I pull my pants up in a hurry and then start closing the distance between that pale motherfucker and I. Meanwhile, the woman I was with is looking from me to the newcomer and, apparently wanting to have nothing to do with the two of us, she just fucking bolts.
Yeah, thank you for the fucking support.
“Stop right there,” the guy hisses as he notices I’m getting dangerously close to him: as I approach him, I realize I know who he is. Of course, with a fucking grin as sick as the one he has on his face, who could it be but that fucking asshole Grady, the CEO of Bad Boy Publishing?
“What the fuck are you doing here? I’m not going to ask you again,” I growl, balling both of my hands into fists and staring him down.
“Do you know who that woman was, Logan?” he merely asks me, ignoring my question.
“Does it fucking matter?” I shoot back, realizing that I didn’t even ask her name before I slid my twelve-inch cock inside of her pussy. In my defense, she was in such a hurry to feel my cock that I didn’t have the time for it.
“Oh, yes … it matters, and it matters a lot. Her name is Carla, and she’s the wife of the Writers Guild of America's CEO,” Grady tells me, and I can tell by the tone in his voice that he’s quite pleased with that fact.
“So? I didn’t know she was fucking married,” I shrug, although I’m starting to feel as if there’s quicksand under my feet.
“So? You’re not that dumb, are you?” he chuckles, waving his cellphone in front of me. “I now have proof that you engaged in sexual intercourse with the wife of one of the most powerful men in the industry. And now, if you want to keep on working in this industry… You better do as I say, Logan.”
Oh, fuck.
I take one step forward, trying to reach for his phone, but he just takes one step back and his grin becomes deeper and evil.
“You can take my phone. But it’ll do you no good. I’ve already uploaded the photos to a private server. There’s nothing you can do now.”
“What the fuck do you want from me?” I ask him, fully knowing that I’ve just become trapped by one of the most sleazy bastards in the industry. Ever since Naughty Angel overtook Bad Boy Publishing, Grady has devolved into quite a fucking asshole. That’s why I never accepted any gigs coming from Bad Boy Publishing.
“It’s quite simple, Logan. There’s a manuscript floating around Naughty Angel Publishing. It’s a new romance novel, written by a Lana Hartley.”
“What’s that gotta do with me?” I ask him, although I can already feel where this conversation is heading.
“I want you to make her sign with me. I want Lana Hartley to sign with Bad Boy Publishing,” he lowers his voice now, and I can’t help but feel a shiver running up my spine. And I also can’t help but laugh.
“You want one of Abby Cleveland’s developing writers to sign with you? Good fucking luck with that,” I tell him. If he really wants that to happen, he has totally lost his mind. No one working at Naughty Angel Publishing would sign with Bad Boy Publishing. And forget about all the hatred between these two companies, changing from one to the other, it’s a total downgrade when it comes to a writing career.
“Well, Logan. That’s what I want. And you’ll make sure it happens. Or else you can say goodbye to your career,” he finishes, placing his phone into his breast pocket and turning around to leave.
I say nothing as he leaves, realizing that I’ve got no other choice.
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself, feeling the shadows around me growing longer. “Fuckin’ Grady.”
6
Anders
I slam Lana's manuscript down on the coffee table, and sink back into the leather of my sofa, lifting my feet up. I shake my head in disbelief, folding my arms behind my head.
It's unbelievable. I'll be honest. My expectations were low.
Jaded? Definitely. But it's the truth. So much is pure crap out there, and few manuscripts stand out to me.
The kind of manuscript that sparks, sharp and fast as flint. The kind of manuscript that moves you.
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever read a book that changes you?
That changes your perspective?
That makes you feel something you never thought you could feel?
That blows your mind because it feels real? It just feels so authentic that it might be happening to you, or someone you know?