Those cubicle things are the worst.”
“Ah. Yes, hot-desking would definitely not work for me.” He laughed. “So have you thought about my offer?”
“Well, since we spoke on the phone I’ve read the book and I have to admit it isn’t the kind of book I would usually read, but I couldn’t put it down.”
“Yes, with Luella there’s always a great hook. She’s totally commercial. If I could ever persuade her to write more sex scenes she’d probably outsell EL James.”
“So have you had a chance to set out how you think I can help?”
“I have,” Henry said, picking up a magazine, then tossing it across a coffee table where it landed precariously on top of his briefcase. He stood up, went across to his desk and lifted a phone.
“Samantha, can you bring me the Luella Marchmont file? Thanks, and can you pick up the draft contract for Miss Butler from the legal people? I meant to collect it on my way in.”
Turning back to India, he continued. “I think our arrangement will work best on a contracted retainer and an hourly rate, travel expenses to be costed separately. Standard consultancy fixed six-month contract to take us to the end of October, to be reviewed at the end of the strategic planning stage. That’s the time allocation to do the build out, production and follow up. I’m assuming you can commit to the time frame. We’re already way behind schedule.”
Henry was talking so rapidly that India was having difficulty keeping up with him. Samantha was in the room now and handing Henry a manila folder.
“Here you go,” he said, handing India a wad of papers. “Have your lawyer check it out, but I think you’ll find it’s all pretty straightforward. Let me know if you think we’ve been generous enough.” He smiled. “I am pretty sure we’re well ahead of a teacher’s salary, but equally I want you to be happy. Let me see. We’re Wednesday right now. If you could sign it and let me have it by Friday that’d be great. Let’s schedule a meeting for early next week and in the meantime take this with you and get up to speed on the promotion and give me your thoughts.”
Henry didn’t sit down again and it was clear to India the meeting was over. “Er, thank you. Yes. I think Friday will be fine,” she managed to say. Thank god for Annie and her team of lawyers, she thought. I’m way out of my depth here.
“Great. Don’t go, Samantha; we need to run through the campaign for Morning in Manhattan – shouldn’t take long.” He grimaced. “Same old, same old.”
“Let me show you out, Miss Butler,” Samantha said graciously.
India stood outside on the steps of the building. The entire meeting had taken fewer than ten minutes. Pumped with adrenalin, she set off in the direction of Regent Street unsure what to do with the rest of her afternoon and kicking herself for not asking any of the questions she should have asked Henry.
What exactly did this job entail? Would there be regular hours? Would she be traveling a lot? Would she be working from home? Had she misled him? She’d ended up in a mess that way once before. She wasn’t in a rush to mislead anyone again.
India glanced up as the clock outside Fortnum and Mason chimed the hour and realized this would be a good time to call her sister in LA. She turned into the nearby Le Pain Quotidien, ordered a cup of Earl Grey tea and settled into a corner seat. Annabelle picked up quickly.
“Hey sis. How’s chilly London? Are you sure I can’t tempt you back to LA? It’s a glorious day here.”
“Hi Annie. I have some news.”
“Is everything okay?” Annabelle sounded alarmed.
“Everything’s fine. It’s just that I need some advice. I’ve had a job offer. It’s all happened a bit fast and you’ll probably think I’m insane, but something happened in Paris…”
“Sounds like the opening to a novel.”
“Well, funny you should say that,” India said. “Okay. I’m not quite sure where to start, but the bottom
“Ah. Yes, hot-desking would definitely not work for me.” He laughed. “So have you thought about my offer?”
“Well, since we spoke on the phone I’ve read the book and I have to admit it isn’t the kind of book I would usually read, but I couldn’t put it down.”
“Yes, with Luella there’s always a great hook. She’s totally commercial. If I could ever persuade her to write more sex scenes she’d probably outsell EL James.”
“So have you had a chance to set out how you think I can help?”
“I have,” Henry said, picking up a magazine, then tossing it across a coffee table where it landed precariously on top of his briefcase. He stood up, went across to his desk and lifted a phone.
“Samantha, can you bring me the Luella Marchmont file? Thanks, and can you pick up the draft contract for Miss Butler from the legal people? I meant to collect it on my way in.”
Turning back to India, he continued. “I think our arrangement will work best on a contracted retainer and an hourly rate, travel expenses to be costed separately. Standard consultancy fixed six-month contract to take us to the end of October, to be reviewed at the end of the strategic planning stage. That’s the time allocation to do the build out, production and follow up. I’m assuming you can commit to the time frame. We’re already way behind schedule.”
Henry was talking so rapidly that India was having difficulty keeping up with him. Samantha was in the room now and handing Henry a manila folder.
“Here you go,” he said, handing India a wad of papers. “Have your lawyer check it out, but I think you’ll find it’s all pretty straightforward. Let me know if you think we’ve been generous enough.” He smiled. “I am pretty sure we’re well ahead of a teacher’s salary, but equally I want you to be happy. Let me see. We’re Wednesday right now. If you could sign it and let me have it by Friday that’d be great. Let’s schedule a meeting for early next week and in the meantime take this with you and get up to speed on the promotion and give me your thoughts.”
Henry didn’t sit down again and it was clear to India the meeting was over. “Er, thank you. Yes. I think Friday will be fine,” she managed to say. Thank god for Annie and her team of lawyers, she thought. I’m way out of my depth here.
“Great. Don’t go, Samantha; we need to run through the campaign for Morning in Manhattan – shouldn’t take long.” He grimaced. “Same old, same old.”
“Let me show you out, Miss Butler,” Samantha said graciously.
India stood outside on the steps of the building. The entire meeting had taken fewer than ten minutes. Pumped with adrenalin, she set off in the direction of Regent Street unsure what to do with the rest of her afternoon and kicking herself for not asking any of the questions she should have asked Henry.
What exactly did this job entail? Would there be regular hours? Would she be traveling a lot? Would she be working from home? Had she misled him? She’d ended up in a mess that way once before. She wasn’t in a rush to mislead anyone again.
India glanced up as the clock outside Fortnum and Mason chimed the hour and realized this would be a good time to call her sister in LA. She turned into the nearby Le Pain Quotidien, ordered a cup of Earl Grey tea and settled into a corner seat. Annabelle picked up quickly.
“Hey sis. How’s chilly London? Are you sure I can’t tempt you back to LA? It’s a glorious day here.”
“Hi Annie. I have some news.”
“Is everything okay?” Annabelle sounded alarmed.
“Everything’s fine. It’s just that I need some advice. I’ve had a job offer. It’s all happened a bit fast and you’ll probably think I’m insane, but something happened in Paris…”
“Sounds like the opening to a novel.”
“Well, funny you should say that,” India said. “Okay. I’m not quite sure where to start, but the bottom
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