When fate plays its hand

“There’s no need to keep up the act. Let’s be direct. I’ve already signed with another publisher,” Monday

said.

She continued, “Seven Days, the book you saw, was released through them, so I won’t be renewing with you. Let’s end things on good terms after ten years of working together.”

“Good terms?” Edith sneered, dropping her polite facade. “You think you can just walk away like that? And who’s going to cover my losses?”

“Losses?” Mindy looked at her in disbelief.

“I invested so much to sign you. Ten years. That’s a full decade and not a single successful book. Then you turn around and sign with someone else, and suddenly you’re producing bestsellers? Are you doing this just to spite me, Mindy?”

“You think I didn’t want to write? You kept rejecting my ideas, shutting down every chance to publish. In ten years, do you know how many outlines I submitted? And every single one got turned down by you! How was I supposed to produce hits? Or quality work?

You”

“And about that initial signing fee. Yes, you paid a lot, but you also kept me tied down for a decade. And during those years, you’ve been managing the rights to my older books, haven’t you? You know exactly how much you made off of them.”

Edith’s gaze flickered, betraying her guilt. How did Mindy know about the old book rights?

Mindy continued, “You’re wondering how I found out, aren’t you? I had a lawyer review the contract. You added a clause for managing my old book rights without informing me clearly before I signed.”

Edith smirked. “So, we’re digging up old contracts now? You went to a lawyer? I see you’ve been preparing for this betrayal for a while.”

“Think what you want. I’m willing to leave the past in the past, but from now on, stay out of my life.” Mindy rose, signaling that Edith should leave.

Edith laughed coldly and stood up. “So, you’re cutting me off completely? Unfortunately for you, I don’t agree!”

“What gives you the right to refuse? Our contract has expired.”

“Then we’ll renew it.”

“You’re impossible! My home isn’t open to you. Please leave.”

With that, Mindy turned to head toward her study. But Edith followed, shouting, “You think you can just drop me now that you’ve moved up in the world? Dream on!”

“I’m asking you again. Get out of my house.”

“Well, I’m not leaving! What are you going to do about it?”

Mindy had never met anyone so shameless in her life. She took out her phone furiously. “You’re not All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

leaving? Fine, I’ll call the police.”

She was about to dial when….

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Edith grabbed at her phone, pushing her. In the scuffle, they stumbled into the study with the door swinging open.

Edith’s eyes fell on Mindy’s desk and the open laptop screen. It was unmistakably a manuscript. Edith’s eyes narrowed as she shoved Mindy aside, moving toward the computer.

So, she was writing something impressive after all–why hadn’t she managed to do this while under her?

“What are you doing?” Mindy’s expression turned to panic.

“A new book, huh? Are you afraid I’ll see it?”

Mindy lunged to grab the computer, but Edith was faster.

“Put my laptop down!” Mindy’s voice shook

Her entire manuscript was on that laptop, and she hadn’t yet backed up her work from the morning. Seeing how distressed Mindy was, Edith lifted the laptop over her head. “Writing a new book, are you? Let’s see how you’ll finish it now!”

“No-”