Blaze (70 page)

‘Good. I look forward to hearing about them. I hope you don't mind, I have asked Belinda to arrange a staff meeting at three this afternoon.'

Ali was miffed Nina had sidled in ahead of her. ‘Any special reason?'

‘I think it's important to keep the staff informed about how things are going along. They will know I'm in the building, I'd like to catch up with everyone.'

‘Oh, it's social, not an addressing of the troops,' said Ali.

‘Depends,' said Nina easily.

‘On what?' Ali was defensive.

‘On what transpires between now and then. I smell smoke. I have an excellent nose.' When Ali didn't respond, Nina continued, ‘You know the old saying, where there's smoke, there's fire. I think I smell a few barely snuffed-out grass fires. Is there anything in particular you'd like to fill me in on?'

‘Okay, Nina. There have been a few problems, but I've handled them. Reg Craven has been especially obstructive. I hired a very creative advertising promotions manager, Eddie Kurtz, who brought in a lot of business, which upset Reg. Eddie was good. So good, he's been grabbed by a TV network. April Showers joined us as a columnist and last month we published her first feature. It was sensational.'

‘On what?'

‘A profile on the biggest bitch in television, Heather Race. She's from one of those so-called current affairs, foot-in-the-door and mouth, shows.'

‘And why? What was the reason for the profile?'

‘April can fill you in on that. Race kicked up a bit of a stink, but I gather matters are in hand.'

Nina made a mental note, but didn't pursue this news for the moment. ‘What's the
Blaze
Connoisseur Wine Club?'

Ali hid her annoyance. Nina was onto things quickly, but she did sound genuinely puzzled. ‘Reg has yet to come back to me on that. The bastard dropped a story I'd placed to put that in after the book had been made up. It slipped by me till I checked the final proofs.' Ali pre-empted the expected retort from Nina that nothing should ‘slip past' an editor. ‘As you well know, editors are fallible, but not much finds its way past me. It's one of my major headaches – Reg simply doesn't communicate. He refuses to come to editorial meetings, he thinks he's running his own ship. I guess he's a bit resentful that I've brought in quite a few big accounts,' she said pointedly.

Nina merely nodded. ‘It's not helpful when the two key elements of a magazine – editorial and advertising – aren't on speaking terms. One can't exist without the other. It should be a close collaboration.'

‘Collaboration isn't in Reg's vocabulary. But I'm sure he'll give you his version of events. Do let me know what you find out about the wine club. I have knocked it on the head for the moment. I haven't any knowledge of anyone asking permission to use the
Blaze
name for commercial purposes. I suspect there's something shady going on, it's not going through our books. I'm afraid Jacques is involved.'

‘I'm certain all will be revealed soon enough.' Nina stood up then paused as she saw over Ali's shoulder the terrace with the sandpit. ‘And what is that? A children's area?' She looked bemused and lifted a questioning eyebrow.

‘It's the latest in social and managerial experiments. It forces the staff to confront not only the issues at hand, but how they deal with analysing their true motives, and it enables them to assess the worth of their ideas within the big picture.'

Nina decided not to venture further into this territory for fear she'd laugh, lose her cool or tell Ali what she thought of her managerial skills. She'd find out about it soon enough. She merely gave a low, ‘Hmmm. Interesting.' And left Ali's office.

On the way back to her office, Nina found herself comparing the different editorial and managerial styles of people she had employed over the years.

Lorraine, Miche's mother, had been such an effective editor, utterly devoted to the firm and her craft, and totally professional until booze, pills and emotional insecurities started to destroy her.

Ali was so different. A hard worker, but she was out for herself, loyalty beyond self-interest counted for nothing. Typical of so many of her generation of hard-nosed, ambitious women precariously balancing on the executive tightrope. Proving they could be as tough and as ruthless as the men. And then there was Larissa. Fifteen years younger than Lorraine, but a similar character with similar skills, but choosing a different path. Who could blame her for deciding to be with the man she loved?

