“But your place has a bathtub,” she said slowly, recalling their intimate moment, which stuck out in her memory more than any of the orgasms he’d given her.
Jay chuckled softly before responding. “Then my house it is. Should I order dinner?”
“That sounds good. I’ll call you when I’m on my way, I’ve just gotten to the house.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great.”
Kasey ended the call and took a deep breath. It wasn’t her first time meeting the author, but she’d never had more riding on a meeting in her life. Janice Ross was the top writer in several fields. She wrote in different genres, which was a rarity for authors. Rarer still, she was great in every field she tried.
The red brick house was modest, but still found a way to impress. The pathway to the house was lined with sunflowers, and Kasey smiled at the small bookshelf on the front porch, thinking it was something she would enjoy at her own house one day.
Janice opened the door before Kasey could ring the bell, and the two greeted each other like long lost friends.
“It’s been a while, Kasey. How are you?” Janice asked while welcoming Kasey inside.
She’d made a pitcher of lemonade, and the two sat with a glass in their hands as they caught up on each other’s lives. Leaving out her chapter at Renee’s, Kasey told Janice all about her decision to move up in the industry and join a large publishing house.
“I heard about that. An agent fighting for clients in the publishing industry—how does one stay sane?” she teased.
It was common practice for agents to care only about selling the most books. And that made the writers despise the partnerships. Once partnering with a publishing house, the work usually suffered because in order to reach massive success, the books needed to appeal to the masses, something these artists aren’t concerned with.
Kasey had made a living by allowing writers to focus on the work, while she fought for their artistic freedom and integrity, unlike her competition. It was customary for agents to work with the publishing house, so the writers saw themselves at odds with both their agent and publishing house at once.
In contrast, Kasey chose to partner with her writers, creating a better opportunity for the work to represent the true intentions of the author, as opposed to the more commercial concerns of the publishing house.
“Passions Publishing is different,” Kasey began the spiel she’d been practicing all day. Jay had given her the green light to discuss the new project with Janice, but she knew it would be best sold by the two of them working together.
“It’s not about how many books you can sell. The world has already seen you have that ability. You’ve topped the best seller list with every release for the past five years.” Kasey said, watching Janice lift her chin just a little higher with pride.
Her writing was very transparent and real, something that should never be watered down. Janice started independent, and even when she partnered with companies, it was solely for distribution, never in a way that allowed for advice or compromise.
“You’d think that would be enough for publishers to think I’ve got this figured out. But, no, they always think they can make it better. I’m not interested in transforming my work to make more money, Kasey.”
Listening intently, Kasey nodded along while Janice continued, detailing meetings she’d had with publishers who made guarantees about paydays she would have if she just signed her life away on the dotted line. It was disrespectful to her for businessmen to step into her creative space and speak about her writing as if it was novelty.
Kasey understood that. She always had. As a young child, she found herself on the opposite end of a bully more times than she could count. Books were her solitude, and she would get lost in fictional worlds that were much more appealing than her adolescent reality.
While she had never written a book herself, Kasey believed in their value and never once attempted to get an author to change anything about their work. Her goal had been, and always would be, to find the best way to reach the right audience, regardless of size.
Janice Ross happened to have the kind of work that would appeal to larger audiences, and just assumed it would come at a price she wasn’t willing to pay. All Kasey needed to do was let her know about the benefits and resources she’d gain working with Passions Publishing, but Kasey knew it would be better to show her.
Besides, she had a secret weapon up her sleeve, one that Janice could not possibly be prepared for. She had Jay Canton on her team, as the biggest supporter she could ask for professionally. Her mind drifted to seeing him late that night, and her lips curled up with anticipation.
“What are you grinning about?” Janice asked, leaning forward to refill both glasses. Janice was a petite woman, but you could look take one look at her and tell she didn’t take any shit.
Her blonde hair in her signature pixie cut, and her narrow face was never hidden behind layers of make-up. She was boho chic, and you got a sense of security being around someone as comfortable with themselves as Janice was.
“I just have some things I’d like to show you, and thinking about your reaction makes me more than excited.” Kasey answered, telling the truth, even if it was a bit twisted.
“Well, you know they say excitement is contagious, Kasey.”
“How about you come by the office and we can have a formal meeting. I’ll show you what all the excitement is all about.” Kasey said, making her pitch.
It was now or never. This was what she needed to make the new venture successful, and she could feel in her bones that Janice was opening up to the idea.
“Now, you know I only took this meeting out of respect for you, Kasey. I don’t want to sign to a traditional publishing house. They don’t have what I need,” she looked disappointed, the way people cringe when delivering bad news.
