Page 45 of Clear Blue Sky

“I’ll draft it tonight and shoot it off by seven tomorrow,” Brandi said. “I bet I hear from him within an hour after that.”

In the background, little Maddie began to fuss. Tiki went to her side and patted her back.

“Explain to me what this revise and resubmit plan has in it.” Nelson needed to understand what Brandi put out there so he could control the narrative.

“I’ve given him alternative plot lines that are more in line with what we’re willing to publish.” Brandi shifted, putting her arm over his shoulder. “It doesn’t change the plot, but it does change where and how we would market it.”

“And it does change the ending,” Lake said.

Tiki continued to attend to her child. “Think of it asit takes a village,”Tiki said. “When Brandi edited my book, there were a few changes she wanted and one of them I fought her a little on.”

“A little?” Brandi laughed. “You argued with me for three days until you finally came to the realization that my idea was what was best for the book.”

“But it wasn’t the first one you came at me with,” Brandi said. “It was like the fifth one that we brainstormed together.”

“However, this was after she was already under contract. Marcus isn’t a signed author,” Lake said. “So, in this scenario, we simply tell him what we liked, where it falls short, and some ideas that would give him a higher chance of being bought. It’s no guarantee that we would sign him.”

“Okay, so during this meeting, maybe you could suggest a few things that might hit too close to home.” Nelson knew this would be playing with fire, but sometimes that was the only way to get the job done.

“What do you mean?” Brandi narrowed her eyes.

“Marcus twisted what happened to me during that mission. What happened to my men. To the SEAL team. He wants to paint this picture that I’m responsible for Seth’s death as well as Roxy’s miscarriage. Why don’t you suggest that the female lead have the baby and that the father is the man she was having the affair with. Let it play out that way.”

“We were toying with that idea anyway,” Lake said. “Another idea was if the villain wanted the husband dead, but the husband was only MIA (missing in action), but comes back—”

“Oh. I’ve got a better idea.” Tiki lifted a crying child into her arms. “Based on what I’ve heard, Nelson’s character is the villain, right?”

“That’s correct.” Brandi nodded.

“If you’re trying to push this guy Marcus’ buttons, why not make it a little more true to what happened, but twist it where it will hurt the most.” Tiki cocked her head.

“What are you suggesting?” Nelson shifted.

“That we turn the tables and make the book about exactly what he’s trying to hide,” Tiki said.

“That actually might work,” Lake said.

“If you both are thinking what I’m thinking, I agree.” Brandi turned her head and bit down on her lip. “But it would mean putting a little bit of your truth out there.”

“What truth?” Nelson asked.

“We suggest to Marcus that he rewrite the story so that Roxy’s character goes to Nelson’s character with the sole purpose of getting pregnant. She’s successful and it’s Nelson’s character that’s left to die.”

“That would change everything about the novel,” Nelson said.

“It’s not what I suggested in my original letter.” Brandi ran a hand through her hair. “But we could approach this meeting as we’ve chatted and we believe we have a better way to take the story.”

“If he’s going to push his version of the truth, it will piss him off, especially if you’re adamant that his manuscript isn’t worth publishing as written.” While Nelson didn’t like the idea of putting his girlfriend in a situation where Marcus could become hostile, he had to admit, this was a good idea.

“Brandi and I can run with this idea,” Lake said.

“I hate to state the obvious, but we better get this little one home.” Tiki bounced up and down. “She’s been an angel tonight, but I don’t want to press our luck.”

“Are you coming with us? Or staying here?” Lake asked.

Brandi glanced over her shoulder. “Are you kicking me out?”

“Never.” Nelson kissed her nose.

---