I DREAM OF RAINBOWS
Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.
So, as Bella rose from the sofa and everyone was saying their goodbyes she moved to answer the door. Once she had it opened she saw that it was Mark, Carson and Henry.
CHAPTER 5: GETTING WHAT WE WANT
With seeing her three representatives standing on the doorstep waiting for her to allow them entrance, Bella did move to one side and motioned for the three to come on in while pointing towards the living room area. Closing the door after them she told them to take a seat and then offered a drink if they wanted one, but, each refused for the moment. They were anxious to get down to business and see about getting the issues laid out to their client, have a discussion as to the merits of their recommendations and to have her deliver, if possible a decision as to what she wanted done or for them to do on her behalf.
All three men told Bella of the offer and reassured her that what Cullen Productions were willing to pay her was very generous, but, Henry wasn't quite so enthusiastic when the mention about buying the rights for the book. Bella was very quick to catch this fact and without any hesitation looked him straight in the eye and asked, "What seems to be the problem that you picked up on in the contract, Henry?"
"My dear, I've handled your financials for a few years now and although, I have to say the offer is generous, it does take over any future earnings from you and transfers it to themselves concerning royalties' towards both the movie and publications."
"I don't fully understand what you're saying, although, I do have a guess."
But, before she could say anything else, Henry started speaking once more by explaining that the production company would own the book if she accepts the contract as it is and she would be signing away her rights to have any say in the future concerning her novel. "So, what I'm recommending, and, I hope the other two here are in agreement, is that you accept the offer, but, with the stipulation that you maintain your copyright of the book. That it's made very clear in the contract that Cullen Productions is only purchasing the right to make the book into a movie and nothing else.
"We need to make sure that you will receive not only the purchase price, but, a percentage of the royalties from any showings of the movie both now and in the future no matter how distant another showing might be. And, along with that a clear and definitive understanding, that although the company maintains their rights to the screenplay or script, that they will never have any rights to any income from any future publications of the book itself; that will remain yours and yours alone."
Bella looked at the other two who had a look of surprise, but, also, were nodding their heads as if encouraging her to accept Henry's recommendations. She studied all three a few moments as if waiting for any other recommendations from them, however, when nothing else was forthcoming Bella informed them that she had a requirement that she wanted written into the contract.
"And, what might that be?" Mark asked even though the other two were waiting to hear any of her ideas or demands that they might have to handle for her.
"I accept Henry's recommendations because there is no way in hell that I'm going to give up any future rights to my book, so, I will maintain the copyright. But, I have it on good authority that I need written into the contract that I have final say and approval on who will be portraying the major characters in the story." This more or less shell shocked the three men as it wasn't something that had even been considered and they were surprised that their client had done so.
"Bella, how did you manage to come up with this idea? Don't you think that the Production Company would only hire the best to portray the characters since they're putting forth so much of their finances and time to make and release this?"
"That might be so, but, I still insist on my requirement and if they're not willing to accept it then no deal. Both Henry's recommendations and my requirement are to be included in the contract in all ways that I'm protected from any loopholes they might try to come up with later to cause me loss of what is rightfully my property. And, I can tell you this and you can tell Mr. Cullen, that not having these included will be the deal breaker, no if's, and's, or but's about it."
"Calm down, young lady," Carson tells Bella as he tries to keep her from getting too worked up over the issues. "I don't think that what you're asking for is unreasonable and we'll see that it's all done as you want. Right, guys?" He told her and then asked of the other two men as he turned slightly to look at each to see them nod in response to his question.
Mark, however, was a bit curious about how Bella came about thinking of her demand to be added before allowing the Cullen Production Company to make a movie out of her book. He knew that the only way to have an answer was to ask her outright, "Bella, how did you decide to have the right of say concerning who the final actors will be?"
"Oh, that's simple; I was telling my cousins, Rosalie Hale and Alice Brandon, about the offer that was being made and between the two of them it was suggested and seconded. Rosalie suggested and Alice was quick to fill me in on the individuals that ran the company and informed me about some of the people that she encountered that had voiced a disappointment because they hadn't insisted on the clause that I'm insisting to be included.
"As you know both Rose and Alice are in a position that would be able to give that sort of advice and would have the knowledge to give the reasoning for suggesting it."
After that the four continued talking and managed to fine tune everything that Bella had agreed to have in the contract before they all called it an evening. However, while still at Bella's and just as the evening was winding down, Mark made a call to Jasper Cullen and arranged for a meeting once more between Jasper and Bella's three representatives.
