SAVE ME FROM YESTERDAY

RASTRO 01

💙🌻

Rhian Ramos' heels clicked confidently against the polished floor as she strode down the hall toward her producer's office. She paused outside the door, running her fingers over the front of her dress to smooth any wrinkles before lifting her hand to knock.

"Come in," Vicky called from inside.

Rhian grasped the handle and pulled the door open. Vicky sat behind her desk, glasses perched on her nose as she looked up from her computer screen. But she wasn't alone. Jalex Cruz, Life & Leisure's director of advertising, stood beside her.

"Vicky," Rhian said with a polite smile.

"Jalex, this is a surprise."

"Hello, Rhian," Jalex said with an equally polite nod.

"Have a seat." Vicky gestured vaguely to
the guest chairs in front of her desk.

Rhian sat, placing her laptop on the edge of the desk.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news," Jalex said.

Rhian nodded. "Vicky told me this morning that the ratings for our season two premiere weren't as high as we'd hoped, but I've put together several proposed adjustments to Revival's advertising plan that I think should."

"Actually, that's not why I'm here," Jalex interrupted.

"You can discuss advertising
with Vicky later."

More bad news? Rhian straightened in her seat, clasping her hands loosely in front of herself.

"All right."

"We have to pull episode eight." Jalex said.

"The ice cream shop?" Rhian said, incensed.

"That's one of our strongest episodes. Why on earth would we scrap it?"

His lips drew into a frown. "The owner has been charged in a sexual assault."

Fuck. Rhian felt a heavy sensation in her stomach, as if the remnants of her lunch had hardened into concrete.

"That's... not good."

"I know," Vicky agreed.

"It's a publicity nightmare. There's no way we can air it."

"Is there time to shoot a replacement?"

As the CEO of Ramos Marketing, Rhian had built an empire helping under-performing small businesses reach their potential. Two years ago, the Life & Leisure channel had offered her a television show-Revival-that followed her as she worked.

Each episode featured a different business, offering viewers the chance to become invested in their success as she helped them rebuild. Season one had been a runaway success. So far, season two was off to a lackluster start, and without this episode, she might be in real trouble.

"It's possible," Vicky said.

"But the timing would be extremely tight."

Jalex's frown deepened. "I'm afraid there's no room in the production budget to reshoot, even if you were able to fit it into the schedule."

"I'll make room in the budget," Rhian said automatically.

This was what she did for a living, after all. She saved failing businesses, and now she would save her television show, because if she didn't get her ratings up. Revival would never get renewed for a third season.