3. Melanie
Melanie poured her coffee into her keep cup and grabbed her car keys. She cocked her ear to the stairs to hear any signs of life. Nothing.
She climbed the stairs, went into her bedroom and found Frank fast asleep. For God’s sake. She shook him awake. ‘Frank!’
‘What?’
‘It’s seven thirty, you need to get the girls up.’
He rubbed his eyes. ‘A few more minutes. I’ll get them up at seven forty-five. Plenty of time.’
‘No, Frank. If you do that, they’ll be late for school again. Come on.’
He raised a hand. ‘It’s okay, Melanie. I’ll drive them in, don’t stress.’
Melanie resisted telling him to stick ‘don’t stress’ up his arse. It was easy for Frank to live his life at a chilled-out level because he had a wife who was out there worrying, organizing and funding everything.
When they’d first met, she’d loved his laidback attitude.
He was her opposite in every way. He stopped her over-thinking and spiralling.
He made her leave work on time to go to concerts, movies and gigs.
He tried to get her to meditate but that was a bridge too far.
Melanie couldn’t sit still for two minutes, never mind fifteen.
But now all of his calm, don’t-worry ways drove her nuts.
Someone had to worry. Someone had to make sure the girls’ school fees were paid on time, mortgage, bills …
and work long hours at the agency to earn money.
It was all very well for Frank: he’d never get fired from the family business, even though he hadn’t brought in any authors or money for years.
He could be Mr Chill because his wife worked sixteen-hour days and was bringing in a lot of revenue.
Melanie felt she had to earn more than was expected because of Frank’s failure.
She knew Nancy would never fire one of her sons, especially Frank, whom she let away with much more than the other two because of the car crash.
But Melanie was growing tired of all of the responsibility falling on her shoulders.
She had been born conscientious. Nancy had told her when she’d initially interviewed her for the job of assistant agent that Melanie was the most prepared, intense and focused candidate by miles.
Nancy said she had known then and there that Melanie would be an excellent agent.
She had what it took – persistence, toughness, passion, belief, tenacity, and the ability to lift authors up when they were floundering, to advise and guide them with their ideas and skeleton manuscripts.
Looking back now, Melanie could also see that Nancy had wanted her for Frank, too.
It was Nancy who had arranged for them to work together on projects, making sure they spent lots of time in each other’s company.
Nancy had nudged Melanie towards Frank and vice versa.
Melanie had been dazzled by Nancy and, truth be told, a little overawed by her.
The fact that this über-agent seemed to want Melanie to date her son was very flattering.
Besides, Frank was lovely, and he was so different from the usual ambitious, go-getting (at times ruthless) men that Melanie had dated before, she had found it endearing.
So, Melanie had jumped in feet first. Within a year of joining the agency she had been promoted and had married the boss’s son.
Sighing, Melanie left her husband in bed and headed to work.
She was first in, as always. She loved this time of day when she had the whole place to herself.
She went into her office and closed the door.
She was not a fan of open-door policy, and thankfully neither was Nancy.
Through the glass window Melanie could see the comings and goings in the agency but not hear them.
She needed quiet to read manuscripts and to have those difficult conversations with authors whose books were not being picked up, and the happier conversations when she had negotiated meaty publishing deals.
Sloane was her current superstar client, but she had a couple of other authors who were really beginning to break through.
It was an exciting time. Melanie had gone from having a solid list of authors who did well to finally having a real breakout name.
Sloane was what every agent dreamt of – a young, brilliant, literary author, who would be nominated for (and hopefully win) prestigious awards, but whose books were also liked and read by the masses, not just readers of high-end fiction.
Finding Sloane was like finding the Hope Diamond.
Melanie sat back, sipped her coffee and began to read a manuscript that had been put to the top of her pile by her most trusted reader, Alison.
Finding good readers was not as easy as she’d originally thought.
Alison could spot a good writer or a writer with potential.
