Behind His Mask

On The Air

I strode into the newsroom with a new sense of confidence. No one knew it yet but I'd be this news station's top reporter. The dream I worked so hard for was finally going to come to true! I was beaming as I set my purse on my desk and sighed delightfully.

My high was short lived as I heard my boss yell my name from across the room.

"Y/N! Get in here NOW!" His voice boomed from his office doorway. I wasn't going to let him shake me. He'd be on his knees in a few minutes. I'd let him hold that sense of power over me for a bit longer. He should enjoy it while it lasts. I smirked to myself and walked over and into his office.

Henry plopped down angrily into his plush office desk chair and grunted. I calmly sat down across from him in a significantly less comfortable chair. He crossed his arms and leaned back, his fat belly rising and falling with each of his deep breaths. Something had him out of sorts.

"Where the hell have you been? You think you can leave this office? Come and go as you please? You work for me, Y/N! If you want to stay in this office then you better fall in line and fast! I'm this close to kicking you out on your ass because you don't bring anything to this office!", he spat out. His face was red and I worried for a minute that he was going to give himself a heart attack. I took a deep breath before I responded.

"Henry, please control yourself." I crossed my legs and leaned back. He was taken back by my response. He jolted up from his chair, slamming his hands on his desk.

"Listen here, you b-", Henry began. I jumped up from my chair as well and slammed one of my hands on his desk while I pointed a finger to his face.

"No! You listen to me." I demanded. I had walked into this office ready to give this story to him. He didn't deserve it though. I was sick of being disrespected. I didn't care anymore that this was the biggest new station in Gotham. I'd get my story out there, but I wasn't going to do it here.

"You're a pig and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here for another second while you have your little power trip." I snapped. The words came out easier than I thought they would. I had dreamed about quitting and telling Henry off but I never thought I'd actually do it. Here I was though with my finger in Henry's face and him staring at me with his mouth open in shock. To be honest I was a little shocked by myself as well.

Henry recovered and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Get the hell out of my news room!" He pointed to the door of his office behind me. I lowered my hand and took a step back from his desk. I stood tall as I walked to his door in silence. Before leaving I turned back to look at him. He was huffing and staring daggers at me. I smiled to him.

"I'll leave, Henry. And if you'd like to know where I was then I was working on a story. A story I'll be taking with me out those doors." I pointed to the door out of the office. Henry didn't take his eyes off me. His expression unchanged. I was hoping he'd ask about my story but looks like he was going to remain a disappointment until the end.

"An interview with the Joker himself." I finally explained with a smirk. Henry's mouth fell open again. Looked like I was full of surprises today. He shook his head and chuckled.

"You're lying." He snickered. I gave him a sly smile in return. Figures he wouldn't be able to wrap his head around anything other than his own ego. It was his loss though.

"Keep your eyes on the news." I advised him as I turned to leave. I walked back to my desk. A few of the other reporters watched me as I gathered up my things.

"Y/N!" Henry called out from his office. His voice wasn't as harsh anymore. It almost sounded like he was pleading me to answer. I ignored him. I slung my purse over my shoulder and walked out.