The Arrangement

“Damned night-lighting,” Jay lamented, noticing me looking. “Everything here goes to half-power after a certain time.”

He walked, assuming I would follow him through the office maze. Which I did… while looking for anyone else in the building. I couldn’t even find a maintenance man.

“You the last one here?”

“Always,” he said.

“That sucks,” I couldn’t help but say.

Jay shrugged. “It is what it is.”

To his credit, he had the biggest office on the floor. It was neat but spacious, with long windows and rich mahogany furniture. Jay sank into the big leather chair behind his desk, sighing and unknotting his tie like he’d reached the end of a long journey. Which in a way, he had.

“So what can I do for you, Ms. Decker?”

I didn’t know whether to sit or stand. Neither option seemed very comfortable.

“I wanted to speak with you,” I said. “About what we talked about last time.”

A sharp ‘click’ from behind made me jump a little. Uneasily, I realized it was only the door closing behind us.

“Okay,” Jay said, interlacing his fingers behind his neck. “Shoot.”

“You wanted me to speak to the guys,” I said frankly. “Get them to change direction.”

“And did you?”

“No.”

His face registered nothing — neither disappointment, nor surprise. The complete lack of any reaction threw me.

“And?”

Now I did look to sit down. Where there should’ve been chairs in front of his desk, there was nothing but empty space. I took a seat on a small couch instead.

“Listen, I’ve read most of the story,” I admitted. “All three books, all the way up to the ending. It’s good. Really good.”

“I know it is,” said Jay. “That’s why we took it on.”

You took it on because you’re friends with Nathan’s father, I wanted to say. But I kept my mouth shut.

“The story is good with Juliana,” I said firmly. “I know you wanted her gone, but—”

“It would be better without Juliana,” Jay countered. “Much more marketable. Being their publisher, I have to consider the bottom line. That’s my job.” He arched an eyebrow. “You do see that, right?”

“Yes. Still…”

“Still nothing,” Jay said coldly. “Look, Ms. Decker I sympathize with you. I know your position. In fact, it’s because of your position I approached you to help.”

I folded my arms. “But you haven’t even read the Juliana parts yet,” I said. “The story’s fantastic. She isn’t just someone the guys meet up with and… and…” I stumbled awkwardly. “They build a relationship with her. All three of them. She becomes a part of—”

“I won’t publish it,” Jay said simply. “It won’t sell.”

I stopped talking. There was something in his eyes that told me it was fruitless.

“The reviews would be awful,” Jay went on. “Look at the name of the book: Triple Team. Jesus, the stigma surrounding that alone—”

“That was always the title,” I pointed out. “Even before—”