He watched her, tapping his finger on his lip. “Your contract is for next season and we haven’t even seen the first episode yet. Are you saying you want to pull out now or are you going to finish the contract?”
“If you insist, I will finish it but I would prefer to put my energy into this new book and other projects that are mulling over in my mind.” Del sat and waited for him to lose his temper. The studio had a lot riding on this series and she knew it made money. Kim was going to have a fit when she found out and that was another hurdle Del had to sort out before she could even think of taking her own wants and needs any further.
“Would you be open to a co-writer?” Paul steepled his fingers and rocked in his chair, his gaze pinned on her face.
Holy moly, is this really happening to me? “Yes, I could live with that but let’s put all our cards on the table here while we have the chance, Paul. I want to be able to move from the city. This is no longer where I want to be. I have no problems coming back once in a while, but I no longer have the need to be in the thick of it.” That’s if Blake will have me back, that is. After the way I left, that might not be an option anymore and he hasn’t returned my calls since I’ve been home.
“Do I take it that the change in your writing was more than the Outback? There’s someone you are involved with you want to be nearer to?”
“Yes.” Warmth filled her chest as she thought about the man she’d left behind.
He lifted his phone. “Get Kim Blanks in here.”
Delilah opened her mouth to ask what he was doing but he cut her off. “I want you to sit and listen, try to keep that pretty little mouth of yours quiet while I sort something out with your manager. Think you can do that?”
“But…,”
“Delilah, I like you, always have. The studio would be stupid to let you go completely and I will do whatever is in my power to keep you, but first I have to show you something.” He smiled and then his face took on the sternness she was used to seeing.
There was a knock on the door and Kim breezed in, pulling up short when she saw Delilah sitting there.
“Del, how wonderful to see you back. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home early? Remember our little chat before you left?” She hurried over and air kissed both of Del’s cheeks before smiling coyly at Paul.
“So, what are you two talking about? You do realize I should be in any meeting you have with my client? I have to look after her best interests you know.” Kim smiled between the two of them, giving Delilah a frown when she didn’t say anything.
“Sit down.” He turned the manuscript around and pushed it across the desk toward Kim. “What I want to know is why did you insist Delilah not show me this?” He tapped his finger on the desk, showing his disapproval.
Kim grabbed the papers and scanned the first couple of pages. Her mouth tight, she turned to Del ready to give her a telling off. “What is going on here? I told you not to do this until the current series was written, Delilah. Do you want to jeopardize your career, and mine in the process? Hell, I’ve worked so damned hard to keep you going and you do this to me.” Kim threw her hands up in the air, forever the drama queen. “I’m sorry, Mr Steenburg, I could have saved you the time and bother looking at this if I’d known she was going to go behind my back. I’ve already told her it’s not ready, not by a long shot.” She shot daggers at Del and then smiled over sweetly at Paul, hoping to make herself look good.
She stood up and paced the office, her mood one of concerned agent. “Delilah, honey, you should have listened to me and not bothered Paul with this.” She flashed him a bright smile then turned into the gruff teacher again giving a lesson where it was due. “You need to concentrate on Bondi Beauties. That is where the money is and I know he agrees, don’t you, Paul?”
He looked at Delilah and then back to Kim. “No, I don’t agree with you. This is good, better than good. I love it and I want it.”
“Oh, right.” Kim looked stunned for a few seconds and seemed to regroup before Delilah’s eyes. Her eyes took on a conniving gleam and she stood tall, brushing her hand down over her skirt as things churned over in her mind. “Well then, I guess I’ll have to talk to my client about what her terms are then. Delilah, let’s go and sort this out so you can get back to Paul.” She reached out to grab Delilah’s arm.
“Sit down, Kim.” He glared at her until she sunk back into the chair in front of his desk. “Delilah should know why you didn’t want her to work on this manuscript. Don’t you think it’s time she was informed of your true loyalty? I think she’s the only one in this city who doesn’t know what you’re doing.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I love Delilah, she’s one of my favorite clients.”
“But not the one you are having an affair with, though.”
Kim gasped and Delilah knew her own mouth had dropped open. Was it possible they had pulled the wool over her eyes all along?
“Tell her, Kim. Tell