Through informal meetings with staff, Nina found many of them cautiously defensive about the level of morale and the quality of their teamwork. Everywhere she detected antagonism towards Ali. Nina began to unravel a picture of a ruthlessly ambitious young editor who wanted the magazine to be successful at all costs. This meant breaking the long-established Triton ban on doing editorial deals in return for contra arrangements, accepting free inducements to promote or favour an advertiser's interests. It also meant forcing staff to limit their initiatives and follow her ideas so that the content of
Blaze
reflected Ali's views and vested interests.

When Nina pushed Reg about the wine club, he was vague and fobbed it off. ‘They're top-quality wines, it's not schlock stuff with our name on it,' he ventured, and then blushed as he saw Nina mentally registering the idea that cases of wine had most likely landed on his doorstep. ‘If they want to offer wine at a bargain price to our readers – and by having our name attached to it, readers know it's a good product – what's wrong with that? They've bought six months worth of ads.'

‘And who is behind this club?' asked Nina. ‘I'm sure you've checked it out if
Blaze
is endorsing it.'

Reg shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘It's been Jacques Triton's baby. It's a special deal through a European group that's running the club internationally. The wines come from all over the world and include a few Australian ones. So long as our readers receive a good deal, the structure of an offshore company doesn't concern me.'

‘It should. Ali thinks it's a shady operation. Maybe a front for God knows what. So, who is the client or agency placing the ads and on whose behalf?' pressed Nina. ‘It seems odd the editor wasn't informed and the ads were placed at the last minute.'

At the mention of Ali, Reg's eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened. ‘When Jacques presented me with the deal, he said they wanted to be in this issue, so something had to go. Can't help a last-minute change when it's a potentially big, long-term client.'

Nina was quiet. It sounded reasonable, but she was not convinced. ‘So tell me about Ali. I understand there is a bit of conflict. I know she isn't the easiest person to work with, what are your concerns?'

‘Can I speak openly, off the record?'

‘That's why I'm here.' Nina leaned back.

Reg suddenly unleashed a torrent of anger against Ali. ‘She's a predator, a conniving bitch. She has set everyone against each other, not just me. She brings in April, she brings in Eddie, she flicks off Miche, she stops the perks and still sets up her own deals.'

‘What do you mean?'

Reg had exposed his feelings and they poured forth. ‘Hell, everyone used to be swamped with freebies. Ali says it's a no-go area, that's the Triton way, and then she turns around and expects to be handed everything that isn't tied down.'

‘But Reg, you know Triton's policy is we pay for everything.
Blaze
is not like those women's magazines where contra rules the content of every page.' Nina reminded Reg they had gone over this thoroughly before the magazine was launched.

‘We pay for everything in order to maintain our objectivity and credibility. In the rare instance that we do accept a deal, we say in print the travel or accommodation or whatever was paid for. That doesn't mean we are under any obligation to write about it – or favourably if we do.'

‘Tell that to Ali. There's been more stuff sent to her than you can poke a stick at. And you can double that for what has been sent to April's home. And we're not talking free perfume and night cream here – we're talking serious gifts from all manner of first-class shops. April puts out the line that it's no one's business if some company sends their products to her.'

‘Hmmm. They receive favourable mentions, I assume,' said Nina tightly.

‘You bet,' boomed Reg. ‘But I'll give April her due, she's clever and that story on Heather Race was a ripper. Anyway, my problem is Ali undermining me. Sure, she brought in a few clients – with help. But I draw the line at that goddamn, stupid sandpit. Her power trip is out of control if you ask me. I think she has lost the plot, and if you hadn't come back the workers would have mutinied against Captain Ali Bligh.' He was breathless from pouring out his angst.

‘Thanks for your opinion, Reg.' Nina's tone betrayed no reaction. ‘If you find out more on the wine club, please let me know.'

Reg left Nina's office wondering if he'd said too much – or not enough.

Nina wandered casually around the offices, popping in to say hello and pass a few minutes in relaxed chat. Kaye, Fiona, Bob, Barbara showed huge relief that she was back – ‘to take over' – as they put it. Barbara decided she'd rethink leaving if Nina was back to stay.

