Page 10 of Not a Strong Enough Word

And yet, here she is. Even more beautiful than I remember.

Eventually, the commotion dies down. We sit with our team on one side of the large conference table and Scarlett and Trina on the other. Scarlett looks like she might bolt at any minute, with her back ramrod straight and her eyes fixed on the table in front of her. Trina lays a hand on her knee and glances at her questioningly. Scarlett merely nods but doesn’t meet her gaze.

I see now why Trina was being cryptic with Casey on the phone. I also understand what it was about this book that had me in such a chokehold. It’s Scarlett’s. Her words have always had that kind of effect on me.

Casey’s frustrated huff breaks the silence, but it does little to dispel the tension in the room. From the piercing gaze he has pinned on Trina and the drumming of his fingers against the top of the table, my best guess would be he’s about ready to shut this down.

“Well,” he starts, and the word sounds pinched. “This is less than ideal.”

“Can someone explain to me what he is doing here? I pitched this project to you.” If looks could kill, the one Trina gives Casey would have him on the floor.

“And I loved what I read.” Casey’s gaze slides to Scarlett, who still won’t look up, and his expression softens slightly. “It’s beautiful prose, and I guess now I know why. But I signed three high-maintenance debuts this year. I’m booked. Ryan, here, has been in a rut, so I thought this would snap him out of it. I was right.”

Trina’s earrings jingle as she shakes her head. “That doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me that from the start.”

“I won’t lie to you—we wanted this book,” Casey says, and from the way Trina reels back, she didn’t miss his use of the past tense. “You were the one who said the author is skittish, and you wanted this meeting anyway, so I figured this would be a good time to gently pass the project on to Ryan.”

Trina folds her arms over her chest as she leans back in her chair. “You deceived us.”

“So did you,” Casey snaps.

“I like a little drama. So sue me.” Trina throws her hands in the air and brings them down with a light smack on the table. “It’s not every day a best-selling author stages a comeback.”

“Let’s everyone take a breath,” Meri interjects, spreading her palms flat on the table. “All is not lost, surely. And while I don’t know exactly why this is such an issue, from a PR standpoint, it’s brilliant. Since we’re talking about comeback stories, they’re great for publicity, which is, in turn, great for sales. So, can someone please explain how everyone knows each other so we can come to some kind of solution?”

I glance at Scarlett, but her lips are pressed tightly together, and she’s still staring at the table like it’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. Dragging in a deep breath through my nose, I let it fill my lungs before saying, “We dated. Back when Casey and I were both with JMP. Scarlett was one of our authors.” It’s not enough to encompass all that we were to each other, but it’s the best I can do without coming across as the sad sack I’ve been for the last five years.

Meri snorts, and everyone but Scarlett’s gaze flies to her. “I’m sorry.” Her voice is edged with laughter. “That’s it? You dated years ago, and now you’re both, what? In your thirties? And you can’t work professionally together?”

“That’s not it,” Scarlett says almost inaudibly. Fuck, even her voice is more beautiful than I remember. Hearing it fills me with an ache so deep, I’m afraid I might never recover.

But I must have been the only one who heard it, because Trina barrels through. “Surely there’s another editor who could take this on, then.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. JMP will not like it,” Casey responds immediately, without thinking. His hot-headedness is getting the best of him, and I know I’m going to need to speak up soon if we’re going to save this deal.

“Why? You yourself have told me that Anastasios has full autonomy to buy whatever books you think will sell. And this book will sell.” She stabs the table with each word.

“We have autonomy, yes,” Casey admits. “But Scarlett is…not well liked over there.” He avoids looking at her as he mumbles, “No offense.”

Scarlett doesn’t move.

That doesn’t stop Trina. “You and your other editor”—she injects as much disdain as she can into the words—“think this book is great, which it is. Your publicity expert agrees that it could be brilliantly marketed, and I know Anastasios Press could use the buzz from what will not only be a bestseller but a comeback for the literary community. Right, Meri?”

Meri glances at Casey and winces apologetically. “We both know that’s true, Casey.”

“Book deals are about timing and gut feelings as much as the book itself,” he counters.

“You can’t honestly tell me your gut isn’t doing a goddamn happy dance about this one,” Trina shoots back. “You passed it off to him because you knew it was something special.” It doesn’t escape me that she has not once looked at me, nor has she used my name. I groan internally. This is going to be an uphill battle.

“Even so, it’s soured a bit now,” he replies.

“You really want us to take this book to another press, then?” Leave it to Trina to cut right to the chase and call his bluff.

Casey takes a breath to respond, but I don’t let him. “No,” I say sharply, leaving no room for argument. He turns his ire to me in a glare, but that’s okay. I can take it.

I pin my gaze to Scarlett, silently hoping she knows what I’m about to say is for her and her alone. “Becoming is already one of the most breathtaking books I’ve ever read. I would be honored to work on it, but I’m smart enough to offer to step aside and let someone else here have it. That’s how important I think this book will be. But Trina is right. Anastasios needs it. The world needs it.” I need it, I finish silently. But this isn’t about me.

Scarlett still won’t look at me, but her throat works against a swallow. She blinks a few times, and it’s the most emotion I’ve seen from her since I walked into the room.