Chapter 11
Bronson
I’m questioning my decision to show up at Chloe’s place right now. She’s staring at me like she sees a spider, not so much like she sees a beloved, former coworker. Also, she’s wearing a wetsuit. I’ve never seen her in anything resembling casual clothes.
“Chloe,” I say as I walk toward her and give her a hug.
She stiffens. I lower my voice. “I want to apologize. Brittany told me that you thought I didn’t know your name. It’s a long story, but I thought it was an inside joke…I’ve always known your name is Chloe.”
She blinks at me. I reach a hand behind my neck, trying to rub some sense into this situation. “I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”
Chloe’s aunt walks over and guides her toward a barstool. “Bronson told me ya’ll worked together in Denver. Him and his grandpa were visiting, and he decided to stop by to say hi. Isn’t that sweet?”
Chloe tilts her head to the right, breathes in and gives a small nod. “Yeah…I just…didn’t know you were in town.”
“Hence the surprise,” Aunt Val says with a chuckle.
“Right,” Chloe says, eyeing me.
“Chloe, have you met Bronson’s grandfather, Kenneth?” Aunt Val motions to my grandpa who is enjoying his cup of coffee. I can tell because he’s got a light, easy smile that I haven’t seen much of since my grandma passed away.
“Nice to meet you,” Chloe says.
Gramps raises his cup and says hello.
I turn to Chloe and quietly whisper, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
She responds with a nod, and I still can’t read the expression on her face beyond bewilderment.
Turning to her aunt, she says, “I’m going to show Bronson the view from the pool.”
“Okay, have fun.” Valerie smiles wide, and then jumps back into conversation with my grandpa.
I had to talk Gramps in to coming along on this trip. He said he was doing fine, and maybe he was, but I feel better seeing how he’s holding up for myself. I told him I was having a hard time with work and could use some company. The fact that he would be helping me seemed to be what pushed him over the edge to finally agree to come. I flew to Arizona, picked him up and brought him to the airport. Then we drove from Orlando to Sunshine Shores. We got settled into our Airbnb last night. Gramps couldn’t believe we had the whole house to ourselves.
After brunch, we left to find Chloe at the address on her Aunt’s postcard. I felt a twinge of guilt ambushing her. But, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to be strategic in my line of work. Usually, I’m more subtle, and it’s at a restaurant or event. For example, if I know a potential client or VIP will be in attendance, I make a point to casually run into them. One thing leads to another, and then I invite them out to dinner or for drinks or to a sporting event.
I knew the Chloe situation would be more delicate, though. I was hopeful my grandpa’s presence would be a nice buffer, and so far, it’s working.
Chloe and I only know each other in a polite professional setting, so I figured she would be surprised to see me. However, I was trusting that once I explained why I came, she’d be flattered.
Now it’s showtime, and I’m suddenly feeling a giant lump in my throat. My m.o. is cool, calm and collected. I wish someone would tell my sweat glands that because my arm pits currently feel like Niagara Falls.
If I don’t get Chloe to agree to the proposal Mitch and I came up with, I can kiss my top client goodbye and roll out the red carpet for a PR nightmare.
Chloe opens the sliding glass door, and I follow her out to a patio next to a pool with an impressive beach view. She sits in a chair at a small glass table and motions for me to do the same. Her silence is throwing me off.
I swallow and soften my face into a smile. “Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. Your aunt seems really nice.”
Finally Chloe’s mouth turns from a straight line to the smallest curve. “How did you find me?”
Clearing my throat, I pull the postcard from my back pocket. “Brittany gave it to me.”
Chloe lets out a puff of air and scrunches her nose.
Better to keep this conversation moving. “I’ll get right to it. Mitch Landry was very…” I try to use a word that doesn”t paint Mitch to be a screaming toddler, “disappointed that you would no longer be his editor. So much so that he wants to hire you himself.”
Chloe’s eyebrows shoot up. “He…wants to hire me as his editor?”
“Yes, but to sweeten the deal, he wants to offer you the opportunity to co-write his next book with him.”
Her mouth drops open. “Why would he do that?”
“Well, when I asked Linda why you were leaving MVP she said she thought it might have something to do with you wanting to be an author.”
Chloe brings her hands together in front of her face like she’s praying before bringing them to rest over her mouth. I was hoping the offer to co-write a book with Mitch would be met with more exuberance. Maybe she’s just stunned. “What do you think?”
