Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (2 page)

“
I
’
d be thrilled for him.
 
You know I would.
”

“
And
you think he won
’
t
be thrilled for you?
”

“
Of
course he will.
”

“
So,
what
’
s
the problem?
”

I didn
’
t need to search for an answer because I
’
d already given this
way too much thought.
“
Great
success
—
especially
great,
sudden
success
—
can
affect people negatively, Jennifer.
 
For some, it
’
s
as if you
’
ve
become a different person.
”

“
To
some people, yes.
 
But I don
’
t think Tank is that
person.
”

“
It
’
s not just the five
million,
”
I
said.
 
“
It
’
s more complicated
than that.
 
It
’
s also what happens
after
I sign the contract to get that five million.
 
This is a three-book deal.
 
You know the details.
 
I
’
m selling them my latest book.
 
They
’
ll unpublish it from Amazon, Nook, and other digital
retailers, and then they
’
ll
rush it to market under their own imprint within three months.
 
This week, the Wenn PR machine will kick
into high gear and start to build a buzz around the book and me.
 
Interviews will take place.
 
Just one of many photo shoots happens
today.
 
And in the midst of it
all?
 
I still need to deliver my new
book
—
which
I haven
’
t
even begun
—
within
six months.
 
They
’
re going to put me
everywhere
—
you
heard Blackwell.
 
‘
You
’
re going to be a star,
’
she
said to me.
 
‘
Just you wait and
see.
 
Bernie and I will style you,
of course, and it will be divoon.
’
 
Divoon?
 
I
’
m not so sure about that.
 
Tank is nothing if not quiet and
reserved.
 
Do you think he
’
s going to want a
‘
star
’
for
a girlfriend?
 
I think this might
test our relationship.
 
I
’
m worried about
that.
 
We only just said that we
were in love with each other over the holidays.
 
Everything is great between us now, but
the relationship is still very fresh and fragile.
”

“
All
right.
 
I get that.
”

“
Money
can change things.
 
Success and fame
can change things.
”

“
I
didn
’
t
mean to upset you.
”

“
I
know you didn
’
t.
 
It
’
s just me and my own insecurities.
 
I
’
m under a lot of stress right now, and I
’
m trying my best to
push through it.
 
I don
’
t want to overshadow
him, and on a few superficial levels, I think I
’
m about to.
 
You
know what Wenn can do.
 
If only to
get their investment back, they
’
re
going to put my face and my books in front of as many people as possible.
”

Her face softened.
 
“
I had no idea you were struggling with this.
 
Why haven
’
t you talked with me about this?
 
I could have helped you.
”

“
I
don
’
t
know.
”

“
At
least let me give you some perspective.
”

“
OK.
”

“
Tank
is Alex
’
s
head of security.
 
Alex is one of
the most well-known men in Manhattan, and yet, he
’
s also Tank
’
s
best friend.
 
In fact, he
’
s going to be Alex
’
s best man at our
wedding.
 
Consider that for a
moment.
 
Tank is used to being
around money.
 
He
’
s used to being around
power.
 
He knows all about
fame.
 
His best friend has both.
”

“
But
does he want to share a bed with it?
”
I asked.

That caught her off guard.

“
It
’
s different,
”
I
said.

“
I
guess we
’
ll
find out if it is.
”
 
She got up from my bed, kissed me on
the forehead, and gave me a hug.
 
“
Enough of this for
now.
 
Today is your day.
 
I
’
m sorry that I brought any of this up.
”

“
I
’
ve actually been
wanting to talk to you about it.
”

“
Then
I
’
m
glad that we have.
 
So.
 
Let
’
s get you ready for Blackwell.
 
While you were looking through your
closet, I saw a few of your suits that might satisfy her.
”

“
Nothing
will satisfy her.
 
We
’
re talking Blackwell
here.
”

I sighed.
 
“
You
’
re
probably right, but we
’
ll
do our best.
 
And who knows?
 
Maybe we can talk to her about
Tank.
 
Maybe she
’
ll have some insight
into your situation.
”

CHAPTER TWO

“
First
of all, I
’
d
never be
in
this situation,
”
Blackwell said.
 
“
Though
I have to admit that it amuses me.
 
So many assumptions being tossed about.
 
So many unknowns.
 
And a complete misreading of Tank by
both of you.
 
It really is rather
incredible what you two can whip up when you spend a few tortured minutes in
each other
’
s
company.
”

We
’
d been at Wenn for the past fifteen minutes.
 
With Jennifer at my side, I
’
d told Blackwell about
all the insecurities I was feeling about how my new life might affect my
relationship with Tank.
 

When we first arrived, Blackwell was
seated at her desk, a cup of black coffee in one hand, the other flipping
through the latest edition of
Vogue
.
 
Now, the magazine was closed.
 
She was leaning back in her chair, and
she looked bemused.

“
So,
”
she
said to me.
 
“
Allow me to ask you a
few questions.
”

“
All
right.
”

“
Why
would you think that Tank would have an issue with you making five million
dollars?
”
 

I told her what I
’
d told Jennifer.
 
“
Money changes things,
”
I said.
 
“
You know it does.
 
And you said that Wenn is going to make
me some sort of celebrity.
”

“
We
’
re going to make you a
star.
”

“
Then
fame also changes things.
 
I don
’
t want anything to
change either of us.
”

“
Are
you na
ï
ve?
”

“
Am
I what?
”

“
Na
ï
ve.
”

“
I
don
’
t
think
—”

“
Let
me erase any doubts you might have about that, because you are na
ï
ve.
”

“
Why
do you say that?
”

“
Because
you don
’
t know
your own boyfriend.
”
 
She leaned forward and a lock of her
black bob fell into her face.
 
She
lifted it over her ear with an extended pinkie.
 
Barbara Blackwell was in her early
fifties, a creature of couture, recently divorced with two daughters at university,
and among Wenn
’
s
most powerful and influential players due to her close relationship with its
CEO, Alexander Wenn.
 
“
Since you
’
re so concerned about
money, let me ask you a question.
 
What do you think Tank earns per year?
”

“
I
have no idea.
”

“
Take
a stab.
”

“
If
I did, I
’
d
just be stabbing at thin air.
”

“
So
stab the hell out of it.
”

“
I
have no clue what the head of security for a corporation like Wenn would
make.
 
Especially after what Alex
and Jennifer just went through.
 
He
saved their lives.
”

She narrowed her eyes at me.
 
“
And what do you think
that
’
s
worth?
”

“
I
don
’
t
know.
 
I
’
m a Maine girl.
 
There, the salaries are so low, it
’
s pathetic.
 
That
’
s why Jennifer and I moved here last May.
 
You know the story.
”

“
How
about just answering the question?
”

I shrugged at her.
 
“
Three hundred thousand?
 
Maybe more with bonuses?
”

“
Your
boyfriend is ex-Marine.
 
Former
SEAL.
 
He has one of the best minds
in the business.
 
Do you want to
give it another shot?
”

Apparently that wasn
’
t
high enough.
 
Fine.
 
What did I know?
 
“
Four hundred thousand?
 
Five?
”