Contains minor spoilers for "Peeping Tomcat"

Making Headlines

Summary:

All Clara wants is to be a respected reporter at TVi news. It's a shame the lead reporter Nadja Chamack won't give Clara the opportunity to prove herself. Someone else is listening in to Clara's woes, though, and Hawk Moth is more than willing to give Clara her big break.

Notes:

A teaser companion short for the upcoming story "One and the Same"  The sequel to my story "Peeping Tomcat" starts off 

"Nadja, about the school fair piece-" Clara Contard jogged behind Nadja Chamack through the crowded hallways of the TVi building.

"It was a great piece, Clara. Good job." Nadja paused just long enough to place a congratulatory hand on the Junior Reporter's shoulder before turning back to her buzzing about the office.

"Thank you, but I was just sort of hoping that maybe I could get more meaty stories."

"You'll get them." Nadja didn't bother stopping this time. She zipped over to a cubicle, scooped up the report offered to her, scanned it quickly, and handed it back. "You should work on the conclusion there. It's a bit clunky to end on." She noted to the man. She then continued on her way. Clara still in tow.

"I know, but when?" Clara tried hard to sound stern instead of defeated. "I feel like I've been on these fluff pieces for so long. You're mostly an anchor now, in the studio, and yet they send you out on the street for beat pieces as well. Wouldn't it be easier on you to not have to divide your attention? I could handle the remotes-"

"People trust me to bring them the news. I get to the story quickly and accurately." Nadja stopped by a few more cubicles, and offered a few more notes; not missing a beat as she held up her conversation with Clara. "I've earned the respect of Paris, and with that I've brought them to TVi. I know it may seem cocky to say this, but I'm sort of the reason they tune in."

"But I could be that reporter too. Just give me a chance."

Nadja stopped at her office door and blew out a deep breath. "Clara, I'm sorry, I really am. You're a good reporter, you are, but you're still a junior reporter. You're just not ready yet. You don't have a network of sources. You can't get to the stories fast enough."

"I can. I know I can. I-"

"Clara," Nadja's voice became sharp, but not harsh, like whenever she became stern with her daughter. "You've been out-scooped by the Ladyblog at least five times. You have yet to beat a high schooler to a story."

"Well, no one is faster than that girl when it comes to Ladybug-"

"And Ladybug is what Paris cares about now. She is where the stories are. If you can't get to her before a teenager can, then you're not ready. I'm sorry, but that's the end of this discussion. Just, keep trying, you'll get there eventually."

Nadja slid behind her office door and closed it quickly, before Clara could edge her way in.

"Get there eventually? Get there eventually! I'm there now! Or I would be if it weren't for that stupid girl and her Ladyblog!" Clara stormed over to the elevators, frantically pressing the down button. "People care more about Ladybug and Chat Noir," she muttered to herself as the elevator doors opened. "There are more important pieces than cats stuck in trees or school festivals without Ladybug being involved. I could do an expose about the mayor, or talk to Officer Roger about the effect akuma attacks have on overall crime rate. Ladybug isn't the be-all and end-all of the news."

The elevator doors closed; leaving her alone to brew. She paced the small area. Pulling a small moleskin notebook out of her blue blazer pocket, she flipped it open to the inside cover.