9 Power play

The morning sun painted the sky with hues of pink and orange, signaling the start of the new day. I sat by my bedroom window as the soft glow of dawn cast a warm light on my face. The events of the previous day replayed in my mind. The offer for my story to be published was unexpected, but I had an unsettling feeling about the whole affair.

"Daniel, I was so sure your story would make it to the final list. What happened?" Emily's words echoed in my mind.

I leaned back in the chair, my thoughts diving into the puzzle. There was a dissonance that nagged at me—an unsettling feeling that Emily had sensed as well. How did Lucy and John get hold of my story when I hadn't gotten a spot among the finalists? There was also the fact that the offer from Lucy and John mentioned they wanted changes in the story that were unproblematic. After speaking to both of them, I knew that publishing companies would be interested in the story. Additionally, I realized something I hadn't thought of before; my age was a huge factor. If the book is published, it can be used to market the book.

But I needed to get an upper hand on them. It was better to negotiate and get a favorable deal, but I needed a second option if things didn't work out. A knot of uncertainty tightened in my stomach, but then I realized something—Emily! She had gotten an offer too. Maybe I could talk to her. Wait, did I get her contact info?

I quickly went to my mother, who was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She was humming a song and making pancakes.

"Mom," I called out, "Did Emily give you her contact information?"

Mom looked up from the stove, a curious expression on her face. "Emily? Well, yes, she did. Why?"

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to share with my mom. "Well, Mom, I, umm... she mentioned that she got an offer from a publishing company too. I was thinking of reaching out to her, you know, umm... to discuss things and maybe get some advice."

My mom nodded, understanding the situation. "That sounds like a good idea, Daniel." She went to pick up her purse and started searching. "Now where did I put it?" she muttered as she searched for it. "Aha... here it is," she said as she pulled out a piece of paper.

Mom handed me the piece of paper with Emily's phone number. "Here you go, Daniel. Give her a call and see if she's available to talk. But have some breakfast first."

Well, I couldn't argue with that.

"Thanks, Mom," I said as I finished breakfast. I headed back to my room, dialed Emily's number, and waited anxiously for her to pick up.

After a couple of rings, Emily's cheerful voice came through the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, Emily, it's Daniel from the contest yesterday. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time," I greeted her.

"Not at all, Daniel! I was actually hoping to hear from you. What's on your mind?" Emily's voice carried genuine interest.

"I was thinking about the offer I got from the publishing company...." I said.

"Oh, how did the meeting go?" she interrupted.

"It went well, I guess," I replied, the uncertainty in my voice evident. "They were impressed with the story, they're interested in publishing it." I added.

"That's great, Daniel! Congratulations. Not many people can boast what you did."

"Emily, there's something odd. Lucy, one of the editors I met, was the judge for the contest. I think she hid my story from the others so she could get it for Lumina Publishing." 

Emily's voice held a mix of surprise and concern. "Aha, I knew something was wrong when your name wasn't in the finalists."

"Well, there's some other things as well," I added.

"Wait, Daniel. I have an idea. Give the phone to your mother." Perplexed but intrigued, I handed the phone to my mother, who had just entered the room. She gave me a questioning look, but I simply gestured to the phone, indicating that Emily wanted to speak with her.

My mother took the phone from me, a quizzical expression on her face. She greeted Emily, and their conversation flowed. I couldn't hear the details, but the occasional nod and thoughtful expression on my mom's face indicated a serious discussion.

After a few minutes, my mother handed the phone back to me. "Daniel, Emily and I have agreed we should meet in person to discuss this further. She suggested we could meet at a local cafe tomorrow afternoon. What do you think?"

I considered the proposal. Meeting Emily face-to-face seemed like a good idea. "Yeah, Mom, that sounds like a plan. Let's meet Emily tomorrow."

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They arrived at the cafe where Emily agreed to meet. We entered the cafe and looked to see if she had arrived first. I spotted Emily sitting at a table, and she waved me over.

"Daniel, Miss. Adler, I'm so glad you could make it," Emily greeted us.

"Likewise, Emily. It's good to see you again," my mother replied with a warm smile. We talked about the situation, and Emily listened carefully as I explained it.

"And they said they want to make changes. I don't want that. I want my story as I want it," I finished.

Emily nodded, taking in the information. "Your story is your creation, and you should have the final say on any alterations."

"And I think you are right about them hiding your story. You are young and inexperienced; they can easily take advantage of you. They want to make it seem that theirs is the only offer you got."

"I thought they were nice people...." I heard mom muttering to herself. "Daniel, we are not meeting with them again" she said sternly looking at me.

