her reaction, his expression went from admiring to incredulous. âAre you really that speechless? You never had a clue? Hunter, my grandfather despises my father and is deeply disappointed in Mother despite their union having produced me. Youâre the daughter he wishes heâd hadâsomeone interested in giving back and improving the world, not just indulging in the benefits of celebrity, the good life and hobnobbing only with those of a like mind.â
Cordâs family dynamics were none of her business, but Hunter had to admit he was piquing her curiosity. Mr. Henry had never talked about his daughter or Cordâs father. Could they be as shallow as that?
âThanks,â she began. âPlease know that Iâm flattered,but I canât accept. I do hope to progress with my career, only not this way.â
âI know you want to do your father proud. If he was here, do you think heâd advise you to turn down this opportunity?â
âProbably not. Howeverââ
âYour mother has given herself over to her careerâwouldnât she approve of this?â
âOf course she would.â Hunter was getting frustrated again that he wouldnât let her finish a thought. âI donât understand what the hurry is. Couldnât this wait until youâve had a chance to settle into the position? Besides, youâll want to focus on your grandfatherâs surgery. And shouldnât Tom and Fred, even Wade, be in on this conversation? Iâm going to assume you arenât doing this so spontaneously that even Kevin Dalworth doesnât know,â she said of their station chief.
âThey all know about it and prefer I handle the initial discussion with you. Fred spoke for everyone when he said heâs not putting himself through having to watch those brown eyes of yours go all limpid and appealing. They forewarned me that youâd go to bat for Benson.â
âCowards,â Hunter muttered under her breath.
Cord studied her, clearly perplexed. âBelieve it or not, I did think youâd be thrilled with this news.â His expression suddenly changed to one of revelation. âWait a minuteâ¦Iâll bet you think that this change would mean Greg would get his walking papers. On the contrary, weâll ask him to anchor the weekend news and substitute when you have something else that conflictswith our regular format. I understand Larry is hinting about retiring and Becca is only weeks away from needing maternity leave anyway,â he said of their current weekend-news staffers Larry Jackson and Rebecca Devon. âIn between, Benson can do the investigative stories. Thatâll help him brush up on his interviewing skills.â
That not-so-small revelation had Hunter easing back in her chair. âI wish youâd said all of that before starting as you did. Do you not realize what Iâve been through since walking out of this office yesterday?â
Without comment, Cord rose and crossed to the mini-bar where he took out a bottle of water and poured it into a crystal glass from the silver tray bearing more glasses and a stainless-steel ice bucket. He added a few cubes of ice, which made a tinkling sound as they hit the sides. âHere,â he said soothingly as he returned to her. âHopefully, this will help.â
Murmuring her thanks, Hunter did accept the glass and sipped carefully. That also gave her time to think.
âHunter, youâre wrong about me not understanding what a cost this has had on you,â Cord said, continuing in his soothing tone. âIt speaks volumes about your generosity and dedication to your coworkers that, even so, first and foremost, you worried on their behalf.â
Glancing at him from under her lashes, she asked, âDoes that mean you arenât going to cut Gregâs salary? Carrying the weekend news along with his investigative work will be the job of two or more