Chapter Twenty-Three
S amuel managed to get on the subway, leaving the chocolate pudding and his drink behind.
The darkness of the tunnel that connected Manhattan and Queens suited his mood as it was. He’d gotten forgiveness from Leah, the one thing he’d always wanted, the one thing he’d always hoped for.
And yet, why did it feel like he’d been given the worst sort of consolation prize?
Why did it feel like he’d lost?
Because he had. He’d lost Leah.
And so when he got into his apartment, he locked the door, ignored his phone, grabbed some popcorn and watched the Shadow Squad movies on his favorite streaming service in an attempt to clear his head and remind himself of the other things going on in his life.
What felt like millions and zero hours later, after the last movie was done, he headed off to bed.
The next morning, he braced himself before checking his phone.
Nothing from Leah, which was to be expected.
It still hurt.
But he had gotten a text from Oliver, asking if he wanted to catch up and grab coffee with him, and if he hadn’t had to ask Oliver professional questions, he would have stayed home.
Which was a far cry from an answer he would have given six months ago, and yet there he was.
But what kind of person would he be if he left people hanging?
What kind of professional would he be if he let huge opportunities go by the wayside?
What kind of partner for Leah could he be if he dropped everything and hid at the first sign of weakness? Because that’s something she never did. Leah was tenacious and smart. She was a woman in a profession still dominated by men, with clients prepared to do great things.
Because no matter what happened between them, in order to deal with his own issues, he needed to become, if not remain, someone who’d make Leah believe it was possible to have a good, strong, clear relationship.
Someone who used his time effectively, someone who understood the time she needed.
Which meant he had to find himself an agent who could make clear the mess of the contract Liam was going to send him.
He’d asked Leah for recommendations, but he could ask Oliver.
Oliver had worked with Liam before, which meant there was a good chance the man had an agent. And so he got off the subway near the café Oliver wanted to meet at, full of purpose, eyes wide and bushy-tailed.
“Glad you came,” Oliver said.
“Thanks for asking me,” he said. “How are you doing?”
“Good. How are you?”
And that was the question, wasn’t it. Samuel didn’t feel up to diving into the whole story, updating Oliver about what had happened since the party, at least not yet. So he chose to avoid the subject.
“Trying to focus on other things,” he said with a laugh.”
“Things aren’t good with Leah?”
What was it with people and how observant they are? “Long story,” he said, in a second effort to change the subject while at the same time giving him…something. “But I’m trying to be the person who would be good for her, no matter what’s going on with us.”
“Which is actually a smart way to handle it. Coming from, you know…” Oliver said.
He laughed. “Someone in a very long-term committed relationship?”
Oliver nodded. “Got it in one. So aside from the fact you’re fixing things, what’s going on?”
What better time than the present to dive into the specifics of the situation. “I need an agent,” he said. “If the thing is going to happen that we can’t talk about, then I’m going to need an agent to go through that contract.”
“When it happens,” Oliver qualified. “Because you know it’s coming. And my agent’s name is Ryan Kaplan.”
He put the name in his notes app.
“Ryan’s closed to queries at the moment,” Oliver continued, much to Samuel’s utter surprise. “But he’ll definitely look at people who are referred to him working on a project he’s interested in.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I appreciate that.”
“Good,” Oliver said with a smile. “Now. What else are you going to do to get your house in order?”
He was going to answer until his phone buzzed with an incoming email.
The email was an introduction email from Leah.
And Ryan Kaplan.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Sending a connection email to brilliant letterer Samuel Levine, who I’ve known since childhood, who’s in need of an agent, and agent Ryan Kaplan, a friend of mine from law school.
Which would have been great on its own, but there was also a reply from Ryan Kaplan.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected] , [email protected]
Leah: Thanks for the intro
Samuel: I’d love to talk about your portfolio and your upcoming projects. My slate is pretty full, but with a recommendation from Leah, as well as a reminder that you worked on the posters I loved for a media project based on another client’s books, you certainly fit the referral, as well as the samples required for someone who letters in the way you do.
If you can speak to one of my clients and have them send a note, that would be great but not mandatory. Otherwise, please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss representation.
Ryan
Was he reading this correctly?
