Eric’s still deciding whether or not this conversation is even worth entertaining.
“You want me to…stake out a steakhouse?”
“Haha,” Eric’s editor laughs, though Eric doesn’t know what, exactly, he said that was so funny. When he levels Matty with a blank look, Matty clears his throat. “Look, Eric, you’re the only person we got that knows anything about hockey.”
“And Zimmermann’s a hockey player.”
“So you do read more than the front page.”
“And he’s been seen—on more than one occasion—at this steakhouse with a special little female counterpart.”
“I want you to kindly never say that phrase ever again.”
Matty sends an exasperated look at Eric. “It’s no secret that Zimmermann doesn’t do dating. We know that, TMZ knows that. Hell, even Deadspin did a piece on Zimmermann’s nonexistent personal life.”
Eric remembers that. He was at Dex and Nursey’s when he read the article because as soon as he walked in, Nursey practically shoved it in his face. This was taken two streets over, Nursey was freaking out about, and as much as Eric hates tabloids, he had to agree that the picture of Jack Zimmermann running through College Hill shirtless and sweating was not unwelcomed.
“So because of that, you want me to invade Mr. Zimmermann’s privacy,” he says.
“It’s not an invasion of privacy if you’re out in public.”
“Oh, okay, you just want me to go sit at this steakhouse after tomorrow night’s game in hopes of getting photos of Mr. Zimmermann being a normal human being socializing with someone who very well could be a friend or, god forbid, a family member, without any of their consent. That’s not at all an invasion of privacy. Duly noted. Should I take that tidbit back to McCarthy so she can add it to her ethics in journalism seminar?”
“Eric,” Matty pleads, “you have to do this. This is groundbreaking.”
“This is paparazzi work. How did you even find out about all this?”
The sheepish look Matty gives tells Eric everything he needs to know. Eric sighs.
“Who’d you buy this off of?”
“Niyah now has a possibly fabricated tip about the new burger place you covered last month failing all their health inspections.”
“Matty, I liked that place!”
“And it’ll still be there tomorrow, you know the health department doesn’t do anything!” Matty exclaims before taking a deep breath. He leans forward on his desk, elbows braced against the wood. “Look, Eric, you know hockey. You know people. You know how to take a good photo. And I know you know that this thing, whatever it is with Zimmermann, isn’t normal and isn’t usual. That’s why we need this.”
“To beat TMZ before they write the exact same thing.”
Eric tries really hard not to roll his eyes, and honestly, he isn’t sure how much he succeeds. “My column’s strictly for food. Culture. Restaurant reviews. I may sometimes help cover a Bruins game, but I don’t do this—,” Eric waves his hand around, “—this stalking stuff.”
“You know what I mean. If you were asking me to review this steakhouse, I’d be open to the idea. But glamorizing some innocent man’s private dinner based off something Niyah told you—why you still trust her I don’t even know—isn’t why I decided on this job.”
Matty sighs nearly the same way he did when Eric first declined the offer for this position with the paper, like Eric’s ruining his life in four different ways and Eric doing what Matty wants is the only way to fix it. Thinking back, if it weren’t for the pressing reality of rent being due and the small bit of guilt he felt because he knew Matty from The Swallow, Eric would had followed through with that declination. “Eric, you’re one of our best journalists. Your Bitty in Boston special racks up almost as much traffic as the sports page does when the Patriots play.”
“Exactly, meaning my expertise is in food, not imitating People’s magazine.”
“This is food, it’s a steakhouse!”
“In Providence. Why are you even wanting to go to Providence for this?”
“Zimmermann is well known outside of just Providence. My sister is practically in love with him and she’s lived in Baltimore her whole life.”
“Good for her, you’re still not answering my questions.”
“A one time ten percent bonus for this period, and if the article does well, a twenty percent bonus for the holidays.”
Eric halts. That’d be enough money to fly back home for Christmas, and with the second bonus, he’d maybe even be able to afford that stand mixer he’s had his eye on for the last few weeks. “You really want this article that badly, huh. You’re sure Niyah’s tip is valid?”
“I put my hand on the Bible,” Matty solemnly says.
“I’m non-practicing, and I know that phrase means something where you’re from.”
“Fine,” Eric says, doing this because the stand mixer really does have exceptional reviews and not because his morals are dwindling in the face of speculative journalism. “I’ll do it, but I’m only staying there an hour tops. I’m not talking to Mr. Zimmermann, I’m not asking any questions, and if anyone catches on to what I’m doing I’m giving them your name.”
Matty practically beams. “We’ll be trending by Monday.”
“And you’re paying for my meal,” Eric says as he walks out.
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
germansingergirl
tangentwithtanner
titsay
