Unleash Me, Vol. 2 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (15 page)

“
Are you
pleased?
”

I admitted that I was.

“
Have you seen
the pre-orders on Amazon?
”

“
There are
pre-orders on Amazon?
”

“
From which
cave must I pull you out of?
 
In
what world do you live?
”

“
Oh, I don
’
t know
—
the world of
work.
 
The world of finishing a
book.
 
The world of photo shoots and
interviews, and now a party on the horizon that I need to gear myself up for
”

“
Oh, my
dear.
 
Do I have news for you.
”

“
What news?
”

“
Since that
article hit today, you have many, many more interviews now ahead of you.
 
Entertainment Weekly.
 
The Hollywood Reporter.
 
Variety.
 
People
magazine.
 
The New York Times
.
 
The
L.A. Times
.
 
And that
’
s just a few when it comes to print.
 
As for television, you
’
re looking at CNN,
Entertainment Tonight, and if we
’
re
very lucky, it looks as if Charlie Rose is interested.
 
And there are scores of others, all
important.
 
You
’
re on the verge of a
massive breakout.
 
But I already
told you that would happen.
 
After
all, you
’
re a
best-seller again.
”

“
What are you
talking about?
”

“
Seriously,
Ward?
”

“
Just answer
my question.
”

“
Because of
today
’
s AP story, you
’
re back into the top 100
of Amazon with a pre-order for your book.
 
Want to guess how high?
”

“
I have no
idea.
”

“
Are you even
in control of your career?
”

“
I think you
are.
 
How high?
”

“
You
’
re at number three.
”

“
In the whole
store?
”

“
Why would I
waste my time telling you that if you weren
’
t?
”

“
I can
’
t believe it.
”

“
That book
already was a number-one best-seller when Wenn took it over and then pulled it
down.
 
It will go to the top spot
again.
 
And then it will hit all of
the lists when it
’
s
released.
 
You
’
ll see.
 
We
’
ve had it all mapped out.
”

“
You make it
sound so easy.
 
As if you could do
it for anyone.
”

“
And that
’
s where you sell yourself
short.
 
We
’
ll hit each of the lists because you
’
ve written a strong
book.
 
ARC copies were sent out
yesterday for review purposes.
 
When
we release the book in two months, we will be well armed for success.
”

“
Success that
I need to share with people in person.
 
I
’
ve only
talked briefly with Jennifer this week because I
’
ve been so busy.
 
She
’
s been
staying with Alex because she thinks I need my space, when really I just want
to see her.
 
And talk with her.
 
Not on the phone, but face-to-face.
 
It
’
s been two weeks!
 
What do you have planned for tomorrow night?
”

She told me.

“
Oh, that
’
s not bad.
”

“
Not bad?
 
It will be fabulous.
 
We
’
ve eaten there before.
”

“
Does everyone
know?
”

“
Do you
seriously think that they don
’
t
know?
”

“
And all will
be coming?
 
Including Iris?
”

“
Yes,
including Iris.
 
Eight sharp at JoJo
tomorrow evening.
”

JoJo was just off Lexington on Sixty-Fourth Street in a narrow townhouse
that was frequented by locals and only rarely by tourists.
 
“
What
will I wear?
”

“
The Prada
dress I
’
m sending
over to you this afternoon as a congratulations for all of your hard work.
”

“
You did that
for me?
”

“
Of course I
did that for you.
 
And for
myself.
 
I don
’
t exactly want to be
sitting next to someone who
’
s
decked out in some unwanted, marked down piece of shit from Century 21.
”

“
Actually, if
you spend a few hours sifting through the racks, you can find a real bargain
—”

“
That word
again!
”

“
Well, it
’
s true.
 
You can.
 
You liked one of the suits I bought from
them.
”

“
A fluke.
”

“
A find.
”

“
Whatever.
 
Since your runaway boobs have yet to
come running back, I just hope the damned thing fits.
 
If it doesn
’
t, I need you to call me straight away, and we
’
ll figure out something
else for you to wear.
 
Bernie isn
’
t going to style you
tonight
—
it
’
s just dinner, so why
would he?
—
but I
’
ve done my best with a
proper dress.
 
