Chapter 12
TWELVE
The morning after coffee with Melody, Nate sat at his desk, surrounded by a sea of contracts and legal jargon.
The office was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the occasional ping of his email.
It was the kind of mindless work he usually breezed through, but that day, his focus was shot.
His thoughts kept drifting to Melody. Her connection to her work, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her characters. The memory of her hand in his at the café lingered, a phantom warmth that was both thrilling and unsettling.
He shook his head, trying to clear it. “Head in the game, Carlisle," he muttered. "You're here to work, not daydream about stubborn, beautiful authors."
As if on cue, a new file appeared in his inbox. The subject line read: "CONFIDENTIAL: Archer Project - Ghostwriting Initiative." His stomach dropped as he opened it.
The contract was extensive, detailing a multi-book deal for a series of romance novels. But it wasn't under Melody's name. Instead, it was for a new pen name, one that Carlisle Publishing would have full control over.
"What the hell, Dad?" he growled, scrolling through the document.
The terms were clear: Melody would write the books, but she'd have no creative control. The plots, characters, even the writing style would all be dictated by the marketing team. It was everything Melody hated about commercial fiction, wrapped up in a shiny, legally-binding package.
He leaned back in his chair, blowing out a long breath. This was bad. Really bad. And the worst part? He was pretty sure Melody had no idea what she was walking into.
His phone buzzed. It was a text from Melody: "Hey, Editor Extraordinaire. Mind if we do a little prep before my meeting with your dad this afternoon? I can be there in an hour. I've got some updates on the manuscript."
He stared at the message, guilt gnawing at his insides. How could he face her, knowing what he knew? How could he not tell her?
He typed out a reply: "Absolutely. Looking forward to it." His finger hovered over the send button. Should he warn her? Give her a heads up about what his father was planning?
But then he thought about the consequences. If he told Melody, he would be betraying his father's trust. He would be potentially jeopardizing a major deal for the company. And let's face it, his position there wasn't exactly secure as it was.
On the other hand, if he didn't tell her, he would be letting Melody walk into a trap. He would be betraying her trust, her faith in him as her editor and... friend? Partner? Whatever they were.
He groaned, dropping his head onto his desk with a thud. "When did publishing become so complicated?" he muttered into the polished wood.
He sat up, a determined set to his jaw. He needed a plan. A way to navigate this minefield without blowing up his career or his relationship with Melody.
He pulled out a legal pad and started jotting down ideas. Maybe he could convince his father to modify the deal. Or find a loophole that gave Melody more control. Or maybe...
The intercom on his desk buzzed, startling him out of his plotting. "Mr. Carlisle? Ms. Archer’s here to meet with you.”
He glanced at his watch. How did an hour pass so damn fast? "Thanks, Janet. Send her in."
He quickly shoved the ghostwriting contract into a drawer and pulled up Melody's manuscript on his computer.
As he heard her footsteps approaching, he took a deep breath and plastered on what he hoped was a neutral, professional smile.
It was showtime, and he had never felt less prepared for a performance in his life.