"…and another hot one in Darwin with a top of 34. You're listening to Triple J it's ten past nine…"
          Woken by the radio, Adele stretched, yawned and turned her attention to the glowing alarm clock on her bedside table. She hummed quietly and snuggled back down for another few seconds before something dawned on her. "OH FUCK!" Adele leapt out of bed, sending Frank Skywalker tumbling to the floor. "I’m so late, I’m so, so late," she babbled, bursting out from her room and into the bathroom.
          Realising there wasn’t nearly enough time for a shower, preen, clothes change and breakfast, Adele splashed some water on her face, pulled on yesterday’s clothes, tied her hair back and grabbed an apple as she flew out of her apartment leaving Frank looking despondently at his dish.
          "Oh my God I’m a bad human being," Adele gasped, clutching the stitch in her side as she finally staggered into the newsroom.
          "Are you wearing yesterday’s clothes?" Rebecca the court reporter asked as she glanced up from her schedule.
          "Yes and not for any fun reason," Adele frowned. "Where’s Doug?”
          "Filming Chris over at the hospital.”
          "Crap," Adele hissed and looked at her watch. "Look, if he comes back tell him I’m in a meeting yeah?”
          "Can’t do," Rebecca shrugged. "I’ve got to go sit in on a murder trial. Some woman who killed her defacto with a meat mallet and kept him in the freezer.”
          "Charming," Adele sighed and began searching for something to leave a message on for Doug. As she sat at her desk she was surprised to see a fancy, shop bought water bottle. It was a deep blue and had a fancy thin neck. "Is there a reason this is here?" she asked, looking over at Rebecca.
          "What? Where?" Rebecca said distracted as she scurried out of the room with her notepad.
          "I’m glad you’re so observant," Adele muttered. "Must help with your job." She reached for the bottle and noticed there was a small envelope underneath it. Intrigued she opened the envelope and found a rather cheesy gift card with a bunch of flowers on the front.

          Dear Miss Brodie,
          I wish to thankyou for all your support last night and the magnanimous gesture of giving me your water bottle. To repay you I have purchased a new water bottle for you (complete with water) and have enclosed my phone number so you can be the only journalist in Australia to get the ‘nutter on Eastman’ interview.
          Cheers,
          Wes
          P.S. You did watch right?

          "What a strange little man," Adele giggled and glanced at her watch - it was 9:58. She leapt to her feet, grabbed the water bottle and hurried out of the room and toward the elevator.
          About four seconds later she arrived outside Barry Cassidy’s office and took a staggered breath before knocking.
          "Come in," Barry called from inside.
          Adele gently opened the door and peered around. "Hi," she said timidly.
          "Miss Brodie, come in, sit down," Barry beamed and motioned to an empty chair opposite him. "Are you having a good morning.”
          "No, abysmal," Adele replied without thinking. "I haven’t even bathed.”
          "Oh," Barry said blankly before quickly reverting to his fake smile. "So, I imagine you’re curious as to why I called you.”
          "Just a tad.”
          "I’m also assuming you saw last night’s Eastman?”
          "I never miss it," she lied and smiled weakly.
          "Well, a rather dire situation was averted by advice issued out to Mr Eastman by you.”
          "Yes, I noticed that," Adele nodded. "I still don’t see…"
          "Myself and Mr Eastman think that this was vital in the success of last night’s show and his response to the event has been very well received. Therefore, we think that someone of your knowledge would be a vital asset to the show.”
          Adele looked at Barry rather stunned. She realised her mouth was open and closed it. "Um, well if I’m decipher that pile of babble correctly…are you offering me a job?”
          "That’s exactly what I’m doing Miss Brodie.”
          "Shit.”
          "You don’t seem happy.”
          "Oh God, no, I’m thrilled," Adele said with a weak laugh. "But I’m also trying not to just keel over and topple onto the carpet.”
          "Oh," Barry said blankly. "So will you accept the offer?”
          "How could I turn it down," Adele smiled. "Although I’ll have to escape from the news first.”
          "I’ll talk to them," Barry offered and Adele saw no reason to argue.
          "So, when did you want me to start?”
          "Tomorrow," Barry perked. "You can finish your day in the newsroom, come to the show tonight and then we’ll start tomorrow morning.”
          "Great," Adele nodded and got to her feet. Remembering proper etiquette she extended her hand for Barry to shake. "Thankyou so much for this opportunity.”
          "The pleasure is all mine," Barry enthused.
          "One more thing," Adele winced. "The comedian who was on last night, Wes Addison, did he get into trouble for his stunt?”
          "Harry was furious but it rated through the roof," Barry grinned. "People are demanding we have the little shit back!”
          "I was entertained," Adele laughed, clutching her bottle as she left Barry Cassidy’s office.
          Once outside the door she leaned against the nearest wall and tried to take everything in. In a matter of seconds she’d been given her dream job, and to work on one of the highest rating shows in the country was just overwhelming.
          "Are you ok?" Colin from sport asked as he strolled past.
          "I’m not entirely sure," Adele sighed. "I’m not dreaming am I?”
          "I don’t know…how could you tell?”
          "Well if it was a dream we’d probably be doing it up against this wall," Adele shrugged and Colin looked startled. "Don’t worry, it’s not a dream.”
          Colin looked at her puzzled and then hurried off. Adele took several deep breaths and then went back to the newsroom and straight over to Didi who was in charge of entertainment. "Are you looking for an interview with Wes Addison?”
          "Isn’t everyone?" Didi remarked. "No one can get hold of him.”
          "What would you say if I said I could get an interview with him?”
          "Are you serious?" Didi gasped. "How do you know him?”
          "I have my sources," Adele shrugged. "So do you want an interview or not?”
          "Yes, it’d be a bloody exclusive!" Didi enthused and looked up as a pile of people entered the room including Doug.
          "Don’t put your tripod down," Adele announced. "Douglas, we’re going out.”
          "What about my coffee break huh?" Doug groused.
          "I’ll buy you a coffee," Adele grinned as she almost bounded out of the room.
          It took only one quick call to get Wes to agree to an interview and they decided a quiet bar was the best place.
          "Are you sure this is the place?" Doug protested as Adele strolled into the bar. It was a rather unspectacular place with a patchy rug, polished wooden tabled and dim lighting. Wes was sitting at the furthest table with a half-empty pint glass in front of him.
          "You don’t think it’s at all a little early to be drinking?" Adele asked as she plopped into the seat opposite him.
          "Nope," Wes grinned. "Did you get the bottle?”
          "Yes, the sentiment was underwhelming," Adele chided. "Bottle looks cool though.”
          "Yours got a television appearance," Wes perked. "And it got to touch Harry Eastman.”
          "Yes well, while that was very stupid, I told you emergency only and I never told you to attack the host," Adele scorned and then lightened. "It has made you a fucking legend and the ‘Eastman’ producers want you back.”
          "Seriously?" Wes gasped. "I thought they’d want me drawn and quartered.”
          "Well Harry probably does but the audience loved you.”
          "And how do you know?" Wes asked. "Or is this one of those all knowing journalist things?”
          "Actually I had a meeting with Barry Cassidy this morning," Adele shrugged. "He offered me a job.”
          "Jesus!" Wes gasped and smiled. "Is that because of what you said to Eastman yesterday?”
          "Yeah," Adele giggled. "Who thought I could have got a job by being a smart arse.”
          "Excuse me," Doug piped up. "Are we gonna do the interview or do you two just want to catch up a bit more?”
          "We’ll catch up more thanks," Wes chided and received daggers from Doug. "You should be enjoying the last story you’ll do with Del here you miserable man.”
          Doug went to say something and then stopped. "Wait, you’re really going to work with Eastman?”
          "Yep," Adele nodded. "It’ll be all school visits and cake shop footage for you now Dougie.”
          "Your do realise Gus will go completely spare at you?" Doug remarked as he began setting up the camera. "You know he hates being left in the lurch.”
          "Yeah well, this is an opportunity I refuse to let pass," Adele shrugged and then looked over at Wes. "Are you ready for a grilling?”
          "No," Wes breathed and took a gulp of his drink. "Be gentle, this is my first interview.”
          "Not a chance," Adele grinned mischievously and flipped over the top page of her notepad. "So, Mr Addison, could you start by telling what on earth possessed you to perform hair raising stunt on ‘Every Night With Eastman’ last night?”
          Wes sat mouth agape for a moment and then looked over at the bar. "Another round of drinks here mate!" he called. "I’m gonna need ‘em.”