Was he…
Did it just…
“Samuel? What’s going on? Are you okay?”
He pulled himself away from the screen and nodded. “Sorry,” he said. “I think your agent wants to represent me. Leah sent him an email and might want a client reference.”
“You kidding me?” Oliver grinned. “Of course I’ll send that email. Right now. We worked on that logo together, after all. Not to mention we’re working on that project together. And don’t say it’s not happening, because it is.”
Just like that, the item he focused on getting checked off his list was on its way to being in his inbox. And no matter what Liam did with the contract, or didn’t, he would have an agent who would deal with the comics side of his career that would take stress off of Tommy. And, of course Aaron.
Now it was time to enjoy his coffee with Oliver. Things were looking up, even though he had to focus on his accomplishments one by one.
And picture Leah smiling at him as he completed each task.
*
Leah was exhausted. Exhausted but accomplished and, as she walked into the office on Monday afternoon, she received emails from both Ryan and Samuel, thanking her for connecting them.
It took a great deal to not send a gushing email to Samuel, but she didn’t.
Instead, she closed her office door and checked her email, starting to prep for the rest of the day.
One foot in front of the other.
Until there was a knock at her door.
“Come in,” she said.
“Leah.” Bruck walked into the office, a smile on his face. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling. She was used to putting on masks, hiding her emotions. This was no different. The very last thing she wanted to do was smile; she was tired, proud of the work she’d done. But she still felt like there was a hole in her heart.
“Did you get everything you wanted from the Empires?”
And that was the question, wasn’t it.
“I got a lot of it,” she said. “The most important things. Guarantee of MHL playing time, the crisis PR person on staff. A few of their players worked with someone a few years ago, so they’re going to see if he’s interested.”
Bruck shook his head. “MHL playing time?”
Leah nodded. “We’re not doing this for a stunt,” she said. “If she’s going to sign, if we’re going to do this, she’s going to do this. If she’s going to be buried in the minors, she could play with the Legends. The minors isn’t worth the nonsense she could be put through. Name on the back of her jersey is only going to save her so much.”
“Independent analysis, I’m thinking?”
Leah nodded. “Because I’m not dealing with someone who theoretically believes a woman can play, until she’s standing right in front of him, potentially pitching a shutout only to have the team lose the game because she got stuck on the bench for the third.”
“Hardball,” he said. “I like it.”
Which was good, considering how easy it was for her to lose herself in work, in her job. “Thank you,” she said. “I thought it was risky, but I figured this kind of situation was important enough.”
“If you’re negotiating with a team for an unprecedented contract, it’s expected that agents at our level, who have our kind of experience and our sort of leverage, are going to play hardball.”
She bit her lip. “Our?”
He nodded, and her heart stopped. “I’ve looked over the numbers, watched you perform and decided it’s officially time to ask you to join as a partner. And maybe possibly, see what you might think about taking over on the day I’m ready to walk out that door.”
And if her heart had stopped before, it had completely flatlined now.
Not just partner, but…successor?
“You’re…asking me to succeed you and take over the agency when you’re ready to retire?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “Will you want to take the step, be a partner in the agency for the next three to six years and then take over?”
“If you give me a notarized statement to that effect,” she said with a laugh, “that’ll be the best offer I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
“Yep. I’ve made the right decision,” Bruck said with a smile. “You’ve learned a great deal. Now we’re going to do more. I’m going to train you for real. You ready?”
Leah nodded. “I am. Thank you.”
“Good.” Bruck smiled. “Good that you have a good partner around at home. Having a partner who gets our job and what we do is important for your mental health.”
She nodded. She knew that. But she wasn’t going to tell Bruck that the relationship between her and Samuel was over. Not at all.
“My wife,” he continued, “I told you that she was impressed with your young man, hm? Talented guy. Devoted to you.”
Samuel was all of those things, but all she could do was nod. “He liked talking to her,” she managed.
As the conversation continued, more and more, Leah wished she could tell Samuel. Talk to him, celebrate her success with him.
Truly share her life with him.
But how?
How could she do this?
All she knew was that she needed to convince him and herself that not only did she need him back into her life, but also that she had the emotional and mental space to not only get him back, but also to keep him.
She didn’t know where to start, but she was playing for keeps this time.