‘I think it can,’ Nathan says. ‘I think you can be good for him, help him to lighten up. And if you don’t mind my saying so, I think he can be good for you, too. He knows how to structure a story and develop characters – you’ll learn a lot from him. And having his name attached to yours will definitely help, as and when you’re looking for your own book deal one day. I think you just need some time to get used to each other. If you can learn to see under that veneer of arrogance, which is really just a veil over his own embarrassment – and if he can get over his sense of superiority …’
‘How long do you think that’s going to take?’
Conveniently for him, Nathan is saved from having to answer that question. There’s a knock on the door, and a flushed and flustered Alex trudges in.
‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘Signal failure. Bloody Northern Line. I really tried to get here on time, but …’
Jess finds his grovelling apology a little baffling. Signal failures and other Tube-related delays are a common source of lateness in London, and people understand. Besides, it’s only a few minutes, and it may be a work meeting, but it’s a work meeting with an old friend.
‘Alex, it’s fine,’ Nathan says. ‘We’ve all been there with rush-hour Tube journeys.’
‘And just, like, the Northern Line in general,’ Jess adds. An olive branch she is offering:We’re all in this together. We’re just the same, you and me. Two aspiring writers just trying to make it through London life unscathed.
‘Yes, well. Nonetheless, I apologise.’
Nathan gestures at an armchair, inviting Alex to sit down.
‘I gather that this writing partnership has been off to rather a rough start?’
‘That’s one way to put it,’ Alex says.
‘We don’t agree on anything,’ Jess adds.
‘Alex often doesn’t agree with me when I’m editing him, either,’ Nathan says, ostensibly speaking to Jess, but looking straight at Alex. ‘But he usually comes around.’
‘You’re my editor,’ Alex says. ‘I don’t have a choice.’
‘Yes, well.’ Nathan clears his throat. ‘I’m afraid you don’t have a choice with this, either.’
‘I don’t follow.’
‘It’s time to stop dilly-dallying around with this novel. If you’re serious about it, then I want you to work with Jess on it. If you’re not, and you want to work on something different – that’s fine. But obviously, that will impact when we pay you the next instalment of your advance.’
Jess watches Alex. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows hard.
‘I see.’
‘And Jess – this could be the start of a brilliant writing career for you. I know I mentioned having your name in the acknowledgements and the marketing. But how about on the cover, as a co-author?’
Jess pretends not to notice Alex’s sharp intake of breath. And she knows full well that Nathan is playing her, appealing to her dreams to get her to agree not to throw in the towel. But knowing his tactics doesn’t make her immune to them. She is already visualising her own novels piled high on the tables at her favourite South London bookshop, the one with bright blue bookshelves where she first laid eyes on Alex.
‘So, here’s what I propose.’
Jess has a feeling that whatever Nathan is about to say, it’s more likely to be an order than a suggestion.
Nathan reaches into his leather satchel, and pulls out a set of keys, which he slides on the desk towards the two of them.
‘I’ve got a lovely little house not far from London. I Airbnb it out usually, but it’s clear for the next couple of weeks. I want the two of you to go and spend a weekend there. Jess – it’ll be a great place to take some pictures for Instagram. Maybe even pictures teasing your collab. Get readers excited. Re-engage Alex’s fanbase.’
‘Tease our collab?’ Alex has brought out the air quotes again. ‘Is that some sort of TikTok language?’
Jess closes her eyes, takes a deep breath. She doesn’t dignify this question with a response, and neither does Nathan.
‘I want you to come back from Godalming with an action plan, a full plot summary, some new chapters, some rewritten ones.’
‘That seems like a lot for one weekend.’
‘You can go for longer if you like,’ Nathan says, smiling. ‘As I said, it’s free for two weeks.’