She had pulled Sloane’s manuscript from the slush pile and urged Melanie to read it.
Melanie was hoping that when Alison stopped having babies – she was on number four – she’d come to work for the agency full-time.
As she was beginning the third chapter she saw Ross wheeling Nancy into the office, followed by Jamie. Nancy beckoned for Melanie to come out. Damnit, her peace and quiet were officially over.
‘Boardroom, now,’ Nancy ordered.
‘Good morning to you too,’ Melanie muttered.
‘She’s in a foul mood,’ Jamie whispered. ‘Apparently she didn’t sleep last night because Amanda gave her only one painkiller or something. Whatever happened, poor Amanda is getting blamed.’
Melanie texted Frank: Get in asap, ur mother on war path .
She followed Jamie, Nancy and Ross into the small boardroom and sat down at the round table.
‘Where’s Frank?’ Nancy asked.
‘On his way,’ Melanie fudged.
‘It’s eight forty-five. He should be here,’ Nancy fumed.
Ross snorted. ‘Frank’s never been on time in his life.’
Melanie bristled. Ross was barely in the door of the agency and he was already slating her husband. She wasn’t having that. ‘He is not always late and he will be in soon,’ she lied.
‘So, what’s up?’ Jamie asked. ‘Only I’ve a call with a Polish publisher at nine.’
‘What’s up,’ Ross said, ‘is that I’ve had a look at the books and we need to step it up. Jessie Wright isn’t writing a book this year due to ill health and we need to fill that gap.’
‘We know about Jessie.’ Melanie frowned.
‘Sloane is already filling the financial gap and Jamie’s working on more foreign deals for her.
She’ll more than cover the shortfall and she’s growing all the time.
Her next book is in the works, and from the early pages I’ve seen, it’s even better than When I Rise .
I have also signed a new male crime writer, Gavin Holmes, who I’m confident will go to auction.
He’s making some changes I suggested and then I’ll send it out to a few key editors. ’
‘I like him. He’s got real potential,’ Nancy said. ‘He’s a good find, Melanie.’
Melanie smirked at her brother-in-law. F– you, Ross. Don’t come in here throwing your weight around. I’ve worked my arse off to grow this business, so back up, buddy .
‘You need to start pushing for movie and TV deals. That’s where the real money is.’ Ross ignored them and ploughed on, clearly desperate to make his mark.
‘We’ve started working with a good film and TV rights agent, Mason-White,’ Jamie said.
‘They’re second-rate.’ Ross dismissed his half-brother. ‘We need Byron and Parsons on board. They’re the best in London.’
‘I’ve spoken to them,’ Jamie said. ‘They were total arseholes and I could tell that a small agency like us, based in Ireland, would be at the bottom of their priority list.’
Ross shook his head. ‘You have to think big, Jamie. You’re thinking like a small-town guy. That’s the problem with this agency. We need to shake things up and be more ambitious. We need to go large.’
Go large? What bolloxology was this? Melanie could feel her blood beginning to boil. But she had to be careful: Ross was Nancy’s son, and she was only an in-law.
‘This agency was built on ambition, hard work and drive,’ Nancy said.
‘Ross is right. We do need to focus more on TV and film rights. With all the streamers looking for content there’s big money to be made.
Jamie, I want Ross to take over that side of things and grow it.
He’s bullish and ambitious. We need that. ’
Jamie held up his hands. ‘Hang on a minute, Mum, we have an agreement with Mason-White.’
‘Break it,’ Ross said.
Jamie’s jaw set. He rarely lost his temper but Melanie knew he was no walkover. ‘I am not going to break the agreement for two reasons, our reputation and because they could sue us.’
‘When is the contract up?’ Nancy asked.
‘It’s up for renewal in six months,’ Jamie said.
‘Fine. Ross, you get an agreement set up with Byron and Parsons and we’ll jump ship as soon as our contract runs out.’ Nancy was firm.
