A Reason to Be Alone (The Camdyn Series Book 2)

by Christina Coryell

  “How, exactly?” I asked warily.

  “It will be easy. First of all, the book releases, you make the rounds on the morning shows. We do a couple of interviews with the fashion magazines, accompany those with sexy photo shoots, instantly your brand becomes more popular. We’ll get you on late night TV – it won’t be difficult, looking the way you do.”

  “Lex…” I tried to interrupt him.

  “Then - the movies - this is where it really gets interesting. We’re already in talks for The General’s Wife and A Trail of Heartaches.”

  My books on Martha Washington and the Trail of Tears? I knew there were talks, but I hadn’t heard the latest.

  “I’m not sure who they’re going to get to play the leads, but we have to demand cameos for you. If you make an appearance in each of your movies, there’s press for that.”

  “I’m not an actress,” I lamented, but he didn’t seem to hear me.

  “That’s where we come to the best part,” he told me, a mysterious glint in his eyes. “Your next book is going to be about old Hollywood glamour. You write about those young starlets back in the heyday, and all the actresses are going to want to play them. Those are the kind of roles that gain award recognition.”

  “I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” I muttered across the table, but he merely sat back and let a grin spread across his face.

  “Well, I guess you can say thank you, because I already arranged your first photo shoot for this Wednesday morning.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, it’s true.”

  “I don’t mean ‘no,’ in that I don’t believe you. I mean ‘no’ as in, I’m not doing it.”

  “Yes, you are,” he stated forcefully.

  “Lex, do you even know who my audience is?” I asked incredulously. “People like my fiancé’s mother read my books. You think she wants to see scantily clad photos of me? I don’t want to be some sort of grocery store fodder that people gawk at while they’re waiting in the check-out lines. I’ve earned respect, and that’s what I expect from your publishing company.”

  “With all the respect due you, then, I think you’re missing the point. Those photos aren’t for old ladies that buy your lessons in history. They’re for people who can make sure you’re going somewhere.”

  “For men to peruse on their computers while they sit in their parents’ basements,” I suggested.

  “And so what if they do?”

  “Are they going to buy my books, Lex? Is that my core audience now? If it is, I have no idea what we’re doing here.”

  “Okay, listen, forget the photos for a minute, okay?” he stated earnestly. “Maybe I’ll talk you into it, in time. The next book, though, that’s really going to be your ticket.”

  “That’s another thing,” I huffed. “I’m not going to write a book in hopes of earning someone an acting award. That’s ridiculous.”

  “But you could write the screenplay and win an award yourself,” he countered.

  “No. I’m not interested in any of that.”

  “Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure you have the luxury of saying no,” he told me, leaning back in his chair and glaring at me across the table. I narrowed my eyes and sat up a little straighter.

  “Don’t have the luxury?” I tried to hide my surprise as I stared at him.

  “You think you’re the only person who knows how to do historical research?” he asked with a smirk. “Guess what? I’ve been doing a little digging of my own, and I know all about you. I’ve seen your proposal videos. I’ve talked to the guys on those videos. You’re an absolute train wreck. You think you’re going to say no to anything I suggest? I dare you to try me. Before you so much as walk away from this table, every publishing house in this town is going to know exactly who you are.”

  “Wow, Lex,” I exhaled. “I’ve got to admit, I did not see this coming. I have to hand it to you, though – you really know how to play the villain. You are like Lex Luther.”

  “Lex Luther?” he replied with an angry smirk.

  “Yeah, Lex Luther,” I repeated. “You came here tonight trying to win me over to your side, and when it didn’t work, you thought you’d try to throw a little kryptonite in my face. You’re so pathetically desperate to get your father to pat you on the back that you were willing to blackmail me? Unbelievable. There’s only one little problem: I’m a train wreck? Really? That’s not my kryptonite. I know exactly who I am, but you? You’re just…”

  “What?” he asked heatedly. “What am I?”

  “You, my friend, are a first-class jerk.”

