Page 32 of Clear Blue Sky

All bullshit.

He could never prove that her brother put those ideas in her head, and she never admitted it.

“I was prepared for you to lie about knowing her.” Brandi blew out a puff of air as she held up her cell.

“Wow. That’s an old picture,” he said.

She fell back into the chair across from the desk. “What happened between you and Marcus’ sister?”

“We dated for about two years. At the time I was a Green Beret and going to Ranger School with Marcus. He and I graduated from West Point together. We didn’t get along then either. We’re both competitive by nature, but he takes it to a new level.”

“I’m not surprised by that statement.”

“Long story short, he didn’t like that Roxy and I were getting serious. He meddled. He won. I moved on and so did Roxy.”

“Why do I get the feeling there’s a lot more to that story than you’re telling me.” She pursed her lips.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You can’t tell me what’s in that book; I can’t—and I won’t—tell you certain things about that time in my life.”

“At least you’re being honest.”

“Can I ask you something about Marcus?”

She narrowed her stare. “I might not answer.”

“Why won’t you take a face-to-face meeting with him?”

“I can actually tell you that.” She sat up taller, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I sent him what we call a revise and resubmit letter. What that means is I rejected the manuscript, but I liked the writing and the premise enough to give him an editorial letter. Depending on how he executes it…” She paused, tapping her fingers on her legs as if she were typing. “You want me to take the meeting.”

“I think he’s fucking with me and I would bet that he’d suggest meeting here so I could potentially overhear the discussion.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking for the right words. “I’m not enjoying this, if that’s what you’re suggesting. But it would give us both something we need. You would know if what he’s writing he can, and I’d know if he’s writing about me.”

“If anyone can see themselves in his characters, it could be considered libel, especially if it’s not completely factual.”

“If he’s writing about what I think he is, there’s some truth to it.”

Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide.

That told him all he needed to know.

Motherfucker.

Nelson gripped the side of his desk. His blood raced through his system like an out-of-control high-speed train. It wasn’t that he cared if Brandi knew about what happened between him and Roxy, it was how in which the story had been told.

And the lies that were probably attached.

Brandi cleared her throat and stood. “If it’s only some, even though it’s fictionalized, if you can see yourself in it, and can prove it’s you, it’s still libel. Although, it’s very hard to prove.”

He opened his mouth, but she held up her hand.

“I won’t publish anything that is questionable, no matter how good. My company has had enough controversy to last a lifetime. I don’t want to take a meeting with Marcus. I feel like that’s putting him in the driver’s seat of whatever game he’s playing. Besides, I’ve made it very clear to him that if he’s not willing to make changes, then there is no deal.”

“That’s fair,” he said. “I am concerned that he somehow knows about us and will come after you, to hurt me.”

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “You really believe he hates you that much.”

---