Go with a soft flip
for your hair
—
so
it just curls up from your shoulders, like you usually do
—
and wear just a
touch of makeup.
 
You have beautiful
skin, so you don
’
t
need much.
 
If you want, you could
go with a bold lip because you have thin lips
—
draw just slightly outside the lines.
 
You
’
ve seen how Bernie does it for you.
 
If you do that, you should be fine.
 
But if you show up looking like a wreck,
I
’
ll have your
ass.
 
Why?
 
Because Bernie and I have taught you how
to do it right.
 
So, I
’
m warning you.
 
Don
’
t screw it up.
”

CHAPTER
TEN

Later that evening, when Tank and I arrived at JoJo, Cutter stepped out
of the limousine and checked the street.
 
Only when he felt it was safe, did he motion for us to exit the car and
step onto the sidewalk.
 

Tank was dressed in a black suit and a gold tie with a black
overcoat.
 
He looked beyond
handsome.
 
I was wearing the sleek,
champagne-colored Prada dress Blackwell had sent to me
—
which fit perfectly
—
and the cashmere coat she
’
d given to me a few weeks before because at that point,
I was too poor to own a proper coat of my own.
 
I
’
d also borrowed a pair of Jennifer
’
s Jimmy Choos, and was
wearing the jewelry Tank had given me at Christmas.

“
Are you ready
for this?
”
he asked
as we moved away from the limo.

“
Absolutely.
 
I can
’
t want to see Jennifer and Alex.
 
It feels like it
’
s been forever.
 
I wanted to have lunch with Jennifer this week, but there was no
time.
 
I
’
m dying to see her.
 
We were texting up a storm this
afternoon about what we were going to wear tonight, and I might have asked if I
could wear a pair of her shoes, which I think she
’
s immune to at this pint.
 
I
’
m always stealing her shoes.
”

“
I wonder how
Blackwell and Iris will get along.
”

We walked toward the restaurant
’
s
entrance.
 
“
What do you mean?
”

“
Just a
feeling I have.
”

“
What kind of
feeling?
”

“
They
’
re different, but at their
core, they
’
re two
strong-willed women.
”
 
He shrugged.
 
“
I
don
’
t know
—
I
’
ve never seen them in a
social situation outside of Wenn before, but I have a feeling that this evening
will be memorable because of them.
 
Neither ever wants to give up the last word.
”

“
I
’
m sure they
’
ll be on their best
behavior.
 
Tonight
’
s a celebration.
”

He kissed me on the cheek.
 
“
Indeed, it is.
 
Let
’
s hope certain people behave, because you deserve this.
”

He opened the door, and we went inside where the woman at the front desk
gave me a look of recognition.
 
“
Lisa Ward,
”
she said.

That took me aback.
 
How did
she know who I was?
 
The article had
just come out yesterday.
 
“
Yes,
”
I said.
 
“
We
’
re having dinner
—”

“
Of course,
”
she said, offering to
take our coats.
 
“
We
’
re so pleased to have you here.
 
It
’
s an honor, really.
 
I
’
m eager to read your book when it comes out.
”

She actually knows who I am?
 
What the hell?

“
Your guests
are waiting for you inside.
 
Please,
follow me and I
’
ll
show you to your table.
 
We saved
the best table and the best seats for you.
 
The first round of drinks is on the house.
 
It
’
s our pleasure.
 
If anyone interrupts you, please let us know.
 
We
’
ll make certain that you
’
re left alone.
”

“
And so it begins,
”
Tank said, his hand
against my back.

As for me, I didn
’
t
know exactly what had just begun
—
but
it was something.
 
And as nice as
the woman was, it felt surreal as hell.

*
 
*
 
*

Our table was in the back of the house.
 
As we went through the curtains that
separated the two dining rooms, I saw my friends turn to us, and I gave them a
little wave along with a big smile.
 
Jennifer got to her feet at once and came over to give me a hug.

“
It
’
s been too long,
”
she said.

“
My zombie
peeps have been keeping me busy.
 
I
’
m now including Blackwell
among them.
”

“
I
’
m so proud of you.
 
You
’
re everywhere.
 
The AP story was fantastic.
 
This has been your dream since we were kids, and here it is, smack in
front of you.
”

“
Actually,
‘
smack
’
is the right word.
”