WrongorWriteBoxedSetstripped

by Sky Corgan

  “I would literally just sit and stare the whole time if I knew all I had was twenty-five minutes. When I don't want to write, I don't want to write. Forcing it is just ugly,” Dominick told her.

  Confused and tired of standing outside like some creeper, I shoved the key in the keyhole, opened the door, and walked inside, trying to seem casual about it. Dominick and the woman looked startled for a moment, but then the woman smiled broadly at me.

  “This must be Kim. I've heard so much about you.” She stood to shake my hand.

  “And you are? I'm sorry, Dominick didn't tell me we'd be expecting company.”

  “That's because my visit was a surprise. I'm Melinda McWilliams, Dominick's editor. He's been falling a bit behind on his deadlines, so I came to give him a push in the right direction.”

  After shaking hands with Melinda, I went to sit beside Dominick and assess the woman, who promptly seated herself across from us. She looked older than Dominick by a few years, but completely gorgeous with long straight honey blonde hair, big bright green eyes, legs that went on for miles beneath a red pencil skirt that matched her lipstick, and a professionalism that made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. She was practically perfect in every way, physically, at least.

  “Dominick never mentioned to me that he was behind on his deadlines,” I commented, averting my eyes thoughtfully so that it didn't seem like I was staring.

  Dominick sighed, “That's because I'd rather not bother you with my work.”

  “But you still let me read it from time to time. I think I'd know if you were behind.”

  “You let her read your writing?” Melinda asked with a grin.

  “I see no problem with it,” Dominick's voice was firm.

  “No, of course not. How does this exchange happen?”

  “I e-mail her an updated file every night.”

  “That sounds time consuming.”

  “It takes less than five minutes.”

  “I'm just trying to figure out where the lag is. Perhaps for a while, you should spend that extra time writing.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “Oh, don't be a brat. You know I'm only here to help.”

  “I know, but you're not helping. Five minutes doesn't make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. I send her the file after I've stopped for the day anyway. So that time is technically my free time.”

  “Well, you might need to reduce your free time for a while then too. The publishing company sent me here to make sure you get your latest and greatest in on time, and I intend to do just that, even if it means I have to spend every waking minute with you.”

  Dominick glared at her.

  “Don't give me that look. You did this to yourself. Do your work, and I'll go away.” The smirk she gave him was enchanting. It amazed that he didn't seem to fall prey to it like I had. If I was a guy, I'd be all over that.

  “Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your concern,” Dominick said, standing to usher Melinda to the door.

  “It's not just concern as your editor. I'm also your friend, Dominick. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here for you. Well, will be here for you until this project is done. Maybe after, depending on what the publisher wants.” She pulled a card out of her purse and handed it to him. “Here is the apartment complex I'm staying at. The gate code is on the back. I just thought you should have it since I'm going to be around for a while.”

  “Thanks,” he replied dryly.

  “Kim, it was a pleasure.” Melinda turned her attention to me. “I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other in these coming weeks.”

  I smiled politely as I watched Dominick follow her out the door. He stood in the doorway until she was out of sight, then stepped back inside, closed the door, and rested against it, looking more annoyed than I'd seen in a long time. For some reason, that made me happy. If he had any interest in the beautiful creature who had just left, he was hiding it well.

  “That was unexpected,” I commented.

  “You're telling me.”

  “What's this about you being behind on your deadlines?”

  Dominick sighed, returning to sit on the loveseat across from me which Melinda had previously occupied. He flipped her card in his hand, fidgeting with it absentmindedly.

  “I didn't want to tell you because it's none of your concern.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “I haven't made a deadline since you moved in with me.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Really? Why not?”

  “Change isn't something I adapt to easily. I'm used to just writing and doing nothing else. I've lived a life of solitude because it keeps me free from distractions. Not having distractions means that I can work at a faster pace than a lot of other authors. When I first started with Smart Romance Press, they absolutely loved it that I could push out a novel a month. After a while, I guess they just began expecting it.

  “My life has changed though. Between traveling for the movie deal and dating you, I just don't have the same amount of time to write that I used to. The publishing company tried to extend my release schedule because of the movie deal, but it seems like the extra time they've given me isn't enough.

  “I find myself easily distracted by you and worrying about other things. Sometimes I can't concentrate enough to write. My head's just not where it used to be.”

  “I'm sorry,” I said, feeling guilty. “Tammy was worried I'd be a burden on you before I even moved in.”

  “You're not a burden though. I enjoy having you around. The publisher's expectation of me is the burden.”

  “So talk to them about it.”

  “I can't. I'm under contract to produce three more novels this year. Until the contract ends, there's no room to negotiate.”

  “Well, after the contract is up, tell them you need more time.”

  “I plan on it. That doesn't help me now though. They must be really worried I'm not going to live up to my end of the deal, otherwise they wouldn't have sent Melinda.”

  “Do you really think she can help get you back on track?”

  “I don't know. I'm really far behind.” Dominick raked his fingers through his black hair, stress apparent on his face.

