Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (17 page)

“
What
can I do?
”

“
Unfortunately,
nothing.
 
The book is already on the
fast track to publication.
 
It comes
out in three months.
 
Tomorrow, your
face goes live in Times Square for six straight months.
 
What
’
s worse is that he wasn
’
t bullshitting you.
 
It needs to go through him first.
 
And only if he accepts your rewrite will it go through to copy editors
and a host of proofreaders before it even makes it to press.
 
This was a tight schedule to begin with,
but he didn
’
t
have to make it this impossible.
 
He
’
s always been a son of
a bitch.
 
This just underscores
that.
 
I talked to Alex this morning
about what happened yesterday, and he said that Boss gets no more passes.
 
If he
’
s abusive to you, he
’
s gone.
 
But,
until he is, even I can
’
t
intervene at this point.
 
I would if
I could, but I can
’
t.
 
You
’
ve signed the contract, you
’
ve received your advance for the first book, and the wheels
are turning.
”

“
I
have to prove him wrong,
”
I
said.
 
“
I
’
ll give him what he
wants.
”

She looked at me with concern.
 
“
But at what cost?
”

“
Likely
my mental and physical health.
 
I
hate to say this, but I think you
’
ll understand.
 
Tank and Jennifer will be gone through much of this.
 
And because of that, I
’
ll be able to focus
with no distractions.
 
I won
’
t have to worry about
anyone but the characters in my book.
 
Well, for two weeks at least.
 
During the third week, when everyone is back, I might just go to a hotel
and shut everyone out.
 
I don
’
t see any other way.
”

“
At
least go to the Carlyle,
”
she
said.
 
“
You
’
ll have a beautiful
suite, and superb room service.
 
They
’
ll
keep you comfortable and well fed.
 
Yes, it will cost you a fortune, but you just made a fortune.
 
You can afford that now.
”

“
I
probably should leave.
 
I need to
read the synopsis again, and wrap my head around it.
 
Then I need to look through his edits
and what he
’
s
written in the margins.
 
Then, I
’
ll start to
write.
 
I can
’
t blow this.
”

“
I
know how long your book is.
 
These
changes mean that you
’
ll
essentially have to write a new book.
”

“
Nowhere
in that contract does it say that it needs to be five hundred pages long.
 
If I have to cut and slash it in half, I
will.
 
That
’
s likely the only way
I
’
m
going to get through it.
”

“
A
tighter book is a less-expensive book to publish,
”
she said.
 
“
Wenn will appreciate
that.
 
Don
’
t hesitate to cut
where you think you need to cut.
 
A
shorter book is a more profitable book.
”

“
But
it won
’
t
be the book I intended it to be.
”

“
That
’
s the problem with
making a deal with the devil.
 
I
know the money you
’
ve
made off that contract will change the rest of your life, and that
’
s a good thing.
 
It is, in fact, the best thing to come
out of this.
 
You have two more
books to write after this.
 
From
these edits, you
’
ll
know what Boss expects from you going forward.
 
Then, if you want, you can cut yourself
free and become an indie author again.
 
Your contract is for the next three years.
 
You
’
ll make enough money to set yourself up for the rest of
your life, and then you can do whatever the hell you want to do.
 
Think of it that way.
 
Eventually, this
—
and
Marco Boss
—
will
pass.
”

“
I
should leave,
”
I
said.
 
“
I need to get to work.
”

“
A
piece of advice?
”

“
Of
course.
”

“
Take
one solid, thirty-minute walk each day.
 
Even as cold as it is now.
 
Bundle up.
 
Get out of your
apartment, clear your head, and get some exercise.
 
Then get back to your book.
 
You
’
ll see.
 
It will
work wonders, and it won
’
t
eat into much of your time.
”

I started to edge toward the
door.
 
“
I
’
ll try.
”

“
You
can
’
t
let him win.
”

“
I
don
’
t
intend to.
”

“
Write
the best book you can.
 
If you need
me, I
’
m
here.
”

“
I
might shoot you a few chapters to see what you think.
”

“
I
’
d be more than happy
to read them.
”

“
Thank
you, Barbara.
”

“
It
’
s my pleasure.
 
Now
—
go and prove that bastard wrong.
”

CHAPTER NINE

Later that evening, after reading
through Boss
’
edits
and his synopsis, and after implementing a good deal of his tweaks to the first
section, I received a call from Tank, which I picked up immediately.

“
How
are you?
”
he
asked.

“
I
’
ve seen better days.
”

“
How
bad was it with him?
”

“
Let
’
s just say that I have
three weeks to completely rewrite my novel.
”

“
So,
he held his ground.
 
But in three
weeks?
”

“
That
’
s right.
 
A complete rewrite in three weeks.
”

“
Lisa
…
.
”
he
said with concern.

“
I
’
ll be fine.
 
I won
’
t lie to you though
—
it
’
s not going to be easy, but I
’
ll do it just to spite him.
 
I
’
ve been working for the past few hours on the changes, but
I
’
ll
be honest
—
I
’
m over today.
 
I want to be with you.
 
Are you at home?
”

“
I
will be in twenty minutes.
”

“
I
need to see you.
”

“
Do
you want me to come there?
”

“
Jennifer
is here now.
 
I
’
ve already unloaded on
her, and she
’
s
giving me my space.
 
I
’
ve been working in my
bedroom.
 
Earlier, she and I had a
good talk.
 
She
’
s as royally pissed
off as everyone else, and she
’
s
furious that Alex didn
’
t
fire his ass, which she told him to his face.
 
So, as usual, she
’
s been terrific.
 
But I want to get out of here.
 
I need to shake off the day and end it
properly.
”

“
What
does that mean?
”

“
You
’
ll see.
”

“
Meet
me at my apartment in thirty minutes.
”

“
Done,
”
I
said.

*
 
*
 
*

When I arrived at Tank
’
s apartment, he
already was in a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.
 
Whatever suit he
’
d worn that day was
history. The moment he saw me, he held me in a warm embrace.
 

He kissed me, and I just sank into
him, smelling his scent and pressing my head between the deep concave of his
chest.
 
Then, unexpectedly, he swept
me into his arms and carried me into the living room.
 
He sat me down on the sofa and said,
“
Give me one minute.
”

“
What
are you up to?
”

“
Let
’
s just say I know my
girlfriend.
”

He disappeared into the kitchen and
within a moment, I heard him getting ice from the freezer.
 
I knew at once what he was doing
—
he
was making me a martini, and I loved him for it.
 
After much shaking of ice and vodka, he
returned with a martini in one hand and a Guinness in the other.
 
He handed me my drink, dipped down to
kiss me again, and touched his glass against mine.
 
Then he sat next to me, which, because
of his size, lifted my end of the sofa a good three inches.

“
Tell
me everything,
”
he
said.

I did.

“
Are
you going to be able to do it?
”

“
What
choice do I have?
 
I have to do it.
”

“
I
’
m disappointed in
Alex.
 
I thought for sure he
’
d fire him after that.
”

“
Boss
has given him a solid and successful twelve years.
 
Alex is a businessman.
 
He might consider this a blip.
 
He might be giving Boss a pass because
of all of his years of service and all of the successes Boss has handed to
Wenn.
 
But what do I know?
 
Right now, that
’
s all I
’
ve got
—
and
it doesn
’
t
offend me.
 
I don
’
t want or expect
special treatment from anyone.
 
That
’
s not who I am
—
you
know that.
 
So, will I meet my
contract?
 
Absolutely.
”