24. Chapter 24
24
A Bloody Miracle
This proposal is going to drive me to insanity.
But I want to get it. I want it more than I’ve ever wanted any contract here, but I’ve been burning the candle at both ends to make this the best pitch ever.
I had a call with the design team the other day, and they sent me the mockups for the campaign. I’m so glad they turned out exactly how I imagined. I really think the publishing company is going to like mine. Not only do I have an advantage over Leo, since I work with authors all the time, but I have a little more experience. I’m not saying he’s bad at his job—he does good work—but I’m way more passionate about this contract than he is. I'm an avid reader, and the only thing Leo reads is the laundry label on his fancy fucking sheets.
Since I approved my mockups today, I’m ahead of the schedule I set for myself. Leo and I don’t have long before we have to turn our proposals in, and being ahead of the game bodes well for me.
Leaving early today might throw a hitch in my plans, but I'm not going to ditch Alissa on the one night a week we spend together. I’ve been working late a lot, and if I keep this up, I’m going to burn myself out.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights are my designated early days, but every other day of the week is fair game.
My phone rings, and I pick it up, already knowing who’s on the other side.
“Scott, how are you doing on this fine Tuesday?” I ask him.
“I’m doing wonderful, Ella. You sound ecstatic for this call,” he jokes. Financial planning is boring as hell to me, but you have to do it. Marketing costs a lot of money, and I have to figure out where to allocate specific funds for the campaign.
A lot of publishing companies run ads on different sites—mostly retailers that stock books. Social media ads are also a huge part of my campaign. With the explosion of new readers on all these different sites, independently published authors have had to step up on marketing. The same goes for publishing houses.
“I’m always excited to talk numbers with you.” I truly mean that. Scott is one of my favorite people to work with. He’s a cut and dry kind of guy, and he makes this part of my job easy.
“I saw your projected estimates, and honestly, I think this is doable, especially with the proposed budget they gave you. You’d end up being under by a little bit, and most places enjoy saving money in any way they can.”
“Plus, it would work well, since it would be evenly split through a few different places.” And then, judging off how those do, whichever site or retailer has the best click and purchase rate, we could always spend more there over an app that’s not doing so well.
Some sites don’t do well with certain books of certain genres. It’s all a guessing game. So, if one site doesn't perform as well, we can take some money we would use there and spend it where clicks are higher and more effective. It’s foolproof.
“Do you think it’s okay then? Did you have enough time to look? Because we can always chat tomorrow if—”
“Ella, stop. I ran your projections three different times, and they all came up the same. It’s perfect. I’d approve this immediately.”
“I knew I liked you,” I tell him, a smile on my face.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Ella. You know I like working with you. You’re more organized than anyone else I know.”
“Well, I have to be.”
“I know,” Scott sighs on the other side of the line. “Is that all? Or did you need anything else?”
“Nothing right now, Scott. Thank you for all your help.” I look at the time and notice it’s almost four. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
I hang up the phone with him and start to gather all my shit, but movement across the hallway catches my eye.
Why is Imogen in Leo’s office? My alarm bells are ringing, but when she closes the door and sits across from Leo, it doesn't seem like work talk, but maybe it is?
I don't care. It doesn't concern me.
I really hope I don’t get caught in traffic when I leave, but we’ll see. I stop by Rae’s office before I leave.
“I’m headed out for the day,” I tell her.
“How’s the proposal going? I feel like we’ve barely talked lately. The two of us have been so busy.”
I decide I can spare five minutes for her as I sit down in her very colorful office. “What’s been up with you?”
“Well, I heard Brad and John talking about Leo in the kitchen. Brody was there too. The three of them are so far up Leo’s ass. I think they’re going to recruit him to golf together.”
Oh, fuck. Of course Leo would get along with those fuckers. But I can’t imagine him playing golf. That seems more up Grant’s alley than his. “Is that right?”
“Yeah. They love Leo, and I know you don’t, so maybe be careful about what you say around him at home. It could come back to bite you.”
“Well, that won’t be a problem. All Leo and I do is bicker at home, but he’ll be out of my hair soon enough.”
Rae smiles at me. “Good. Now, get home and enjoy your night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll bring you a coffee tomorrow.” I say as I stand. “I think the both of us could use a nice drink to start our morning, don't you?”
“And this is why I love you.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.”
And as I leave the office and head to my car, I notice I’m smiling for real the first time all day. Maybe life is looking up after all the shit thrown my way.
I can only hope.
“I am so ready for tonight,” I say as I get home. Alissa’s already there, and when she meets me in our entryway with a glass of wine, I take a breath. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“Yes, but it never hurts to hear it again.”
“I love you,” I say as I hang my coat up and take a big sip.
