JAKE
BNR848
Well seems with a little help we figured out how to post each chapter. Thank you to all those that have read and enjoyed the story. Reece and Lily will follow.
Disclaimer: The publicly recognized, and much beloved characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plots are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 1
Jake Alexander Castle had his father's sense of humor and his mother's temper. Six feet four, thin and all muscle, the twenty-four year-old was not to be messed with. The youngest of the twins, Jake, unlike Reece went from zero to sixty without hitting the brakes. Where Reece had always been the equalizer, the piercing stare of Jake's hazel eyes could render anyone still.
Growing up a Castle was fun. His eclectic family was a source of chaos, amusement and knowledge. They'd be at a Broadway opening with their grandmother one night and a Mets game with their grandfather the next. One minute Lily would be reading Tolstoy, in Russian with their mother, the next he and Reece would be bidding on a 1941 mint condition Captain America comic book with their father. Amidst the whirlwinds, excitement and adventures, there was always the sanity and calm of their oldest sister. Where Reece was his accomplice, and Lily his protector, Alexis was their true north. Their family was colorful and unconventional, but the constant had always been their unconditional love and fierce loyalty to one another. Being part of the Castle clan was the ultimate jackpot.
Attending Columbia had been an adventure. After being relegated the dorms by their father, Jake and Reece had settled into dormitory life rather quickly. Junior year they'd moved into an apartment, expanding on their independence. Reece, the focused and serious one had zeroed into his Biophysics major without hesitation. Jake on the other hand had seriously contemplated majoring in Modern Geek Studies until he was informed it was Modern Greek not Geek. He had finally settled on English with a minor in Comparative Literature his sophomore year. He wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. Make-believe was the place for him, conjuring up stories and adventures was his forte.
Two years out of graduate school, he was attempting to make his way in the world. While Reece continued with bigger and better academic achievements, Jake was ready to set the world on fire.
He'd launched his career as a high school English teacher at his old alma mater, Marlowe Prep. He'd adopted a nom de plume, written what he considered a hell of a book, and gone about establishing himself without his father's connections. Alexander Beckett, the author, was on his own and Jake Castle would have it no other way.
But fate had intervened, and his manuscript had ended up on Palmer's desk. The sanctimonious prick had his book and wanted to meet. He'd sent word with his agent, he wanted to discuss the story.
If he rushed into Hudson Palmer's office in his current state, he'd be calling Alexis for bail. He was pigheaded, and well aware of his faults. More than once his own mother had remarked he had inherited her stubbornness. It was never meant as a compliment.
Hudson Palmer was a self-righteous, entitled jackass. He, Jake and Reece had been butting heads since grade school. The only son of his father's second ex-wife and editor, Palmer had inherited his mother's business savvy and his late father's arrogance. But toe-to-toe with Jake, Hudson Palmer always came up short.
He was confident in his book, and proud of the story. Once completed, he had hired an editor to review his work. It had taken extra time and cost a pretty penny, but his work was solid. But if Palmer discovered he was Alexander Beckett, he would be outed. Hudson Palmer was nothing if not mean spirited and self-important, he would take great pleasure in revealing his identity to Gina who in turn would call his father. He needed to call Blair and have her get his book back.
Blair Galloway was well on her way as a literary agent. To date she'd managed to get several clients signed and published. Though mostly short story authors and a graphic novelist, she knew Jake Castle, a.k.a. Alexander Beckett was her breakout star. Black Pawn was more than interested. Her friend Casey, a lowly junior editor had given her the heads-up, the book had made it all the way to Gina Cowell, President of Black Pawn. She was rather surprised when Hudson Palmer sent word requesting a meeting with the author. Jake had been furious, he adamantly refused to meet with anyone at Black Pawn and wanted her to retrieve his book.
Although other publishing houses had shown some interest, they were not in the same league. Most were relatively new upstarts and could not offer the money or exposure Black Pawn would provide a new author. Blair needed to talk some sense into Jake; they simply could not afford to refuse the request. After all, it was a fantastic story, solid and simply captivating. She had gotten his draft and read it in a week-end binge, she just could not put the book down. She had assured him the meeting was simply a formality and they were probably ready to make an offer.
She knew his connection to Black Pawn; they were after all his father's longtime publisher. But they were unaware of his true identity. If published, Jake Castle had gotten there on his own merit. Had she foreseen his reaction she would have bypassed Black Pawn altogether.
"Think it over Jake. Think long and hard, this opportunity may not come again," she had warned him.
A week later Jake had called. He would agree to a meeting under two conditions. One, the meeting had to take place at her office, and second, he would meet with anyone but Palmer. If they wanted his book they'd agree, if not they were to return it. These were his terms.
After ending the call with Blair, Jake sat back, took a deep breath and hoped for the best. There were things he just would not acquiesce to, and allowing Hudson Palmer to get the best of him was one. Call it pride, or stubbornness Jake Castle was taking a stand. He took a gulp of his beer, leaned back and thought about the last two years.
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