Christian struggled to keep the smile on his face. He couldn't stand this woman, but she was the representative for the company that published his stories. She smiled at him as she ordered a drink. Christian's smile faultered. Who drinks this early in the afternoon? he wondered.
The woman, Francie Cordela, cleared her throat as she straightened out a stack of papers. "Well, Mr. James, the company has decided to consider publishing your next novel."
"Consider?" Christian asked, increduously. "Do they not think that I can write a good enough story?"
"Well, after the disappointing sales of your last novel-"
"Disappointing?!" Christian shouted. He became aware of all the people watching him, so he leaned forward and spoke quieter. "How was it disappointing? It sold over eighty thousand copies!"
"Well, compared to your first novel, which sold well over a hundred thousand, it didn't do that well. The company fears that it may become a trend. Lose about twenty thousand with this one, lose twenty thousand more with the next novel, and so forth."
"How can it be a trend already? I've written two books! You can't judge what is going to happen with two books!"
"Don't yell at me, Mr. James, I am merely a messenger."
Christian leaned back and absently scratched the back of his neck. "Well then. If your company is only considering publishing my next book, I am sure there are many more companies who would be glad to do it for me!"
"Well," she began slyly. "I am sure that I could get you a guaranteed publication of your next book with our well respected company."
He narrowed his eyes. "On what conditions?"
"Oh, I just get to spend some time with a certain...author." She rested her hand on Christian's.
He pulled his hand away as if hers was burning coals. He frowned and began to gather his things. She began to protest, but he stood up abruptly. "If that is what it will take for me to get my book published with your company, then forget it. I will find another company."
Francie stood up and began to follow him. "Mr. James! Please stop!" When he didn't, she stopped where she stood and stared after him. "We can ruin you! We can influence all the other companies to refuse your work!"
Christian paused for only a second before continuing. He walked as fast as he could without running, not even caring where he went. A while later, he found himself in a dead end alley. He sighed and sat down with his back against the wall. He set his head in his hands and looked down at the dingy floor.
I shouldn't have come back, he thought. There are too many memories here for me to write in peace. He ran a hand through his hair and stood up, shoving his things in his bag. He sighed and stepped out of the alley, running right into someone.
"Ah! You fool!" shouted a familiar, horrible voice.
Christian's blood froze. He looked up slowly at the man in front of him. The man stared at him, with a look of astonishment, fear, and anger.
"You!" he sneered.
"The Duke." Christian whispered in fear, his heart jumping into his throat.
The woman, Francie Cordela, cleared her throat as she straightened out a stack of papers. "Well, Mr. James, the company has decided to consider publishing your next novel."
"Consider?" Christian asked, increduously. "Do they not think that I can write a good enough story?"
"Well, after the disappointing sales of your last novel-"
"Disappointing?!" Christian shouted. He became aware of all the people watching him, so he leaned forward and spoke quieter. "How was it disappointing? It sold over eighty thousand copies!"
"Well, compared to your first novel, which sold well over a hundred thousand, it didn't do that well. The company fears that it may become a trend. Lose about twenty thousand with this one, lose twenty thousand more with the next novel, and so forth."
"How can it be a trend already? I've written two books! You can't judge what is going to happen with two books!"
"Don't yell at me, Mr. James, I am merely a messenger."
Christian leaned back and absently scratched the back of his neck. "Well then. If your company is only considering publishing my next book, I am sure there are many more companies who would be glad to do it for me!"
"Well," she began slyly. "I am sure that I could get you a guaranteed publication of your next book with our well respected company."
He narrowed his eyes. "On what conditions?"
"Oh, I just get to spend some time with a certain...author." She rested her hand on Christian's.
He pulled his hand away as if hers was burning coals. He frowned and began to gather his things. She began to protest, but he stood up abruptly. "If that is what it will take for me to get my book published with your company, then forget it. I will find another company."
Francie stood up and began to follow him. "Mr. James! Please stop!" When he didn't, she stopped where she stood and stared after him. "We can ruin you! We can influence all the other companies to refuse your work!"
Christian paused for only a second before continuing. He walked as fast as he could without running, not even caring where he went. A while later, he found himself in a dead end alley. He sighed and sat down with his back against the wall. He set his head in his hands and looked down at the dingy floor.
I shouldn't have come back, he thought. There are too many memories here for me to write in peace. He ran a hand through his hair and stood up, shoving his things in his bag. He sighed and stepped out of the alley, running right into someone.
"Ah! You fool!" shouted a familiar, horrible voice.
Christian's blood froze. He looked up slowly at the man in front of him. The man stared at him, with a look of astonishment, fear, and anger.
"You!" he sneered.
"The Duke." Christian whispered in fear, his heart jumping into his throat.