Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (29 page)

“
Excuse
me?
”

“
I
’
m Helen Young,
”
she
said.
 
“
Senior editor at
Hatchet House.
 
I read your book
when it first hit number one.
”
 
She glanced up and behind me, and I
knew the person she was looking at was Marco Boss.
 
“
I wanted to buy it myself, but I see that Boss beat me to
it.
 
Such a shame.
 
We would have had so much fun
together.
 
I know that to be true
just after reading that splendid book of yours.
”

“
Helen,
”
Boss
said.

She nodded at him.
 
“
Marco.
”

“
It
’
s nice to see you
tonight.
”

“
I
wish I could say the same,
”
she
said.
 
“
But I
’
m a little miffed at
you, Marco
—
stealing
away this talent from me.
 
Not
fair.
 
Not fair at all.
 
You and I both know that talent like
this doesn
’
t
come around often.
 
Her book is
fabulous.
 
And the word on everyone
’
s lips tonight is that
Julian wants to turn it into a movie.
 
Lucky you.
”

Oh, I
’
m
so going to ratchet this up
, I thought.

“
Actually,
that
’
s
now in question,
”
I
said.

She looked at me with surprise.
 
“
But I just heard about it moments ago.
 
This is Julian
’
s birthday party
—
people
are talking about what
’
s
next for him, and that answer was you.
 
What could have happened since?
”

“
Our
own talk with Julian.
 
I
’
m afraid that, because
my book needs to be completely rewritten, there might be no movie at all.
 
Julian prefers it as it is, and he wants
no part of a rewrite or a reinvisioning.
”

“
As
well he shouldn
’
t.
 
It
’
s brilliant as it is.
”
 
She
narrowed her eyes at me.
 
“
I don
’
t understand.
 
Why is there a reason for it, as you put
it,
‘
to
be completely rewritten
’
?
”

“
Marco
has other ideas for the book.
 
It
’
s not mass market
enough for him, so he gave me a more conventional synopsis, which in this case
means going for the clich
é
that has proved to be marketable in the past.
 
You know, grunting, feasting, mindless
zombies who have zero conscience and who don
’
t struggle with their compulsion.
 
That
’
s what he wants, and that
’
s what he will get.
 
I
’
m
under contract, and I have no choice but to deliver that version of my book to
him.
 
At my own peril, of
course.
 
And at the potential cost
of my career, as well.
 
The original
idea behind the story will never come to bear, and it never will be the
same.
 
Not even close.
”

She looked at him.
 
“
Are you mad?
 
The book needs a bit of work
—
I
’
ll agree to that.
 
Some tightening here, maybe a bit more focus there.
 
But nothing more than that.
 
What are you doing to it?
”
 
She looked between us, and then took
a small step back.
 
“
And why do I feel as
if I
’
ve
just stepped into a hornet
’
s
nest?
”

“
There
’
s no argument,
”
Boss
said.

I laughed.
 
“
More lies,
”
I
said.
 
I reached out a hand for
Helen Young
’
s,
I shook it, and said,
“
It
was a pleasure.
 
Under other
circumstances, I would have loved to talk at length.
 
Maybe we will someday
—
my
contract with Wenn is only for three years.
 
So remember tonight.
 
Remember what you read before
publication.
 
Then, if you
’
re still interested,
perhaps we can talk in a few years?
”

“
I
’
d love that.
”

“
Would
you do me a favor?
”
I
asked.

She furrowed her brow at me.
 
“
A favor?
”

“
I
’
m leaving without
him.
 
If you wouldn
’
t mind entertaining
him until I can get into a cab and get the hell away from all of this and
especially him, I
’
d
appreciate it.
 
It
’
s been a pleasure
meeting you.
 
Thank you for the kind
words you had about my former book.
 
I appreciate it more than you know, especially now.
 
Have a good evening, Helen.
 
And please
—
don
’
t forget me.
”

And with that, I was out the door,
but not without Marco Boss right on my ass.
 
Apparently, we were taking this outside.

Fine
, I
thought.
 
Game on.

*
 
*
 
*

Outside, the cold made me glad I hadn
’
t given my cape to
anyone at the door when we arrived at the party.
 
I wrapped it around myself as I looked
for a cab, of which there appeared to be none.

I
’
m
on a side street
, I thought.
 
I
need to get to Park.
 
There, I can
grab a cab easily.

When Boss stormed out of the
townhouse, I dismissed him.
 
He had
no effect on me.
 
He
’
d crossed too many
lines.
 
Let him come at me
—
I
didn
’
t
care.
 
I
’
d been nothing but
honest and professional tonight.
 
I
refused to share in his lies.
 
Screw
him.
 
Screw this business.

I was now fully regretting signing my
contract with Wenn.
 
Still, it was
binding, and I would honor it.
 
The
question before me was this
—
With
the rewrite, how much of Boss
’
edits
would actually improve the book?
 
Likely, at least some of them.
 
I knew that my book was far from perfect.
 
But he also was under the gun.
 
The book was slated for publication on
March 30th
—
just
a few brief months away.
 
If I
changed only some of my book
—
the
parts that I felt truly improved it
—
what could he do to me?
 
Rewrite the book himself?
 
Hardly.
 
The publication date was already
announced.
 
However this rolled out,
I had him by the balls, and I knew it
—
even if he didn
’
t.

“
Cab,
”
I
called at the curb.

“
Why
are you doing this?
”
he
said to me.
 
“
We have one of Wenn
’
s limos waiting right
here for us.
”

I held out my hand and looked up the
street, where a few cabs started to move toward me when the traffic lights
changed
—
but
unfortunately, they were occupied.
 
“
Cab,
”
I
said again.

“
Don
’
t ignore me.
”

I whirled on him.
 
“
I
’
m
going to warn you, Boss.
 
Right
now?
 
With you here?
 
I feel threatened.
 
Don
’
t make me call 911.
”

“
I
hardly doubt that you
’
d
do that.
”

“
Then
you don
’
t
know me.
”

He took a step toward me and came uncomfortably
close.
 
“
I
’
m not threatening
you.
 
I
’
m merely offering you
a ride home.
”

“
Get
away from me,
”
I
said.
 
“
I want nothing to do
with you.
 
Leave me alone.
 
I told you that you
’
d get your book.
 
Now, step off and stop harassing me.
”

I was on the street, desperately
looking for a cab when, in a flash of rage, he smacked my clutch out of my
hand.
 
In it, was my cell and
whatever cash I had on hand.
 
It
landed in the street next to the curb.
 
I was able to retrieve it, but when I did, he was right next to me.
 
Looming over me.
 
I sensed that there was too much booze
in him.
 
He likely felt infallible
because of it.
 

Fear laced through me
—
would
he put his hands on me next?
 
I
stepped away from him, moved onto the sidewalk, and removed my cell from my clutch.
 
“
Leave now, or I
’
m calling for help.
”

“
You
don
’
t
dare,
”
he
said.
 
“
Your whole career
hinges on me.
”

“
Oh,
please.
 
You
’
re drunk.
”

“
I
’
m not.
”

“
Yes,
you are.
 
Or close to it.
 
But let me ask you this, Marco
—
do
you really think my whole career hinges on you?
 
Seriously?
 
You think my career is all about your
influence?
 
What a joke.
 
Have you heard what people have said to
me tonight?
 
Did you listen to what
Helen Young said to me a moment ago?
 
What Julian West said?
”