Chapter 154: The Value of a Ghostwriter

"You haven't replied to my manuscript emails for over three weeks," Lindsay Beale remarked, tilting her delicate face slightly towards Michael Davenport. "Have you read the drafts?"

Michael put aside his work and said, "I just finished reading them yesterday, so I called you in to discuss them."

Familiar with Michael's mild temperament, Lindsay asked, "What areas of the manuscript need revisions?"

"Overall, it's very well done," Michael responded. Lindsay had written almost half of the first book, Twilight, demonstrating impressive speed and efficiency. He spoke honestly, "Lindsay, your draft is much better than I expected."

"Thank you," Lindsay was thrilled to have her work recognized.

Michael encouraged the young writer further, "The portrayal of non-mainstream alien civilizations, various folk beliefs, myths, and legends are well reflected in your manuscript. The conflicts among different forces add to the story's allure. The romance between a human and a vampire, the rivalry between vampires and werewolves, and the struggles within vampire families are all very engaging."

Lindsay's lips curled into a noticeable smile.

Michael had provided only a skeletal outline, leaving Lindsay to flesh out the narrative. He asked, "You've written almost half of the story. Do you have any additional ideas? We can discuss them."

Encouraged by Michael's words, Lindsay thought for a moment and said, "The tragic love story between the human girl Bella and the vampire Edward is the main storyline. This forbidden love is akin to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden—sweet yet bitter, fraught with conflicts."

Michael nodded gently, recalling that the heart of the series was indeed the intense, life-or-death romantic entanglements.

Lindsay continued, "I think Bella's unconditional love for Edward is counterbalanced by her inherent fear of vampires. Meanwhile, Edward's love for Bella is equally conflicted. She is his long-awaited soulmate, yet his vampire nature and bloodlust keep him from getting close. His desire to protect her is as strong as his urge to drink her blood."

"Excellent," Michael praised. This young ghostwriter had significant talent. "We seem to be on the same page."

The worst-case scenario would be a ghostwriter whose vision clashed with the client's, resulting in a useless manuscript.

Lindsay seemed somewhat fervent as she spoke, "The analogy of a lion falling in love with a lamb vividly depicts their intense yet conflicted, restrained yet deep love."

It appeared that young women were universally captivated by such romances.

Lindsay's bright eyes seemed distant as she added, "Great love should be like that of the Little Mermaid, who disregards all practical concerns like race and consequences for her beloved prince. In the face of true love, no obstacle is insurmountable."

Michael wasn't sure how to respond. No wonder so many young girls were enamored with Twilight in his previous life. Even Lindsay, the ghostwriter, seemed infected by its charm.

The allure of a beautiful love story was undeniable.

There was a time when he too belonged to that group. Unfortunately, that phase had passed in his previous life and couldn't be relived.

Lindsay's contributions undeniably benefited the novel, so Michael endorsed her ideas: "All of these can be incorporated into the novel."

"Great!" Lindsay was pleasantly surprised by Michael's enthusiasm.

Writing novels was certainly more liberating than her previous ghostwriting gigs for small script teams, where strict guidelines often stifled creativity.

Since this was a novel and not a script, Michael's requirements weren't as stringent. He asked, "Do you have any other ideas?"

Lindsay continued, "The character development of the female lead. Your initial outline wasn't very detailed, so I added more depth, making her an ordinary high school girl."

"Good job," Michael commended her. "Lindsay, you have a knack for commercial writing."

He inquired further, "What's your rationale behind this?"

After organizing her thoughts, Lindsay explained, "I believe making Bella an ordinary high school girl makes her an ideal protagonist for a love story. She's plain and relatable, which allows many female readers to see themselves in her."

Hearing this reasoning, Michael couldn't help but take Lindsay more seriously. Her previous ideas were excellent, but this one stood out.

A successful commercial writer or screenwriter must understand the psychology of the average audience.

This ghostwriter's value extended beyond mere writing.

