CHAPTER 6
Victoria is nervous, her mood soured by not knowing. Uncertainty makes her erratic and absent-minded, evidenced by her storing a packet of rice in the fridge this morning and spending ten minutes searching for her phone, only to find it in her pocket. Javier is to blame; he called her early in the morning to schedule a meeting at the publishing house but refused to disclose any details, promising only a meal afterward.
Since then, Victoria can”t stop speculating. She has no pending issues with the publisher; her next novel”s contract is already signed, and she”s ahead of schedule. It”s unlikely the meeting is about her writing.
”Maybe it”s to choose the cover” she muses aloud while driving from Toledo to Madrid.
Victoria dismisses the thought with a flick of her tongue against the roof of her mouth, annoyed. She knows Javier well enough to understand that he wouldn”t cloak a simple cover selection in such mystery. Besides, she hasn”t even settled on a title for her novel yet, so the cover conversation definitely has to wait.
She arrives at the headquarters of Chapter Publishing ten minutes early, her nerves frayed. Normally, Javier would be waiting at the door, his presence a comforting constant. Today, his absence only heightens her anxiety and stirs her temper.
”Good morning, Victoria,” greets the doorman, a kind man with silver hair tied back in a ponytail, a familiar face since her early days with the publisher.
”Good morning, Juan,” she replies with a smile, trying to mask her irritation. ”Has Javier arrived yet?”
”Yes, he”s been here for a while. He”s probably in his office. Do you want me to call him for you?” Juan offers, nodding towards the phone on his desk.
”No need, I”ll head up. Have a great day,” she says, stepping into the elevator, her eyes practically sparking with frustration. She”s annoyed at Javier for the late notice, knowing well she lives an hour away from the capital.
”Jerk,” she mutters under her breath as she strides down the hallway.
Checking her watch, she notes she”s two minutes away from the meeting start time. Victoria takes a quick turn down another corridor, heading straight for the meeting room. Punctuality is a creed she lives by, intolerant of tardiness in herself or others.
”What are you doing here?” Victoria”s voice cuts through the air, sharp and cold. She”s so focused on not being late that she hadn”t even noticed Micaela standing outside the meeting room door until she spoke.
Micaela looks back at her, unfazed. ”What does it matter to you?” she retorts with equal sharpness, her Italian surname adding a hint of exotic flair to her curt demeanor.
”Actually, nothing,” Micaela replies dismissively, turning her attention to her phone, scrolling through social media.
Victoria feels her blood boil, her morning already sour enough without this encounter.
”Here are my two favorite ladies,” Javier announces, emerging from the restrooms across the hall. Victoria senses he was lurking there like a weasel, timing their arrival to prevent any objections.
”Javi, can we talk for a second?” Victoria tries, her voice a mixture of plea and command.
”I”m sorry, darling, but it”ll have to wait. We need to go in now; they”re waiting for us,” Javier says, his arms sweeping in a gesture that includes both writers.
”They”re waiting?” Victoria exchanges a look of mutual dismay with Micaela, her expression mirroring the shock on Micaela”s face.
”That”s right,” Javier says with a grin, pushing open the door before either can protest further.
Inside the room, Victoria spots a man and a woman she recognizes as board members—the marketing director and the chief editor. The setup confirms the meeting”s importance, yet the reason behind it remains shrouded in mystery, adding layers of tension and anticipation.
After exchanging polite nods and handshakes, the two authors take their seats, flanking the editor on either side. The room, steeped in the scent of old books and fresh coffee, hums with an uneasy silence.
“I suppose you’re both eager to know why you’re here,” Inés begins, her voice a calm ripple in the tense atmosphere.
“Actually, no,” Victoria retorts, her tone tight as a guitar string about to snap.
Javier, avoiding Victoria”s sharp gaze, offers a sheepish smile. “I haven’t had the chance to update them yet.”
“Well, then, I’m pleased to be the bearer of news,” Inés continues, her smile brightening. “After our meeting yesterday, post discovering Micaela’s writer’s block…”
Victoria’s eyes widen, her head snapping towards Micaela, who she’s always seen more as a rival than a peer. Her mind races, piecing together that whatever this meeting is about, it somehow spirals from her.
