14. Casey
CASEY
“Imani, thanks for joining us today. I’m excited to talk to you about Keeper of Secrets,” I say.
Imani’s pearly smile lights up her little box on the screen.
We thought about flying her in for a meeting, but she lives in a very small town in Georgia, and the logistics of getting her here just to discuss the possibility of an offer didn’t seem worth it.
A video conference was the next best thing.
At least this way I’ll be able to see her facial expressions when we broach the subject of Trina representing her.
“Thanks, Mr. Endersen. I’m really excited.” She bounces a bit in her seat and adjusts her camera so she’s fully in the frame.
“Call me Casey,” I return warmly. “We’re waiting for one more person to join us”—I glance at the clock—“but suffice it to say, I think your manuscript is really wonderful. I’m sure you deduced that is why I scheduled this meeting.”
She nods enthusiastically, then pulls back a bit, clearly trying to show some restraint.
I have to remind myself not to chuckle at her excitement.
And this also solidifies her need for an agent.
I could probably offer her a hundred dollars right now and she’d take it, even though her book is worth much, much more.
A doorbell sounds through my speakers. “That’ll be the third person we’re waiting on.
” I click around a bit with my heart in my throat.
I intentionally didn’t tell her Trina was coming to this meeting.
It wasn’t my best moment, but if what Trina said last week is true, I didn’t want Imani to reject the idea before hearing us out.
My heart rate has nothing to do with the fact that Trina’s face is currently filling my screen—her platinum hair falling in curated, messy waves to her shoulders, her lips a bright, kissable raspberry.
She looks dewy, as if she just took a quick walk outside in the sweltering July heat.
But when I can feel my pants growing tighter at the sight of her gorgeous smile, I’m glad I decided to work from home today.
A quick glance at Imani tells me Trina wasn’t kidding about her being angry. Where a moment ago there was exuberance, now she’s completely blank bordering on glaring at the screen.
“Imani, I believe you’ve met Trina McBryde.”
She nods once, her lips pressed together. “Briefly.”
Trina adjusts the headphone in her ear and smiles sheepishly. “Hi, Ms. Adrian. It’s good to see you again.”
Imani remains so motionless that, if there weren’t a flicker of light behind her, I would think her screen was frozen.
“Right,” Trina says, leaning forward in her chair.
“I’m guessing Casey didn’t tell you I’d be in this meeting.
” She narrows her eyes slightly, and I imagine she’s looking at my image on her screen.
“He didn’t tell me he wasn’t going to mention it to you, but I can see from your face that this likely feels like an ambush. ”
Imani remains silent, her face neutral. I open my mouth to respond, but Trina holds up her hand to stop me. “We don’t want to put words in your mouth”—she eyes me pointedly—“so why don’t you tell us what you’re thinking?”
Pausing, Imani’s eyes bounce back and forth as she looks at her screen. Judging by the expression on her face, she’s trying to figure out what is okay to tell us and what she should keep to herself.
“If I may?” I try not to smirk at the way I’m asking permission to speak.
Trina nods. “I asked you for this meeting because I want to make an offer on your book. I invited Trina here because she truly is the best in the business, which I’m sure you know if you already sought her out.
” I don’t miss the way Trina’s eyelashes flutter at the compliment.
“I’m not going to rescind an offer because of what you say here today.
You can speak freely without that concern. ”
“She lied to me,” Imani spits out quickly, clear hurt flashing over her face. “She said she didn’t have any connections with young adult publishers, but I approached her because you have worked together in the past.”
“I didn’t knowingly lie to you,” Trina says, firm yet gentle. “I wasn’t aware of Casey’s promotion at the time.”
Imani frowns. “How could you not be aware? You know each other.”
“I was distracted,” Trina offers, and I can’t help but feel like she’s actually talking to me.
I suppose I was the one distracting her. No regrets there.
My turn to jump in. “It was new. Trina and I hadn’t talked in a while.”
Trina’s eyes flash, and her nostrils flare as if she’s trying hard not to laugh. I wish she would—I can imagine the cackle she’d let out. Loud, almost abrasive, and honest. It’d go a long way to break the tension we’re all surely feeling.
“We haven’t worked together in a year,” I say as Trina looks at something off screen. “But we’re old friends.” A second later, my phone lights up where it sits next to my laptop.
Trina: She seems young. Wanna bet 20?
Me: 25.
Trina shakes her head almost imperceptibly, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek not to chuckle.
