The Honeymoon Affair: Don't miss the gripping and romantic new contemporary novel from No. 1 bestse

Chapter 16

Inspiration comes of working every day.

Charles Baudelaire

I stride into the offices of Xerxes Publishing, with their views over Lincoln’s Inn Fields, wearing my favourite purple dress, an almost matching purple coat and a pair of black platform boots to add height and presence. I’m a vibrant splash of colour among a lot of black and white, because the Xerxes office is smack in the heart of the legal district. When Graham’s dad set up the business, he rented space from his older brother, who had a law firm, and they’ve been here ever since. Graham sometimes jokes that there’s as much fiction in the law as in his own business. One of his most successful authors – after Charles – writes legal thrillers. Sadly not a client of mine, though.

Graham gets up from behind his large old-fashioned desk with its green leather inlay (a gift to his father from his barrister brother) and walks around to shake my hand and offer me coffee. We share pleasantries as we wait for it to arrive. As yet, he hasn’t said anything about A Caribbean Calypso. I feel a trickle of nervous perspiration on my back and breathe slowly and evenly.

Effie, his PA, comes in with a pot of coffee, milk, sugar and two cups on a red lacquer tray. She places the tray carefully on the desk and pours the coffee.

‘Milk no sugar?’ she says as she looks me.

I nod.

Graham takes his coffee black with three lumps.

‘Well,’ he says, when Effie leaves, ‘Charles has certainly provided us with an interesting read.’

‘More than interesting,’ I say. ‘Riveting. Compelling. Exciting. Completely enthralling.’

‘You think?’

I feel my stomach tense.

‘I absolutely do, and I hope you do too,’ I say.

‘I do, actually.’ He stirs his coffee. ‘It’s great fun. And beautifully written.’

‘No more than anyone would expect from Charles.’

‘But it’s clearly not a literary novel. Not by any stretch of the imagination.’

‘It’s literary crime in the tradition of P. D. James,’ I say. ‘I think it’s a great direction for him to have taken and it will bring lots of new readers to his books.’

‘It’s nothing like what I was expecting.’

I tell Graham that we can do great things with it, raise Charles’s profile even higher and maybe even win the Golden Dagger or another crime award. Then I list all the things Xerxes can do to make that happen.

He smiles. ‘You’re a born saleswoman, you know that, Ariel?’

‘I’m merely pointing out the advantages of having a book like this from him.’

‘I think he should work with a different editor,’ says Graham.

I’m not sure how Charles or Sophia will feel about that and say so.

‘Sophia agrees that someone who specialises in crime might be a good idea,’ Graham assures me. ‘We have a recent hire who’s a better fit for this book. Sydney Travers.’

‘It’ll be a different experience for Charles to work with a man,’ I say.

‘Syd is a woman,’ says Graham. ‘She joined us earlier in the year. She’s edited crime before. So perhaps it’s a serendipitous moment for us all. I wanted you to meet her anyhow, because I’ve earmarked her for Avery’s latest. As you know, his own editor is off on sabbatical next year.’

I wince. Given the edge between Charles and Avery, the idea of them sharing an editor isn’t exactly compelling. On the other hand, Graham is committed to publishing the book, which means that Charles will get paid and so will I. The most important thing is making sure Charles has the right editor, but I can’t ignore the commercial reality of the situation. Besides, Avery’s next book isn’t due for ages yet, so he and Charles won’t be being edited at the same time. Honestly, keeping tabs on these guys and their fragile egos is a juggling act in itself.

‘Sounds great,’ I say.

‘I’ll call her now.’

Graham picks up the phone and has a brief conversation. A moment later, a young woman, ebony hair in a severe ponytail and wearing a black skirt and white blouse, walks into the room. She looks as though she’s lost her way from the barristers’ offices.

‘Syd, meet Ariel. Ariel, this is Sydney Travers. She’s read the book already.’

