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Julian slammed the glossy galley proofs onto Clara's mahogany desk , sending a spray of paperclips across the green blotter . Outside the corner office , the fluorescent lights of the newsroom were dimming as midnight approached , but the tension between editor and critic remained white - hot . " You ought to tone down the second paragraph , Clara , " Julian said , running a hand through his thinning hair . " Describing their signature squab as ' an unidentifiable lump of charred cynicism ' is an invitation for a libel suit . The chef is a personal friend of the publisher , and his hospitality group buys six full - page spreads a year . " Clara leaned back in her leather swivel chair , slowly unscrewing the cap of her fountain pen . " If an establishment charges eighty pounds for poultry , they ought to cook it properly . A reader needn't spend hard - earned money on rubbery meat just because the owner has three television shows and a handsome smile . " " You needn't scorch the earth to make a critical point , " Julian protested , tapping the printed text with a manicured finger . " How dare you assign them zero stars without offering a single constructive compliment ? A critic ought not to behave like an executioner . " " I dare say you would prefer me to praise the bespoke linen napkins while ignoring the curdled hollandaise , " Clara said dryly . " We dare not compromise our independence to pacify luxury advertisers . The moment this magazine begins flattering mediocrity for ad revenue , we lose our credibility entirely . If readers cannot trust our dining guide , they will look elsewhere . " Julian stared out the window at the rain - streaked skyline of the financial district . In twelve minutes , the printers would lock the layout plates for the weekend cultural supplement . Once the rotary presses began turning , no retraction could undo the fallout . " Ought we not to consider the timing ? " Julian asked quietly . " The hospitality industry is struggling through a difficult winter . Many independent restaurateurs dare not speak out , but they are operating on razor - thin margins . " " Le Petit Château is backed by private equity , not a struggling family , " Clara countered , standing up and sliding the proof sheet toward her . " You needn't protect a multi - million - pound brand from honest journalism , Julian . If you want a press release , hire a publicist . If you want my column , print what I wrote . " Julian picked up his red pen , hesitated over the offending sentence for five agonizing seconds , and then signed his initials in the approval box at the foot of the page . Without another word , he snatched the copy and walked straight toward the production room .
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