Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
At first, I just stare. Then I laugh. “You’re serious?” I ask.
Vaughn looks uncomfortable now, shifting on his feet. Jameson is crunching a carrot beside me like he’s enjoying a show.
“Rejecting me would be a mistake. Think carefully before you answer.”
I can’t help but grin. “Um, no. You’re the last person I would want to represent me. And the boutique publishers did get back to me. All three wanted to ink a deal, but I politely declined because I’m going to self publish the book.”
Vaughn snorts, shoving his hands in his pockets and tilting his head back for an over-exaggerated eye roll. “Oh, God. You’re one of those, now? You think your little self-published book is going to ever get noticed? Please, Charli. Be realistic.”
I’m about to say something, but Jameson makes us all pause when he points a baby carrot toward Vaughn’s chest. It’s an oddly threatening gesture, especially considering there’s ranch on the tip of the carrot. He pushes it forward, leaving a little dot of white on Vaughn’s tie.
We all stare at the spot, waiting in confused interest.
“Now you know how it feels,” Jameson says simply.
What? I’m standing in shocked silence, trying to figure out what he means when it hits me. I cover my mouth, laughing softly.
“What?” Vaughn demands, wiping at the spot. “I know how what feels?”
“When someone waves their small prick in your face and expects you to be scared. It’s really just a joke.” He looks down at the carrot in his fingertips and chucks it in the trash. “I already let your father know. This is the last joint mixer Gray Wolfe will be doing with Landmark. I think the tradition has run its course. Besides, Landmark doesn’t really seem like a publisher on the right trajectory. In a year or two, you’ll barely have enough staff left to make a showing at these things.” He pats Vaughn’s shoulder, smiling. “No hard feelings.”
31
EPILOGUE - JAMESON
We’re in the dry heat of Arizona and it has been exactly a year since the day I met Charli. It feels right to be back here at the convention with her on my arm.
Of course, it’s no longer a joint function between Gray Wolfe and Landmark. That would be kind of hard, considering Griffon Vanderlesh lost his lead against us, which pushed him to quit pouring money into the company to float a failing business model. It only took a few months for everything to unravel.
Last I heard, someone had bought the rights to the books Landmark still had under contract and the company was almost entirely dissolved.
Maybe it should have felt immensely satisfying. After all, that was victory, wasn’t it? Our greatest rival and competitor for years was nothing but dust. Nobody was there to challenge our command in the city, and all the biggest books and authors were coming our way almost by default.
All this, and I felt like I didn’t care the way I would’ve expected.
That’s the magic of Charli McBride, I guess. She’s my constant reminder of what is really important.
It’s still early in the morning, so it’s just authors and people working for publishers setting up booths. Without Landmark to invite, I convinced Nolan to invite all the smaller boutique publishers in the city this year. It’ll give them an opportunity to network and grow.
I’m standing in front of a long table with Charli’s name on it. She’s not technically one of our authors, but nobody is going to complain. A few months ago, her book was a massive success when it hit the self-published market. When she started getting bombarded with offers to buy foreign rights, audio rights, and potentially even movie or series rights, she asked if I would represent her as an agent.
“Are you nervous?” I ask.
Charli looks sexy and adorable at the same time. She’s wearing a dress with a white, fluffy jacket to cover her arms. I think she might have been going for an author look, but she’s striking me a little more like sexy librarian or teacher.
“Just a lot,” she says, shrugging. “Do I look okay? Do you think people are going to laugh at me for having the nerve to assume anyone will want me to sign their books? Like, who is this girl? Why would I–”
I shut her up with a kiss. “People love your book. Nobody is going to laugh. You’re going to have a line out the door, okay? Try to enjoy today. You’ve earned this.”
She takes a breath, relaxing and letting me hug her. “I’ll try. You should go find Nolan, by the way. He told me to send you over when you got back from raiding the buffet.”
I kiss the top of her head and look around. I don’t see him, so I start wandering the rooms of the convention center. I check my phone and have texts from both Cleo and Kate, which isn’t a surprise. They know the plan, after all.