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Chapter One
Tiana, how do you feel about a co-host?”
Only a couplewith ht, and he drops that bombshell
How can he be so casual about soe?
And so so bad?
“Co-host?” My voice doesn’t wobble, but I’m stunned Horrified For nearly six years I’ve been the sole host of the show It’s a show that debuted with me as the host, a sh
ow that’s earned me the nickname America’s Sweetheart “Why would I do that, when it’s my show?”
He hesitates, looks atbluntly, “Your show’s in trouble”
I silently count to five and speak only when I’m certain I’m perfectly in control “You said it was a temporary blip You told me twice in the past few months not to worry”
“Unfortunately, I rong The doard cycle hasn’t reversed, and the netants changes They’ve brought in outside consultants who’ve done extensive market studies The consultants believe that the best approach is to bring in so blood”
The words young blood chill me
I think of myself as a warrior I’ve been to hell and back with the death of my family and then my husband I’ve battled to build my career and sacrificed a personal life to be where I a to age And apparently I already am
But none of this raphics
“Do you have any young blood inover the other under the heed for the Larry King Live interview and was just about to leave Horizon Broadcasting for the CNN studio in Hollyhen Glenn called me into his office
“Shelby Patterson,” he says
“Shelby?” My voice coled I not only trained Shelby, I helped develop the weekend show for her because I thought she had so ht And they wonder why successful woer women
“Her weekend show has strong nuer viewers, deraphics you desperately need”
Desperately
Young blood
He and I are both wordsood conversation I’m in trouble
My heart races and I press a hand toMax,me This is my career My life God knows I don’t have a life outside Aht No husband, no kids, no hobbies or free ti I aood are Shelby’s numbers compared to mine?”
“She’s outperfor you by nearly twenty percent”
Oh Stunned, I suck in a quick, sharp breath Those are unforgivable numbers in any business, but here, in the delicate world of television market share, that’s pretty much a catastrophe
“We think the solution is to bring Shelby onto the weekday show and make Manuel the sole host for the weekend show You and Shelby would be co-anchors, like Mary Hart and Mark Steines on Entertainets up froray chair next to et a feel for your reaction before it became formal”
I openco down and I can’t stop it Can’t exit
But I can escape this I can survive I just have to focus Be caloes I’ve watched it happen a hundred tis and eventually the new young talent replaces thephased out He doesn’t need to say it, but if I’ of the end “Have you considered other correspondents for the position? Like Manuel, for example?”
“He’s thirty-four Shelby’s twenty-eight She’s youthful High energy She’d bring a new dynamic to the weekly show and pull in some of those numbers we’ve lost”
“You’re right, she’s great on cay, but she doesn’t knorite a story She just delivers— ”
“We have writers who can write We need charisma Beauty Poise Charm Youth”
Youth There it is again Young blood, desperation, youth
“I’m too old?” I ask quietly
He squirhtly He can’t answer that directly because he’d be sued, but he knohat I’ public,” he says after amature men on television, but they object toShelby, we can keep you on camera”
“You’ve considered replacing me, haven’t you?”
His expression changes, grows sympathetic “I haven’t, no, but I can’t tell you that the subject hasn’t been discussed You are up for contract renewal in March” He hesitates for a , “You’re also expensive compared to Shelby”