June 15th, 2019

"Yeah, he's like standing right here. Right in front of me!" the girl squealed into the office phone. Her voice was in a whisper as she continued, "He looks so good. Gray shirts on him are my weakness, I swear!" She giggled, hugging the phone. "No way! I already got an autograph. I wish I had my copy of Maybe Someday with me for him to sign!"

She peeked at the man pacing in front of her in the guest area and a sigh left her lips. The girl went back to the phone, gripping it tightly with her pink glittering nails. "His hand just went through his hair! I'm gonna die, I swear!" Glancing once more in his direction, she went on talking, "How can a writer be this hot?" She giggled again. "NINA NO!" she yelled, giggling profoundly.

"You can't tell this to anyone!" she said sternly to whoever it was on the other side. "Otherwise, I will get kicked out and you can kiss those autographs goodb-" She paused when she noticed him approaching her. She fumbled to stand up, almost dropping the phone on the polished marble floor.

"How long will it take for Mr. Hued to come?"

The girl tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked over him through her lashes. Her voice low and slow when she spoke, "Mr. Sage, we apologize for the inconvenience. Mr. Hued will be here shortly. Please enjoy the refreshments as you wait." She ended with her best smile and a tug on her sleeve.

Nith nodded, hand going through his russet hair. "Thanks," he replied, going back to his spot. He stood there quietly only for a second before he started to pace again.

The young girl sat back in her chair, a faraway look on her face. The office phone glued back to her ear, hand covering the mouthpiece as she screamed the latest update to her friend on the other side.

Jay rolled his eyes, changing the page of the magazine he had in his hand; though he couldn't read a single line yet. He placed his copy of Weekly Spotlight - Troy's most popular magazine for Troywood's gossip - back on the table next to the snacks. The scandals in Weekly Spotlight were fun to read. But listening to Nith's fangirls was always a bit more entertaining. Especially when they were being this loud. Or clearly, the receptionist didn't know that her quiet voice wasn't quiet enough.

Nith racked his hand through his hair and the way the girl gasped out loud would make anyone think that someone snatched her soul out of her body. “Now she was just being dramatic,” Jay mumbled, rolling his eyes again at her antics. He turned his attention back toward his friend, who was marching on a mission. An old nervous habit he couldn't let go of.

"Dude, can you just sit?"

Nith stopped pacing. He inclined his head as he sat on the opposite side of the couch; his leg bouncing on the floor along with the tic's of the clock. Jay sighed.

They were at Colored Entertainment's office at Rens. After Nith's initial turn down to the original option offer for the movie - much to everyone's surprise - Mr. Lax Hued, the CEO, called Nith personally. Colored Entertainment wanted Maybe Someday’s rights for the movie.

Jay didn't push the matter when Nith said no. He knew why his best friend had turned it down. The fear that had Nith in its shackles. And its implementations.

But that didn't mean that he agreed with it. So he called in reinforcements and set up an intervention. With Lily in the lead.

Then all he had to do was to sit back with Julie on the loveseat of their living room and watch as Lily plowed through Nith’s conviction.

Nith stood up again, continuing his pacing.

Jay breathed out, rubbing his forehead. He felt dizzy just watching his friend go round and round for the last half an hour. If Mr. Hued doesn't show up soon, there would be a Nith-shaped hole in front of his office.

The door creaked as the assistant came out of the room, his cell phone in his ear. "Sorry gentlemen, I just got a ring from the boss. He would be coming in a -" he couldn't even finish as the man in question opened the glass doors.

Bright corncob yellow hair styled back with gel. A navy-colored suit steamed and ironed to a crisp. His Chelsea boots clicked along the marble floor. Lex Hued radiated CEO energy and he hadn’t even entered the room yet.

Nith frowned his brows as he looked down to see what he was wearing himself. A plain gray shirt with loafers and an overrun coat. His frown deepened when he noticed Jay’s attire: dressed up in a dark suit with his light hair combed back. He even wore his expensive muslin gray floral tie. Nith tsked at Jay. He should have told him not to dress so shabbily for such an important meeting.

"Good morning Lara," the man greeted. The receptionist stood up, smiling as she greeted him back. "Where are my guests?"

She motioned to the corner where Jay sat.

The man walked toward them, his eyes going over the men as his face broke into a grin. Nith hesitated to walk forward to him. That smile of his made him feel nervous. He glanced at his friends from his place as he put his hands inside his pocket, not knowing what to do with them.

"Gentleman, I apologize for the wait. The traffic was horrible. I'm Lex Hued," the blond man said, with a wide smile showing off his thousand Bronza worth perfectly white teeth.

