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"So, you want me to sign over the rights of my novel to you so that you can protect it for me? Why don't I just keep the rights to myself?"
I look at each of the suits before replying. "You might be a successful author, but you do not have money. I am sure you will live a comfortable life for the remainder of your years, but if youtrulywant to put your greatest work out there, you need money and power. You have to give the rights to someone, and as soon as you do, they will find the best way to make money. I have money. Having this placed in the wrong hands would be an injustice."
"And I need a man to come in here and protect me, is that it?" she asks.
"Yes," I state. "But not any man. Nor any woman. You need me, Miss Morton. This book has integrity and honor. Do you want it to become the nextFast and Furiousfranchise? Or do you want it to be the nextDune?"
Charlie Morton regards me, and I see a shift in her demeanor. She does not say a word.
"We will be in touch," says a suit.
I shake Charlie's hand only before I leave. On my way out, I see a hot young woman waiting to go in next. There is a purpose behind the way she is dressed and the bright red lipstick. If my mind were not on other things, it might be fun to—
No, the book is more important.
Halfway down the hall, I stop and take out my phone. I hit the speed dial for Brian, my business manager. He picks up, as always, before the second ring.
"Mr. McDonagh?"
"Brian, who else is seeing Charlie Morton right now?"
"Right now? Let… me… see." Brian doubles as my business manager and the guy who knows everything important in my life. "There are about six publishing companies today alone and another seven tomorrow."
"The one she's with, Good Relations, are they seeing her today?"
"Yeah, they are."
"They know her best," I say. "What do you know about Charlie Morton? Married? Any love scandals?"
"As clean as her romance books," Brian replies. "There are the rumors about her preferring women, but either she doesn't act on that or she keeps any partner well hidden."
"Right, she needs to retain the image to sell the books. Good Relations is scared of losing her. They have some hot young thing in there right now to try and woo her. If they are grasping at straws, I might miss out on this too. No, screw that! I hate everything about this, but I want that book. Get me everything you can on Charlie Morton. I want to know it all. She will hate me, but I will make her dreams come true."
"Give me the evening, and I'll send you what I find over in the morning. Are you flying back this evening?"
"Yes. I want to see what Good Relations have, and then I'll head back to the office."
"All right. See you tomorrow."
I hang up and go back toward the meeting room. I stand by the table that is stacked with Charlie Morton's books. Their covers are nauseating, and I hate that someone like her managed to write the book she did. I drop a book back onto the pile as my phone rings.
"Carlos?" I ask.
"Mr. McDonagh, we have the private jet fueled up and ready to go. We should be fine to fly, but a storm is rolling in. The sooner we leave, the better."
"All right. I will be there as soon as possible."
I step to the side quickly as the young woman almost runs into me. I end the call and look down at her. Is this really what publishing has become?
"What the hell do you want with Charlie Morton?" she asks.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"Yeah, I could ask you the very same thing. What were you doing in there? Trying to steal my client?"
"Ihighlydoubt she isyourclient. You work for Good Relations, do you not?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
