Playing the Game

Playing the Game

Carol Ann Culbert Johnson

Playing the Game

Copyright © 2015 by Carol Ann Culbert Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

Playing the Game

by Carol Ann Culbert Johnson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Carol Ann Culbert Johnson on Smashwords

Playing the Game

Copyright 2015 by Carol Ann Culbert Johnson

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Chapter 1

Fish Reynolds sat in his office, and stared out the window. He was on the 50th floor of his office building in Chicago. Actually, he was sitting in the Willis Towers, formally known as The Sears Towers. He didn’t know why the name was changed.

It was a lovely cool day in July, and he was enjoying the weather and his life. Fish was a very successful publisher, and he made writers famous. As he stared out the window, he smiled because he was truly about to make another dream come true.

Her name was Electric Jones, and she could write her ass off. He couldn’t understand why she had to self-publish her books. Fish was the Tyler Perry of the world, and his partner, Sally Turner, was his Oprah. He published the books, and she turned books into mega movies. The two of them were partners, and very best friends, and between the two of them they made plenty of money.

Fish was sure that Sally was going to love this Electric Jones. He even loved her name for some reason. He turned from the window, and stared at his ipad. Ms. Jones wore dark glasses, but he could tell that she had a pretty face behind those dark shades. What was she hiding from?

Fish stared at one of her short stories about a woman cheating on her husband, and finding forgiveness from him. He was surprised that the husband forgave the woman, and didn’t file for divorce. Cheating was against the norm, of course. He knew when his girlfriend of five years, Chastity Smith cheated on him, their relationship was over. He was thrilled that he didn’t ask her to marry him. He’d have made the biggest mistake of his life. The fact that Chastity cheated with his former best friend, James, was another blow to his ego. James was jealous of his success and wanted to ride on his coattails, of course.

Fish shook his head, and was about to reach for his phone when it rang into his silent office. He grabbed for it since it was after five, and his assistant, Tandy Parker, was gone for the day. This is Fish Publishing, he stated.

And this is your very best friend in the entire world, the female voice said.

Fish leaned back in his seat with a big grin on his face. Hi Sally, and how are you doing? Are you still working late? It’s only after five. Anyway, I was about to call you about this writer. Her name is Electric Jones. Did you bother to read any of her work?

I did and she has an amazing talent. I want to turn her short stories into movies, and have them presented on my network, SAT. I can’t believe she hasn’t been signed to a publisher. She lives right here in Chicago, but in the west suburbs. We have to sign her. Get Tandy to get the contracts ready, and let’s sign her to a four-year book deal. The way she comes up with those short stories, I don’t think we have to worry about her talents.

Fish smiled. I thought I’d have to convince you since she self-published her work.

There are some great writers, who don’t want to waste their time with rejections, and I can understand that. When are you going to call her, and schedule a meeting with her?

I’ll take care of it when we hang up. How is Dan, your husband doing?

He’s eager for me to get home so we can spend some quality time together. You work with this Electric person, and Dan and I will be going to the Bahamas for three weeks. I promised him or my marriage of twenty years will be on the rocks. I have to spend time with my man.

And you should take a month off, he insisted. I got this covered with Electric Jones. I’m going to call her, and then arrange a meeting where we can discuss the details with her, and hopefully sign her to an exclusive four-year deal. We’re about to make another writer dreams come true. I just hope she accepts our deal. Remember the last writer, Frances Tyler. She wanted nothing to do with a publisher, and liked publishing her books on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I tried convincing her with a six-figure check, but she wouldn’t take the bait.

Money isn’t everything, Fish honey. Some people write for the pure pleasure of it, and wanting to share it with the world. I admire Ms. Tyler for her convictions. She’s a very successful self-published author, so why would she rock the boat?

You do have a point, but I have to convince Ms. Electric Jones that this is the right move for her. There’s something about her writing that moves me. When I’m reading her work I feel this hot sensation. It’s so strange to me.

Sally laughed out loud. Fish, you need sex in the form of a woman.

Fish frowned. My focus right now is making dreams come true. I don’t give a damn about a woman at the moment. Chastity wanted my money, and then she slept with my best friend. I’m forty years old, and marriage will never happen for me. I can’t trust these women.

You’re a very handsome white man, Fish. When the right woman comes along, you and she will know it. Just keep praying for the right one, and not someone who will get a thrill out of spending your money. I told you that James was jealous of you, but you wouldn’t listen to me. He’s trying to ruin your career, and your life. Remember when he told you that he found the writer of your dreams---Candy Thomas, and she turned out to be a porn star, and stole someone else’s words. We were almost ruined.

Fish frowned thinking back to James, and how he could ruin their friendship like this. The two of them had been friends since the third grade. His parents loved James, and all this time he resented him because he couldn’t get his life together. I’m going to be very careful this time, and Electric Jones is the right fit for this publishing company. The fact that she lives here in Chicago is another factor for us.

Well, you get to it, and text me the details. When Dan is asleep I’ll check my messages. Good luck with Ms. Jones, and have a great day.

I will, and give Dan my love.

Always.

Fish disconnected the call and smiled. He loved his job and making dreams come true. He stared down at the files on his desk searching for Electric Jones’ information. Now was a good time to make her dreams come true. He just prayed she was on board.