Turning to Melanie, Ross said, ‘I want a meeting with Sloane. I want to talk to her about TV and movie rights. I think we could do something huge, like Sally Rooney did with Normal People . Sloane also needs to appear at top festivals like Hay. She needs to get her face out there and increase her media profile.’
Melanie baulked. Sloane was her client. She had found Sloane, persuaded her to sign with the agency and had promised to protect her.
Sloane was an introvert who hated the business and publicity side of writing.
She just wanted to be left alone to write her novels and for Melanie to do all the ‘other stuff’, as she called it.
She loathed public speaking and had made Melanie swear not to ask her to do interviews or festivals.
Sloane lived in the wilds of Connemara and it was in this quiet isolation that she was able to create her beautiful stories.
Keeping her voice steady, Melanie looked at Ross. ‘Sloane will not be doing any media. If we push her in any way, she will walk.’
‘For goodness’ sake, all authors have egos. She’d jump at the chance to speak at Hay and be interviewed by the Observer . I know the arts correspondent there. I’ll talk to her and set it up. We need a strong social-media presence too. Let’s get her on TikTok.’
TikTok? Was he stupid, or just deaf?
Through gritted teeth, Melanie said, ‘Ross, the only person who will be speaking to Sloane is me. Nothing happens without my say-so. I know her, I know her triggers. She needs to be left in peace to write. Her idea of utter hell is social media. She doesn’t even have a smart phone.’
‘What?’
Nancy cleared her throat. ‘You are a little overprotective of her, Melanie. Sloane has to understand that selling books requires publicity. Readers, these days, want to know the authors. I’m sure you can persuade her to do one or two carefully curated interviews and a few key festivals.’
‘I’m –’
But before Melanie could finish, the door flew open and Frank burst in. ‘Congratulations!’ he shouted.
They all stared at him.
‘You’re late, and what are you talking about?’ Nancy asked.
Frank looked over at Melanie. ‘Oh, my God, you don’t know?’
‘Know what?’ Melanie asked her overexcited husband.
‘Spit it out, Frank.’ Ross was impatient.
‘Sloane has just been shortlisted for the Goldstone Prize.’
‘WHAT?’ Melanie grabbed her phone, which she had placed face-down and on silent for the meeting. It was blowing up. ‘Oh. My. God,’ she gasped.
‘This is huge.’ Jamie beamed at her.
‘Fantastic news. This will catapult her, and us, into a whole new stratosphere.’ Nancy clapped her hands.
‘It’s good news. It’ll be better if she wins, though.’ Ross tried to dampen their buzz.
‘Well done, you.’ Frank hugged his wife.
‘Thanks. I have to call Sloane. She won’t know.
’ Melanie rushed back to her office to tell her favourite writer the amazing news.
It was also great news for the agency. Sloane’s sales would really take off now and if she won the prize …
Well, it would be a total game-changer. All of her years of hard work were paying off: Melanie had found a golden goose.
She closed her office door and allowed herself a minute to soak in this incredible news.
The agency had never had an author listed for the Goldstone before, and it was her author who had broken the mould.
She took a deep breath and had picked up her phone to call Sloane when Ross flung open the door and strode to her desk.
‘I’d like to sit in on this call. It’s a good opportunity for you to introduce me to Sloane.’
Melanie stared at him. Was he for real? ‘Ross, this is a very special moment between me and my author. Please step out of my office.’
‘It’s a special moment for the agency, Melanie. We all work as one, remember? We’re a team. Your success is our success.’
Go to hell, you arrogant prick. You’re ruining it for me .
‘Ross, can –’
Jamie came to the door. ‘Ross, let Melanie have some privacy.’
‘But –’
‘Leave it.’ Nancy waved him out. ‘It’s Melanie’s moment, let her have it. We’ll all benefit from the sales hike.’
Melanie tried not to look smug as she shut the door in Ross’s face.