That’s probably about the last thing any publisher wants to really hear. But let me continue for you to understand the full scope of what I just said.
"I made sure that I was given full editorial control for any 11th hour changes, and Bad Boy Publishing was so intent to sign me that they granted me a one-book deal and I want to thank them," I say, taking a step toward Grady who’s standing frozen on stage and giving him a bow.
"If they never had given me that deal, I would've never been able to change the dedication when you open up the book to Abby Cleveland, who invented the big cock genre in romance," I say into the microphone and immediately there’s a stir in the room.
People are starting to open up the book as they get it. They’re seeing the dedication page.
"Dedicated to Abby Cleveland, whose book, Big Cock, is the basis for this story. On sale on the Rainforest store at 99c. or FREE with Rainforest Unlimited."
Yeah, they’re seeing that and they’re either asking ‘Who’s Abby Cleveland?’ or they’re putting two and two together. But regardless of what they’re doing, they’re going to the store's front page for Big Cock. And they’re one-clicking. Oh, are they one-clicking.
"Wha-" Grady is saying as he lets the hand holding the microphone drop. He’s trying to piece what’s going on. "What’s going on?"
I figure I owe this motherfucker an explanation.
"What’s going on, Grady, is simple," I tell him as I walk over to him. "Declaring war on an author because she left you for fucking another woman is wrong. And trying to steal her idea and throw money at it to blow her out of the water is even worse. So that’s why, the book you had me write … I made a few changes before it went to press."
Grady looks at me like I’ve gone completely fucking crazy. But I continue.
"The book is a bit of a sequel to Big Dick, but the reader is gonna need to find out what happened there in order to finish reading this," I tell Grady and he turns white. "It’s got a HEA, but you've got to read Big Dick to be able to understand it. And it has no cheating or cliffhangers, but again, that’s only for the people who read Big Dick. And everywhere on there I make sure people know that to get all of that you need to read Big Dick first," I say to Grady.
"You're insane!" Grady whispers, the microphone dropping from his hand. "We’ll sue the shit out of you!"
"Actually, bub, I made sure the engagement contract you gave me let me do just this," I tell Grady with a smile on my face. I can tell there are people in the audience capturing this entire exchange for Facebook. I need to make sure they capture me on my good side. "I checked and re-checked and with the literary power you gave me, only one thing is gonna happen…" I continue but Grady interrupts me again.
"You set him up to it!" he yells, spit flying out of his mouth as he looks beyond me.
I turn around. Abby has climbed the few steps up from the floor to the stage.
"She had no idea," I tell Grady, turning back to him. "And now you can do one of two things, Grady."
He looks at me as I continue. "You can help distribute pre-order books like you promised, since it is your publishing company," Grady blanches at this. "Or you can get the fuck off the stage and let me go to my booth. You will owe me royalties from this, after all."
I can literally see the fucking blood rush through Grady’s veins. Fuck that. He didn’t work with me during any of the time between when he stole me away from Abby and today. Treated me like a piece of fucking meat.
But I put up with it. Seriously, after all the bitching and moaning I did to CJ the first time she asked me to write a book, you think I would go that quietly as I did?
No, I was biding my time. Being fucking quiet. Because no one could know what I was planning.
And now, it looks like it worked. Although it also looks like Grady is about to pop a fucking blood vessel.
But that’s no longer my concern because Abby has just come up to me.
"Aidan…" she says to me quietly and I turn to her.
"Quiet, babe," I tell her, interrupting her and putting a finger to her lips. "Let me speak first."
She looks surprised, but her eyes tell me that I should continue.
"First off, I know about the little baby," I tell her and I see surprise go through Abby’s eyes. "CJ told me. Back when she thought I was backstabbing you."
"Why didn’t you…" Abby says but stops herself as she tries to figure out what she wants to say. "You never said anything?"
I shake my head, coming closer to her. "I needed to get this done, babe," I tell her. "Our book was never gonna out-compete t
he big publishers, right?" I ask.
Abby shakes her head. "But now, it will," she says.