30. Melanie
Nancy knocked and walked into her office. Melanie noticed that her mother-in-law was steadier on her feet now, barely limping. Ross followed her, the ever-faithful lapdog.
‘I’m just checking in. Are you absolutely sure about Petrus? Maybe Ross could work with him. Petrus strikes me as more of a man’s man.’
Melanie gritted her teeth. ‘Nancy, I have never had any problems dealing with male authors. The issue is not his sex, it’s his idea.
He will not listen to anyone and is hell-bent on writing this godawful book.
When he has written it and it dies, I will talk to him again.
But for now, he is a liability, not an asset. ’
Ross picked up the stapler on her desk and opened it, then shut it again. ‘I could talk sense into him, make him see his idea is not going to work. He probably thought that, as a woman, you were too sensitive about the theme.’
Melanie looked at her stapler and imagined punching staples into Ross’s large hands.
‘I’m not sensitive about the theme. I’m realistic.
We do not want the heat from this. Petrus is going to write this book and nothing is going to stop him.
If he finds anyone insane enough to publish such crap, he’ll probably be cancelled and anyone who represented him or supported the book will have a negative spotlight shone on them.
We do not want that kind of publicity. It puts authors and publishers off.
We’d be the laughing stock of the publishing world. ’
Nancy nodded. ‘Okay, that’s final, then. I respect your decision.’
‘Hang on.’ Ross put the stapler down. ‘Let me at least talk to him, man to man. See if I can change his mind, or at least steer him in a different path.’
‘Ross,’ Melanie snapped, ‘I have been dealing with authors for twenty years, I know when an author is not for turning and, believe me, Petrus is not.’
‘I trust Melanie’s judgement. She’s never been wrong. We’ll leave you to it. You have a new author coming in now who wants to meet us all, correct?’ Nancy asked.
‘Yes.’ Melanie smiled brightly. ‘She’s due any minute.’
‘Who is it?’ Ross asked, as Melanie’s phone rang. It was the author. She was having trouble finding the building.
‘You’re on the right road, I’ll come down and get you,’ Melanie said. She walked past Ross and Nancy, out through the office, and down into the street.
Melanie saw Ruby Rose walking the wrong way and called out to her. Ruby turned. Under her open coat she was wearing a tight-fitting wool dress, which showed off her big and round pregnancy bump to the max, and bright red lipstick.
Here we go , Melanie thought. No going back now. She went over and introduced herself. ‘Thanks so much for coming over from London. Are you feeling okay?’
‘Yes, I’m fine. Only seven and a bit weeks to go now so the end is nigh.’
In more ways than one.
Behind Ruby, Melanie saw Katie running up the street.
‘Hi!’ she panted. ‘Oh, God, I got stuck in work! I was worried I’d miss … well … hi.’ Katie beamed at Ruby.
‘This is my sister-in-law,’ Melanie said.
‘What?’ Ruby gasped.
Melanie realized that Ruby thought Katie was Ross’s wife.
‘My sister-in-law Katie who is married to Jamie,’ she quickly explained. ‘He’s in charge of foreign rights.’
Ruby’s face relaxed. ‘Oh, hi.’ She smiled. She was more attractive in real life: there was a cute pixie vibe to her and she looked younger than twenty-nine. ‘Do you work at the agency too?’ she asked Katie.
‘God, no, I hate books. I’m rubbish at reading. I’m just popping in to give Jamie his phone,’ Katie explained – the phone Katie had told Melanie she would hide so she had a good excuse to call into the agency.
Ruby laughed. ‘A woman who hates books married to a man who sells them for a living. I love it.’
‘We’re like the odd couple,’ Katie said, grinning, ‘but it works for us.’
‘You’re lucky,’ Ruby said. ‘It must be wonderful to find your soulmate and get to make a life with them.’
Melanie shot Katie a look.
‘It is,’ Katie said, nodding, ‘and, yes, I am lucky.’
‘Let’s go inside out of the cold. Would you like some water? Tea? Coffee?’ Melanie opened the door and ushered Ruby inside. Katie followed and winked at her.
‘Water is fine. How many agents do you have working here?’ Ruby asked, as they walked up the single flight of stairs to the first floor.
‘There’s Nancy Fitzroy, who founded the agency, me, and then Jamie.
Frank does non-fiction, mostly music bios, and Ross has just moved back from the UK.
He’s looking at heading up a TV and film rights department and maybe doing some agenting too.
’ Melanie paused, then added, ‘You may have come across Ross. He worked in publishing in London for years – he actually worked for your publishers, Jackson Mayhew?’
‘His name definitely rings a bell,’ Ruby said, as cool as you like.
Katie mouthed, ‘OMG,’ behind Ruby’s back.