It seemed from what the other occupants of the room overheard that Mr. Cullen had asked about Bella's decisions since Mark responded, "That's why we're wanting to meet. It seems that she had some concerns that she's wanted to be addressed with in the contract and it requires some discussion amongst all of us before she'll make a final decision." He listened for a minute or two longer before agreeing to whatever Mr. Cullen had told him and then hung up the phone. "Well, we all will be meeting tomorrow at nine sharp at Mr. Cullen's hotel for breakfast to get all of the details hashed out and resolved. Does that meet with everyone else's schedule?" Mark informed everyone and then asked his question at the end as he looked at each of the other two men. Everyone knew there wasn't any sense in expecting Bella to be there as things were still being discussed. Once all of the final details were settled then Bella would make her decision and events would start moving in a forward's direction from that point for whichever way she decided to go.
XXXXXX
Bella slept in late the next morning as she had not a concern whatsoever about the meeting that was to take place today. She knew as sure as the sun came up each morning that her friends who were also her representatives would get everything resolved in her favor. Of this she had no doubt. It never entered her mind to have any doubts about their abilities to accomplish what she was wanting.
So, as she got up she started her day by dressing for a quick run through her neighborhood as a means of trying to stay in shape, but, at the same time giving her mind a rest from the happenings going on in the rest of the world, especially, the things that are concerned with her. She was out for about an hour, but, once she returned home she quickly got a nice relaxing shower which helped to loosen up her muscles.
It was during the time she spent in the kitchen after getting out of the shower and dressed putting together a brunch of a Spanish omelet with a couple of rashers of bacon, toast and some juice that she allowed herself to start thinking again.
As she sat down and began to eat Bella's mind finally allowed itself to think about the offer being made concerning her book. Truth be told, she was very excited about the idea of her book being made into a movie; it was something she hadn't ever considered as she began the book, or, even when it had been submitted for publication. And if she was honest with herself, at least, she was more excited about this turn of events than she had been when she was told that her book had been accepted for publication.
Suddenly, Bella pulled herself up short as she realized that she had an idea for another book. One that felt like it would be fun to write. Although she would be doing it as a fiction it was something that she would be writing about her own experiences as things moved forwards to making this movie.
So, with this plan in mind she quickly cleared away the dirty dishes and put them in the dishwasher then she tidied up the kitchen, putting everything away as she straightened things up. From then she moved towards her small office and sat down to begin getting an outline put together for the new story before she forgot the things she wanted included and how she wanted to approach the subject.
After a while Bella became so lost in her project that the rest of the world just seemed to have disappeared and time passed without notice as it ticked away; nothing else existed and she wasn't paying enough attention for it to intrude into her concentration as she was that focused.
XXXXXXX
"I must say that this final requirement is a bit unusual, and I have to admit that I'm more than a little curious about why she would want to have final approval of who would be portraying the major characters of the story, but, I don't see any great difficulty in adding it in." Jasper told Mark, Henry and Carson. As he seemed to be waiting for some kind of response that wasn't forthcoming he continued speaking after his short pause, "Of course, I'll need to run this by our legal department back in Los Angeles, but, as I said I don't see any problems arising from it."
"You can get in touch with me once you have your answers and I'll contact Henry and Carson." Mark told Jasper as the four men begin stirring in their seats in preparation to leave.
"You don't need me in any further discussions as long as the monetary status is as we've stated for the final contract. However, Carson will need to be included when you get together with Ms. Swan for the signing of the contract, that is if she decides to accept it." Henry commented and without further commentary he rose, said goodbye while shaking hands with the three remaining men and left.
"That was rather abrupt, don't you think?" Jasper questioned with some puzzlement sounding in his voice. "He has been very pleasant throughout the whole proceedings until now. What went wrong?"
"Nothing. That's just Henry and the way he is when he feels that his part of the deal is handled and he's no longer needed. Doing his figures is what he's most comfortable with and nothing else since he feels out of his depth in any other situation that has nothing to do with math in some way." Carson explained as he too was getting ready to leave. He turned to Mark and asked, "Will you be getting in touch with Bella to let her know the outcome, or, shall I?"
"I'll deal with it and we'll all be waiting to hear further from you, Jasper." And, with that said Mark also shook hands with the other two men and then he left with Carson leaving Jasper to stand alone watching with a bit of a questioning look which slowly turned to a smile that seemed to grow larger as some stray thought passed through his mind. I think Edward and Emmett have met their match. Was his thought as he left the restaurant where they all had met to hash the terms of the contract out.
A/N: Well, Bella laid her terms that she wanted in the contract on the table to her representatives. And, Jasper was a bit puzzled by one of the requirements, but, saw nothing that would cause a problem. However, the legal department and then the powers that be must give it their approval before he can get back with Mark and Bella. Do we see any problems in the near future? What do you think Jasper's last thought meant?
Your thoughts and comments as always are welcomed.