“But why would they up their offer?” she asked. “I haven’t even officially refused—”
“I’d called, expressed your concerns, pointed out what a monumental personal sacrifice they were asking you to make.” He made a sound of satisfaction. “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Anna swallowed hard, heart thundering in her chest. “Will,” she murmured, “the issue isn’t the money. It was never the money.”
“Anna, they’re offering fifty thousand.”
For the second time in five minutes, Anna’s stomach took a tumble. “Say that again.”
He repeated the figure and she laid her hand on Dalton’s arm for support. She knew that figure was a far cry from the multimillion-dollar advances the brandname authors pulled in per book, but it was a quantum leap from the twelve-thousand-dollar advance she had received for her last.
“How much?” Dalton whispered, nearly dancing with excitement.
Propping the phone to her ear with her shoulder, she opened and closed her hands five times. He brought his to his chest in mock heart failure.
“Same contract stipulations,” her agent continued. “A full tour and no-holds-barred publicity campaign.”
Her soaring spirits took a nosedive. “They won’t budge on that? “
“Not even a millimeter.” At her silence, he rushed to add, “Think about it, Anna. Think about what this could mean to your career. We’re talking bestseller lists. Name recognition. An advertising budget. Then, if this book sells as they expect it will, the publishing stratosphere. Now, think what you stand to lose if you turn this offer down. With your present numbers it’s not going to be easy to sell you to another house. You’ll be regarded as a bad bet and a money loser.”
His words hurt. That he could spit them at her so matter-of-factly, with no regard for her feelings, hurt more. “I thought you believed in my work,” she said, voice thick.
“I do. But in this market it takes more than a great story to sell books. It takes a hook. And you’ve got that, Anna. Use it. Don’t throw this opportunity away.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I…I can’t do this.” She shook her head. “I know I can’t.”
“Why are you sabotaging yourself this way?” His tone took on an unpleasant edge. “Don’t you see? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you can’t throw it away.”
“I don’t want to, but—”
“I’ll go back to the table. I can get you more money than this. I’ll get you a guaranteed publicity budget. Cover and title approval. Right now they see you as a potential gold mine, and if you agree to go along with their plans—”
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