Forever My Soldier (Love Conquers Life Book 3) (7 page)

We make an appointment for me to come back, and once we’re done I stand and shake his hand, thanking him for all he’s done for me. As I walk out the door, I feel really good about where I’m going in life. I’m really excited for my first Christmas with my girl.

***

Patty

I’m ready for my meeting with Joan. Something feels off about her lately, but I haven’t caught her doing anything shady, so I’ll leave it alone for now. I walk into the kitchen, grab my stuff, and then sashay out the door, feeling quite confident.

I pull up outside of Joan’s office about five minutes early, and as I’m walking in I get a text from Carter.

Carter: Today was my last appointment for a month. Want to celebrate?

Patty: What do you have in mind?

Carter: How about a romantic dinner for two?

Patty: Sounds good to me!

Carter: Great, I’ll make the reservations.

I walk through the door, and Joan’s secretary tells me that she’s finishing up another meeting and to have a seat. I sit with my pad in hand, looking at Facebook from my phone while I wait. I suddenly hear two women laughing as the doors to her office open and two reporters come walking out. I don’t recognize the woman, but I’ve seen the man. He was one of the reporters standing outside of Carter’s place.

I bite the inside of my lip as I wonder if Joan is the one feeding them information on my life and where I’m staying. I got a phone call the other day from a reporter who wanted to do a story on my life and the stuff that I went through with Ben. I instantly rejected her and told her to never call me again.

I rise as Joan approaches. She air kisses my cheek and asks me how I’m doing. I tell her I’m well, and I follow her into her office.

We both take a seat at the table, and I open my padfolio ready to take notes. “Do you know when the publisher wants to get the book out?”

“They want to move rather quickly. They want to have it out before Valentine’s Day. We’re going to promote it as
the
love story to read this Valentine’s.” She has a look of such pride on her face.

“You do realize that’s only about nine weeks away?”

“I do, and I’ve already sent it over to the publisher. They’re making it their top priority”

My brows shoot up as I realize that means I’ll have the first round of edits in about a week’s time. “I really didn’t want to stress over editing and such until after the holiday was done.”

“I’m sorry, but we’ve already set the timeline. You’ll have the first edits next week.”

I nod, knowing full well she’s done after this book. She never ran any of this by me, and I’m not okay with that. I want an agent who is going to be a team player, not one who worries about her pocket.

“Fine. I’ll watch for the first round to come through next week. Now, what about signings? Have you scheduled those yet?”

“I have you doing one on February thirteenth so your readers can have your books by Valentine’s Day, and then I have one scheduled for the following weekend. We have also put you in a rather large one at a hotel that will have a ton of authors there. It will be a huge event for you.”

“Okay. Just email me all the details, and I’ll schedule my stuff around it.”

She nods, making a note to email me with the information. “You’ll have it this afternoon.”

“Great. Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

“Yes, I have one more thing I would like for you to do.”

“What’s that?”

“I would like for you to do the interview with the media. Give them your story and what happened with you and Ben.”

I put my hand up to stop her. “I will do no such thing.”

“Patricia, you have no idea how good this will be for you. This is amazing publicity, and it’s free.”

“Mr. Mancini has been put through enough. I will not drag him through anymore by bashing his only child on live TV.” My eyes go wide. “You sent the media to Carter’s house, didn’t you?”

She suddenly looks flustered. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. That’s why you can’t even look me in the eye. How could you, Joan?” I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. “I don’t mind you telling them what events I’ll be at and what causes I’m helping support, but to tell them where I’m staying so they get in my face about such a tragic event is unacceptable.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You have no proof it was me.”

“There were only eight people who knew where I was staying, and you’re the only one with connections to the media who would have a reason to tell them where I’m at.” I stand from my seat, taking my padfolio with me. I open the door but then turn back to see a shocked Joan sitting at her table. I shout, “You’re fired. This is the last contract I will fulfill with you, and you better believe I will be going to Elizabeth about this.

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh, you better believe I will. You crossed a line, and God knows how many other lines you’ve crossed.”

I step out the door, and I hear Elizabeth ask, “What are you coming to me about?”

I grin because I was going to call her as soon as I got in the car in hopes of getting to her before Joan did. “Joan has crossed a line that I cannot forgive. I have fired her as my agent. I’ll fulfill this book deal with you, but I want out.”

“Please come to my office. I would like to talk in private.” She turns to Joan and says, “Don’t you think about going anywhere.”

She turns on her heels, and I follow her to her beautiful back office. She closes the door behind us and says, “Patricia, please tell me what’s going on.”

“Elizabeth, I have no problem with you going to the media about events I’m attending or causes I’m supporting, but that woman told the media where I was staying and had them stalking me outside so they could get the scoop on what happened with Ben.” I’m pacing because I’m livid that this woman would do this. I mean, Christ, I hadn’t even had a chance to move past it yet. “Now she wants me to do an interview with them and give them the full story on what has happened. I will not do it. His father is a family friend, and I will not drag him through any more.”

“Say no more. I can see you’re upset, and you have every right to be. You’re right; she crossed the line and she will be dealt with. Please work with me instead. I don’t want to lose you as an author.”

“I’ll think about it, but I need some flexibility over release dates as well. I can’t believe she has the publisher pushing my book out for February. That’s a really quick turnaround.”

“Why are they pushing it so quickly?”