“So why is she here?” Imani asks curiously.
“I told you I wanted to make you an offer on Keeper of Secrets and the entire series. I can do that without an agent, but it’s in your best interest to have one. Trina can work out the finer points of any contract you sign, whether that’s with me or another publisher—”
“I don’t want to work with another publisher,” Imani interrupts.
Trina gives her a tight smile. “Imani, how old are you? Twenty-five?”
“Twenty.” Imani puffs out her chest with pride. “I’m the youngest person in my creative writing program.”
Those red lips twitch with victory, but she carries on.
“Even better. You’re going to have a long career ahead of you.
I’m guessing you don’t have a lot of experience in this industry, but Casey wants to position your book as his lead title.
That means he’ll have a hand in every detail of your book, from editing to cover design to marketing.
Not someone else on his team. Him. He’s going to do everything he can to ensure your book sells hundreds of thousands of copies. ”
“Why would I want to work with anyone else then, if that’s the case?” Imani counters.
“You probably don’t,” Trina concedes. “But it’s my job to make sure you get the best deal possible.
In order to do that, we should see what else is out there.
Even if he does give you an amazing offer right off the bat, you’ll need someone in your corner to negotiate the rest of it and to handle everything else that comes with that level of notoriety. ”
Fuck, that sounds good. Having Trina keep me in check at work and letting me do the same to her in the bedroom isn’t a kink I thought I had, but apparently I do.
Imani shakes her head. “I’m not entirely opposed to working with you, Ms. McBryde.”
“Call me Trina,” she says. “We don’t need formalities.”
“Fine, Trina. I won’t hold a misunderstanding against you, no matter how hard I find it to believe entirely. I wanted to work with you before, which is why I approached you at Writers and Agents. But I’ll only do it if you give Casey an exclusive submission. I don’t want to work with anyone else.”
“You won’t,” I say confidently, just as Trina chimes in, “Why?”
Face softening, Imani suddenly looks exactly the twenty years old she is. She’s young and almost scared, holding her story close to her heart. Seeing this expression, I know exactly why she wants to work with me specifically before she even speaks.
“You said it yourself—I’m young. I’m Black. I’m from a small, podunk town in the South that no one has ever heard of.” Her eyes flick to the side of the screen I imagine I’m on. “Casey looks like me. I know he’ll take care of my characters in a way another editor might not.”
Trina’s delicate brows furrow, and I can practically see the gears turning in her mind. “Would you prefer to work with an agent of color, Imani?” she asks gently, mindfully, and my heart squeezes. She’ll step aside if Imani wants her to. I have no doubt about that.
Imani is quiet for a moment, considering. “No. I mean, yes, but if Casey trusts you, I trust you. I think.”
Trina chuckles. “Fair enough. You and I can hash out the details later, but if there’s ever a time when you feel I’m not doing my job for whatever reason, you and I can part ways. That will be in your contract with the agency. So you don’t have to trust Casey fully just yet.”
She winks and Imani smiles. And I’m not the least bit surprised that Trina won her over so quickly.
She’s charming and smart and witty. She smooths over rough edges and navigates sticky situations with ease.
Everyone leaves conversations with her feeling like something was accomplished, even when they don’t go in their favor.
Ryan was right. We need Trina because she’s one of the best agents out there.
With congratulations and promises to talk about contracts and specifics soon, Imani logs off. Trina lingers, resting her chin in the palm of her hand and batting her eyelashes.
“So, what do I win?” she asks coyly.
“Dinner.” The word slips out before I can even think about it, probably because I’ve been thinking about sharing a meal with her again since we ordered room service in the hotel.
One of her eyebrows ticks up in question. “I was thinking like ten bucks or something. Dinner feels extravagant.”
“I was planning to make carbonara tonight—”
“Wait. You want to make me dinner? Tonight? Because I guessed her age?”
No, I want to make you dinner tonight because I want to be near you, I think. Outwardly, I just shrug. “If you’re not hungry…”
Trina finally tips her head back and laughs, the sound crackling my speakers. “Let’s not get carried away. Of course I’m hungry. I’m always hungry.”
“Good, then come over in”—my gaze flicks to the clock in the corner of my screen—“an hour?”
Those raspberry lips curl up into a knowing grin. “See you soon.” Then, her screen goes blank.
I quickly disconnect the call and grab my wallet and keys. I hadn’t planned any of this, so now I have an hour to get ingredients for carbonara.