Chapter 1

Evelyn Rhodes tossed the headset onto the console just as the director yelled, “Cut.” Another day, another group of young women armed with the knowledge of which men had fathered their children. As she turned to leave the control room, the new intern, Aisha, came barreling through the door.

“Mr. Edmundson wants you to come to his office.”

Evelyn looked through the glass to the stage where everyone was shutting down.

Aisha leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I think he means right now.”

Evelyn nodded. Harry always wanted everything right now. She scanned her memory for a reason he would demand her presence. Not sweeps week. No fights had broken out on-camera recently, so there was no legal action.

“I’m coming,” she said as a means to dismiss Aisha. Before heading upstairs, she stopped by her office for a fresh cup of coffee, even though it was a mistake to drink more at four in the afternoon.

She shook her hair loose from the ponytail she swept it up in for the duration of filming. Then she slipped her blazer back on. Although she and Harry were friendly enough to be on a first-name basis, he was still her boss. She always appeared professional in front of him.

Outside Harry’s office on the eighth floor, his secretary waved her in. Evelyn edged through the door and asked, “Leave it open?”

Whether the door remained open or closed often hinted at the topic of the meeting. Harry always...