Page 39 of Just Curious

Jackson looked slightly sheepish. “Sorry to do it behind your back, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up until this thing had a real chance. Anyway, I suggested that if their studio would be willing to make a movie from the book, I would be a very generous backer.”

Willa seemed to be vibrating with excitement. Her eyes were as round as saucers as she stared at Jackson.

He continued, “I also said I had a lead on another potential backer who has extremely good sense when it comes to entertainment and what people like to see.” He skewered Casey with an expectant look, and Casey’s eyes crinkled up with one of his biggest smiles ever.

“Jackson,” was all Willa could say. Then her eyes filled up and brimmed with happy tears and she flapped her hands in front of herself as though to erase something. She took a big gulp of air and choked out, “This is the sweetest thing I have ever heard.”

“I agree,” said Casey. “And I think it’s a fantastic idea. What do we do next? Oh, and also… can we wait one more day before we leave?”

“There’s no huge rush, but we do have a meeting in Los Angeles in three days, so we ought to be back in time to get over jet lag a little. Why do we need to stay one more day though?”

Casey looked smug and reached into his pocket. He whipped out an envelope and announced, “I was just about to tell you that I scored three loge seats for tomorrow’s tennis finals at the Monte Carlo Masters tournament. I thought you both might enjoy some spectator sport for a change. Surprise.”

With a profoundly admiring look, Jackson demanded, “How on earth did you get those on such short notice? I thought they sold out like a year in advance or something.”

With his trademark grin, Casey answered, “Apparently our chief steward is a very resourceful guy, and when money is no object…”

“Casey, that’s great,” Willa gushed. “I’ve never been to the finals of a major tournament, but I’ve always wanted to.” She beamed at both of them. “I’m so lucky to have the two of you.”

And so, the three of them hobnobbed with the international elite the next day in a row of seats behind the baseline. They all agreed that the steward had worked magic for them, and it was so much better watching from one end of the court rather than swiveling their heads back and forth all through the match.

Their favorite man won—not that they’d have really cared either way because the entertainment factor was off the charts. The match had been a nail-biter to the very end, and the fans all felt as if they’d gotten their money’s worth by watching it.

“That was fantastic, Case. Thanks again for getting us the tickets. This was the perfect way to end the trip,” Jackson said, clapping him on the back affectionately.

Later that night, after dolling out generous tips to the entire crew with their personal thanks, they boarded the private jet. By the time they reached the San Diego airport, they were all well-rested and satisfied.

“I have butterflies just thinking about our meeting, Jackson. This is so exciting!” Willa announced.

“I need to report back to Cyril and let him know he hired a terrific staff for Dream Come True.” Casey looked pensive and added, “Do you think maybe he’d like to invest in a movie too?”

Jackson’s eyebrows shot up and he grinned. “Not a bad idea. Be sure to mention it to him. Good thinking.”

Chapter 24

The morning they were due to leave for LA for their meeting with the studio executives, Willa got a call from her agent.

“We have a problem,” she said instead ofhiorhello.

“Good morning, Sheila. I was just about to call you. What’s the matter?”

“The publisher is going apeshit. There is a pirated, I assume, copy of your new book flooding the online bookstores as we speak. And hardbacks are showing up at the brick-and-mortar stores as well. Tell me you didn’t do something weird, Willa.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A book that is identical to yours and has the same title—only it completely lacks any editing other than possibly a spellcheck program—is showing up everywhere—e-books, paperbacks, and hardcover. And there are ads for it all over the place. They’ve done a huge advertising campaign for it suddenly. Some woman named Deb Abbey’s name is listed as the author. How could this have happened?”

The room spun for a moment, and Willa braced her head in her hands. Her stomach roiled. “Oh no. Not her again,” Willa breathed out in a defeated voice.

“What do you mean ‘again?’ What are you talking about, Willa?”

“Back when I was at Stanford, I wrote a book in my spare time, and she got hold of it… it’s a long story. Anyway, several years later she won the Oscar for best original screenplay from the book she stole from me. Now she’s gotten hold of this one, too? This is unbelievable. I think she must have hacked my computer before we went on vacation. The only other copy of it is with the editor.”

“Why didn’t you sue her ass after the first time she stole from you?”

“I didn’t have any proof that the book was mine. I gave it to her on a thumb drive. She told me she was going to shop around for a publisher for me. She was supposedly representing me. Then my computer was ruined in a car crash, and I had no other copies. No one would have believed a college student’s word that a literary agent had ripped me off. I told myself she just couldn’t find a publisher for me because the book wasn’t any good, and I eventually lost touch with her.” Willa took a deep breath and continued. “Also… I had some pretty heavy stuff going on in my life back then because my parents had both just died in the same accident that ruined the laptop.” Her voice began to crack.

“Okay, I’m awfully sorry, Willa, and I can see why you might not have pursued a lawsuit right away, but after she won the Academy Award? Why didn’t you go after her then? When was this?”

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