“Javier’s proposal that you two co-author a book seemed brilliant to us. We can’t afford further delays with Micaela’s deadlines, and her block seems serious. We can justify delaying her next solo novel if we add a jointly written one to our schedule. And Victoria, you’re ahead with your own work, so this shouldn’t be an issue for you.”
Victoria hears Inés’s words as if through water, distorted and distant. She fights the urge to scream, or worse, to strangle Javier, the architect of this madness. How could he do this, knowing full well they can barely tolerate each other?
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Micaela and I have very different styles,” Victoria says, her voice laced with desperation to avoid the impending disaster.
“Not so different,” the marketing director cuts in, his first interjection. “You both have a powerful way of communicating. The difference is, you focus more on character emotions, Victoria, and Micaela excels in crafting exquisite erotic scenes.”
“Exactly,” Inés agrees, nodding enthusiastically. “We believe merging these styles will create a story that captivates our female audience, which is your main demographic.”
Victoria realizes she’s cornered. They’ve made their calculations, likely envisioning the profits. Micaela, on the other hand, is visibly seething, torn between the frustration of writing with Victoria and the embarrassment of her creative block being publicized.
“With that said, we’d like the novel to be published on the original date set for Micaela’s book, at most a month late. So, you’ll need to dedicate yourselves fully,” Inés concludes. “Javier will outline the details of the plan.”
“What plan?” Victoria asks, a note of panic in her voice.
“What details?” Micaela speaks up, her tone icy.
“We think it best to isolate you at a retreat until the book is written. Zero distractions, maximum productivity,” Javier says, his voice trembling, aware that the moment they leave, Victoria might just unleash her fury on him.
“Wonderful, I think that’s all,” Inés finishes, her expression pleased. “Excuse me, I have another meeting to attend.”
The room”s tension dissolves as the executives exit, leaving a vacuum that Micaela and Victoria rush to fill. They converge on Javier, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of dismay.
”Okay, okay, hold on!” Javier”s voice cuts through the chaos, a note of desperation threading his tone. ”Victoria, could you wait here just a few minutes for me? Would you do that?”
Victoria”s stare pierces him, her eyes narrowing into slits. How dare he ask for a favor now, after dropping such a bomb? ”No, I don”t want to,” she snaps, her irritation palpable.
”Just a moment, please,” he pleads, grasping Micaela”s arm and pulling her back into the conference room for a private word.
”I”ll be at our usual restaurant,” Victoria huffs, her heels clicking commandingly against the floor as she strides away.
Once alone, Micaela whirls on Javier, her voice icy. ”I”m not writing with her. If that”s your solution to my problem, you better think again,” she declares, arms crossed, her pride wounded.
”There”s no better option, Micaela. Even if you overcome this block on your own, there”s no time left to write something decent—and you know it. I”m saving you here; Victoria is your only way out. She”s seasoned, knows tricks you don”t. By her side, you might just find yourself writing effortlessly.”
”I don”t need her. Just tell me how to unlock this damn block,” she insists, hitting her temple with the heel of her hand.
”You”re wrong; you do need her. If you don”t deliver on time, the publisher could sue, and believe me, it could end your career overnight.”
Micaela”s expression shifts, a flicker of fear crossing her features. ”Would they really do that?”
”Do you want to find out? I”ve negotiated a delay for your book by promising a joint publication. It”s the best I could do, and not everyone gets such a chance. I know you can”t stand each other, but Victoria is your tool to navigate this slump—and learn. Use her,” Javier insists firmly.
”Fine,” Micaela concedes reluctantly, knowing deep down he”s right.
”Good. No more complaints. I”m off to meet Victoria for lunch; we”ll talk more later.”
Meanwhile, Victoria has ordered the most expensive glass of wine on the menu at the restaurant. Not that she”s a connoisseur or particularly discerning—it”s just that she wants Javier to foot a hefty bill. She”s also picked out the priciest dishes available.
”You”re a damn traitor,” she accuses the moment he sits down opposite her.
”I know you think I”m screwing you over, but think about it, Vicky. Micaela is blocked and out of time. This move is to save her, yes,” he admits, locking eyes with her, ”but it”s also your chance to take her down a peg.”
Victoria is about to protest, but his last remark tugs a sly, almost wicked smile across her lips. Javier sees it and knows he”s hit the mark: his two-star writers are going to craft a novel together, whether they like it or not.