“They want it to be ‘
The
love story to read this Valentine’s Day.’ Her words, not mine.”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath as she tries to control her frustration. “I’m sorry, Patricia. Do you want me to push it out further? I will make a call.”

“No, she’s already set up all of my signings. Leave it be. In the future, I would like my release date approved by me first.”

“Fair enough,” she says, holding out her hand to me. “I’m taking over your account effective immediately.” She picks up the phone. “Joan, bring me all of Patricia’s files right now.” She hangs up, not giving Joan a chance to respond.

A minute later, she walks into Elizabeth’s office, shaking, and hands her my files. “You’re dismissed,” Elizabeth says as she opens the latest file.

“Sure. I’ll be in my office working on…”

Elizabeth holds up her hand, cutting her off. “You misunderstand. You’re dismissed, as in you’re fired. You cannot treat my clients the way you’ve treated Patricia. I won’t allow it, and she’s not the first complaint I’ve gotten.”

Joan tries to stammer her way through a plea, but it doesn’t work.

“Security will be at your office waiting to escort you out in twenty minutes, starting now,” she says as she looks at her watch and calls security. Joan turns to me and pauses, but with nothing to say, she walks out the door, fighting her tears.

“Were you waiting on anything from her?” Elizabeth asks me.

“I’m waiting for the dates for the signings that she’s booked. She was going to email them to me.”

“Great. I’ll send that to you right now, and if you need anything, you know how to reach me.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth, I’m sorry about Joan.”

“I’m not. I had a feeling she was up to no good. I’m sorry it was with you.” I nod as I shake her hand. I walk out the door, feeling a little bad for Joan. There is a security guard standing there, waiting for me.

“Are you ready, Ms. Fitzgerald? I’ve been ordered to walk you out so that Joan will not approach you.”

“I will be as soon as I get my coat.”

In an awkward silence, we both walk to where my coat is hanging. I slip it on, and he walks me all the way to my car. Once I’m inside safely, he walks back to the building and I dial Carter through my Bluetooth.

“Hey, baby. How did your meeting go?”

“You’re not going to believe this, but Joan was fired. She’s the one who told the media I was staying at your house. I wonder if she told Ben too, now that I think about it.”

“Wow, how did you find out?”

“I was sitting, waiting to go into her office, when one of the reporters who were standing outside of your place came walking out.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Elizabeth, the owner of the agency, has taken over working with me.”

“Are you on your way home?”

“Yes, I am. Are you?”

“I am. I’ll see you there soon, but wait for me in the lobby because we have an early reservation. It was the only spot I could get at Lorenzo’s, and I don’t want to be late.”

“Nice. Lorenzo’s, huh?”

“Yes. I really wanted to go somewhere nice tonight.”

“Well, I’m pulling in now. I’ll see you in a few.”

I park my car and hurry inside and out of the cold. “Good afternoon, Patricia.” Darryl nods at me. I’ve tried to get him to call me Patty, but he’s so formal. This is better than ma’am or Ms. Fitzgerald.

“Good afternoon, Darryl. I’m waiting for Carter. We have early dinner reservations, and he’s on his way to pick me up.”

Carter pulls up two minutes later. Again, Darryl opens the door for me as I walk out to see my man. I open the car door, and he greets me with his breathtaking smile.

“Hey, baby.” He leans in to give me a quick kiss.

We’re sitting in quiet as Carter drives us to the restaurant when I ask him, “Is it weird that I feel bad for Joan? I mean I know she crossed a line, but I didn’t mean for her to get fired for it.”

“Baby, you’re so sweet, but maybe there was more to it than that?”

“There must be because Elizabeth said I wasn’t the first complaint she’s gotten.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Well, there you go then. Maybe you happened to push her over the edge.”

“Maybe.” I go back to sitting in silence and think about my afternoon and everything that happened at the office. Elizabeth was so calm, so matter of fact about firing her. I was so deep in thought I hadn’t noticed that we pulled up until Carter places a hand on my leg.

“Are you okay?”

I smile. “Yeah, let’s have a nice dinner.”

I climb out of the Jeep with him, and we walk into the restaurant hand in hand. We are escorted to a quiet table for two in the back corner of the restaurant. I take the seat that Carter has pulled out for me, and he quickly takes the other while the waitress places menus in front of us and fills our water. She tells us she’ll give us a few minutes and walks away.

“Are you okay with me having a glass of wine?” I question, peeking over the top of my menu.

“Of course.” He rewards me with a full-on smile.

“Why do I feel like you’re up to no good?” I give him a small side grin.

“I’m not. I’m really happy. It was a great day at work, a great day with my counselor, and now I’m finishing it off with a nice dinner with the love of my life.”

I close my menu, placing it to the side. “Why was work so great?”

He describes his day, starting with Tobey coming to visit him. He looks so proud, and he should be. He’s come a long way. The waitress interrupts to take our food and beverage order and retreats with a promise to be right back with our drinks. As soon as she’s gone, he continues talking about his conversation with Derek and the idea he has for the New Year’s Eve event.

“Carter, I think it’s a brilliant idea. It gives you the money you need for the soldiers, and there will be more people at the event for the silent auction.”

“I already have one company that’s agreed to build a ramp for one of our guys.” He beams with excitement.

“I’m so proud of you, Carter,” I tell him as my wine arrives.

“Thanks, baby. We’re trying to come up with another fundraiser, though, and I was hoping maybe you could help with some ideas.”