Armed with fifty manuscripts, and Chinese takeout from the place around the corner, I dive in.
Things become more promising when I read through some really good first chapters. The kind of good writing that makes you not want to put the book down. I reluctantly do, so I can keep reading the entries, but now I have a yes pile.
"I knew if you weren't answering the phone, I'd find you here," my father says, coming into my office and sitting on the couch by the window. He crosses one leg over the other and drapes one arm on the back of the couch.
I put my manuscript down, but there's no point hiding what I was doing. The piles and piles of paper on my desk are most definitely not the accounts I'm meant to be studying.
"You know I work late all the time," I say, leaning back on my chair. "Question is, what are you doing here? You'll get in trouble with mom."
He smiles and scratches his head. "I was working on some ideas and lost track of time."
I laugh. "You can tell her you took me out for dinner. I'll confirm."
"Are you suggesting I lie to your mother?"
His voice sounds shocked, but his face is anything but.
"Are you suggesting you want to be on the wrong side of an argument with Mrs. Blackwood?"
"Good point. We had a lovely dinner together."
I look at my empty food cartons.
"It was delicious."
"Now, there was a reason I stopped by on my way home. I've been talking to Jessop, and he's drafting a new report of this year's accounts for you. He's reworking the budgets to reflect the direction we want to take the company in."
I nod but make a mental note to spend some extra time going through that report. There are some things on the old report that don't make sense. I don't want to make any accusations before I'm sure, but there's a college buddy of mine that can help me understand if what I think I’m seeing is right.
"And the other thing I wanted to tell you is that I decided to formally announce my retirement at the annual company Christmas ball in three weeks. It'll be the biggest event in the industry." My father raises his hands to illustrate his words. "Imagine. Everyone who's anyone in publishing will be there. Our staff will be there. It's a Christmas masquerade, and at midnight, just before we announce the yearly bonus, I make my speech and formally welcome you into your new position as CEO of Blackwood Publishing.”
A small shiver goes through my spine when my father mentions his announcement, and for the first time since he dropped the news of his retirement, I feel some excitement and pride for being part of this wonderful organization my grandfather started.
At the same time, the thought of such a big event makes my heart race, and not in a good way. All eyes will be on me. The critics will find anything they can, regardless of the truth, to paint a negative picture of the new CEO of Blackwood Publishing.
I think about Ash, how he's always happy and smiley every time I see him. Mia said he has some problems at home, but you'd never know it from his demeanor.
An idea forms in my head.
"Dad, I'm not going to pretend that you haven't seen the manuscripts on my desk, or that I'm not completely involved with the publishing competition. If you want me to leave my job to take over the company, you're going to have to deal with the fact I can make my own decisions about the work I do."
My father crosses his hands over his lap, as he always does when he's truly listening. Let's hope this doesn't blow up in my face.
"Why don't we announce the winner of the competition at the ball? I think it would be a good opportunity to increase the profile of the competition as well as a way to recognize the best entries. If we can only pick one author, we can help the runners-up to network with other people in the industry."
He seems to think about it for a moment. My heart is beating so fast it may leave my body and jump out the window any time now.
"You are so much like your grandfather, Alexander. I know I haven't said it yet, but I hope you know I wouldn't let you take over the company if I weren’t confident you could do it well."
My words get stuck in my throat, so I just nod. Maybe it's about time I step up to the position I was born into.
11
ASH
"Morning,gorgeous, how was your date last night?" I ask Nicki, who, despite being a little late this morning, has a spring on her step that can only have been caused by Mia.
"Hashtag I'm in love," she sighs.
