Page 13 of Bookworm and the Beast
“Yeah?”
“Would you mind asking Sterling to step in? With the Bestia interview less than a week away, I need to get this nailed down and make the travel arrangements today.”
“Wait… you’re going to give the interview tohim? He hasn’t even read the Onyx Throne books.”
Charlotte shrugged. “He loves meeting celebrities, and he’s always looking to up his ‘writer brand,’ as he calls it. He’ll do anything to advance his career.”
“Including embellishing quotes and making up fake news.”
The thought of Sterling twisting the facts and putting words in Jack’s mouth had me stewing in a gumbo of indignation and protectiveness.
Yeah right, like international bestselling author Jack R. R. Bestia needs my protection.
I didn’t leave Charlotte’s office, though. I stood, half in and half out, my hand gripping the door frame.
“Unless you know someone who’d do a better job.” Charlotte leaned forward and pinned me with her famous challenging stare. “Someone who’ll give the article the care it deserves, who’ll approach it honestly and ethically…”
Oh, she was diabolical. She’dknownmentioning Sterling would push all my buttons. Still, I couldn’t take the chance my boss might actually send that buffoon to do the interview.
It took me a few seconds to answer. The words were trapped behind the breath I was holding.
I swallowed and finally forced them out. “I’ll do it.”
Charlotte laughed out loud, clapping once above her head. “I knew it! My gut told me this was your interview. You’re going to rock it.”
“Yeah, well I’ll be happy if I don’t throw up all over myself—or him. But you’re right. No one here knows more about his books than I do.”
Certainly not Sterling. “And I want to be a team player.”And keep my sleazy co-worker from making up fake news about my favorite author and embarrassing us all.
“I’ll have Shelly get your train ticket and book the car service,” Charlotte said. “The hotel room’s already reserved—at the Seacliff Inn, which is pretty swanky—you’re welcome.”
She grinned. “I have total confidence in you, Bonnie.”
“Thanks. I hope you won’t regret it.”
And I hoped I hadn’t just signed up for a second helping of hot and crispy humiliation courtesy of Mr. Jack. R. R. Bestia.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Charlotte asked.
The answer to that question was what scared me, and in six days, I’d find out.
Chapter Four
The Contract
Jack
Words.Words words words.For the love of God, where were all the words? It was like the entire contents of my brain had dried up.
I stared at the blank laptop screen, its whiteness nearly blinding. Or maybe it was the headache pounding behind my eyes that was bothering me.
Who was I kidding? Everything was bothering me. The desk chair that used to feel so comfortable. The sound of the wind whipping around my turret office. Even the steady crash of the waves below, which I’d always found exciting and inspiring.
Today, it was all just noise, and there was nothing inspiring about any of it.
With an irritated huff, I pushed back from my old wooden desk and went to the plotting chart on the wall, staring at all the empty spots.
Theyshouldhave been filled with brilliant plot points and sparkling scenes that would enchant my faithful readers and seamlessly tie together all the threads I’d carefully weaved throughout the prior six books.
