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“Yes. He did. Kelli Ward confronted him about me and said it was malpractice.”
She laughs. “That’s ridiculous.”
“It is,” I say. “But Reese wanted to let Royce know that she is acting erratic, scared even. She might do something rash.”
“I’ll tell Royce right now.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you later.”
“Cat,” she says when I would hang up.
“Yes?”
“Be careful. If she is as crazy as she seems, I don’t want you becoming a target.”
“I’ll be careful,” I say. “Thanks, Lauren.”
The call ends with another one beeping. I glance at the screen to find Liz calling. Wanting this over with, I take the call. “I’m the agent on record for this deal,” she says.
“Yes. I know. I wouldn’t cheat you out of the money. I’m just not sure I want to stay with a publisher that pushed me into a deal with Dan. And frankly, I’d like an agent who is invested in me long term to co-agent and shop this project. You can split the deal.”
“I don’t want to split. I want to represent you.”
Of course she does. Now I’m worth money to her. “You told me I was dead in the water, Liz, because I was dating Reese.”
“Dan has a relative at your publishing house,” she says. “I didn’t want to tell you that because I didn’t want to tarnish your relationship with your editorial team. I went off on them, though. I told them they were playing games with my author over a personal connection.”
“They offered me half a million dollars.”
“I know. They told me. And considering how pissed one of the executives was about your meeting with Dan, I didn’t expect it. I wasn’t trying to undermine you. Just the opposite. I’m on your team, Cat. We’re good together.”
“You weren’t upfront with me.”
“I was protecting you.”
I feel like I just had this conversation. “You talk about my business with me before you make decisions.”
“Fair enough. We tell them you want seven hundred and fifty thousand or we go wide. But if they say yes, you have to forgive them their shittiness, and take the deal.”
“You just assumed I rehired you.”
“Did you?”
“Yes,” I say. “If I go wide, will I get more?”
“Maybe, maybe not. If you go wide and decline an option, you look hard to work with to the publishers.”
“Fine. Seven hundred and fifty thousand and take it. I’m going back to court.”
“I’ll be in touch,” she says, then disconnects.
I stare at my phone and consider texting Reese but this isn’t the time to distract him. I’m about to put my phone away when suddenly someone is standing above me. I look up and my lips part at the sight of a stunningly beautiful woman with hate in the depths of her green eyes. It’s Kelli Ward.
“If you slander us, if you lie about us,” she says, “if you repeat anything you shouldn’t repeat, we will sue you and your family for all you and they are worth.”
Kara appears beside me. “I think it would be a good idea if me and my gun walked you back to the courthouse.” She walks away.
My cellphone rings and I glance down to find an unknown number. I have too much going on to ignore it, and I hit accept.