“Mitch Landry, the man considered to be the next Nicolas Sparks, wants to co-write a book with…me?”
I nod and smile. Now she’s getting the significance of this. “Yes, he would like you to finish editing his current manuscript and then co-write his next book with him.”
“Me?”
“Yes,” I say slowly, hoping it really sinks in this time.
“My name would be on the front cover, next to his?”
“Well, his name would be above yours in a slightly bigger font, but your name would be below that on the front cover.”
“Wow,” a giant smile spreads across her face. I don’t know how I never noticed, but Chloe has a beautiful smile. Between that and the wetsuit that accentuates her curves, I’m suddenly having a hard time concentrating on business. I lean in to make myself focus.
“So, what do you think? Are you interested?”
She narrows her gaze. “What’s the catch?”
“There’s no catch other than you’d have to work more closely with me.” I wink, assuming that”s a plus. “Mitch is willing to pay you twenty-five percent more than MVP. He’d want you in Boulder next week, so you could get started right away.”
“You…Mitch…Boulder…Colorado…”
I lean back in my chair sensing the win. “Yeah, we could get you set up in a hotel until you find a place.”
Chloe blinks repeatedly, and then chews on her lip. “I’m sorry, I cannot wrap my head around this. Why me? MVP has plenty of editors.”
“He appreciates your attention to detail and…Mitch is superstitious. You were his editor when his first book made The New York Times Bestseller list.”
You’d think his aversion to change and superstitious nature would give me job security, but apparently agents are not included.
Chloe stares out at the ocean. “Can I think about it?”
I try to hide my disappointment. Mitch is not going to be happy. He assumed she’d jump on the opportunity to work with him immediately. I’ll have to buy her some time. “Yeah no problem. Can you let me know by tomorrow night? Mitch is anxiously awaiting your answer.”
“Okay.” Chloe blows out a breath, and her smile returns. “I still can”t believe you”re here…and that you know my real name.”
Rubbing my temple, I exhale. “I’m sorry about that. When Brittany told me, I felt like such a jerk. I thought you knew I was kidding.”
Chloe shakes her head and laughs to herself. “I should have corrected you.”
That’s something I’ve been thinking about. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because,” she holds out her hand toward me. “You’re Bronson Campbell…literary agent with celebrity clients and basically a celebrity in your own right.”
I’ve been to my share of red carpet events, but compared to my clients, I hardly feel like a celebrity. “I don’t know about that. I’m just a normal guy.”
Chloe’s eyes sparkle as she smiles. “I don’t know about that.” She glances down at her phone to avert her gaze from mine. “Oh shoot, I need to get going. Can I call you tomorrow with my answer?”
“Sure, yeah.” I stand and push in my chair. I’m trying to sound casual and not like my career depends on her answer. “Could I take you out to dinner tonight? We could talk more?”
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Chloe’s face lights up and then dims. “Wait, no. Sorry, I have plans tonight. Thank you for the offer though.”
I’m disappointed, but not just because I won’t get to pitch the job further. If I’m honest, I’m seeing Chloe in a whole new light. I always thought she was pretty, but there’s something about seeing her outside a stale office that has me hoping for more time with her.
“What about lunch tomorrow?”
Chloe puts a hand to her mouth. “Yeah, that should work.”
“Great, can I pick you up at noon?”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
I watch her duck inside. Her wetsuit squeaks as she walks. I feel relieved and excited that I’ll get to meet up with her in less than twenty-four hours. I’m supposed to be here just for business. That’s what I care about the most, right?
I pound a hand to my forehead. Chloe is not my type in the least. She’s quiet, kind and reserved. I’m more into the aspiring super models and reality star hopefuls. Maybe that makes me shallow, but I don’t want anything serious. I’m not planning to settle down…ever. From what I can tell, Chloe is sweet and genuine. She definitely deserves someone who isn’t commitment averse. My brain knows this, but yet I’m curious.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking about Chloe as more than a deal for my client. I can’t be interested in her, and I definitely can’t date her. It would break my number one rule.
I take a deep breath and pull out my phone. The fact that I’m feeling attracted to a woman like Chloe makes my stomach churn. It’s official. I really am having a midlife crisis. Panic is setting in, so I click on Instagram to find the name of the model who DM’ed me a few weeks ago. She said she was from somewhere near Orlando. Maybe I can meet up with her tonight and remember all the perks of being Bronson Campbell, “the young, up-and-coming agent with movie star looks,” according to TMZ.