But she’d said the word that Kasey had waited to hear—traditional. Janice didn’t want to sign to a traditional publishing house, but what Jay and Kasey had dreamed up was anything but.
“Give me one opportunity to show you what I’m talking about, and if you don’t like it, we’ll never do more than enjoy this delicious lemonade when I come to visit you.”
Janice laughed before raising her glass in the air. As the glasses clinked together in a toast, Kasey felt like she’d won a championship and looked forward to delivering the trophy to Jay late that night, knowing how proud he would be at her accomplishment.
Chapter 55
Jay
“Mr. Canton, do you want me to have lunch brought in?” Jessica asked, disturbing Jay from his emails.
“Uh, no. Keep it casual,” he instructed, before returning to work.
Kasey was pretty guarded about the author she would be bringing in, but he was prepared regardless. In the end, he was selling Kasey’s idea, which he could do in his sleep. If he could convince a skeptical executive and an entire accounting department that it was a great idea, he didn’t think he would have trouble with one indie writer.
It was a welcome feeling to be so energized and refreshed, something he had lacked while Kasey was working for Renee. Having her back in the office was great, but going home to her every night was even better. The two had been spending each night together since the weekend, discussing everything from their favorite movies to marketing campaigns for the new division of Passions.
Kasey was everything Jay never knew he wanted in a woman. She added value to everything she touched, including him, and his business. There was a reason he hadn’t moved forward with any women he’d had relationships with in the past. To garner his undivided attention, Jay required much more than sex. Kasey intrigued him, made him think, and in many ways she improved him.
He was just finishing up an email when Mitchell peeked his head in with a few updates about the day. The two chatted about staffing cutbacks, as well as which team members they saw as good fits for the new division.
Mitchell was fully onboard with everything, which was a gr
eat asset to the team. Building businesses was Jay’s strong suit, but building relationships was Mitchell’s. He knew the strengths and weaknesses of all the employees and could quickly identify the right person for the right role without hesitation.
By the time their meeting was over, the outline for the new company was all but ready to launch. Mitchell had presented a few options for the building, and Jay selected his favorite with an agreement to make an offer before the end of the business day. Things were coming along quickly, which was just what Jay wanted.
“Mr. Canton, I have Ms. Wright and Ms. Ross for you,” Jessica chimed through the intercom speaker a few minutes after Mitchell left Jay’s office.
“Send them in,” Jay announced, standing to button his suit jacket as he walked towards the doorway.
Kasey led the way, wearing a light pink dress that draped over her body. Jay clenched his teeth to contain the lustful smile he felt rising from his groin.
“Ms. Wright,” he greeted Kasey with a nod, and she smiled with a gleam in her eyes that made him feel proud and possessive. Not only was she so impressive, but she was his girlfriend. And that felt good.
“Mr. Canton, allow me to introduce you to Janice Ross,” Kasey introduced the writer, who needed no introduction. Janice was well known not only for her great writing, but for her chart topping numbers.
When Kasey first told him about having a writer in mind who could produce sufficient earnings to pay for the new division, he thought she was simply exaggerating, or over-valuing her reach. But, Janice Ross had more than enough earnings to cover the start-up expenses they were incurring to bring Kasey’s vision to life.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jay tried his best to appear less than knowledgeable about Janice’s reputation, hoping not to appear like a shark in the water. “Come on in and have a seat,” he led the two women to the seating area in his office. Kasey sat on the sofa with Janice, while he sat across from them in a loveseat.
“This is a nice office,” Janice looked around the office with wide eyes.
“Thank you,” Jay straightened his tie.
“Janice, I wanted you to meet Jay because he’s not like the average large publishing house CEO. He’s much more in touch with artistry,” Kasey began. Jay wasn’t expecting her to begin with that approach. He didn’t even know she thought of him that way.
“I noticed that from the reclaimed desk,” Janice said, with a nod towards his amazing wooden desk.
“They had to lift it through the window, after installation!” Kasey exclaimed, and the two erupted in laughter.
Jay didn’t even remember telling Kasey the story about his desk, or why it meant so much to him, but clearly she had picked up on it. He smiled, watching the two women interact until Kasey focused on him.
“I’ve had a vision for a publishing company unlike anything else currently available, Janice. Something that will help to develop and cultivate artists like yourself, without molding you into something you’re not. My thinking is simple—you’re a superstar already. Like we discussed yesterday, you can sell books, there’s no doubt about that.”
