Simon tried to keep the displeasure out of his face as Jill explained the situation. "I thought I made myself clear about this."
Jill shrugged. "She's an eager beaver looking to price herself. She's been stuck doing little puff pieces like we all did when we were new and now she's had her first chance to do something significant. Is it really a surprise that she doesn't want to give that chance up? "
Simon rubbed his temples. She had a point. And despite the portion of his dark blond hair that was now turning silver, he remembered being a young and hungry cub reporter once. " Fine, fine," he conceded. " I smell Jack behind this, but I'll let her make her case. Send her in."
Jill departed his office. Moments later, a young female entered with a trepidations look on her face. No, make that very young. Or maybe he was just that old now.
I’m Maura Simms," she announced from opposite the desk. She extended her hand. Simon glanced at it, but remained seated. Standing up to take it would accord her more respect than he was prepared to accord a junior reporter trying to defy his wishes. She hadn't earned that. Not yet.
After a few seconds, she got the hint and dropped her hand. “I wrote the article on the sex club. I…I wanted to ask why you decided not to run it."
" Miss . . . Simms? " Simon was too practiced a newsman to forget her name, but he thought further emphasis of her relative importance was warranted. " I assume you are aware that this is a newspaper. That we print nrws? What is newsworthy about your piece? "
"You spend nearly a thousand words alluding to the fact that New Yorkers are having sex. And apparently they enjoy doing it. I don't think the average reader would find that particularly novel. Why do you, Miss Simms?"