The Boys' Club by Wendy Squires

a shit of a job, don't think I don't. But
I picked you to come and work here and I will choose when you go
and it won't be before I fucking do, you hear? Fuck those two. We
need more like you, I know that. Consider yourself a trailblazer. If
you can survive, you'll open this place up to more women like you.
I hired you 'cause I thought you were ballsy. Don't turn into a bloody
sheila on me now.'
    Rosie took a second to breathe and consider her response. Looking
around, she realised there was no point trying to illustrate the irony
in Keith's last comment. She stared at the painting hanging behind
Keith's desk, the one she called 'Who Killed Bambi?' It was your
typical men's hunting lodge fare, large, dark and imposing, featuring
a doe-eyed impala joining the food chain courtesy of a lion ravaging
its throat. In the background several more lions were heading in for
the kill. There was no better metaphor for how Rosie felt at that very
moment – and no better reminder that the Big Man, too, had others
sniffing around, waiting for a moment of vulnerability.
    'Now, what happened downstairs that got Nash's nuts in a twist?'
Keith asked.
    'It was nothing to do with Nash, Keith. He happened to come by
my office while one of my staff members was in distress, that's all.
Nash saw her crying and it was frankly none of his business coming
to you. She's fine now and all is good – well, as good as it can be.'
    'Make it good,' Keith asserted, 'and while you're at it, quit the diet
jokes. You know the fat fuck has no sense of humour about such
things.'
    'Er, okay, I guess I did take things a little far there,' Rosie admitted,
chastened.
    Keith wasn't listening, though, focused once again on the jumble
of remote controls around him. Rosie had lost him but decided she
still needed to discuss a few home truths. This was always a risk with
powerful men. They liked smart women around them but usually only
when they were being reassured or agreed with. When you started
telling them what they didn't want to hear, that's when they wanted
you dumb. Ah, to hell with it. What's left to lose?
    'Keith, we have to talk about that Kennedys meeting this
morning,' Rosie said bravely. 'I mean, really, you can't speak like that
to colleagues.'
    'All right, Jesus, what's up you today? It's like you're—'
    'Don't say it, Keith, I warn you!' Rosie cut in.
    ' Raaark ,' the Big Man squawked back, knowing how much the
perennial period jibe riled her.
    Rosie couldn't help but smile as Keith laughed. She realised that
when Keith was happy, she was too.
    'Honestly, how do you expect me to keep you out of the news
when every network CEO and publicity director was there at the
Kennedys meeting? Look, I know you get nervous but you have to
pull it in a little. Things have changed here. Bettina Arthur is a fact
of life. As is digital. It's a different world from the one you're used
to.' Rosie knew the Big Man was taking in her every word, despite
hating what he was hearing. She had to stop herself from reaching
over to hug him. He really was TV Rex out of his natural habitat.
    'Hey, and thanks for chucking me out of the programming
meeting,' she added, trying to lighten things up. 'It's not easy to tell
the public and press what's on the network when you don't know
yourself.'
    'That's fucking Johnno and Nash,' Keith snapped irritably. 'They
reckon you're talking to the Sentinel . Nash actually told me you used
to have a thing with one of the reporters there, Greg Leach.'
    How the hell did The Darkness know that?
    'That was a long time ago, Keith, and I can assure you my former
colleague and I are both respectful of each other's positions today.
That doesn't mean I haven't grilled him as to who the actual leak is,
though.'
    'What does he say?'
    'That it's closer than I think, which has me worried. Even the sales
guys don't know half the stuff that's made it into the Sentinel .'
    'Watch what you say there,' Keith said sternly. 'I'll protect my boys
like I protect you –