  I pushed my chair back from the table and stood while he stared at me wide-eyed, face completely white. A couple at a neighboring table was gawking at me, but I didn’t care. I took about three steps toward the door, and then I turned around.

  “Hey, Lex, you know what this is?” I laughed. “It’s the luxury of saying no. Guess I had it after all.” With that, I walked out onto the street.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Once I was outside, it only took me a moment to locate Jesse in the black car. I walked over to where he was parked and knocked softly on the glass, causing him to jump about a foot. When he saw it was me, he hurriedly rolled down the window.

  “Nobody called me,” he stated hurriedly, no doubt thinking we were waiting for him. I tried my best to smile pleasantly and seem unaffected by the events that had just happened in the restaurant.

  “No, we didn’t call,” I explained. “I’m just a bit jetlagged from the flight earlier, and Mr. Fairmont was still chatting with some friends. He said it would be okay if you took me to the hotel and came back for him.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He exited the car with haste and moved around the back to open the door for me. Glancing back at the restaurant, I was relieved to see that Lex hadn’t followed me yet. He was probably picking up the bill, and he might be a minute more.

  “My name’s not ma’am,” I told Jesse as he prepared to close my door. “It’s Camdyn.” He only smiled as he closed me safely inside. As we pulled away from the curb, I glanced back at the restaurant again with relief, and felt a hot, angry tear slide down my cheek.

  Ugh, what an insufferable jerk he turned out to be! At least I let him have it, though.

  When I turned back to face the front, I couldn’t help but notice Jesse watching me in the mirror. I offered him a tremulous smile and hastily brushed the tear away. When his phone started ringing, I watched him pick it up and readied myself to get out of the car and walk back to the hotel. Instead of answering it, though, he looked back up at me.

  “I’m thinking Mr. Fairmont didn’t want me to leave him at the restaurant,” he suggested quietly. I grimaced a little and shook my head.

  “I’m sorry, Jesse. I know you have to go back and get him. If you’ll just let me out here, I’ll walk the rest of the way.” He chuckled and tossed the phone across the seat.

  “Funny thing – I think my phone battery just died,” he laughed, offering me a wink. “I’ll take you back to the hotel, Camdyn. He can just cool his jets a while.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “What did he do, if you don’t mind my asking?” Jesse pried, albeit kindheartedly. “Did he make a move on you or something?”

  “No, I think that would have been easier to take,” I sighed, leaning forward so I could see him better. “He tried to blackmail me.”

  “Of all the screwed up…”Jesse muttered. “He’s usually a nice guy. His father’s really done a number on him, that’s for sure.”

  I pondered his words silently as we rode the rest of the way to the hotel in silence. When he opened the door for me, he took my hand to help me out of the car.

  “It was a pleasure driving you,” he stated stoically, “in case I get fired.” He offered me a mock salute, and then he was back in the driver’s seat.

  I breezed through the lobby of the hotel, smiling pleasantly at the staff as I made my way up to my room. Once
there, I tugged off my shoes and threw myself face down across the bed, relieved that it wasn’t too late, because I desperately wanted to talk to Cole. Several deep calming breaths later, I finally dialed his number.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” he answered in his laid-back manner. I let out a sigh and sunk into my pillows, pulling my knees up against my chest.

  “I so wish you were here,” I told him, and then heard him laugh quietly.

  “That bad? How was your dinner?”

  “You were definitely right about Lex,” I offered. “He was a complete nemesis.”

  “What happened?”

  I explained everything that Lex had said to me at the restaurant, and Cole waited in silence as I expressed my outrage. He didn’t breathe a word until I finally exhausted myself of my wrath and made a loud noise expressing my disgust.

  “Should I fly out there and avenge you?” he asked in what I assumed was sarcasm. I honestly couldn’t tell for certain.

  “That’s not necessary,” I replied. “I’m pretty sure I wounded him.”

  “Wounded him?”

