J. Jonah Jameson

She hated this job. She hated writing these fluff pieces and droll stories. MJ had gotten into journalism to make a difference! Not... whatever this was. But she didn't have much of a choice. Peter could hardly keep a job what with Spider-Man being who he was.

That's why when Jameson had called her into his office, she began to panic. She could not afford to lose this job. They could not afford to lose this job. She anxiously sat across from his desk, biting her lip. "What did you—"

He tossed a paper her way, "tomorrow's headline."

She grabbed it and lifted it up, reading the front page. "SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED! PETER PARKER AND MARY JANE WATSON: HOW ONE MENACE INFILTRATED THE PRESS!"

MJ felt the color drain from her face. How did they find out? Was it something she did? No, she had been so careful. "I'm giving you an advance warning since you've been a model employee. But I don't need any spider-lover in my newspaper!" He shouted, crossing his arms.

"Please, there has to be some mistake! You can't— we can't—!" She sniffled and clenched the paper. She wanted to stand and scream, but she knew that wouldn't do any good. "Please don't do this... I'll do anything. I'll write any article you want... Please..." She quietly begged, barely eeking the words out.

"I'm not a heartless man, Watson," he replied, grabbing a cigar. That source had been right about this whole thing! He can't believe she fell for his bluff. But he had a plan now. "I could be convinced to... shelve this. On two conditions."

"Y-yes! Anything!" She perked up, wiping her tears away.

"One: You'll write any story I want. If it's about how much Spider-Man hates the elderly, you'll do it. Understand?" He leaned forward and lit his cigar, barely making eye contact. He needed to make her feel like she was beneath him; that he was doing her a courtesy. "After all, I have a duty to the people and shelving a story like this would be lying to them."

"I... I understand. And the second?" Mary Jane asked.