"I wanted to ask you something Emily. How did yours go? Did you accept any offers for your book?" I asked quickly changing the topic.

My mom could sometimes be set in her ways if she didn't like Lumina she would never allow me to see them again so i have to persuade her gently about negotiating with them.

"Oh, you won't believe the deal I got!" Emily exclaimed, her face beaming with joy.

"What did they offer you?" I asked, intrigued.

"Well, first off, they loved the concept of 'The Clockwork City,' and they want to publish it. If it sells well, they even agreed on a sequel," Emily revealed, her excitement palpable.

"Wow, that's incredible," Daniel responded, genuinely impressed.

"But that's not all," Emily continued, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "They offered me a fantastic royalty rate—way beyond what I expected."

Daniel's eyes widened. "That sounds amazing!"

"Congratulations, Emily," my mom said with genuine warmth and a smile.

I put my plan into motion. I wanted to ask Emily if she could get me in contact with her publisher if my negotiations with Lumina doesn't work out.

"Emily, there's something I wanted to ask you," I began, his expression serious.

"Sure, Daniel. What's on your mind?" Emily replied, curious.

"I've been thinking about Lumina Publishing's offer. I wanted to know if you could help me get in touch with the publishing company that's going to publish your book. Just in case the deal with Lumina doesn't work out, I want to explore other options," I explained.

Emily's eyes widened with understanding. "I understand I will tell my contact there about you."

"So are you going to meet with Lumina again?" She added.

"Yes, I want to negotiate with them on my terms. If I get a satisfactory contract, I'll take it," I insisted.

"But why, Daniel? They have already proven themselves untrustworthy," Mom questioned, a hint of concern evident in her voice.

"So what mom? Any company would have done this," I replied. I wanted to take a pragmatic approach to the situation.

"He's right, Miss Adler. If Daniel can get a good deal, then he should take it. If they reject you, there are always others; I can help with that," Emily chimed in, her voice carrying an air of reassurance and support.

Mom didn't like it, a furrow forming on her brow as she considered the implications. However, she nodded, her expression revealing a mixture of reluctance and acceptance. Despite her reservations, she seemed satisfied with the reasoning presented by Me and Emily.

"Have a lawyer present and have him check anything they ask you to sign," Emily said seriously.

"Of course," I replied.

We talked for a while about things relating to the publishing industry and we left our separate ways. I told Emily not to tell her publisher about me after I met with Lumina.

We arrived home, and my mom made the call to Lucy Wallace about setting up a meeting. She agreed to meet tomorrow.

"Are you sure about this, Danny?" My mom asked.

"Don't worry, Mom. I have a plan," I replied confidently.

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It was the day of the meeting. I had asked my mother about getting a lawyer, and she assured me she would take care of it. Apparently, she had a friend who was one. The doorbell rang.

"Oh, that must be her," Mom said.

"Who?" I asked.

"The lawyer, my friend Alexandra."

Mom opened the door and greeted a person. She then introduced herself to me, "Hello, Daniel. My name is Alexandra Morgan. I've been informed about the situation, and I'm here to help ensure everything goes smoothly in your meeting."

Alexandra was a woman in her early forties. She had a no-nonsense demeanor, and her attire reflected her role – a well-fitted, charcoal gray suit that exuded confidence. Her dark brown hair was neatly tied back, and her glasses added an extra layer of seriousness to her appearance.

I shook hands with Alexandra. "So, Mom filled you in on everything?" I asked.

"Yes, she has," Alexandra replied. "I've reviewed the details, and I am prepared to support you in your meeting. I'll ensure that the terms of the contract are fair and favorable to you."

I nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. We made our way to Lumina Publishing's office, where the negotiation would take place. We took Alexandra's car there; the office was an hour's drive away.

We entered the building, and Lucy was there to greet us. "Good afternoon, Daniel, Miss Adler. And who is this?" Lucy inquired.

"This is Alexandra Morgan, our legal counsel," Mom introduced.

Alexandra nodded and introduced herself to Lucy.

Lucy's expression shifted, a subtle surprise crossing her face. "Oh good umm... let's get started, shall we?"

We were led into an office, and she gestured for us to take a seat. "So, Daniel, we are so excited that you have chosen us for publishing your book."

"Mr. Adler hasn't decided yet, Mrs. Wallace; he is here to hear your offer."

Lucy glanced at Alexandra, who had taken a seat beside me. "Of course, we are thrilled at the prospect of working with a young talent like Daniel. I'm sure Lumina can offer a deal that will benefit both parties."