  “Well, I'll support you. Whatever you need to do to get back on track, I'm in one hundred percent. Just let me know, okay.” I gave him an earnest look, moving to sit beside him and take his hand in mine. He tossed the card onto the coffee table, scowling at it.

  “Things might be rough for a while, Kim. I might not be in the best of moods. We should probably cancel all the dates we had planned until I get this next novel out.”

  “Of course. I understand. All of that stuff can wait. Your work is more important.”

  “Yeah. Well, I better get back to it.” Dominick let go of my hand, standing up abruptly to go to his office, leaving me with an uneasy feeling.

  It wasn't often I saw Dominick upset. All of my fear of him cheating faded into worry. He spent so much time in his office, I couldn't see how he was behind. Then again, his schedule had changed since I'd moved in. When I moved in, he started driving me to and from school. Then there were all the times I made him eat meals with me. Before I had come, he pretty much only ate one meal a day. Being with me took at least several hours away from his work for chauffeuring me around and meals and . . . sex. The sex part was his fault though. I never initiated it. Dominick took me at will whenever and wherever he felt like it. So that time lost had to be blamed on him, not that it didn't count as a distraction.

  I groaned as I made dinner, thinking about how I had screwed up his life and trying to figure out how to fix it. Maybe if I served him meals in his office that would save some time if he worked while he ate. I could also insist that he stop driving me to and from school completely. Perhaps I could even suggest not having sex until he was caught up on all of his projects. Who knew how long that would be though. It was only September, and I didn't realistically think either one of us could go four months witho
ut sex. No. If he wanted to cut down on our sex life, that would have to be something he suggested. I wasn't going to do it.

  Despite my thought to serve Dominick in his office, I kept to the same routine, gently knocking on his office door when dinner was ready. He seemed no less upset than he had been earlier, and we ended up eating together in silence, choked by the stifling tension from his bad mood, though it was in no way directed toward me. After dinner, I washed the dishes and retired to my room, giving Dominick the rest of the night to work in peace while I did my homework. It was strange knowing he was unhappy. Hopefully, it would pass soon. Dominick rarely held onto a bad mood for long.

  The next morning, I told Dominick I would take the bus to school for the rest of the semester. He grunted in agreement, and I was glad that he didn't argue with me. His bad mood had simmered down a bit, though it hadn't completely gone away.

  When I returned home that afternoon, Melinda was on the loveseat in the living room having another conversation with Dominick. It seemed like she was being more of a hindrance than a help, wasting his time by coming over and speaking to him. Surely, her first visit had been enough to get the point across that he needed to get on the ball.

  “Hi, Melinda.” I gave her a nervous wave.

  “Hello, Kim. I was just telling Dom here that I'm going to be on him like a tick on a dog until he gets his next book out.”

  Is that such a good idea? I thought, though I dare not say it. This was their business, not mine. Maybe he needed her on his ass to kick him in gear. It seemed to me like she was just stressing him out though, and I doubted a stressed-out Dominick would get any work done.

  “Well, I'm going to get started on dinner,” I said, hurrying past them to put my backpack in my bedroom. Being around them made me nervous, especially with how volatile Melinda seemed to make Dominick.

  Thankfully, she didn't stick around for too much longer. I eavesdropped on them as I went about rolling sushi, listening to the writing tips and techniques she tried to give him for speed and concentration. He didn't even seem to be concentrating on what she was saying, sitting there with his head propped up in his hand, his elbow resting on his knee as he stared at her with a just-go-away look. She didn't notice at all, or if she did, she was doing a good job of ignoring it.

  “I thought she'd never leave,” Dominick told me after she was gone. He had come into the kitchen to pick at the seaweed salad I made, and I had to slap at his hand to keep him away from it, though not before he had gotten a mouthful.

  “You don't like her very much, do you?” I asked while I plated the sushi.

  “It's not that I don't like her. We get along really well on a general basis. It's only when she nags me that I don't like her.”

  “She's just trying to be helpful.”

  “Well, she's not doing a good job at it. She'd be more helpful if she just went away.”

  “Have you told her that?”

  “Yes. But she says that's not her job.”

  “Badgering you about making deadline shouldn't be her job either if she's just your editor.”

  “It's kind of not and it kind of is. I have to do my job, so she can do her job. The longer I take to turn the manuscript in, the less time she has to edit it. If there are errors in the completed project, it's on her, even if it's my fault that she didn't have enough time to edit it. So, it kind of makes sense that she'd take it upon herself to rush me.”

  “That does make sense, I suppose.” I quirked my head thoughtfully, then scowled when Dominick swooped in like a hawk and stole a piece of California roll before the plate had even made it to the table. “Manners, you neanderthal,” I chastised him.

  “Leave me be. I'm grumpy.”

  “Fine,” I sighed, letting him have his way.

  The next day when I came home from school, Melinda was on the loveseat again. This time, Dominick was nowhere to be found.

  She stretched and yawned as she looked up at me from her ereader. “Welcome home.”

  “Thanks,” discomfort was apparent in my voice. “Where's Dominick?”

  “He's in his office. He's not allowed to come out until I say so.”

  “That's just . . . weird.”

  “I've gotta do what I've gotta do to get him to do what he's gotta do.”

