Page 17 of Love Under the Microscope
CHAPTER 3
JACK
I return to my office, and I can’t stop smiling. I mean, I have an interview with the elusive Mr. Z. I can’t wait to see my name—my real name—on the feature’s byline. This article will be a boon that changes my career’s trajectory.
As I reach my desk, my brain is full of questions I want to ask Mr. Z. I should write them down for our actual interview. My computer comes to life, and I pull my keyboard closer.
Drew sits on the edge of my desk. “Been looking for you. Where have you been?”
I glance around. The bullpen is empty. “Doing research for the feature.”
“Research, huh?”
I nod. “I went to Zentello to see if I could find out anything.”
Drew’s eyes widen. “Taking this seriously.”
I shrug. “Don’t want to lose my job.”
He laughs. “Keep ’em hungry. That’s what Dad always tells me. Guess he’s right.”
Fuckers. Both of them. But while I have Drew here… “I was told today’s Lab Notes is a lie.”
“Zentello wasn’t mentioned in the column.”
“Implied.”
It’s Drew’s turn to shrug. “I trust my source. There are more bombshells to come.”
I hope to have a few of my own to drop with my feature, but as I told Zelda, I keep my sources confidential so no one will know who I speak to there. “Let me know if something will help my article.”
“Of course,” Drew says quickly. “We’re a team here.”
We aren’t, but as editor, I suppose he has to say that. Me? I just nod.
“Which is why I do have something for you. A name and address.” He hands me a piece of paper. “When do you think you’ll have a rough draft for me?”
“Soon.” I know better than to put a date on it, but if I can get Mr. Z to answer some questions, I’ll know where to start. I open the paper and see a name. Zelda Lowe and a Seattle address. What the fuck? Is this the same Zelda L who works for Nate? I need to do some digging, but I’ll continue to play clueless for now. “Am I supposed to know who this is?”
“Someone thought it might come in handy for your feature.”
“Your source?”
Drew smirks. “Maybe.”
I’ll take that as a yes, but this feels…shady. Nothing new with how the magazine operates, but Zelda has access to the CEOs. She’s confirmed stories and given me the heads-up on some things, but nothing that put Zentello in a bad position. I can’t imagine she’d agree to be our next mole. And this just gives me a bad feeling. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Your job. So, who’d you talk to at Zentello?” he asks, his tone casual, almost too casual.
Nope, not telling him. “Just a woman I met. Figured she might introduce me to people in the know.”
Drew laughs. “Wouldn’t expect any less from you. Knew you were the right person for the feature. Did you get what you wanted from her?”
“No, but I will.”
“Hope she’s at least hot?”
I find myself nodding, even if I don’t like what Drew’s implying about Zelda and what I’d do to get information. But I have to admit, Zelda is hot. I noticed her long and slender neck, accentuated by the loose tendrils hanging from the hair piled on top of her head. She was pure sophistication, except for the pen sticking out of her somewhat messy bun, and the way her pink blouse brought out the color in her cheeks.
