Rock Radio (30 page)

Rosa reappeared with Dana’s margarita, “Are you ready to order?”

Dana and Cody pulled back from each other and their serious conversation.  They barely had time to look at their menus, but each was starving.  Quickly they perused the menu.

“Wanna share fajitas?”

Dana nodded.

“For two,” he ordered.

They handed Rosa their menus and went back to each other.

“Enough about my childhood...let me hear more about you.”

“Cody, if you want to talk more...”

“Actually I don’t.”  He meant it.  “My past has taken too much from me already.  I want to live my life.”  He looked around at the beautiful
surroundings and the amazing woman who looked at him with such concern.  “I want to see your eyes smiling again.”

Dana tipped her head to the side, “You sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Ok...” she smiled, “what do you want to know?”

Cody thoughtfully tapped his head.  “Your turn for serious stuff,” he paused.  “So you’re stranded on a deserted island, what CD do you take with you?”

She crossed her arms across her chest.  “Oh, you’re really delving.”  She smiled.  “Elton John,
Madman Across the Water
.”

Cody raised his eyebrows in respect.  “Unexpected...good one.”
  He sang a few bars of
Tiny Dancer
.

“
My favorite one.  And you?”

“Zeppelin, but it’d have to be a greatest hits.  No way
could I choose.”

“Classic.”

“Inspired,” he smiled.  “Okay, your turn, you ask.”

“Ok
ay, favorite meal of all time to have on this deserted island that just happens to have the greatest music of all time.”

“Beef Wellington.”

Dana cracked up.  “Are you serious?”

“What’s wrong with Beef Wellington?” Cody asked smiling, “Why can’t a man like a nice piece of steak wrapped in puff pastry?”

“No...there’s nothing wrong with that...or the fact that you would specifically mention the puff pastry,” Dana said, laughing so hard that tears fell down her cheeks.

“Well, what’s your selection, Miss Food Expert?”

“I have a bit more simple taste buds...I’d pick pizza and chocolate cake.”

“Um...I
believe you said only one item.  Pizza
and
cake?”

“Well you got beef
and
puff pastry.”

“Touché.”

Their food arrived as if on cue.

“Careful, this is hot,” Rosa said, putting down the sizzling hot black fajita skillet overflowing with green peppers and onions.

They dove into their dishes still talking, laughing...connecting.

Dana pushed her plate away.  “I am so stuffed.”

“That was great.  I’m ready to walk this off.  You?”

“I’d love to.”  Dana got up from the table.

“Do you feel lucky tonight?” he asked, pushing his chair in.

Dana looked at him quizzically.  “I thought we already got lucky.”

“No, silly, lucky as in lady luck.  You have such a dirty mind.” Cody smiled.

“Ha, ha.”

Cody shook imaginary dice in his hands.  “Wanna go play a little in the casino?”

“Sure.”

Arm in arm they left the restaurant and hit the hotel casino.  The Paradise Island Resort spared no expense on their biggest attraction – a full Las Vegas-style Casino.  Bright white running lights framed the entrance.  Around them every game of chance sparkled with the temptation of a big win.  The room was alive with the sounds of ringing machines, spinning slots and the oohs and aahs of great wins and losses.

“So what do you like?” Cody asked, surveying the field.

“I like to play the change machine...I break even every time.”

He laughed.  “Very clever.”

They hit the blackjack table and within twenty minutes had lost all their chips.

“Now that was entertaining,” Cody joked.

“Yeah.”  Dana looked at her watch.  “I hate to say this, but it’s late and I have to be up really early...”

“I understand.”

“I hope you do...I don’t want to end your time in the casino...this vacation is really a work thing.”  Dana silently cursed her sense of responsibility.

“Silly girl...I’m here for you, not the casino.”  He brushed a strand of hair from her face.  “Just because our fun in the casino is over doesn’t mean the night is over, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t,” Dana whispered, her heart racing.  He kissed her gently.   The noise of the casino muted around her.  She could only hear the beating of her heart.

He pulled back.  “Let’s go.”

They went back up to her room barley able to control themselves.  The door hadn’t yet closed as Cody pulled Dana into to him.  He wanted to be as close to her as he felt in his heart.  He slowly traced her curves, starting at her shoulders, working his way down her body.  Dana felt every touch of his fingertips.  Her body hungered for him.

“Cody...”

He cut her off. “Dana, I’m falling in love with you.”  He gazed adoringly at her, cupped her head in his hands and kissed her softly on the mouth.  She started to speak, but he put his finger over her lips, afraid of what she might say.

“Dana, you don’t have to say anything.”

“Then I’ll show you.”

Jonny walked into a trap.

He stepped into the doorframe of the
Program Director’s office and immediately felt a chilly reception.

“Hey man, what’s going on?”

Stone-faced, the now traffic light green tipped haired Ted Reed responded, “Sit down Jonny.”  He pushed his matching green framed glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Jonny walked in and instantly understood why Ted was behaving the way he was.

Sitting across from Ted was Heather.

Today there were no short skirts and flirty looks, instead Heather was dressed in tailored gray pants and a cream
silk button down shirt.  The picture of professionalism, Heather looked innocent and like she meant business.  She shot Jonny a look of hate, then folded her arms across her chest and turned her attention back to Ted.

Jonny took a seat across from Ted.

“So what’s going on?” he repeated.

“Jonny, why don’t you tell me about the nature of your relationship with Heather.”

“She’s been an intern for our department.”