Nina merely commented, ‘
Blaze
is selling well, thanks to all your hard work. I gather it hasn't been easy for you guys.' This unlocked a series of complaints, whinges and cynical anecdotes – and the underlying common theme was, ‘Ali is a bitch and she's going to run the magazine into the ground in her personal drive to surge ahead.'

Nina merely nodded, smiled and moved around the building, listening to her staff. And they all told the same story. Ali was a dragon. But, grudgingly, they'd also had to admit she was very, very clever.

The painting in the office high in a tower block overlooking Sydney Harbour and its spectacular opera house was a mysterious creation of dots and a rough geometric network of intersecting lines. It defied easy interpretation, but had something about it that never ceased to capture the attention of even the most casual viewer, and then almost hypnotise them. It was created by an artist who was represented in many of the world's major galleries, an artist who lived in a tin shed with a dirt floor in a remote part of Northern Australia. An Aboriginal artist. Nina swivelled in her chair and gazed at the painting on her office wall in an effort to lose herself in the maze of images formed by the tiny daubs of ochre. She felt herself drawn into the vortex of the picture, travelling through the surface layers into the heart of the story. The secret country of the artist's spirit. It stilled her mind, steadied and calmed her. She sat in thought for some time then came to a decision.

She called Belinda. ‘When Ali is available, I'd like a private meeting with her in my office.'

Ali had been waiting for the call. She mentally encased herself in protective armour and walked purposefully down the hall. Belinda watched her go. Ali radiated confidence that bordered on the defiant.

When neither had emerged after half an hour from behind Nina's uncommonly closed door, half the staff had stopped working and were waiting to see from Ali's face whether she'd won or lost.

Barbara dropped by Kaye's office. She gave a shrug. ‘No news from the lioness's den. An Olympic-standard event almost, don't you think?'

‘They should have sold tickets,' said Kaye with a chuckle. ‘I bet there's a bit of fancy footwork and sparring going on. By Ali. Nina will be asking a few hard questions.'

‘I wonder if Nina knows someone in this office leaked a cover story to a rival mag.'

‘Ali lucked in with her replacement cover, but it must feel nasty knowing you're being undermined by your own staff.'

‘Yeah, it could only have come out of here. Who do you think could be talking to the gossip columns and giving out content secrets?'

Barbara shrugged. ‘Could be one of the junior staff before Ali cracked down on security. Could be anyone Ali has upset.'

‘Well, that covers all of us.'

‘Reg hates her, but he's still loyal to
Blaze
.'

‘Unless he's leaving and has had a better offer,' mused Kaye.

‘Everyone has a reason for revenge on Ali, but most of us are loyal because the magazine is Nina's.' Barbara sighed, ‘Poor Nina, I bet she's wishing she never started this now that she has a love and the chance of a different life.'

‘I would be out of here like a shot,' agreed Kaye. ‘I've seen Lucien interviewed on TV talking about his films. A really charming and talented man. She deserves him.'

A sudden thought struck Barbara. ‘You don't think she'd close the magazine? I mean, she doesn't need it now if she's going off to live with Lucien.'

‘We don't know that. I think the Tritons would have a say in that. But it is a worry.'

Both women were silent, trying to imagine this worst-case scenario.

Kaye voiced what Barbara was thinking. ‘We shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job with another magazine now that
Blaze
has been such a success. And there's always radio. They're looking for more women.'

‘I'd never be able to do that!'

‘I might find an editor who's more in line with my interviewing style than Ali seems to be lately,' said Kaye with bitterness. ‘April has landed the next two big features after that profile on Race. I could never have written a cynical, tough piece like that. I wouldn't want to. Couldn't live with myself.'

‘You're too nice, you mean. I'm amazed Heather Race hasn't gone ahead with the defamation suit against us.'

‘Hard to prove, I imagine. I mean, April didn't print any actual untruths, just made the facts as she saw them look pretty ugly. It was a damned clever article. I have to say she's made a big leap from bitchy gossip to surgically removing a subject's public face. I'd like to see her tackle a few of our politicians,' said Kaye thoughtfully.