  “Well, I called him a jerk and stole his car.” I could hear chuckling on the other end of the line. “Okay, not his car exactly, just his chauffeur, but still…”

  “It sounds like you handled the situation beautifully,” he told me then, after which he calmly attempted to convince me that I better get some sleep.

  After we hung up, I changed into my pajamas, scrubbed my face, and brushed my teeth before I snuggled cozily into my posh bed. I was preparing to turn on the television when I heard a soft knocking sound at my door, but I told myself I was imagining things, so I sat there and silently waited for it to happen again. When it did, I made the decision to ignore the noise.

  “Camdyn,” I heard faintly, and then I heard the sound of someone’s back sliding down the door as they settled onto the floor in the hallway. I pondered calling the lobby to complain, but before I had made up my mind I heard the voice again.

  “Camdyn, it’s Lex. I know you’re in there. I just walked twenty blocks, so the least you can do is hear me out.”

  The least I can do? You will be lucky if I don’t swing that door open and punch you in the nose!

  “I just panicked, okay? I didn’t have the intention of saying those things. If I had been able to talk you into some of what I suggested, then maybe… I don’t know, when you flat out refused, I felt like I was out of control.”

  I should push the door really hard and hit him in the back of the head. Oh, but it swings inside. So if I opened it really quickly, maybe he would fall backwards? But then he would be in my room, so no.

  “That’s not me. I wouldn’t normally do that. I can only imagine what Kara would say!” He chuckled low in his throat before he continued. “I have a girlfriend, Kara. She’s a waitress. I’ve been with her for a year, and I haven’t told anyone about her, because it wouldn’t be sensible for someone like me to date a waitress, would it?” His voice rose to a louder volume. “Yet there I was calling you a train wreck. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”

  I wish Kara would show up right now and drag your sorry butt away from my doorway.

  “You were right, you know. My father gave me a job at the publishing company so he could keep an eye on me, but he won’t let me do anything. I’ve tried everything to prove myself, but nothing is good enough. Those ideas I came up with tonight weren’t even mine – I got them from a friend who does advertising for a couple of supermodels.”

  I heard him shuffling around a bit outside the door, but I wasn’t about to acknowledge his presence.

  “I want to be a writer,” he continued. “Old man says I have no talent. Maybe I don’t. I just can’t take it anymore, walking around that office doing absolutely nothing and having everyone treat me like I deserve some kind of respect. ‘Give up your dreams and live in the real world,’ he told me. Then he gives me a real world job without any real world responsibilities. I honestly thought this time that if he gave me a shot I could make something work for a change, but I blew it. I couldn’t even come up with my own ideas.”

  A long pause followed, and I thought maybe he was gone. I tiptoed over to the door so I could listen a little better, and when I was almost there, I heard him sigh loudly.

  “You think I should stand up to him, don’t you?” he asked, and then he laughed. “I’ve never stood up for anything in my life. It doesn’t matter now, though. After that meeting tomorrow, everything will be over.”

  He sounds really sad. If it wasn’t for the fact that he just threatened to ruin my career a little while ago, I might offer to hear him out.

  “Won’t you say something?” he asked.

  “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I heard another male voice. “Some of the other guests are complaining.”

  “Okay, okay, I’m going,” Lex added before he knocked on the door one more time. “Camdyn, I am sorry. Really sorry.”

  I listened to the sound of him being escorted out of the building, and I almost felt for him. In the grand scheme of things, though, I decided I wasn’t going to allow myself the luxury of feeling empathy toward him in any way, at least not that night.

  -§-

  The next morning at nine o’clock I received a call from the lobby stating that my car had arrived, and when I walked out into the morning air, I was overjoyed to see Jesse. He smiled conspiratorially, and I waited until we were both closed inside the car before I spoke to him.

  “I take it you’re not fired,” I asked him sarcastically. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his eyebrows as he looked at me in the mirror.

  “I haven’t heard a word about it,” he chuckled. “I went back to the restaurant, but he was already gone.”