They walked through Reception. Katie went to Jamie’s office to give him his phone and Melanie directed Ruby towards her room. Everyone was busy working, but Frank was making tea. Melanie introduced them.
‘How lovely to meet you. I think children’s authors are the most important of all writers. If you can get a child to disappear into a world outside their own, well, that’s magic,’ Frank said.
Ruby beamed at him. ‘Sorry, Melanie, but I think I want Frank to represent me now.’
Frank laughed. ‘Unfortunately I only do non-fiction, and Melanie is the best agent in the world so I’ll leave you in her very capable hands.’
Frank left and Melanie poured Ruby a glass of water. ‘He’s amazing,’ Ruby gushed. ‘I bet all the authors drool over him.’
Melanie smiled. ‘Full disclosure, he’s my husband.’
Ruby put her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry!’
Melanie laughed. ‘Not at all. It’s a compliment.’ And it was. Frank was amazing with people, always putting them at ease and making them feel good about themselves. But, sadly, he had lost his shine for her.
Melanie showed Ruby into her office and noticed her looking around, her eyes darting from door to door.
‘Seems quiet. Is everyone in today? I did ask to meet the whole team,’ she reminded Melanie.
‘Yes, don’t worry, everyone’s in.’ Melanie had made damn sure everyone was in today for the showdown.
‘Maybe I could meet the others now, before our chat. I’d like to get a feel for the agency and the people who work here.’
‘Of course. Let me see if they’re free.’
Melanie went out to check. Nancy was on the phone in her office. Jamie and Katie were having coffee in the reception area. Katie’s eyes were firmly trained on Melanie. Ross was in the conference room.
Melanie called him out.
‘What?’ he snapped.
‘I have a new potential author who wants to meet everyone.’
‘Oh, are they good? Will they bring in revenue?’
‘Yes, I think you’ll like them,’ Melanie said, as Katie stifled a laugh.
‘What are you doing here?’ Ross had noticed Katie. ‘Mum will go nuts if she sees you in the office.’
‘She came to give me my phone, Ross.’ Jamie’s voice was cold.
Katie smirked at him. ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Ross. I’ll head off in a minute.’
‘Well, just try to refrain from slinging insults about the place while you’re here. We have an author in today and we need to project professionalism.’
Melanie could see that Jamie’s jaw was set in a hard line, but Katie just smiled brightly at her brother-in-law. ‘No problem, Ross.’
‘And stay away from my mother. I don’t want you upsetting her.’
Jamie moved as if to stand up, but Katie put her hand on his arm. ‘Nancy has nothing to worry about from me , Ross.’
‘Okay,’ Melanie said. ‘I’ll just bring the author out to meet you all.’
Melanie’s heart was pounding as she opened her office door and asked Ruby to step out.
Ruby stood up and waddled to join her.
‘Everyone, this is Ruby Rose,’ Melanie said, ushering her forward.
‘Hello, nice to meet you.’ Jamie put out his hand.
Ross recoiled as if he’d been hit by a bullet. ‘What the … What are you …’ he stammered.
Melanie saw Katie from the corner of her eye. She was standing behind Ross, grinning widely.
‘Hello, there, Ross, surprised to see me?’ Ruby drawled.
‘What the hell?’ Ross managed to gasp. His face had gone white and he was staring at Ruby, unmoving, horrified.
‘What’s going on?’ Jamie said, looking from Melanie to Ross to Ruby.
Melanie shrugged, claiming innocence, enjoying every moment.
‘Long time no see or hear, Ross,’ Ruby said.
‘You two know each other?’ Jamie asked.
‘Very well, actually,’ Ruby said. ‘Do you want to fill your family in, Ross? Or will I?’
Nancy’s office door opened and she walked out. Melanie noticed Katie taking a step back, standing almost behind Jamie so Nancy wouldn’t see her. ‘Sorry, I was on a call.’ She walked towards Ruby, her hand extended. ‘I’m Nancy Fitzroy, nice to meet you.’
Ruby shook it. ‘Nice to meet you too. As it happens I know your son Ross very well.’
Nancy looked around, took in the scene, and frowned. ‘Oh, I thought you were here to see Melanie.’
Ross finally managed to move. He walked towards Ruby and said, ‘Can I speak to you privately?’
Ruby shook her head. ‘No, you’ve lost that privilege. I’ve tried contacting you privately loads of times, but you were always too busy to return my calls and emails. You had your chance to do this privately, I’m done.’
‘Ruby, please,’ Ross begged.
Ruby placed a hand on her pregnant stomach. ‘No!’
Nancy was watching Ross closely and Melanie could see that she was starting to put two and two together.
