Cross Check (Marriage Contract #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

I begin, “Did you really call her ‘little lady’ in your last
meeting?”
    “Maybe I did,” Loudon shrugs, “What is that, a crime now?”
    “Not a crime, no,” I say diplomatically, “But maybe not the
best tactic to use when speaking with a sharp, independent young feminist like
Elsie?”
    “And what were her other ‘concerns’, besides my vocabulary?”
Loudon huffs.
    “She was also worried that we’d turn her books into just
another flashy YA movie trilogy,” I go on. 
    “Right. God forbid we make her millions of dollars in ticket
sales,” my boss says, rolling his eyes.
    “It’s not about that for her,” I press, “She’s done plenty
well for herself from book sales alone. She doesn’t want to move forward if her
story is going to fall into the wrong hands.”
    “Namely, old white guy hands?” Loudon says.
    “Pretty much,” I shrug.
    “So? What did you tell her?” he asks, arms tightly crossed.
    “Well,” I reply, “I assured her that I was a fan of her
work. Which I am. I read the whole trilogy in a long weekend. Elsie and I
talked for a while about science fiction and fantasy, and it turns out that she
liked my take on how her series can be amplified cinematically.”
    “Since when are you a sci-fi expert?” Loudon asks, cocking
an eyebrow at me.
    God, if you only knew … I think to myself, as a memory
of pouring over Dune in the gazebo with a ten-year-old Jamison pops up
in my mind.
    “Go on then,” Loudon urges, “Did you get through to her or
not?”
    “I did,” I tell him, planting my elbows on my desk, “It wasn’t
easy, but I managed to assure her that her work would be in good hands here.”
    A wide grin spreads across Loudon King’s face.
    “Fantastic!” he roars triumphantly, displeasure completely
forgotten. “Well done, Leah. I knew you’d put this thing down in no time.”
    “That’s what I’m here for,” I smile, amazed as ever at the
mercurial nature of Loudon King’s moods. This man has more ups and downs than a
game of Whack-a-Mole.
    “That was too close a call for my liking, though,” Loudon
goes on, sitting down in one of the chairs before my desk. “We need to make
sure Elsie doesn’t balk again.”
    “I agree,” I tell him, holding my hands on the desk, “What
do you have in mind?”
    “Well,” Loudon says, his blue eyes gleaming as they linger
on my face, “I’m thinking we should make your position as the point person on
this project a little more official.”
    My heart flies into my throat. “I like the sound of that,” I
reply.
    “Good,” Loudon says, “Because I’m getting too old to deal
with temperamental artists like Ms. Walker. From here on out, you’re in charge
of our dealings with her. I want you overseeing the entire Huntress of Tomorrow
project.”
    It takes every ounce of willpower I possess not to leap out
of my seat and bear hug my mentor right then and there.
    “Loudon. Wow…” I breathe instead, leaning back in my desk
chair, “Honestly, that would be a dream come true for me.”
    “Well. Wake up, Leah,” he grins broadly, “Because that dream
just became a reality.”
    “I…I don’t know what to day,” I stammer giddily, letting my
professional veneer crack just a hair, “Thank you, Loudon. I won’t let you
know.”
    “I know you won’t,” he says, standing to go, “Why do you
think I brought you around all those years ago? I’ve known since you were a kid
that you belonged here at King Enterprises. You haven’t let me down yet. Just,
don’t start now, OK?”
    “I won’t. I promise,” I tell him, eagerly shaking on our
agreement.
    “Now that that’s settled,” he says, turning to go, “We
should celebrate. Me at DeLeonardo’s at eight o’clock. I’ll have our usual table
set aside. There are a few other things I’d like to discuss with you.”
    “Sounds great, Loudon. I’ll see you there.”
    My boss nods, striding back out of my office. I wait
anxiously until the door has