YASMIN ALI

In the Lap of the Gods

Eddie walked through the car factory for the last time. His work here was nearly done.

‘You’ve seen my draft report to Frankfurt,’ said Eddie to the plant manager at his side. ‘We have two options. Both lead to productivity gains, one’s going to hurt more. What’s your take on this, Salim?’

‘Real technical innovation? That means job losses,’ said Salim. ‘But Turkey has enough history. We need to protect the future. We’re a young country.’

‘Good man,’ said Eddie, with a collusive nod. The phone pulsed in his pocket, but he chose to ignore it. In any case, he could guess who it was. Athene.

At the Athene offices Claire could scarcely contain her excitement. ‘I just know they’re going to love this,’ she said.

‘Maybe,’ said David, ‘but Poseidon’s after it, too. Don’t write them off. They sunk our last bid to Channel Four.’

‘But it’s not Channel Four, is it? This is Zeus,’ said Claire. ‘They want bold, edgy…’

‘They want ratings,’ said David. ‘Eyes on the prize, remember?’

So it was that Claire came to prepare for her meeting with the Commissioning Editor (Factual) at Zeus Television. The meeting took place at his club. The Olympus drew little attention to itself from the street; just a discreet doorway in Soho marked by a simple aluminium plate. Inside was a little different. A flunky dressed like a spangly Seventies game show host showed Claire up to the first floor library where Jolyon sat in a flamboyantly upholstered armchair reading on his tablet.

‘It’s a street in Birmingham,’ said Claire.

‘Benefits Street. It’s been done,’ said Jolyon. ‘Poverty porn, too depressing.’

‘This has got wealth and poverty, freaks and glamour,’ Claire began.

‘Heartbreak and humour?’ said Jolyon.

‘Check,’ said Claire. ‘Really. It has everything.’

‘Death?’ said Jolyon.

‘Absolutely,’ said Claire. ‘Athene are confident that this series reinvents reality television.’

‘So,’ said Jolyon, picking imaginary fluff from the knee of his burgundy trousers and dropping it to the floor. The gestu