Jay stood up, taking his hand to shake. "Jay Asher, Co-owner of Sage-Asher Publishing. This is my friend and author of Maybe Someday, Nithan Sage." He gestured at Nith. Lex Hued extended his hands toward him. Nith wiped his hand inside his pockets before bringing it out to shake. Mr. Hued smiled once more. "We are also waiting for one of our people, Lily Azure, to arrive. So no need to apologize."

"Excellent!" He brought his hands together. "Why don't we head inside and wait there? We have a lot to chat about. And I'm sure Miss. Azure will catch up with us in no time." His smile was fixed on his face like a Cheshire cat. He twisted onward to get inside his room, his cologne soaking the air. Nith scrunched his nose. He smelled like cheap perfume, cigars, and whiskey.

“Was he drinking?” Nith mumbled to himself.

The assistant beckoned them inside.

Jay gave Nith a subtle push to get in.

The office was huge. So much bigger than what Nith had imagined it to be. A giant oak table, an expensive rug, and a view from the twenty-third floor.

All of these were there to intimidate others, rather than to impress.

This wasn't Nith's first rodeo with a production house. His books had gotten adaptations before. When the Angel & Demon series got signed, he flew out to Sri Bang to meet the team there. Though it was Lily who handled most of the things as always. Still ...

But this, THIS, was different. The scale was different. This wasn't just any production house. It was Colored Entertainment! One of the biggest production houses in the world and the best in the country. Everything they touched was a blockbuster.

Everyone will be watching this movie. And the chances of her seeing it and finding out - if she hadn’t already - the truth was tremendous.

Nith didn't want that.

"Mr. Sage -" Nith blinked at the man sitting in front of him. He had zoned out the moment they walked in. "I won't lie. I was a little sad when I found out that you said no to our previous option offer. But I acknowledge that we made a mistake." Lex Hued nodded to himself. "You are the youngest author to ever chart in Troy's bestseller's list and stay there for five years! Not to mention, Maybe Someday is still charting on the Top100 books list ever since it debuted." Nith could feel his ears heating up. "We should have talked with you first before sending out an offer. An option of 50,000 Bronza for the entire year probably felt ridiculous to you."

"No, it was nothing like that. I just ..." He didn't know how to say it. He didn't know how to make others understand the fear that he felt. It was never about the money for Nith.

"It's alright. You probably didn't like how we proposed to use sets instead of using live locations either." Nith shook his head. Lex waved his right hand as he continued, "But I talked with my team regarding it and you were right." He leaned on the table, hands clasped together. "Mr. Sage, I have read Maybe Someday. And it is a great book. My wife is a huge fan of yours. She was the one who suggested this whole project, actually. And forced me to read." Lex smiled with a shrug. "And after reading it, I have come to the conclusion that anything other than the best won't do justice to this story. That means having the best director who would understand your vision and a team who can make it come true. I want to make it happen just the way you have thought of it while writing."

Nith sat still in his chair, not knowing what to say. What Lex was promising was tempting, any other author would have jumped in on it. But his reasons for saying no weren't like others. They didn't have a secret to hide from the world like he did.

Jay glanced at his friend and decided to take the lead from here. They couldn’t have Nith freaking out now. The poor guy didn’t even have his wine with him today.

"Mr. Hued, that's what we want too. Maybe Someday has a huge fanbase. And the fan expectations are just as huge. It's one of the reasons why we never said yes to any of the proposals or option offers we received so far." Nith looked at his friend, beyond impressed by his save. It wasn't a total lie. It was part of the reason, though a very tiny part. "So I hope you understand. Why we were hesitant at first."

Lex bobbed his head. "I do. But I am glad you gave this a second thought and agreed to it." He clapped his hands together, sitting straight. "And I am assuring you guys we will try our best to do justice to this story. That’s why we are in talks with Zia Mauve.”

“Zia Mauve?” The national award-winning director? For his little story? Nith gulped.

Lex smirked as his eyes frolicked between the men sitting in front of him. “We asked her to join the team as a director and an executive producer. We can’t give the fans a chance to complain. I won't be able to return home if I mess this up,” he said with a laugh.

Jay smiled back, leaning on his chair. "We don't want that to happen either."

Lex barked out, laughing.

A knock on the door came. They all turned as Lex Hued's assistant opened the mahogany door, poking his head inside. "Mr. Hued, Miss Azure is here."

"Excellent, let her in. You should also join us."

The assistant nodded before disappearing to the other side.

A second later, Lily walked in. A folder in one hand and her red trim glasses in the other. Wearing her 'for the kill' gray suit, she looked ready for war. This deal probably was nothing less than a war for her.

She tipped her head at Nith and ignored Jay as she walked to Lex Hued.

"Miss. Azure we were waiting for you." Lex stood up, extending his hand.

"I apologize. Traffic." She met his hand halfway.

"Take a seat."

Lily put on her glasses as she took the chair next to Jay. She smiled. "Shall we get down to business, then?"