One of my favorite things Alissa and I do once a week is Tuesday nights. Wednesday nights are for book club, but Tuesdays are for Alissa and me to unwind. We have dinner together, and usually, the night ends with rewatching reality television shows we’ve seen a million times.
We’ve been doing this tradition for the entire time we’ve lived together. The both of us leave work early every single Tuesday, unless we have a deadline, and whoever gets home first decides what we’re eating.
“What’s on the plate for tonight?”
“Sushi I grabbed on the way home.”
I could cry where I’m standing. Sushi, wine, and Vanderpump Rules is my ideal way of spending my night. It’s like Alissa read my fucking mind.
I watch her put our food on plates, the spread making my mouth water as I queue up the episode we left off on. We’ve started our rewatch and finally reached the part where one of our favorite cast members has come back to the restaurant the cast works in.
“It just wasn’t the same without her,” Alissa says.
“Ugh, I couldn’t agree more. Hands down, the most quotable cast member in the history of the show. Oh turn it up,” I say, hitting Liss’ side, “This line is perfection.”
Alissa scrambles for the remote, turning it up, and we say the lines in perfect unison with our fave: “I’m not sure what I’ve done to you, but I’ll take a Pinot Grigio.”
We laugh into our wine glasses and continue catching up over dinner and our show. About halfway into our third episode, the front door opens, and in walks the third member of this household.
He had to stay late tonight because he was working on his pitch for the publishing house contract, and when I walked by his office when I left, he was talking to Imogen about something. He looked…different. I couldn't really tell what the nature of the conversation was, but it’s not my business anyway.
“Hey, you two.”
“Hi, Leo,” Alissa says. I don’t bother saying anything as I look over at him.
He gives the two of us a weird look. “What the hell is on your face?”
“A face mask,” I tell him as I pause the show.
“Of seaweed?”
I can only laugh when he says that and immediately cover my mouth; there’s no way I voluntarily laughed at something Leo said.
“Actually, yes. Your skin would look great if you tried it, Leo. I swear, it makes for a smoother face. Cleans your pores too,” Alissa tells her brother as she gets up for a refill of wine.
He only tilts his head at us as he heads to his room.
“Liss, can you grab me another California roll?”
“Ditto,” Leo says as he comes back out in checkered pajama pants and no shirt. What is he doing out here?
“It’s girls night, Leo.”
He plops next to me on the couch. “Consider me one of the girls then. Where is this face mask that makes my pores clear?”
“Ella’s bathroom,” Alissa tells him.
“Cool,” he says as he goes over to our now shared space. He’s in there for all of a minute before he comes back out. “Can I put this over my beard?”
“Yes,” I tell him.
He looks at me with a pinched expression. “Alissa?”
“She’s right, Leo.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “Just checking.”
Yeah, I bet . “I don’t fuck around when it comes to skin care, Leo. You should know that by the dozens of products on my side of the counter.”
Alissa comes back into the living room with a small plate, a few different things on it, and I grab a California roll before Leo steals it from me.
“Can we start the show now?” I ask.
“Go ahead,” Leo says as he comes back to the couch, his face also green. “How long do I have to leave this on?”
“Thirty minutes,” I say as the episode keeps playing.
Not even five minutes later, Leo starts asking us questions.
“Wait, so did he cheat on her or not? And what on Earth is ‘motorboating a dick’?” Leo asks. Alissa is giggling, probably shocked this man is paying this much attention. I’ll admit, I am too.
“Leo, it's exactly what it sounds like,” I respond.
“And just watch the show. It all comes out eventually.” Alissa adds.
“I don’t understand why he thought buying her a puppy would get him out of this mess if he’s legitimately going around kissing other women. He must be mad,” Leo says.
As Alissa clears our dishes before I can, I look to Leo.
“You know, for someone who claims to hate reality shows, you sure seemed invested.”
He shakes his head. “I wasn't.”
“Oh, really? Denying it?”
He nods.
“Then how come you looked shocked and distraught when another cheating rumor came out? I could tell you’re into it. I think there’s more to you than meets the eye.”
His voice drops when he responds. “You couldn't be more right about that, Ella.”
I have a feeling there's some sort of double meaning to that, but I disregard it for now as he gets up and heads to his room. He doesn't look back at me before he closes the door.
“Wow, I’m impressed,” Alissa says to me when I drop my wine glass in the sink and start to clean it.
“Why?”
“You two didn't argue all night. At least, not how you usually do.” She throws her hands in the air. “It’s a bloody miracle.”
As she heads to her room, I can’t help but notice she was right. We didn't fight at all tonight. Actually, I had fun just being in his presence. He didn't push my buttons or try to get under my skin. The two of us simply existed around one another, and if I’m not careful, I’ll get used to it.
I can’t afford to get used to anything, because Leo will sweep the rug out from underneath me soon—just like he always does.