The screenwriting team he had hired lacked a leader. The team might expand later, with members coming and going, necessitating a knowledgeable project manager.

Perhaps Lindsay Beale was the right candidate?

If their collaboration continued to be fruitful and she was willing, Michael might consider promoting her.

After discussing the prologue, Bella's dreams, and other elements, Michael said, "Proceed with these ideas. We'll discuss the finished draft once it's complete."

"Got it," Lindsay responded, feeling quite invigorated.

Michael gave her creative freedom because she had grasped the novel's essence. As long as she maintained this direction, the details might change, but the core and main plot would stay intact.

Checking the time, Michael left the office, bought a few small gifts at a nearby mall, and drove his Cadillac to the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

A few days ago, Scott from Merrill Lynch had invited Michael to his home, and he had accepted.

Brentwood was another affluent neighborhood, though not as luxurious as Beverly Hills, primarily consisting of standalone houses.

Scott's home was a detached villa with front and back yards, covering hundreds of square meters. The main building was a white, three-story European-style house.

"We just bought it this month," Scott greeted Michael with a smile. "I wanted to invite you to our housewarming party, but you were out of town."

Michael handed his gift to Scott's blonde wife, saying, "I was on a business trip to London for over half a month." He glanced around the elegantly decorated living room. "Could you give me a tour of your new home?"

Scott immediately led the way, showing Michael around the house.

Detached houses offered ample space and enough distance from neighbors to avoid disturbances, making them quieter than apartment buildings.

After the tour, Michael couldn't help but consider moving himself. But, given it was early 2000, the stock market crash was unpredictable, and its ripple effect on the economy was inevitable. It was better to wait a while.

Back in the living room, Michael complimented, "This is a beautiful house."

Scott's wife, Andrea, chimed in, "And the mortgage is terrifying."

Everyone laughed.

Given Scott's finances, he couldn't have paid the full price for such a large house upfront. Here, mortgages and credit card debt were common.

Michael speculated that Scott's down payment might include his commission from stock trades.

A week ago, Michael's stock earnings were fully credited. After taxes and intermediary fees, his initial $14 million investment netted $48.5 million.

Transaction taxes, income taxes, capital gains taxes... it seemed the tax bureau was the biggest winner.

Just then, a boy and girl came rushing down the stairs. The girl, round and chubby, with a plump face, and the boy, not far behind, equally rotund.

"Mr. Davenport," the girl greeted politely. "Thank you for the banjo."

Michael smiled, "Call me Michael." He tousled her curly blonde hair. "Taylor, you're welcome. I'm glad you like it."

Taylor tilted her head, "How did you know I like banjos?"

Michael quickly shifted the credit, "Your dad mentioned it once."

Taylor smiled, "I love your gift, thank you." Then she pulled the shy boy forward, "Austin…"

The boy, though shy, managed a polite, "Thank you," under his sister's encouragement.

When lunch was ready, the hostess invited Michael to the dining room. He accepted, noticing Scott's clear intent to strengthen their relationship, likely aiming to make him a long-term client.

After some family talk, Scott inevitably steered the conversation to investments. "Michael, with such a substantial sum, aren't you planning to reinvest? The market is booming; it's rising every day. Money invested today could yield a 10% profit by tomorrow. I've invested all my money in the stock market. Trust me, Michael! This is a great opportunity!"

Michael, having kept up with relevant information, knew that NASDAQ and internet stocks were crazily hyped.

Despite the puzzling lack of signs of a NASDAQ crash, he was determined not to invest more.

"I'm not planning to touch the stock market in the short term," Michael said, out of respect for Scott's hospitality. "Scott, you know the market better than I do. Does this current situation seem normal? To me, real gains are those in hand. The market's wealth can evaporate at any time."

Scott insisted, "There won't be any issues in the short term."

Michael dropped the subject, finishing the luncheon and chatting with the hosts before taking his leave.