          "Adele," a voice yelled out as Adele stepped out of the editing room later that day. She turned to see the news producer Gus stalking toward her.
          "Evening Gus.”
          "Is it true?”
          "What?”
          "That you’re leaving us for a job that’s clearly below you on Eastman?”
          "It’s not below me," Adele sighed. "It’s just a change of pace.”
          "You’re a good journalist Brodie," Gus frowned.
          "I’m a great journalist Gus," Adele countered. "But I’m not passionate about it any more, in fact I don’t know that I ever was.”
          Gus let out a hiss of breath and crossed his arms. "I don’t believe that for a second but if you want to go off and waste your talents I can’t stop you.”
          "Gus…"
          "I can’t say I’m not disappointed.”
          "Gus…"
          "And I want you to know that you’re always welcome to come back and rejoin my team.”
          "Gus!”
          "Yes.”
          "Shut up, please before I’m forced to use every one of those stupid fluro post-its you’ve ever left for me over your mouth.”
          "Sorry," Gus breathed. "I just feel like someone needs to say something.”
          "No one need say anything.”
          Gus nodded slowly. "Promise me you’ll never let that arsehole make you question you’re integrity ok?”
          "I promise," Adele nodded and Gus squeezed her shoulder before heading into the edit suite babbling about footage of refugees.
          Adele took her time in getting back to the newsroom where she packed the things from her desk into an empty plastic bag. She felt a twinge of sadness and a little of regret but Adele was sure she was doing the right thing. As she headed out of the building, following her usual route she passed Harry Eastman’s dressing room and was surprised when the door opened.
          "Brodie right?" he said cautiously.
          "Adele," she countered. "Adele Brodie.”
          "It’s nice to meet you," Harry Eastman smiled and extended his hand. As they shook hands Adele thought it was a very strange sensation to be doing such a thing with someone you only ever see on television. "Are you busy?”
          Adele thought about Frank Skywalker sitting miserably by his dish. "A little.”
          "Can you spare five minutes for a drink?" Harry asked, moving aside to open up his dressing room.
          Adele glanced into the inviting looking room. There was bar fridge, an assortment of photographs of Harry with various celebrities and his suit for that evening’s show among other things. Her gut feeling was to decline the offer, that new staff members probably shouldn’t congregate with a television host who has quite a reputation, but her head told her that it was a good way to get aquatinted with her new boss. "Sure, why not.”
          “Thatta girl," Harry beamed as his hand fell onto the small of her back as he guided her through the door.