Epilogue

The beginning of spring in New York is unmistakable. White flowers suddenly appear on trees, happy hour happens during sunlight instead of in the dark, and tights can be forgone under pretty dresses and skirts. Leah loved every minute.

And why shouldn't she? She was living her New York dream. She'd just been promoted to junior reporter at Club Business and had handed off her data entry duties to the new researcher who had joined. She now wrote all day, getting bylines and most importantly, sources who confided in her and gave her scoops so she could break news stories.

She knew where the best happy hours were and which restaurants were trending, and sometimes even got special treatment from bartenders and waiters who she'd gotten to know better.

And who could forget her boyfriend. He spent the first six weeks of the New Year taking perfect care of her while her arm healed. Everyday, he brought her dinner and helped her clean her apartment and herself while she tried to shower without getting her cast wet. He made her laugh and brought her silly presents like a keychain with ice skates on it. When her cast came off, he took her to celebrate at a cute little hotel in Connecticut where they enjoyed white snow without the gray dirt that plagued all the snow in New York.

Even Leah's roommate softened when the snow melted. They weren't exactly friends, but Marissa had agreed to allow Asher to hang up their TV on the wall in front of the couch. She even sometimes pulled out a bean bag chair from her room and watched whatever reality shows Leah and Asher put on while they ate their takeout together.

Everything was going perfectly, until Leah saw the name on the brief the new researcher at Club Business had handed her. It came after their morning standup meeting in Tony's office when Tony insisted that academic institutions did everyone a disfavor by scheduling a spring break— It doesn't prepare you for the real world! —and then he told Alex that the headlines on his articles were getting repetitive and he expected at least a little creativity from people who were trained writers.

"Leah! You're getting the next big story!" he insisted and Leah's heart fluttered with joy. He then told them that rumors of a hostile takeover of a big fast-food chain were heating up. "Check the TCR for any suspicious numbers relating to any restaurant businesses! "

After the meeting Leah talked to the new researcher who was still wide-eyed and intimidated by the TCR, and she gently explained what to look for. "See if any companies have liabilities greater than their assets, or anyone asking creditors to change repayment terms," She said. "Or any restaurant business that is in the TCR should come to me."

The researcher nodded and then got straight to work. A couple of hours later the brief was on her desk. WinterRock Capital was looking to purchase the debt owed by a fast-food chain and who was the lead associate working on the deal? Gabe Russo.

Usually when Leah saw the names of associates working on deals, she would Google their names and find out their office phone number or email. Sometimes, if it was someone she had a good rapport with, she might have their cell phone number. She didn't need to Google Gabe Russo and she did have his cell phone number, but she wasn't sure she had the rapport needed to call him and ask for details for her article.

If she called him, would he answer? Could they be professional and discuss the deals as colleagues? Would he give her the scoop she needed to impress Tony and maybe move up to senior reporter? She held her breath and tried to gather the courage she needed.