  A little smile crossed my lips, because I knew that Lex had walked all the way to my hotel, but Jesse didn’t need to know that tidbit of information - I was still holding that in my hip pocket in case it came in handy later. Entering the building exactly as I had the day before, this time I felt strangely confident. It was almost as though Lex’s attempt to destroy me had made me invincible. I marched up to the elevator, rode it to the fourth floor, and stepped confidently to Stacy’s desk. She immediately let Mr. Fairmont know that I had arrived, and then ushered me into his office. When I entered, I couldn’t help but notice Lex sitting in one of the two chairs in front of Mr. Fairmont’s desk. For a split second I wondered if he decided to tell his father about my embarrassing proposals, but I tried not to let that bother me. Instead, I sank down into the available chair. (Sank is absolutely the appropriate verb – the chairs were built really low, presumably so the small-statured Mr. Fairmont could look down on his guests.)

  Smoothing the front of my black pencil skirt, I sat as straight as possible in an attempt to look Mr. Fairmont in the eye. He had a stack of cream-colored stationary in front of him, and he perused it for a moment, reading in silence. Finally, he folded his hands together on the oversized glass-topped walnut desk.

  He began by going over the movie discussions for The General’s Wife and Trail of Heartaches, and while he spoke, I dared to glance at Lex. He stared sullenly at his father, not showing any emotion or interest. A couple of big name stars were mentioned with possible interest in the movies, probably in an attempt to impress me and gain the upper hand, but I wasn’t going to fall for any tricks today. The movie negotiations were all well and good, but I knew this meeting was about my future books.

  After going over a few issues such as advertising, marketing, and public appearances, he sat back in his chair and seemed to relax a bit. For a moment I thought he was trying to be friendly, but then I realized it was all part of his negotiations to convince me to let my guard down.

  “I apologize for not having more details in front of me, Miss Taylor,” he continued. “I had hoped Lex would have gone over some of the more mundane details with you last night at your meeting, but apparently that didn’t happen. I can’t say that I’m surprised – I
went against my instincts in allowing him to talk to you at all. He says he didn’t have any ideas that you agreed to use.”

  “No, sir,” I admitted.

  “I thought not,” he stated. “Lex seems hell-bent on having a moment, when what he really needs is to have a workday.”

  I looked over at Lex, who was staring distantly at the wall, and suddenly instead of Mr. Fairmont I was seeing the BM in front of me. Realization washed over me slowly that Lex and I had something huge in common – we both had a terrible parent. They weren’t the same in their tactics – mine never wanted me around until she tried to marry me off to her brother-in-law, and Lex’s wanted him under his thumb so he could micromanage every aspect of his life – but they were both lousy. The only difference staring me in the face at the moment was that Lex wasn’t going to rebel against the tyranny. Lucky for him, I’d had ten years to really think it through.

  “Having a workday is not really up my alley, either,” I told Mr. Fairmont boldly. Lex looked over at me then, eyes wide, and I gave him a little smirk.

  “Well, young lady, I guess you have the luxury of choosing that, since you’re successful,” he replied, trying to sound pleasant. “Speaking of that success, we would like to sign you for another three books. We’re prepared to offer you an additional two-and-a-half percent of the royalties, and you will run the book topics by us when you begin writing.”

  Oh, I don’t think so. You might be able to control Lex, but you’re not going to do it to me. One worthless parent is plenty for this girl.

  “I’m afraid those terms are unacceptable,” I told him, fighting to keep my breathing under control.

  “Unacceptable?” he repeated, lowering his voice and narrowing his eyes. I fought to seem bigger in that crazy small chair.

  “If I continue with Fairmont Publishing, and understand that right now that’s a pretty big ‘if,’ it’s going to be on my terms,” I informed him. “I will sign for two books, and I want another ten percent. In addition, I will write whatever suits my fancy. Even if I decide to write about the mating habits of gophers, that’s my prerogative.”