<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://uncccareer.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/blog2.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FFBF00"><br/>Mary-Ann Richard</span></span></div><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><br/>"How did you become a reporter, Mary-Ann?..."</span>Carlos asked, and she gave a smile.<span style="color: #FFBF00">"It's silly really,"</span>she began,<span style="color: #FFBF00">"In high school some girl made a rumor about me in the school newspaper. It was a harmless rumor, but it still upset me so I got onto the school newspaper myself to write an article about her, but I didn't want it to be lies like she had done about me...turns out she was rather an okay person who just didn't fact check. But it was still fun to write for the newspaper, then I just...kind of wanted to keep doing it forever but on television. Journalism is very fun and exciting, though sometimes it can wear you down...a lot of terrible things go on in this city that I never covered...Either way, I don't care about the fame or how much danger I'll be in, Mr. Delgado. People should know the truth and sometimes the truth requires a bit of sacrifice."</span><br/><br/>They were soon at their destination and Mary-Ann was in total awe of the man standing in front of her. He was obscenely tall, muscled, and tattooed. Somehow, though, even with his gold tooth smile, she found herself rather attracted--which was odd because he was most certainly not her type.<span style="color: #FF4000"><span style="font-style: italic">"Oh, I hav seen the lil' lady on TV. She's ok..."</span></span>Alfonzo said with a grin.<br/><br/>Suddenly a large hand dropped onto her shoulder and she nearly buckled under its weight. She was fine, but she was still cycling Alfonzo's words.<span style="color: #FFBF00"> "Just ok? Buster, I have done the cleanest, most revealing reporting in this city for the past 8 years! I'm better than ok. Not amazing, but still better than ok!"</span>she huffed and crossed her arms, squinting her eyes at him. She wasn't actually offended, but she still wanted him to realize there wouldn't be any of the bullshit other reporters did.<br/><br/>She turned to Carlos,<span style="color: #FFBF00">"Anyway, what were those change in plans you had? And why did you wait until Lea was gone to let me know you made changes? Seems...a little odd," </span>Mary-Ann's dark hazel eyes were staring up into Carlos' deep brown ones. She found it odd that he would keep anything from Lea, being as they used to be partners and were clearly together in some way now. She figured their relationship was complicated, but she was fairly certain that relationships required total open communication, right? Hell if she knew, though, she never was able to hold a man's interest for too long. They always got sick of her work.