“What could benefit you is a team approach to execute your vision cohesively. So that your media management can meet with your distribution, and your publicist can sit in meetings with your management staff.”
Kasey continued outlining her new business, and Jay could see Janice’s face softening with interest. He wanted to let Kasey make the sale on her own, but she kept looking across the coffee table in his direction, so he knew she thought he should speak.
He observed that Kasey had no idea how powerful she was. She thought she needed Jay, but she didn’t. Kasey would be a superstar on her own, and he wanted to make sure she knew that, well before the new company reached the success he felt was inevitable.
“There’s a reason we brought you in, Janice. We want independent writers, because you’re the ones who know your business like no one else. All we want to do is assist you, but luckily for you, we’ve mastered the art of supplementing. We take what you give us and take it to the next level.”
“From marketing and promotion, to crossover and international releases. We present options, not direction. That we leave to you, because we truly believe that no one is better versed in your vision than you. And that vision is priceless. We don’t want to silence or distort it, we want to amplify it and broadcast your work around the world.”
Kasey was smiling as Jay reiterated everything she’d shared with him about her vision for the company, in a much more concise way. Jay realized that may be what drew her to him. She had the brains, but Jay was her confidence while she was still working up the nerve to sell herself.
He had never considered himself to be any type of trophy, but for Kasey, he would wear the title proudly. He wanted to help her in any way he could, and seeing that he made her happy was enough of an accomplishment.
“I like what you’re doing here. Even more, I like that you’re starting with indie artists. We’re often over-looked, as if we don’t want help, but we do! We just want it on our own terms, and the freedom you’re both describing is exactly what I’ve been searching for my whole career.” Janice’s voice cracked as she finished. She was overwhelmed by their pitch, and Kasey leaned across to hug her, something Jay would never have had the inclination to do.
He was suddenly aware that they made a good team, the yin and yang of selling. Janice agreed to join the team, and after signing all the paperwork, announced that she was going out to celebrate the new venture. Jay insisted she go to the rooftop lounge at the hottest restaurant downtown in his car. She graciously accepted, and he informed her everything would be on Passions.
“Can I speak to you for a second,” Jay gripped Kasey’s elbow as she moved to leave the office following Janice. They bid her goodbye, and then Jay closed his office door to give them privacy.
“I know who she is,” he announced.
“Janice?” Kasey played coy.
“Yes, Janice. She’s the top seller in mysteries and sci-fi,” he said, placing one hand on each of her hips as he pulled her close to him.
“That’s why I never said her name,” she admitted, smiling sweetly.
“That’s a huge accomplishment, signing her, Kasey. That’s the push we need, but we couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You wouldn’t need to do it without me,” she joked, but Jay wanted to make sure she understood that she was not at fault for the position Passions was in.
“Kasey, you don’t owe me anything. I gave up the company willingly, because I needed you to know how much you mean to me. And I’d do it all again to have you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give up for you.”
Kasey lifted up on her toes, “You’ve made my dream come true, Jay. I owe you everything.”
Before he could respond, her soft lips were pressed against his, and Jay melted into her, wishing they could end the day early and climb back into bed. She was taking over his world, and he enjoyed every second of it.
Chapter 56
Kasey
It had been a while since Kasey and Nicole had any girl time, and Migos was the perfect place to do it. The best friends had just put in their orders when the waiter returned with their drinks.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” Nicole said, before taking a sip of her margarita.
“I know! I’ve had so much going on,” Kasey shook her head, recalling how much her life had changed since she’d last had a relaxing visit with her friend.
Nicole was always the voice of reason Kasey needed in her life. Much more in touch with her emotions, Nicole could help Kasey identify what she was feeling before creating a solution. Often, it seemed that when things were going right, she didn’t need the meetings as much, but that was never a reason not to spend time with her closest friend.
“Thank God that hideous Renee is out of the picture. Have you heard anything new from her?” Nicole asked, taking another sip of her blue drink.<
br />
“No, I’m hoping that she’s history. I can only imagine the problems she’s having trying to run a business the size of the Passions house she ended up with while maintaining Rockwell. There’s a reason no one with any sense wants overnight success—you won’t be prepared for it. She must be drowning in costs and overdue deals.”
Kasey had given little thought to Renee, but now that she did, she realized how much trouble her former boss must find herself in. She was never great at managing a business, and now she had too.
“So, how is it working with Jay? Did he give you back your same position or what?” Nicole asked, intrigued. It wasn’t normal for her to be so left out of Kasey’s life, so she knew there had to be something taking up her time, and she hoped it had something to do with the only man who had touched her friend’s heart in years.
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