Chapter 85: Absolute Loyalty

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Prime Ticket was one of Los Angeles’s major regional sports channels, built around local teams and smaller Southern California events.

Baseball had the California Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The NBA had the Clippers and Lakers. Hockey had the Los Angeles Kings and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. College sports meant USC and UCLA.

The NFL was more awkward.

After the 1994 season, Los Angeles would lose its local NFL teams for a long stretch. The Rams and Raiders would leave because of attendance, stadium problems, and all the usual business arguments. The Rams would not return for more than two decades.

Nolan arrived twenty minutes late at the meeting point, a coffee shop on South Sepulveda Boulevard. It was west of Century City, not far from Santa Monica, and close to the regional sports production offices.

He finally understood what people meant when they said Los Angeles required a car. Once the destination was even slightly out of the way, there was no convenient route without driving. He had been forced to walk half an hour.

When he entered, Penny sat in a corner, chatting and laughing with a young man in a black cap.

The moment Nolan walked over, her expression cooled.

"I told you I hate people being late."

"Coffee," Nolan said to the server, cutting through her complaint.

"Order it yourself," Penny said with a cold little sound. "And pay for it yourself."

"This is Mike," she added. "He is directing the pilot. USC film and television production."

Penny’s shift in attitude was obvious. Part of it came from Nolan rejecting her before. More important, this opportunity mattered.

With Los Angeles losing its pro-football presence, Fox’s national sports operation and the local regional team wanted football content to fill space. Matt Millen had been invited to build a new taped program that could air through multiple regional channels. After commentating the Southern California final, he had changed his mind about the pilot and personally recommended Nolan Callahan.

The decision-makers had discussed it and approved the choice.

Because everything had happened quickly, the Los Angeles crew received the shooting work. Penny, who had already interviewed Nolan, was given the crucial host role. Her editor had called her in the middle of the night and told her to be at her best.

This was not just a small local piece. It could become a network-level regional sports program.

Penny believed this chance might let her secure her place at the station and possibly reach the national operation later.

In her mind, she had been lucky enough to pick up a chance from headquarters.

’What did Nolan Callahan have to do with it?’

He wanted exposure. The exposure was here. Surely he would cooperate.

Penny had ignored the most important premise.

She was the least important person in the program.

She also did not know Matt Millen had already spoken to Nolan directly.

"Let’s go through the interview flow," Mike began.

"Wait."

Nolan folded his arms and looked at Penny.

"I can do the interview. You decide the structure. Ask whatever you want. I only have one extra requirement."

He pointed at Penny.

"Replace the reporter."

"The station assigned her," Mike said. "She is a professional sports reporter, and she has interviewed you before."

"I do not like her. When I see her, I cannot talk. Tell your supervisor that."

Nolan’s tone stayed casual.

"There is no bad blood between us," Penny snapped.

"Of course there is not. That does not stop me from refusing to be interviewed by you. Different things."

"Nolan, this is the station’s decision."

He did not answer.

"If you are dissatisfied with me, tell me," Penny said, softening. "I will correct it. The program benefits you too."

Nolan remained silent.

"Fine. I will leave. Is that enough?"

Penny made as if to stand, but she did not actually get up.

When every approach failed, despair touched her face.

Mike spoke for her.

"Young man, I do not know what happened between you and Penny, but this is not very gentlemanly."

Nolan looked at him.

"You can leave."

"You-"

Mike’s face tightened.

"Mike, go back first," Penny said. "I will talk with Nolan alone."

"Penny, you should not be alone with him."

Unease entered his voice.

"Please go."

Mike had no choice. When he stood, he said, "I will wait outside."

The moment he left, Penny apologized.

"I am sorry, Nolan. I treated you badly before. I was angry because you rejected me."

"No. I told you. There is no bad blood between us."

"Then you agree?"

"No."

"What do you want from me?"

Her voice dropped.

"Do I have to sleep with you?"

The instant the words came out, she regretted them. That kind of thing should not be said openly.

Nolan laughed.

"You are thinking too simply. This is not a fair trade between us. It is not mutual cooperation. It is host and parasite. You attach yourself to me. I provide the nourishment that lets you survive. That is the rule of our game."

