Chapter 30

Kasey

Kasey sat at her office staring at her phone for three minutes after ending her call with Jay so abruptly. She felt guilty, like he deserved an explanation, but she couldn’t bring herself to say what she knew would sound absurd to someone like him.

She imagined women fawned over him day in and day out, wishing that one day he would offer himself up, open to the idea of being in a relationship. Yet, here she was, at a point most women would kill for—with a wealthy and powerful man chasing her around the city and she couldn’t get far enough away from him.

A relationship just wasn’t what she wanted, even if it was with the only man in the past few years who had managed to hold her interest for longer than a night. On paper, Jay Canton was the man of her dreams. Not only did he understand her career, and the obligations that came along with it, but he supported her professionalism, even encouraging her determination and passion.

“Kasey! Cynthia is here,” Renee chimed from the doorway of her office. Her voice was too kind, and when Kasey looked up, she realized why. A short, pale woman stood behind her, cloaked in a bulky sweater as she awkwardly lifted her hand to wave.

Standing in front of the writer, Renee made a face that only Kasey could see, silently reminding her to close the deal. The discomfort began to settle in her stomach—it was the reason she chose to work from home as much as possible—to avoid Renee and her greedy ways.

“Hi Cynthia,” Kasey ignored her boss, extending her hand to the writer, as she smiled graciously.

“Well, I’ll let you two get to it,” Renee chimed, turning again after she passed Cynthia to make a face behind her back, pumping her arm in the air with excitement.

“Come have a seat,” Kasey motioned towards the high-end teal loveseat. She’d given the in-house interior design team free reign when it came to decorating her office. While Renee was tight with budgets for creative development, there was no limit on how much you could spend looking like a big shot. Appearances were more important to Renee than performance. It wasn’t nearly so much about doing good as looking like you were doing good. The culture frustrated Kasey immensely, but it was the bed she’d made, so she forced herself to get in line.

“This is a very nice office,” Cynthia remarked, settling into the comfortable seat. Her comment caused Kasey to pause as she closed her door to give them privacy. It was validation of Renee’s strategy to lure in talent only to convince them to sign mediocre deals not fit for their talent level.

“Thank you,” she said instead, offering Cynthia a drink before walking to the small refrigerator in the corner of her office to retrieve a clear bottle of Fiji water.

“You’ll have to excuse me. I’m a bit nervous,” Cynthia said after taking a long sip of water.

“You have no reason to be. I’ve been through this several times, and I’m going to help you make the best decision. This is intimidating, I know, but you’re talented. I’ve read your work and wouldn’t be sitting her if I didn’t believe in you.”

Instantly, tears glassed over Cynthia’s eyes, and Kasey could sense how vulnerable she was. The truth was, she’d met plenty of women, and men, just like Cynthia. They were new to the industry, only connected to their words.

It was Kasey’s job to protect them from the brutality of the publishing industry, allowing them to focus on their writing without having to think about the details of things like contracts and marketing. Her career was important, because she provided a safety barrier between the creatives and the capitalists, who worried only about the return on their investment.

“You don’t have to be bashful. I know this can’t be the first time you’ve been complimented on your writing. The way you put words together so masterfully is beautiful,” Kasey continued.

“You’re right. I’ve heard it before. But it’s a lot different hearing it from a reader on my blog and an executive in a big, fancy office like this,” Cynthia blushed.

“I understand. But those readers on your blog are the reason you came to my attention. They know, and they share your work. It will be those same fans who will catapult you to the success I know you deserve.”

“It’s all overwhelming, Kasey. Can I call you Kasey?”

“Yes, of course. I wouldn’t accept anything else. What do you think you’ll call me, Ms. Wright?” Kasey rolled her eyes at the thought.

They both laughed together, relieving the last layer of tension between them. Now relaxed, Cynthia could discuss the goals for her writing career freely. She wanted to release a trilogy, which Kasey thought was a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, Renee didn’t offer multiple book deals to new signees, regardless of the potential.

In Renee’s eyes, there was never a reason to sign a first-time author to a multi-book deal. Instead, she preferred to offer one book at a time, forcing the author to renegotiate. If they chose to sign with another publishing house, she could always hold the first book up, discontinuing production as a leveraging tool for rights on the sequel.

And, if the author chose to resign with Rockwell Publishing, as many did, it gave them great bargaining power to continue to pay writers less than they deserved. It was a vicious cycle that kept Kasey up at night. Renee had agreed to honor her prior contracts, as they had been negotiated at signing, but new authors had to be brought in under her way of doing things.

It was the longest Kasey had ever gone without signing new talent, and it wasn’t because she had yet to find writers who caught her attention. Her conscience just wouldn’t let her bring people into such a predatory environment like Rockwell Publishing.

“Now, that you know my goals. What do you think is best?” she asked Kasey, catching her off guard.

“Well, I think the trilogy is a brilliant idea. The way the first story ends leaves you wanting more. I can only imagine what you could have up your sleeve for the follow-ups.”

Just then, Renee walked by the office, peeking through the glass door as she rubbed her fingertips in a circular motion against the pad of her thumb. It struck Kasey how greedy Renee was. There was no way she would care or protect a vulnerable writer like Cynthia, and in her heart, she wasn’t okay with it.

“Do you think this will be a good fit for me?” Cynthia asked, looking around the office with insecurity written all over her face. “I mean, I like you, Kasey. Really, I do. But do I even fit in here? I think you’re the only person who actually took the time to read my writing.”

Kasey took a deep breath, knowing that what she was about to do would not sit well with her. She was an agent in an extremely competitive industry, but she had never let that get in the way of her duty to assist writers to reach their potential. In her eyes, she could be successful and ethical, never losing her integrity over dollar signs.

“You know what, Cynthia?” Kasey paused, again taking a deep breath as she reached into her jacket pocket. “I’m going to set up a meeting for you. I know what you mean about this place, and I can sense the type of writer you are, and the assistance you’ll need to be your best.”

“You would do that?” Cynthia asked, her eyes bulging in disbelief.

“I know, it’s not normal. And if we can keep this between the two of us, that would be ideal. I want the best for you, and I meant what I said—you are destined for greatness, and I want to help you achieve that in whatever way I can.”

The two women exchanged a few more details as Kasey explained what Cynthia should expect. Afterwards, she walked her out of the building, feeling an obligation to protect her from anyone and anything that could stop her from leaving that building without signing her life away.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Cynthia said, as they exited Rockwell Publishing.

“Just be your best, okay? That’s all I want from you. You’re a star. I just want to see you shine,” Kasey smiled before hugging Cynthia tightly.

Watching her walk away, she felt like she’d done the first thing in her career that felt right since walking out of Jay’s office. It may not have gotten her a promotion, but Kasey’s decision felt better than any bump in her paycheck.

She’d have to deal with the consequences as they came. And she decided she was ready for it.