Malachi and I

“Hmm…why?” He stroked his beard as he watched me.

“Half of the Valentine’s Day readers want something sweet to have that lovey-dovey feel. So they might buy it and read it later. A week after Valentine’s Day people are annoyed with anything pink or red and they rather ready a mystery or a thriller. But in the week before we get those who are excited for romance. They want that gut-wrenching love story, plus we’ll also get the Singles Appreciation Day crowd—”

“The what?”

“The single people unable to find another person to buy them chocolate and tell them how beautiful they are so they stay home drinking wine, listening to their old-school Chinese mother yell about how all other mothers are sending out wedding invites for their daughters but all you talk about is work….” Li-Mei rambled off and I kicked her foot.

“Anyway, it’s just a better week, I think. What about your sales?” I looked to Howard.

“Six months is pushing it but we can get it done,” he replied, his hazel eyes focused solely on me, a small smile on his lip. “But on the marketing and foreign distribution side, it will be tight. I know how meticulous you are with this author.”

“I got it.” I nodded. “I’ll start today if that’s okay with you.”

Grandpa pursed his lips to the side. “Fine but don’t step on Shannon’s toes, marketing is her department, not yours. Make sure to clear everything with her even though she’s away.”

I wanted to remind him that since I was his granddaughter—aka the heir to the Penohxi Publishing House—I technically worked in all departments like he did. But I simply gave him a two-finger salute. “Yes, sir. I know.”

“Good. Bring them in.” He tapped the glass right in front of him.

Rising, we all put our manuscripts on the table and only then were we allowed to pick up our cellphones and tablets from the center of the table.

The reason there were only four us, five if you counted Shannon Kelly who was currently on maternity leave, was because of what happened last year with Malachi Lord’s novel being leaked online. My grandfather, Alfred Benjamin Noëlle, was a calm and simple man. He liked fishing, listening to old records, reading by the lake, and in the twenty-two years I’d been alive, I’d never heard him curse once. But that day, if we were being recorded live in a studio the number of expletive bleeps that would have been needed would have put any rapper to shame. And because of that incident, he’d structured this new protocol whereby each major author got a certain group comprised of someone from each department who would read the paper copied manuscript in the conference room only once and never again unless they worked with editing or translation like I did.

“Li-Mei Zhou!”

She nearly jumped out of her skin and tripped over her chair when my grandfather called her name. Her brown eyes grew wider because no one ever called her full name outside of her parents and grandmother, let alone yell it like he did.

“Sir…”

He snickered to himself grinning like an old cat. “Do you enjoy working here?”

“Yeah… I mean. Yes, sir. I do.” She stood straighter and spoke much more seriously.

“Then don’t worry about your mother. Just keep reminding her you’re happy. I’m sure there’s some lucky person out there for you.”

“Thank you, sir.” She must have fallen into default mode hearing her name called like that because she even gave him a respectful bow before moving to the door. Howard held the door for me, waiting, but I shook my head and he glanced between my grandfather and me and took the hint to leave.

“Aww grandpa you’re so sweet.” I teased as I skipped over to him.

“Either you want something or you did something.” He crossed his arms waiting. “Out with it.”

“Why aren’t you sweet to me? You do realize it’s going to be me taking care of you when you’re old right?”

“I’m already old.” He frowned at me as I leaned on the back of the seat.

“Psshh…you don’t look a day over seventy-five.” I waved him off.

“I shouldn’t! I’m seventy-three!”

Seeing him snap at me so quickly made laugh which made him frown again before laughing too.

“See don’t you just love me?” I leaned in with a grin.

“What do you need, Esther?”

I didn’t need anything but I wasn’t sure how to say it.

“Whatever it is you can tell me…unless you’re thinking about moving in with that boy.”