirty with the Eteria more than she thought she would. Maybe field work would scratch the sudden the itch to be in the thick of things as well.

“Come by my office tomorrow, and we’ll draw up a contract.”

Odelle ended the phone call as quickly as she could without being rude, barely able to contain her excitement and not wanting to squeal in delight while on the phone with her future boss. As she hung up, Antony approached the couch, eyebrows raised in question.

“I got a job!” She shouted unable to contain her joy. “Even better than the one I lost!”

She would have gotten up and jumped for joy, but she had kicked her legs off for comfort when she was dozing with Antony. Instead, she raised her arms to him and he lifted her up and twirled her around in a circle, laughing in delight.

“You certainly don’t waste time moving onto bigger and better things.”

Odelle heard the smile in his voice as he tucked his hands under her thighs to hold her better as they finished their celebratory spin.

“That’s the thing, I didn’t even apply for this one! He offered it to me because he heard my broadcast from the Sears Tower. He said he was impressed by my composure. ”

“Serving the Light always has a way of making things work out for the better,” Antony claimed, nuzzling his nose against hers as she grinned at him.

“Still, I only said a few sentences. I can’t believe I made that much of an impression on him. I guess a peaceful voice in the face of panic does a surprising amount of good.”

“Yes, well I’m sure the robust signal had something to do with it,” Antony teased.

“I’ll give you a robust signal,” Odelle countered before smashing her lips to his. He tasted like the chocolate he had pilfered from her cabinet, and under that his own taste of pure sunshine.

The kiss may not have been particularly elegant as neither of them could stop smiling, but it was enough to have them panting after a few seconds and Antony stumbling towards the bedroom with them. As he tossed her onto the bed with a bounce and she giggled in delight, she thought about how much brighter her future seemed knowing that she didn’t have to face every problem by herself.