  “Don't you think he could get it done on his own?” I tried not to sound unwelcoming, but I wasn't sure how else to word it.

  “If I did, I wouldn't be here.” Melinda gave me a coy smile. “There will be no need for you to cook for him tonight. I stocked him up on snacks and finger foods so that he wouldn't have to leave his office.”

  “Wow. You're really serious about this. I don't know whether to thank you or . . .”

  She laughed, “I realize this probably makes you very uncomfortable, but my job is a lot different than Dominick's. He works for the publishing company, but he's somewhat of a freelancer. Once his contract is up, it's up to him whether he stays or moves on to publish elsewhere. I an employed directly with the publishing company. They write my paychecks, and my relationship with them is lasting. If I don't get my job done on time, there are more serious repercussions for me. That's why it's so important for me to keep him on track.”

  “Don't you have other books you could be editing though?”

  “Not right now. This time slot is reserved for his book, which is why I'm spending it trying to get him motivated,” Melinda paused. “You look horribly awkward standing there holding that heavy backpack. How about you put that down and you and I go grab some dinner together?”

  “That hardly seems fair, feeding him finger foods while you and I go out to eat.”

  “I think it's perfectly fair. He wouldn't be missing out if he had gotten his work done on time.”

  “I can hear you guys,” Dominick called from his office in a less than chipper tone.

  “Even more reason for us to be on our way, hm?” Melinda gave me a look as to say it wasn't an option.

  With a heavy sigh, I dropped my backpack off in my bedroom and then followed her out the door. When I passed by Dominick's office, he was slumped in front of his desk staring at his computer with angry death eyes. I highly doubted any work was getting done in there. Maybe if we left, he'd relax a bit.

  Melinda's car wasn't much less pretentious than Dominick's. She drove a black Escalade that swallowed her petite frame when she stepped inside, and mine as well.

  “You must have a family,” I commented as she put the key in the ignition.

  “Nope. I got it in the divorce.”

  “Oh.” I sank into the seat and kept my mouth shut while we drove down the road to The Cheesecake Factory.

  “Have you eaten here before?” she asked when we pulled up in front of it.

  “A few times.”

  “They have good cheesecake.”

  “It's in the name.”

  The smile she gave me was sarcastic, but there was something friendly about it that didn't make it so unsettling.

  We walked inside and waited to be seated. The entire time, I found myself staring at Melinda while she wasn't looking. There was no ring on her finger, so I could only assume she hadn't replaced her ex-husband yet. Of course, that didn't mean she wasn't dating someone. I hoped she was dating someone. Even though Dominick had shown nothing but disdain towards her, I didn't like the idea of the two of them being alone together.

  “So, how long have you known Dominick?” I asked after we were seated and the waitress came to take our orders.

  “Since Behind Her Green Eyes.”

  “Wow. Since the beginning then.”

  “Yes. Since the beginning.” She grinned fondly. “And you've known Dominick since before the beginning. You're Tammy's sister.”

  “He told you that, huh?” I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear nervously.

  “There's not much he doesn't tell me. He leads a rather boring life. When there's something to talk about, it's not hard to get him to talk.”

  “I s
uppose. What else has he told you about me?”

  “That you make him happy.”

  “Right now I just feel like a burden. He told me after you left the other day that his production has fallen since I moved in.”

  “It's true, but I don't think he minds it.”

  “Your publishing company minds it though.”

  “Well, yes, but that's because it's a company. Companies like their employees to pick up on production, not to slack off.”

  “But I thought his production was already higher than most.”

  “It is, but that only means he's held to higher expectations.”

  “That's what he said too.”

  “Listen, Kim, I know it might be hard for a while, but I'd appreciate it if you and Dominick had as little contact as possible these next few months while he's finishing up his contract. I talked to him about getting you a short-term apartment, but he refused. So, we're just going to have to make this work out somehow. If there's anything you need, come to me first, not him. If you need to go to the store, or you want to get out of the house, just ask, and I'll be happy to take you wherever you need to go.”

  “I didn't realize I was that much of a hindrance to him that I should move out,” I grumbled.

  “Not a hindrance, but a distraction. None of this is meant to offend you, I just don't think you realize how far behind he's gotten, and it's not just his life that's affected. I wouldn't be speaking so bluntly with you if it wasn't important.”

  “Alright,” I sighed. “I'll do my best to distance myself while he finishes up these novels. But afterward, your company better start being more reasonable. Dom is a person. He's not some machine that can pump novels out at the same pace forever. People's lives change. They need to understand that.”

  “Businesses don't particularly care about the lives of their employees. They care about deadlines and money. They're greedy. You'd do well to remember that for when you graduate from college.”

  We spent the rest of the meal talking about other stuff, like Melinda's nasty divorce and how Dominick had helped her through it. That was why they were on more of a friendly than professional basis.

  “I got that stupid fucking car though. He loved that car. It was a small victory with him getting the house, if you could even call it a victory. I honestly don't know if he was pissed that I got the car. I like to think of him sitting in our house stewing over it, not that he couldn't just go down and buy another one. As far as I know, he didn't though.