Conner's eyes gradually opened and stared at the phone that had been ringing non-stop for the past half hour. He had fallen asleep at his desk again trying to escape from writer's block. All he succeeded in doing was making a mess due to chewing on the end of his pen in his sleep. There was ink everywhere and the blank paper he had stacked up on his desk was completely unusable now. Glancing at the phone again he sighed and extended his ink-stained had out to pick it up.
"Hello?" His voice cracked due to his parched throat.
"Conner Miles! Do you know what time it is? You promised to have those overdue chapters done an hour ago."
"I know Mr. Lee, but I just can't seem to get the female lead's character right. She's supposed to be cunning and vicious on the outside but a softie when she's alone with the male lead. The transitions just aren't coming together the way I thought they would. I've re-written the same scene a dozen times. Every version is different but they all feel like they are lacking something."
Mr. Lee sighed on the other side. "If I knew this adaptation deal would put so much pressure on you, I would have asked them to hold off until you were closer to finishing the series. Unfortunately, word got out and CEO Carlisle is furious that you've missed so many deadlines. We have a meeting with his assistant in an hour, it sounds like they are planning on terminating the contract. Get dressed immediately and meet me in front of the Imperial building. The meeting is at their headquarters this time. Oh and bring the drafts, if you show that you've been working hard to make it meet the standards of the previous installments maybe they will cut you some slack."
"I understand, I'll head out as soon as possible."
An hour later outside of the Imperial building. Conner arrived by taxi and stared up at the skyscraper looming over him. He wondered why CEO Carlisle took a liking to his work. It was said that CEO Carlisle was a ruthless man who didn't care about any form of entertainment. He thought that was a bit weird though since Imperial Entertainment was one of the top entertainment companies in the country. That being said though, it was treated as more of a side project of Imperial Industries. Mr. Lee, who was his editor and manager, had arrived 15 minutes ago and was waiting for him at the door.
"Conner, let's go. We'll barely be on time if we get to the meeting room now." Mr. Lee led him to the reception desk and announced their presence. "We have an appointment with Mr. Carlisle's assistant. We're running a bit late and just have a few minutes before the meeting starts."
"Names?"
"James Lee and Conner Miles."
"Oh, you're here for the meeting about the adaptation contract? I was hoping to meet RayRay in person. Her work is so good!"
Conner coughed but knew better than to admit that he was RayRay openly. Only a few people knew that the newly famous RayRay was actually a man. "Thank you, we'll make sure to tell her on your behalf," he said politely.
***
"What is the schedule like for the rest of the day?" Carly Johnson who just stepped out of the meeting room with her assistant asked coldly.
"I have that contract termination here in a few minutes," her assistant replied. "Then we have a lunch meeting with the mayor at noon. Other than that, there isn't a whole lot going on today."
As Carly listened to the dull schedule that her assistant read off her eyes caught an unkempt man walking towards them led by one of the secretaries that work for her assistant. She pulled her assistant aside and observed the man. If it weren't for the ink stains, disheveled hair, and crooked tie he would look very handsome. He had fair but pale skin, bright green eyes that were a bit downcast, and his short brown hair was a total mess, but surprisingly fashionable. "Jenny, who is that?" she whispered to her assistant.
"That should be Mr. Conner Miles, the author of the series," Jenny responded.
"You're telling me the genius writer I idolize, RayRay, is a man?" A look of unfathomable disbelief was plain to see on Carly's face.
"You didn't know?" Jenny asked. Carly vehemently shook her head. "I guess it's similar to how you let the outside world think the company is run by a man."
"You, go make yourself busy somewhere else. I'll handle the meeting personally."
"Boss, are you sure you can maintain your image? You won't start fangirling the moment you go in there, will you? Remember, you had decided to terminate this contract."
"I know, I know. I'll do what needs to be done." Carly collected herself and wore her usual aloof expression before heading towards the meeting room. Jenny could only watch and sigh.