"I can bring you benefits too."

Penny felt this high-school boy was looking down on her far too much.

"Compared with what I can give you, what you can give me is minor. And whatever you offer, someone else can offer too. So tell me why I should choose you."

"I am beautiful," Penny said, almost proudly. "I was a pageant winner in Alabama."

"Then why are you still a junior reporter?"

"I..."

She had no answer.

"Exactly. You do not understand some things. You also do not understand what I need."

Penny lowered her eyes. She did not want to say the answer, but she had found it.

"You want my loyalty."

"So you are not especially stupid."

Nolan sounded pleased.

His parasite speech was deliberately severe. This was still a transaction. The problem was that Penny would gain too much from it, and Nolan did not like losing money on a deal. She had to bring more to the table.

Long term, having someone in media who belonged to him would not hurt.

"You are only a high-school student," Penny said, still unwilling. "Why should I?"

"Because I am only a high-school student right now."

Nolan emphasized right now.

"Arrogant," Penny muttered through her teeth.

Then again, he had the capital to be arrogant.

His talent clearly pointed toward future stardom.

Which left only one question.

Nolan spoke before she did.

"You can think about it, but only until filming starts."

"How do I know I will get a return for what I give?"

The question left her mouth almost automatically.

Nolan shook his head.

"You cannot know."

If loyalty came with a guarantee, it was not loyalty.

Conditional loyalty was not loyalty at all.

"I can agree," Penny said. "But that loyalty is limited to work. Not my personal life."

"Of course. It will not involve your personal life. I am not interested in your life. I swear to God, I have no designs on you whatsoever."

Nolan launched into an impassioned speech before God.

Penny did not doubt it.

He had invoked God, hell, and his own soul with full sincerity.

So he really had not wanted her from the beginning.

Penny slowly accepted the fact.

Then she remembered the way he had looked at her during the first interview. He had not disliked her.

Her thoughts took another turn.

’Maybe it was performance issues? Drugs were getting younger in sports. Could Nolan already be physically compromised?’

No.

She remembered his joke about programming for every age group.

Even if he used every drug in the world, that body would still function.

So there was only one possibility.

He had restrained himself.

Like an ascetic, he sealed his desire away to preserve an athlete’s peak condition.

What willpower.

Respect rose in Penny despite herself, mixed with a deeper sigh.

Maybe only a man this ruthless and decisive could stand at the top of the world.

"Then we have a deal," she said, offering her hand. "You have my loyalty."

Nolan shook it.

"Loyalty, personal life, all of this sounds like King Arthur’s Round Table," Penny said with a laugh. "Very old-fashioned."

Her mood was lighter now.

At least Nolan had principles.

She also agreed to drive him home.

"I can take you back," she said, "but first we go through the interview flow."

Penny called Mike back in.

The director kept looking between them. He could not understand how two people who had been on the edge of open conflict were suddenly so harmonious.

"Penny, he just..."

"He is fine," Penny said. "It was a misunderstanding. It is settled."

"What did you talk about?"

"Why are you asking so much? Start working. I still need to drive Nolan home."

Nolan watched from across the table and could clearly feel Mike’s concern for Penny.

Maybe the man was pursuing her.

Penny did not seem especially interested.

"Just a suitor," Penny explained on the drive back. "You should know that Miss Webb is fairly popular with men inside the station. That is why some female coworkers do not like me."

Then she looked around.

"This is your home? It looks like a parking garage."

"Lower level."

Penny was doubtful, but she obeyed.

"Park. Engine off."

Penny looked at him for a long second before turning the engine off.

"If this is part of our private deal, say it clearly," she said. "I am not doing confused."

"Only if you want it," Nolan said. "I am eighteen, Penny. Old enough to answer for my own choices. And you can still walk away."

Penny caught his wrist before he touched her shirt.

"Work loyalty stays work," she said. "This is personal. Mutual. And stupid."

"Stupid can be fun."

"You are going to hell for this," she said, letting go of his wrist. "You said so yourself."

"Someone has to walk into hell."

"You liar."

Penny’s expression tightened with heat and accusation, but she was the one who pulled him closer.

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