Alexandra interjected, "Before we proceed, may I take a moment to review the proposed contract? It's standard procedure to ensure transparency and clarity in such matters."

Lucy nodded, a forced smile on her face. "Certainly, please go ahead."

As Alexandra meticulously went through the contract, Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was evident that she wasn't expecting a lawyer to scrutinize the contract.

After a thorough examination, Alexandra looked up. "Mrs. Wallace, I'd like to discuss a few points with Daniel and his mother privately. Would that be acceptable?"

Lucy hesitated but eventually agreed, "Sure, I'll give you some privacy."

Lucy exited the room. Alexandra began, "The contract is standard for new authors, but there are some stipulations. Certain aspects of your story can be altered, and the royalty fees appear to be on the lower side. Also, there's no upfront advance payment."

I frowned, not entirely pleased with what I heard. "What do you suggest, Alexandra?"

She spoke with a measured tone, "Considering the potential success of your book, I believe we can negotiate for a better royalty rate and an upfront advance payment. Your story has value, and Lumina should recognize that."

Lucy returned, and I took a deep breath, ready to make my stand and negotiate for terms that were fair and reflective of the worth of my work.

The negotiations were tense. Lucy defended the initial terms, arguing that they were standard for new authors.

"Daniel, these terms are standard for new authors. It's a fair offer," Lucy insisted.

I countered, expressing my concerns about having changes made to the story.

"I appreciate that, but I don't like having you make changes in the story. I'm not comfortable with some of these conditions," I said.

Lucy, defending Lumina's practices, stated, "We take on many new authors, and this is how we start the collaboration. It's a common practice."

"I understand, but I believe that I should get the final say in what goes into my story. I am willing to hear and fix any problem with it as long as I am included," I responded.

In a defensive tone, Lucy said, "Lumina has a reputation for launching successful authors. We know what works."

"Well, you know, I've been approached by a few other publishers who seem interested in my work." I added, subtly alluding to having other offers on the table.

Lucy, visibly uneasy, countered, "Oh, is that so? Well, Lumina is a prestigious name. They might not offer what we can."

Firmly standing my ground, I insisted, "I believe in my story, and I want the terms to reflect its value. Let's find a middle ground."

Reluctantly, Lucy conceded, "Fine, we can adjust the terms. But you need to understand, this is not our usual practice."

"Well, Mrs. Wallace, I am an unusual client," I stated with a confident smile.

Mom and Alexandra were surprised by me taking control of the negotiations.

Lucy sighed, clearly not expecting such a level of push back. "Let's hear your terms then, Daniel."

I leaned forward, supported by Alexandra's legal guidance. "Firstly, I want to maintain creative control. I understand some edits might be necessary, but I should have the final say in what goes into my story."

Lucy hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright, creative control, but within reason."

"Secondly," I continued, "I'm not satisfied with the royalty fees. I believe my story has great potential, and I want a royalty rate that reflects that."

Lucy frowned, pushing back. "Daniel, the initial offer was fair for a new author. We can't go too high on the royalties."

I glanced at Alexandra, who gave me an encouraging nod. "Mrs. Wallace, my story is unique, and I'm confident it will perform exceptionally. You know this too; all I am asking is a reasonable adjustment to the royalty rate that aligns with the value of my work."

Lucy sighed again, realizing that I wasn't going to back down easily. "Fine, we can consider a slightly higher royalty rate. But don't push it too much."

I nodded, satisfied with the progress. "Lastly, I'd like an upfront advance payment. It's a standard practice in many publishing deals."

Lucy leaned back, contemplating my request. "Daniel, we usually don't offer upfront payments to new authors. It's a risk for us."

I maintained my composure. "Mrs. Wallace, this is not just a risk for Lumina; it's an investment in a promising young author."

Lucy was taken aback by my words; she did not expect this from a ten-year-old. Even Alexandra and Mom seemed surprised by my words.

After a moment of silence, Lucy reluctantly agreed, "Alright, we can include a modest upfront advance. But keep in mind, this is not our standard procedure."

"Thank you, Mrs. Wallace. I believe these adjustments will be enough," I said, appreciating the progress made.

Lucy nodded, still a bit uneasy. She made a new draft of the contract, incorporating the negotiated terms. Alexandra carefully reviewed the document to ensure that everything was in order and that my interests were protected.

I signed the new contract and made it official; Lucy extended a handshake. "Congratulations, Daniel. We look forward to working with you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Wallace. I hope this is the beginning of a long fruitful partnership," I replied, shaking her hand.