Things at Casa Harden have slowed down quite a bit. While I was writing in the wee hours of Friday morning, I got that lovely little tickle at the back of my throat indicating I caught DH's nasty cold, despite our best efforts to prevent cross-contamination. I actually managed to pull a chest muscle during a coughing fit yesterday. LOL
So here's another sample chapter of the next 888-555-Hero novel. Or you could curl up on the couch with some hot tea and watch the Star Trek:TOS episode "Arena."
"No, Gorn, no. That's my spot!"
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Harri sipped her cinnamon coffee and stared at the e-mail she just received from Dale Bernhardt’s assistant Janna. She’d heard of Hollywood’s latest “it” producer, but the email made no sense. Janna referred to Ultramegaperson’s supersuit designer, but she didn’t mention the person by name. Harri couldn’t imagine Jeremy breaking his silence over that particular side hustle.
Was this Janna really Bernhardt’s assistant? If she was, how did Bernhardt know Harri had been representing Jeremy’s business interests? Surely, Ultramegaperson hadn’t outed Jeremy.
Had they?
Harri reached for the intercom to get her IT guru Arthur Drallhickey to trace the email when the device buzzed. She punched the button. “Yes?”
“You busy?” Patty Ames asked. The firm’s receptionist and all-around Girl Friday was pretty good about screening calls when Harri was neck deep in work.
As she usually was these days with Aisha living in Paris for the rest of the year.
“It’s Jeremy about some contract that was supposed to be forwarded to you,” Patty added.
“Put him through.” Harri picked up the handset before the first ring completed. “Hey, sister dearest. Give some warning before you have someone send me attachments to emails. That’s a good way to infect the firm’s computers.”
“Dale already sent you the paperwork?” Jeremy sounded surprised. “I didn’t expect him to move that fast. Ultramegaperson called me a half hour ago while I was making breakfast.”
Harri leaned back in her office chair. “Ultra called you? Jaye, why don’t you start from the beginning?”
He filled her in on his conversation with Ultramegaperson this morning, including his agreement to let Bernhardt send the initial paperwork to Harri.
“A reality show?” She reached for her coffee. “Are you sure this is worth outing yourself over?”
“No, but I trust you to make sure this deal is worth outing myself over.”
“Has Bernhardt sent you copies of this deal?” she asked.
“I trust Mel not to name me,” Jeremy said. “All Bernhardt knows is Ultramegaperson uses the same law firm as the person who designs their supersuits.”
“Okay, let’s open up this puppy and see what Mr. Hollywood is offering my favorite sister.”
Jeremy snorted. “I’m only your favorite right now because Aisha’s in Paris.”
“Is it okay if I run this past her tomorrow morning?” Harri asked.
“What about Susan? You know, your other partner?” Jeremy sniped. “Or are you still holding a grudge?”
Harri clenched her teeth. Of course he’d bring up the fight she had with Susan a couple of weeks ago. She’d apologized to her partner, but things were still a little tense in the firm.
Especially after she found out the rest of the staff, including her own damn husband, sided with the newest partner.
“I was planning to have her look over the offer this afternoon,” Harri shot back. “If that’s okay, Your Majesty.”
“The more the merrier,” he said.
Harri opened the attachment. The cover letter laid out the basic offer, which made her whistle.
“Don’t leave me hanging, Harri!”
“Bernhardt wants you as the main judge of the show.” She named the number of zeroes after the first number.”
Jeremy whooped. “Are you shitting me?”
“Nope. He’s also already lined up the tax credits to film the series here in Canyon Pointe.”
“What do you mean film in Canyon Pointe?” Suspicion dripped from Jeremy’s voice.
She couldn’t blame him. Between normal everyday bigots and the illegal black-op organization known as Corvus, there were many reasons for his insane desire for personal privacy.
“According to this, he wants to complete the line up judges and contestants before he approaches famous Canyon Pointe drag queen Lady Jaye about using her nightclub for filming.” Harri laughed. “This is too funny to be true. You might want to do this whole thing as Lady Jaye.”
“It’s not funny,” Jeremy snapped.
“Actually, it might work better,” she said. “Few people outside of your lost boys and the family know Lady Jaye’s real identity. And you know the staff at the club will make sure no one finds out.”
“And you know Coco will go absolutely Miss Perfection if I agree to the show filming at the club?” Jeremy protested. “Not to mention security issues if Bernhardt is crazy enough to really have a supervillain as a contestant. Or have you not read that far yet?”
Harri ignored Jeremy while she scanned the second page of the proposal, and when she reached the list of pending judges, her blood ran cold. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong, hun?”
“One of the pending judges is Nix.”
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