"I think you'll be perfect for the job, Miss McHale," Charlie said, stood from behind his desk, and reached out a hand to shake. "Shall we go for a tour? I'll introduce you to the anchor."

Mackenzie firmly shook his hand and followed as he directed her out of the office toward the bullpen. She looked over the unfamiliar territory, faces she didn't know but she hoped to learn, and an entire show she hoped to build up from the ground. The last few months had lit a fire under her ass and she knew this would give her the distraction along with the ability to accomplish what she wanted to.

"Your office will be over there," he explained, pointing to the other side of the room. "It'll actually have furniture in it by Monday," he added before going on about the renovation, some of the producer's, but Mac's attention was caught by the office near hers, an olive skinned woman standing over her desk and talking to someone Mac didn't know.

"Miss McHale?"

She snapped her head around and smiled awkwardly. "Yes, sorry."

"Come on, I'll introduce you," Charlie offered and nudged her elbow, then weaved through the desks to the other side of the room. The person was leaving the office as Charlie stepped in. "Sloan?" he questioned once he pushed through and held the door opened for Mackenzie to follow.

The woman didn't look up and instead shuffled through a few pieces of paper. Charlie glanced back at Mac and she awkwardly shrugged.

"I want to introduce you to Mackenzie McHale. She's interviewing for executive producer. I wanted to pass her over to you for a bit."

"So she passed through inspection?" she asked, adjusting her skirt before sitting down and finally looking at Mackenzie. She lingered over her features but Mac looked away and at Charlie, who nodded before backing away and out of the office.

She watched him disappear behind her before she turned her attention back to Sloan that had by then made herself comfortable on her side of the desk.

"Sit," she instructed and Mackenzie obliged.

"Not many pass through Charlie's interview and make it here," informed the anchor, a grin spreading across her features. She was pleasantly surprised with what Charlie brought her, too, and she couldn't hide that despite how much she wanted to shy it away.

"So I gathered. I am surprised myself," Mac began.

"My last EP was shit."

"I'm sorry," she offered but she didn't know the real response or the direction of the interview or, really, why she couldn't take her eyes off the woman in front of her.

Sloan shrugged to show it didn't bother her but it was frustrating to have a fill in for the last few weeks and not anything consistent or permanent. She wanted to get the process over with but she wasn't going to deal with a producer that didn't know what he or she was doing. For Charlie to bring this one through to her office meant there was the chance she might actually be worth something.

"I have plenty of experience and even more ideas," she began and Sloan loved the way her accent formed her words. Her smile faded but she leaned forward, finding herself able to listen to the voice for the rest of the day and then some. It was a few sentences into the woman's spiel that she realized she had missed the content and had focused solely on the way the words poured from her lips.

Mackenzie didn't stop, unable to notice the anchor wasn't paying attention to what she was saying, at least not really.

"There is a spot for a few associate producers that you'll need to fill," she began and Mac's eyes widened a little. Sloan hadn't said much about her speech and hadn't exactly said the words Welcome aboard! Mac hovered over the words for a moment. "And I will introduce you to the senior producer in just a moment."

"So… does that mean—"

"It does. I'll tell Charlie you passed through me," she interrupted and she watched Mac smile seemingly from ear to ear. "You don't officially start until Monday but you're more than welcome to come in to get a feel for the place. I expect you fully prepared on your first day."

Mac nodded eagerly and mimicked the woman when she stood. Sloan reached her hand out and Mac greeted it, shaking.

"Shall we?"

Mackenzie quietly said yes and followed Sloan out to officially meet the rest of the crew.