Chapter 2

Electric Jones peered at her computer as she completed her next short story. She loved writing, and it was definitely the game for her. When she wasn’t working her full-time job as a paralegal, she was writing every minute she could. Of course, she wanted to write on a full-time basis, but that was out of the question, her short stories and books were selling, but not enough for her to quit her day job. Besides, she loved being a paralegal too. She just wanted to have both worlds, and she needed to clean up her damn credit, and pay the damn IRS. Electric had so many bills she didn’t think she’d ever see the end of the tunnel. She needed about fifty thousand dollars, and then she’d be able to relax, and not live from paycheck to paycheck.

Electric frowned. She had three payday loans, and they were eating up her check. She was making $35.00 an hour, and still couldn’t see the forest for the trees. It was her fault, but why couldn’t she have the things that she wanted in life? She worked hard as a paralegal with a bachelor’s degree, and wanted to go back to school to get her Masters in Creative Writing one day.

Electric stared around her three-bedroom condo. Her friends didn’t think she needed a three-bedroom condo since it was only her and her cat, Brady. What in the hell did they know? Electric dreamed of having a condo, and her own office, and she finally made her dreams come true. The condo was $2500 a month, but it was worth it because she had her own washer and dryer, and balcony. Why couldn’t she have the things in life she treasured? Because you can’t afford it.

Electric shook her head at her voice of reason. I can afford it, and leave me alone. I’m living from paycheck to paycheck, but at least I have a nice condo to come home too.

Your credit stinks, and you’re lucky your boss helped you get this condo, or you’ll be in an apartment paying $700.00 a month.

Shut up, Electric shouted.

She was sitting in her office, staring at her computer. She had to print out her new short story, and send it to her editor. Tiffany Parker. She wanted to get this one on amazon, barnesandnoble, and smash-words. It was a great story, and she loved writing. It was the therapy in her life.

Electric was forty years old, and divorced from her cheating husband, Clanton. She met him when she was younger, and thought the two of them would be married for life, but Clanton couldn’t keep his penis inside of his pants. He flirted and cheated on her. She was a size twenty at the time, but she had long hair, and a pretty face. Clanton pleaded with her to marry him, and she did, thinking her weight wasn’t an issue. Clanton cheated with skinny women, so she divorced him, and lost the weight. Clanton wanted her back, of course, but it was out of the question. She was a size six, and didn’t bother with men. She wrote romance, and realized that some women weren’t meant to be with a man. She loved herself now, and Brady loved her, and she was happy with herself, and her cat. Who needed men? Electric didn’t have the time to deal with their bullshit.

Every man she came in contact with wanted to get into her panties, and she ignored them. If they couldn’t love her when she was fat, they didn’t deserve her love. Who did they think they were?

Electric focused on the printer as it spitted out her short story. She smiled at Brady who was sleeping on her sofa. She loved her cat, and her cat loved her. It was unconditional love, and she didn’t need anything else.

The ringing of her cell phone made her jump as Brady sat his head up, staring at her. Go back to sleep, Brady.

The cat stared at her, and then laid his head back down on the sofa. Electric reached for her cell phone. She didn’t recognize the number, and was about to reject it, but something came over her, and she pushed the answer button. Hello.

May I speak with Electric Jones, the male voice replied.

Electric frowned at the deep voice. This is she. Who is this?

Fish frowned, and then smiled. This is Fish Publishing.

Electric thought she was going to drop the phone. Fish Publishing was the most prestigious publishing company in the world and then some. They even had contacts in France, and London, not to mention Rome. They made so many writers famous it’s ridiculous.

Hello, Fish replied. Are you there Ms. Jones?

Electric could kick herself for being so unprofessional. She took a deep breath. I’m still here. What can I do for you?

It’s what I can do for you. I just finished reading some of your short stories on amazon.com. I was searching for another writer, and your work popped up. I have to admit that I love your writing style, and I want to sign you to a four-year publishing contract.

Electric dropped her iPhone this time, and was glad it fell on her beige carpet. She truly couldn’t afford another cell phone. She was paying AT&T a fortune for their unlimited plan.

Ms. Jones, Fish called.

Electric came to her senses, and reached for the phone. Brady was now staring at her as if he sense something was happening with her. She smiled at her cat as she reached for the phone off the floor. I’m so sorry. I didn’t send anything to your publishing company.

Please call me Fish, he stated. I know, but I want to meet with you with your contract, and get this ball rolling. I work with Sally Turner and she wants to turn your short stories and novels into television and movies. When can we meet since we live in the same city?

Electric pinched herself. Sally Turner was like Oprah and Fish Reynolds was like the most talented Tyler Perry. To work with the two of them was more than a dream come true. Was this a dream or something? She felt the pinch.

Ms. Jones, I know this is a shock to your system, and I do understand if you think this is a joke or something. Sally and I will make you a mega writer, if you want to take the chance. You should have been signed to a publisher a long time ago. I don’t even understand. Anyway, God wanted me to find your work, and I haven’t stopped reading it. You have a lot of interracial couples, and I like that too.

Electric was speechless.

Let’s arrange a meeting. Today is Friday so the weekend is about to happen. Let’s meet on Monday. What is your favorite place to eat---somewhere where you can relax, and enjoy the ride about to happen to you? This is your game, and let’s play it.

She was stunned. I love McDonalds, she cried. The tears were falling now. This was truly a dream come true for her.

Fish laughed. "Believe it or not, it’s my favorite place too. You live in Lombard, so let’s go to the McDonalds at the hotel in Oakbrook. I’ll make the