Page 3 of Fraud
Oh God, maybe it was that bad, and she wanted to let me down gently.
I took a deep breath and hit Accept, holding the phone to my ear, as I snuck out of my cubicle and headed toward the restroom. “Hello?”
“Kate!” Jane’s voice eagerly replied.
Jane had been my best friend since college, and I still managed to get caught up in her crazy schemes, like that time during our sophomore year when she’d convinced me that streaking across the campus was a good idea.
“I finished your manuscript!” she announced.
My heart faltered.
“And?” I asked, wincing, as I prepared for the onslaught of what was to come. I slowed to a crawl, pacing down an empty hallway.
“It’s amazing, Katelyn. And I’m not just saying that because we’re best friends, and I’d be an asshole if I said otherwise. I’d like to show it to a few people if you’d let me.”
“No!” I nearly shouted.
“Oh, come on! Please. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t that good. I mean, I love you, but I wouldn’t put my career on the line for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
“So, is that a yes?” she asked. “If you say no, I’ll be forced to go online and spill all your deepest, darkest secrets from college.”
“Sharing on Facebook that I had a crush on Mark Dillon during our freshman year really wouldn’t be detrimental to my life anymore. I’m sure his supermodel wife would find it hilarious.”
“She is not a supermodel. She was inVogue, like, twice. Anyway, you’re getting off topic. Can I pitch this? Please?”
The way she saidpleasereminded me of how my coworkers’ kids would ask for candy when they came to visit.
“It was hard enough to show it to you,” I said, my hand trembling from shock. “Showing it to multiple people? Editor people? It seriously can’t be that good. I’ve never written anything in my life.”
“Believe me, Kate, it’s that good. And that’s total bullshit. You’ve been writing ever since I met you.”
“Restaurant napkins and diaries don’t count,” I argued.
“Well, whatever. It obviously worked. That, or the night-school teacher you kept rambling on about really was brilliant. Are you sure he didn’t teach you a little more than—”
“No! He was a friend. Besides, he’s happily married.”
I could hear her faint laughter.
“Okay, okay…”
“You’re so weird.”
“Anyway, getting back on track. I can see it appealing to everyone. It’s dramatic, thrilling, and hot. I mean, the sex alone would sell this book, especially that part where he—”
“I’m at work!” I nearly yelped, severing her sentence before she had a chance to finish.
I knew what part she had been about to mention by the way her voice lowered. It instantly made my cheeks flood with heat as I hurried to the restroom. I didn’t want anyone hearing this conversation.
“Am I on speakerphone or something?”
“No, I just…anyway. Wow, are you sure? I was not expecting this response. I thought you were going to give me a nice pat on the back and tell me to keep trying.”
“I’ll definitely be patting you on the back, especially if I can get you a deal out of this. Can you imagine it, Kate? Your book could be on a shelf in your favorite bookstore, that one you’re always dragging me into.”
It was a tempting offer even if I didn’t think it had a flying chance in hell of happening.