‘And I love it.’ Behind her black-framed glasses, Syd’s brown eyes light up. ‘So clever and refreshing and smart. It does need quite a bit of work to make it the best it can be, but I’m sure we will get there.’

‘Excellent,’ I say. ‘Graham says you’ve edited crime before?’

‘For Strychnine Books,’ she replies.

Well, that’s a positive. Strychnine is a niche crime publisher and has published some great novels.

‘I’ll talk to Charles and we can set up a Zoom. I doubt we could do an in-person meeting this side of Christmas,’ I say. ‘He’s very excited about the novel and definitely wants the best possible people working with him.’

‘I look forward to meeting him. I’m thrilled at the chance to work with him.’

I get the feeling she’ll handle him well. And I think he’ll like her.

Syd goes back to her desk, and I tell Graham that I’ll chat to Charles but that I’m sure he’ll be eager to receive Syd’s editorial notes and push on with the rewrites.

‘Great,’ says Graham. ‘It’s a bit of a gamble for us, you know.’

‘It’s a sure thing, Graham,’ I say.

‘I love your confidence.’

‘My confidence is in my author and in you.’

He laughs. ‘Always a pleasure to see you, Ariel,’ he says.

‘And you.’

We shake hands again and I leave his office. I wait until I’m out of the building and leaning against the wall before punching the air and reminding myself that I’m a brilliant agent.

I meet Ekene and Maya for dinner that evening. We go to a modern Spanish restaurant in Soho, where we order paella Valenciana and more cocktails than we should, given that it’s a weekday. But it’s also nearly Christmas and the restaurant is buzzing with people drinking even more than us. There’s an end-of-season feel about things, as though nobody cares about tomorrow. And I don’t care either. Because Graham has accepted Charles’s book and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I FaceTimed Charles from my hotel, and because I couldn’t keep the beam off my face, he knew immediately that everything was OK.

‘He loves it but is suggesting a different editor.’ I made my tone and my expression excited and positive. ‘A young woman named Sydney Travers. She has experience in the genre.’

‘I thought we were transcending genre?’

‘It’s a crime novel, Charles. That’s a genre.’

‘But it’s my crime novel. Not any old crime novel.’

He was back on the horse of confidence, obviously.

‘Of course. But better to have someone who’s good at it, don’t you think? After all, you had your beta reader look at it precisely because she had experience.’

‘You’re right.’ His voice softened. ‘Thank you so much, Ariel. You’re a superb agent. You really are.’

‘I do my best.’

‘I couldn’t manage without you.’

‘I know.’ I laughed.

‘So tell us about the book,’ demands Ekene as the waiter arrives with the bottle of champagne I ordered.

I give them a brief résumé.

‘Sounds interesting.’ Maya takes a sip of champagne. ‘How are Xerxes going to publicise it?’

‘We haven’t talked about the campaign yet.’

‘I’d be happy to work on it,’ she says.

Maya has done work for Xerxes in the past and would be a good choice for Charles’s PR, as she’s experienced with crime novels. I tell her I’ll talk to Graham.

‘Congratulations to you and to Charles.’ Ekene raises her glass. ‘The poster people for civilised break-ups and working brilliantly together.’

‘We seem to get on better apart,’ I say. ‘It was too hard to separate the personal from the professional when we were married. Leaving aside the entire Cosmo Penhaligon episode, Ma Miller was always there sniping away in the background. Which was a bloody cheek when you consider I invited her to all his book launches and the premiere of the movie. I’m glad not to have her in my life any more.’

‘You don’t need that negative energy.’ Maya also raises her glass. ‘Nothing but positivity tonight, Ariel.’

I’m full of positivity. I’m delighted to be out with my friends and delighted that everything’s going to work out for Charles and A Caribbean Calypso. After all, despite everything, he and I are still a team. We know each other better than anyone. Even though there have been bumps on the road, we always want the best for each other.

We always will.