‘Okay, what’s going on here?’ Nancy cut briskly to the chase. ‘I thought you were an author looking for Melanie to represent you?’
‘I am looking for a new agent, but hell would freeze over before I’d let anyone in this family represent me. I came here to confront your son about his child.’ Ruby pointed to her bump.
Katie peered out from behind Jamie and beamed at Melanie, who tried to keep a straight face. Melanie was watching Ruby, and she actually admired how composed she was. Ruby was ready for her moment. She had no doubts or fears: that was clear.
Jamie’s mouth fell open. ‘What’s … Ross?’
‘Ross?’ Nancy barked.
Melanie watched as her brother-in-law, always so self-assured and bullish, tried to control his emotions. ‘I … I … Jesus, the thing is, I met Ruby a while ago and … well …’
‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Ruby hissed, ‘man up.’ Turning to Nancy, she explained, ‘Ross and I had an affair and I got pregnant. As soon as he found out, he ran home to Dublin and has been avoiding me ever since. I want him to acknowledge his child and help pay for their upkeep, like any proper man would do. And I need him to speak to me directly because, come hell or high water, he’s going to be involved in this baby’s life.
He can’t keep cowering behind a lawyer. It’s pathetic. ’
Nancy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her eldest son. ‘Is this true?’
Ross’s face had drained of all colour. Melanie thought he might actually faint. ‘Well, yes, but it’s more complicated than that.’
‘What’s complicated? You have a child on the way, own it,’ Ruby snapped.
Nancy’s face darkened. ‘Christ, Ross, what a bloody mess.’
‘Bloody hell,’ Jamie muttered. ‘So this is really why you came back.’
Melanie could see realization dawning on Nancy’s face – all that talk of caring for his mother, being there for her, unable to stay away when she needed help, it was all a front to hide the true story.
Looking at Nancy, she reckoned it hurt her to realize that she, and her home, had been used because it suited Ross’s agenda, not because he was a loving son.
‘Well, Ross?’ Ruby Rose wanted answers.
Beads of sweat had formed on Ross’s brow. Melanie almost felt sorry for him.
‘I’m just finalizing things with my solicitor. I’ll have a contract for you next week.’
‘It had better be fair, and you’d better acknowledge this baby and be a dad to them. I want my kid to know their father, even if he is a spineless git.’
‘Ross will do the right thing, I can assure you of that,’ Nancy told her, standing with her back very straight.
‘Yes. We’ll make sure your baby is looked after,’ Frank added. ‘The happiness and wellbeing of the child is the most important thing.’
Ross glared at Frank. Melanie couldn’t tell if Frank was being sincere, or getting a dig in.
‘Look, Ruby, I’ve just been trying to work things out for the best for everyone,’ Ross said.
‘Ignoring me is not for the best for me,’ Ruby said.
‘Who knows about this?’ Nancy asked. She was in business mode now. Melanie marvelled at how focused she was – nothing could faze her mother-in-law for long.
‘No one knows he’s the dad – yet.’
Nancy nodded. ‘Right. Well, Ross will get the contracts over to you next week, as he says. We can work out a compromise that works for all parties. Then a social-media post from both of you would get ahead of the gossip.’
‘Yes, that sounds good.’ Ross was trying to get back some control, but Melanie could see it was far too late for that. He was caught between his mother and his mistress. Talk about a rock and a hard place. She looked at Jamie and Katie, and they were entranced, hanging on every word.
‘I’ll think about it,’ Ruby said, holding Nancy’s gaze.
‘This doesn’t have to be a big scandal or fodder for gossip if we handle it upfront and appear united,’ Nancy said. ‘I’m sure you don’t want negative publicity following you around. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation as a children’s author.’
Melanie had to admire Nancy: she was good at crisis control.
Ruby smiled. ‘I doubt your agency needs the publicity either, not great for your reputation. My baby is more important than anything, so if I feel I’m being treated fairly, we can resolve this peacefully.
Otherwise … you will be facing the wrath of an angry pregnant woman and no one wants that, believe me. ’
Melanie looked at Katie and raised her eyebrows. Nancy had met her match. Ruby was no pushover. Melanie was impressed with her don’t-even-think-about-messing- with-me demeanour. She was not going to be intimidated by Nancy, and certainly not by Ross. He had picked the wrong woman for this game.
‘There is no need for threats,’ Nancy said haughtily. ‘My son will step up, you have my word.’
Ruby laughed bitterly. ‘I don’t think your family’s word holds any weight. You have a week to send me a contract, and it had better be a generous one.’
With that, Ruby turned on her heel and stalked out, leaving the three brothers and matriarch reeling. Melanie met Katie’s eye, and knew she was thinking the same thing as her – poor Amanda.