“I know that.  I’m not asking about that.  I’m asking about your personal relationship with Heather.”  Ted grabbed a pen from his desk and began chewing the tip.

Jonny shot a quick look at Heather.  Oh, crap, she told.  He couldn’t believe she actually told.  He gulped and thought quickly. 
Deny,
he said to himself,
it’s your word against hers.
He was the star disc jockey at the station.  She was just a young intern who dressed like a slut. 
Just deny.  Deny, deny, deny.

“We don’t have a relationship other than our one at work.”  Jonny spoke simply and honestly.

Heather let out an exaggerated gasp.  “That’s not true.”  She edged forward in her seat, her arms flying forward in protest.

Ted turned to Jonny.  “Heather has given me a lot of details about this alleged affair.”

“Ted...I don’t know what to tell you.  Heather was upset at me for not giving her an on air shift.  I think she’s trying to get back at me.”  Jonny’s voice was laced with outrage.

“Oh, gimme a break!” Heather yelled, “We’ve been sleeping together for months and you know it!”

Ted looked at Heather.  “Do you have proof?”

“Proof of what?”

“Proof of the affair.”  He pulled the pen tip from his mouth.  It was now a mangled mass of plastic.

Heather looked puzzled.  “I’m telling the truth...we’ve been sleeping together for months!  We’d go to the Sunshine Motel during his shift.  Jonny’d voice track.  I know the desk clerk saw us and I’m sure other people here saw him gone.  I’m sure people saw us come in late.”

Jonny grew hot under his collar.  She was right, there
was
proof if Heather pushed it, which obviously she was intent on doing.

“Look,” Jonny said in as calm a voice as he could muster, “I think this is becoming very hostile.”  His eyes met Ted’s.  “Ted, we’ve worked together for years.  I think we should discuss this alone.”

Ted folded his hands in front of him.  “Heather, I did hear your side of the story without Jonny.  I think it is appropriate for me to talk to him in private as well.”

“But...”

“Why don’t you wait outside or, better yet, in the jock lounge and I’ll come get you when I’m done talking with Jonny.”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“Heather these are very serious allegations, I need to handle this in an appropriate manner.  Now, if you would just wait for me, I would appreciate that.  I would also appreciate you not discussing this with anyone while you’re waiting for me.”  Ted was extremely serious.

“Fine,” she said rising abruptly from the chair.  “But know this, I am no liar.”  Heather left Ted’s office, angrily slamming the door behind her.

Ted focused directly on Jonny.  “I need you to tell me the truth.”

“I am,” Jonny lied, nervously crossing his legs.

“Jonny, we’ve worked together for many years.  You are a strong part of this station.  I do know that you’ve taken to voice tracking a bit in the afternoon.  I also know that you are staying with Dana right now...I’m guessing because of problems with Jill.”  He picked up the pen again.  “Now, I’d also wager to believe that Heather hasn’t been so secret with her secret and that there might be other people who know things or have seen things.  This could potentially be a major lawsuit if she really wanted to start trouble.  Not to mention the implications it would have for your career.  The press can be very nasty to a public figure in a scandalous matter like this.” Ted leaned forward in his chair, almost coming across the desk.  “I’m asking you again, please tell me the truth.”

Jonny turned pale.  The walls began to close in on him.  He had no escape.  The truth
would
probably come out.  He didn’t think about the way his fame would play into this.  If the affair went public he would be extremely embarrassed.  Embarrassed for himself, his career, his family…and Jill.  There’d certainly be no chance for reconciliation if all the dirty details came out.

He breathed in deeply.

“Ted, can I talk to you as a friend?”

“You can, but remember, I am listening as your boss as well.”

“Right.”

“So...?”  Ted tapped the pen on his desk.

“So Heather and I had a relationship.”

Ted’s eyebrows shot up.

“A consensual relationship, believe me.”

“A few seconds ago you were telling me to believe you that nothing happened.”

Jonny looked away.  “I know...I just felt awkward with Heather in the room and, to be honest, I panicked.  But the truth is she’s the one who started up this relationship.  You see the way she dresses...”

“Jonny,” Ted looked somber.  He removed his fashion glasses and rubbed his eyes.  “The other truth to this is that
you are her superior and she is a college intern.  You are the one who should know right from wrong in this situation, you should have stopped this before it started.”

“I know, but she came on very strong...”

“Let me introduce you to a little something we like to call self-control.  And, by the way, aren’t you married?”

Jonny could not look at Ted.  He stared at the floor in shame.

Ted didn’t wait for a response.  The disgust he felt for Jonny hung in the air.  His star deejay had an affair with an intern.  The publicity would be horrific.  “Look, Jonny, I’m not going to moralize with you, my issue is my responsibility to the station.  I am going to talk to Heather and see where she is with this.  She came in here talking about lawsuits and this and that.  My guess is that she’s just angry with you for ending the affair.  I’m not going to let this tryst destroy my station.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me be clear, I’m not doing this for you.  I’m doing this for the good of the station.  The last thing we need is a scandal like this.”

“Well
, I still appreciate it.”

“You should.  You should kiss the ground I walk on for what I’m about to do.  But don’t expect any miracles,” he warned.  “Your ass is not out of the fryer yet.”

“I understand.”

“You have to understand.  I need you here, ev
ery day, on the air live...no more of this voice tracking crap.”

Jonny nodded.

“You don’t talk to anyone about this or about the conversation we just had.  I will try to fix this to my benefit, but if I can’t, you
will
lose your job and you
will
leave quietly.  If you don’t, I’ll make sure you never work in this business again.”