Professor Feelgood (Page 75)

“Exactly. And now I’m forced to put unprecedented pressure on our staff and suppliers in order to try to save this company. But if Jacob can’t deliver what he’s just promised, I can’t guarantee anyone that our doors will still be open this time next month.”

“What has he promised?”

Her printer starts up, and she turns to look at me. “An alternative book in seven days. One which completely eliminates the Ingrid narrative.”

I stare at her for a few seconds, my face hot with disbelief. “Serena, that’s impossible. Ingrid was all through that book. Trying to remove her sections and still salvage anything worthwhile would take weeks of rewrites, at best.”

“I know that, and you know that, but apparently Mr. Stone doesn’t. He’s insisting that if we put our trust in him, he won’t let us down. Both Robert and I would love nothing more than to cancel his contract and move on, but we don’t have the financial luxury of flushing the vast amount of time and money we’ve already invested in him down the toilet. Like it or not, he’s committed to pulling off a minor miracle to salvage this situation, and we have no option but to support his efforts.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing. We’ve all agreed that it would be best for me to take over as his editor.”

“Jake agreed to that?”

“It was his idea.” She drops a heavy manuscript onto the desk in front of me. “Besides, you’ll be busy with this. On the slight chance we don’t go out of business, this is our next book. I want your first round of edits next week.”

I can feel how angry and disappointed she is right now, and I hate it. She’s always been in my corner, and I betrayed her trust.

“Serena, I’m sorry. This was my project, and I have to take responsibility for it blowing up like this.”

“Mr. Stone was adamant in his defense of you this morning. He takes full responsibility for the Ingrid deception and the consequences.” He gaze softens. “But you chose to not inform me that the two of you had a history, or that you’d become involved. I expected more from you, Asha. I’ve always been your most ardent supporter. That you didn’t trust me enough to be completely honest … it hurts.”

For the first time, I can see that despite Serena’s Ice Queen image, she’s just as vulnerable as anybody else.

“Serena … I’m so sorry. You’re my mentor, and I should have come to you but I didn’t, and I will always regret that. You have given me everything, and I let you down. If we get through this, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

She take off her glasses and rubs her eyes. “I hope you’re given the chance. Make no mistake, the margin of error on this alternate book is zero. If Jacob is even an hour late delivering that completed manuscript, it’s all over, for all of us.”

“I understand.” I pick up the book she wants me to work on and stand. “I’ll get you my edits by Monday.” Making comprehensive notes on this seven-hundred-page beast might mean working around the clock, but right now I’ll do whatever it takes to redeem myself. Even if I end up losing my job, I need her to know she wasn’t wrong to see potential in me.

When I get back to my desk, I slump into my chair. I have no idea what Jake was thinking promising a new book in a week, but apart from having a magical time-spinner, I don’t see how he’s going to pull it off.

“Shouldn’t you be updating your resume?” I look up to see Devin leaning against my cubicle. “If you hurry, you may be able to run off some copies on the company dime before they come to repossess all the office equipment. How bad are you feeling about that? Super guilty? Or crushingly, mind-numbingly guilty?”

“I feel horrible. But I guess you wouldn’t understand guilt, considering you’re willing to screw over your own uncle to soothe your poor, fragile ego.”

The grin slides off his face. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I think you know. Careful about what you admit to women you fail to sexually satisfy, Devin. They have no qualms about confirming that you’re a dickless wonder.”

His surprise at me talking back for once quickly transforms into anger. “If I do start my own house, don’t humiliate yourself by applying for a job. I’ll only be taking on editors who don’t fuck their authors. I honestly didn’t think you had the balls to do something so incredibly unprofessional, but it seems I was wrong.”

I stand with my hands on my hips, determined to take him down several thousand pegs. “So, you frown on me sleeping with a coworker? Is that why you relentlessly hit on me for the past couple of years? Or are you just pissed I slept with someone who wasn’t you?”

He gives my body a long hard ogle, then sneers at me –– the evergreen fallback for a guy like him realizing a woman he’s used to objectifying is no longer willing to take one more ounce of his shit. “I wouldn’t waste my time with you, Tate. Your tits aren’t bad, but other than that, you’re not much to look at.”

“Ow,” I say, deadpan. “I’m crushed to be held in such low regard by a knuckle-dragging one-pump chump.”

He lets out a disgusted noise and leans close. “Say whatever you like, but I’m not the one whose author-wannabe boyfriend fucked this company. That’s all on you. And it’s proof that Uncle Robert was incompetent in deciding to promote you over me. Did you sleep with him, too? Because if so, good job killing your remaining credibility, Tate.”

When he says those final words, he makes the mistake of dropping his slimy hand onto my shoulder. The combination of his uninvited contact, a couple of years of Tae Kwon Do training, and my tolerance levels being at an all-time low, makes me act before I think. Quick as a flash, I grab his fingers and twist them back until he falls to his knees.

He makes a noise, like a cat when you step on its tail, and I lean over so he can hear me over the sound of his pathetic whimpering.

“Devin, I’ve put up with you being a disgusting pig for too long, so listen up. Maybe Whiplash will go under, and maybe it won’t. But until it does, I’m your superior in every way. So, you will speak to me with respect, you will never again gawk at my breasts, and you will not lay one goddamn finger on me unless you want it broken in several places. Are we clear?”

“Fuck, yes! Let go, let go!”

I drop his hand and he climbs to his feet, rubbing his fingers. Then he takes a step forward as if he’s building up steam to retaliate, and when I step back in response, I feel a hard body behind me.

“Take another step toward her, asshole, and I’ll throw you across the room.” Even before I turn to see Jake staring at Devin like he wants to tear his arms out of their sockets, I can hear the fury in his voice. He steps in front of me, and Devin shrinks back. Standing next to Jake, who seems even taller than usual in this moment, Devin looks exactly like the cowardly weed he is.

“If you hit me,” Devin says, tipping his chin like a petulant child. “I’ll sue.”

“If I hit you,” Jake says, his voice dark. “Your first call will be to your dentist, not your lawyer.”

When I put my hand on Jake’s back, I can feel his muscles bunched, ready for action. Thankfully, before the situation can escalate, the elevator doors open, and Joanna steps out carrying a full tray of lidded coffee cups and inserts herself between the two men.