A DEMANDING EDITOR And A SPARK OF CURIOSITY

ALEX THOMPSON POV 

The dismissal from Tori's office sent a surge of adrenaline through me.

 Excitement bubbled within me, a stark contrast to the dull ache of frustration that had settled in my gut after weeks of churning out mundane articles. 

Ethan Ryder. I shivered just thinking about the name. 

At last, an engaging narrative with substance, offering an opportunity to delve further and reveal a meaningful aspect.

Returning to my cubicle, my fingers danced over the keyboard as I spent the next few hours immersed in a whirlwind of research. 

Whatever could provide insight into the mysterious Mr. Ryder, be it news articles, financial records, or even gossip blogs.

 But the further I dug, the less I discovered. 

One of his most successful business endeavors, SkyTech Industries, was a titan in the tech industry, recognized for its inventiveness and moral behavior. 

His charitable activities, such as funding environmental projects, providing scholarships to underprivileged students, and donating to charities, were discussed in news reports. Not precisely the ingredients for a juicy scandal.

I felt a twinge of disappointment. 

Could it be that Ethan Ryder was just a misinterpreted benefactor, and his mysterious demeanor stemmed from his desire for seclusion rather than attention? 

Looking at the clock, I was reminded of the approaching deadline as the red circle mockingly stared back at me.

 There was a danger that discouragement would take over. 

My computer screen suddenly displayed a notification. 

The infamous source of unsubstantiated but always obscene celebrity gossip, 

"The Insider," had just released a new blog post.

 The headline asked, "Ethan Ryder: Calculated Charade or Secret Past?" 

Upon clicking the link, I was greeted with a blurry image of a younger Ethan, dressed shabbily, outside a closed shop. 

A "financial meltdown" and a "mysterious comeback" were alluded to in the accompanying text.

I felt a glimmer of hope. In the end, maybe there was a story. Is this the gory moment Tori had been waiting for, the crack in Ethan Ryder's well-polished armor? 

—-

The quiet was broken by the ringing of my desk phone. 

I recognized Sarah, a fellow journalist and best friend, from the caller ID when I glanced at it. 

Through the receiver, Sarah's voice called out.

"Hey, stranger." 

"Is everything okay at the mill of controversy?"

I laughed, a tinge of fatigue in my voice

"You could say that." 

"Trapped with a narrative that appears to have no real significance."

Sarah winked. Sounds harsh. 

Once again, who is the unfortunate victim?

I answered

 "Ethan Ryder."

 "Billionaire philanthropist, golden boy of the city... and possibly secret bankrupt?"

Sarah exclaimed, "Oh, snap." It seems like you are onto something good. Tell me everything, please."

With a tone that betrayed her frustration, I described my findings. 

"Well, it might not be the scandal you think it is, even if the bankruptcy was not a total fabrication," Sarah said thoughtfully. 

Perhaps he went through a difficult time, got back up on his own, and went on to become the successful person he is today. I think that story is really quite inspirational.

Thinking about that, I paused. 

Yes, that is possible, I guess. 

Still, would not curiosity pique?

 It would make him more approachable and human."Sarah said, 

"Sure." Would not it, though, also be a little exploitative? exposing someone's past in order to sell papers?"

In my stomach, a knot of tension closed. 

It was Sarah's point. 

Was it the right thing to do, even though the thought of discovering a secret past was alluring? 

Did Ethan's reputation stand to lose by being made public about his struggles?

Reluctantly, I conceded

 "Maybe this is a different story that needs to be told."

~~~~~~

I arrived at the office the following morning with a fresh sense of purpose. 

After Sarah's remarks, it seemed less appealing to expose a possible financial scandal. 

 Maybe there was another way to tell the story, one that did not rely on sensationalism and instead explored Ethan Ryder's personality and accomplishments. 

The strain persisted, though. 

No fluff, as Tori had made clear. 

In order to stand out from the typical celebrity rumors, I needed to come up with an engaging story that would appeal to readers. I had spent the morning going through news archives, reading through previous quotes that Ethan had made in speeches and interviews. 

Something started to become apparent. He frequently discussed perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and the value of giving back to the community. 

"Interesting," 

I leaned back in my chair and muttered to myself.

" It is not overtly scandalous." I snapped back to the blurry picture from "The Insider" blog. 

The one where Ethan looked younger and was outside what appeared to be a closed business. My stomach churned. 

Maybe the secret lay not in a financial crisis but rather in a triumph over hardship.

I dug a little deeper, determined again. In an attempt to locate the business depicted in the picture, I got in touch with the city's business registry, an impasse. 

Disappointment increased. 

 A notification appeared on my computer screen as I was about to give up, a letter from an informant going by the handle "Shadow Broker." 

The message was unclear: "There is no financial scandal related to Ethan Ryder's past." Go beyond the financial trail. Keep your attention on the Phoenix Center. The Center for Phoenix? 

I opened a new tab on my browser and typed in the name, intrigued. 

When I saw in the search results that a nonprofit organization devoted to giving impoverished youth job training and mentoring existed, a wave of relief passed over her. 

Is this possibly the piece that is missing? 

Intrigue brewing in my chest, I whispered.

 The idea of a man conquering a previous obstacle seemed to connect with the Phoenix Center, which rose from the ashes like a mythical phoenix. 

~~~~~

AUTHOR'S POV

Everything else in the day was a blur. Alex reached out to the Phoenix Center and asked to speak with the founder in an interview. She was shocked by how quickly the response arrived. She was scheduled to meet with Mr. Davies, the center's director, on the following day. Alex shut down her laptop and left for home, feeling both proud of herself and a little anxious. 

Her thoughts flickered to Ethan Ryder's face as she tossed and turned in bed that night. Was his philanthropy motivated by a sincere desire to help others, or was he just a cunning businessman trying to hide his past? Alex recognized that the solution might not be found in a well-kept secret but rather in the history of the Phoenix Center and the man who had made it possible. Perhaps, she considered, a tiny smile forming on her lips, this would be a different kind of revelation than an expose.