CALLEA'S eyebrows were drawn together as she walked down the living room. She had been trying to recover from the days she had to entertain Deive's grandfather and her own family and she wanted to catch up with work. Surprisingly, she got along just fine with Don Jorje. He liked old jazz and her piano pieces. He was also into history so they had a lot to discuss. He asked her to visit him in Manila.
She thought she could have a peaceful time for herself since Deive went to the field to help out Torque with harvesting vegetables. He needed to impress her cousin. And since Lee is a financial analyst, he would ask for his help on business as well.
She didn't expect any visitors coming for her. Then she saw who was sitting on the sofa. It was her publisher, Mattheu Segundo. She noticed a black box in the middle of the mahogany center table. She had a bad feeling about this.
He came towards her as she reached the landing. "Finally! I thought you have no plans to see me. How's my most bankable graphic novelist?" he asked and kissed the back of her hand.
Her boss was a handsome and dashing man. A dreamboat for most women. He was a member of Stallion Island Riding and Leisure Club like her cousins where only the rich and young men in the country could join as members like her Torque and Lee. That was why they entrusted her works to him. She knew that she would be taken care of and her identity would be a secret.
"I am good. Thanks for the visit. So what brought you here, boss?"
Callea never visited the office. They just send the check to her bank account and her accountant handle all her accounts. Contacts were sent to her through a courier. She had just submitted her latest book last month. She beat her deadline. Her next deadline was still months away. The renewal of her contract was still a couple of years away. If her publisher would grace her with his presence himself, it must be freakin' important. She was wishing that he was there to increase her talent fee.
"I just visited you. I brought cake and some books on Japanese horror. Vintage ones." There was a sparkle in her boss' eyes as he opened the box. Her heart leap when I saw the yellowish cover with Japanese ink and an illustrator of a Japanese girl in kimono with blazings eyes, standing in the middle of a bamboo forest. It was something she had never seen before that made her salivate. It was a forbidden book, according to some. And her boss acquired it for her. "This is for me? This is too much, boss. You know that I am happy that you publish my stories and people appreciate it."
It was too precious as a gift. There was no malice between her and the boss. After all, he only sees her as a cash cow. She was scared of what he would ask in return. It was always business with her boss. There was no such thing as free lunch.
Then came Marina with a green tea crepe cake. She wet her lips. Darn! Her boss knew her weakness and how to put her guard down. They ate while they discussed the comic conference in Tokyo that he attended and how spring came earlier than expected and they nearly missed the sakura blossom.
It was a dream of Callea to visit Japan. She was planning to go there with her friend until her demise.
"I have a favor to ask, Callea." Mattheu's voice sent her back to the present.
"What is it, boss?"
He greased her with a vintage Japanese horror book and a matcha crepe cake. She was ready to listen. Her boss was a wolf. Pretending to be grandma until he shows his fangs. And she knew that she couldn't say no.
"I want you to attend our book signing."
Only the clatter of the fork could be heard when Callea dropped it on the saucer. She didn't answer rigth away and kept on eating. She drank the juice while she observed the expectation in her boss' eyes as he watched her. "I am afraid it is a no, boss."
"But many fans are looking for you. These are loyal followers, Callea. You know, engagement is a big deal nowadays. They are hungry for your presence. I am sure your sales will go up the roof once you attend the event."
Her lips pressed together. They already agreed to maintain her air of mystery. But her boss wanted her to join the bandwagon that writers must engage with readers either online or in person. "I want to remain incognito. I am sorry, boss."
She bowed her head and she watched as her hand trembled on her lap. She didn't want to face people. She didn't know how to face tons of people without being afraid. In a book signing, she must look normal and interact like a normal person. She heard stories how her boss makeover his writers to look at the celebrity part. It means showing her face to the public. Looking pretty again.
No way. She won't do that anymore.
He smiled sadly. "You can't blame a man for trying. I hope you will think about it, Callea. This incognito is starting to get old. Without engagement or presence in public, it would be a matter of time before your readers look for someone with reachable branding. Someone they could talk to. Someone.... real."
Her head was still bowed down until Mattheu said his goodbyes. Marina showed her out. She didn't know who long she had been looking at her shaking hands while pondering the prospect of meeting people and her career on the line.
Where was her sense of gratitude to those people who appreciated her? Maybe if she was a normal person, she could attend that event. Part of her wanted to. But how would she do that if she was scared?
She heard footsteps and it stopped in front of her. "Who is that? Is that your suitor?"
She lifted her head and Deive was standing in front of her. He arrived from her Kuya Torque's farm. His skin looked beet red from staying from the sun. His face looked thunderous. "Ha?" she asked when she didn't get what he was saying at first.
"Who is that guy who just left in his flashy SUV? Is he your suitor?" he sneered. "What is his business coming here in his suit. Is he the one who brought the cake?" And he looked at the cake as if it was a gift from the devil.
He thought her boss was an admirer and his face was fifty shades of jealousy. She couldn't blame him because her boss was really dashing. He had a nice physique and almost as tall as Deive. He was successful and oozing with confidence even if he was only in his early thirties. And he was also a member of the exclusive Stallion Island Riding and Leisure Club that only the elites could join.
And Deive might revolt once he learned about her boss' portfolio. He might divert his jealousy on her precious cake. She didn't want to it go to waste.
"He's my publisher. He wants me to attend the book signing."
He calmed down and sat beside her. "Ah, I see. When is it?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I am not interested. I am not going."
"That's too bad. Sidney showed me your Facebook page and blog reviews of your stories. Fans are clamoring for you. I mean, it is okay that you have this mysterious aura. But you know, you missed several book signings. Even a solo book signing would be fine for them. I am sure they will be happy if you will personally sign your books and you will get to talk to them. They really love you. If you will show up at the book signing, you can personally thank them. Can't you do it for your fans?"
She whined and closed her eyes. "Deive, you know I am not used to interacting with people especially strangers."
"Why don't you try?"
She opened her eyes. "No. I don't want to be with a lot of people. I feel bare and vulnerable." She shooked her head and stood up. "I won't go. They should be satisfied to see my works. That's all I can share with them."
When she met Deieve's eyes, there was a challenge there. In the end, he just sighed. "Okay. I won't force you if you don't want to." He pecks a kiss on her forehead. "What else food did your publisher bring?"
She just smiled and called for Marina. But she didn't miss the sadness in Deive's eyes. Maybe he was frustrated that she wanted to hide from the world. She hoped that he would be patient with her and won't let her go.