Under The Tartosan Sun
Table of contents: [ Spoiler ] Since this story has grown so much bigger than I ever imagined I feel like its time to borrow a page from some of my favorite SimLit writers and offer you a syn...
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Chapter Twenty Eight
In the days that followed Danielle's encounter with Faith, Londyn focused her attention on helping her wife sort through her thoughts and emotions. There was plenty of time to deal with the details of Danielle's book deal later. This was her first time being confronted about her sexuality. She wasn’t naive, and she knew it was going to happen sooner or later. She had reason to believe Faith was harboring those thoughts even before the video conference. Still, it was shocking and upsetting.
https://i.imgur.com/P5dSWDF.png
https://i.imgur.com/TCN3jAE.png
After a couple of days they got down to the business of sorting through the details of the book deal. Danielle explained how things usually work as they went through all the legalese. Londyn’s keen eye spotted something beyond the fact that nothing in the deal specified heterosexual romance novels only. She had some more questions for Danielle who filled in the needed details.
Danielle had been right and the latest quarterly report landed in her inbox four days later. She and Londyn gathered around the computer anticipating the evidence they needed to ruin Faith's day and set Danielle free to pursue a new deal with a publisher that will embrace whatever she writes. It was right there, plain as day. The trend had not only continued but accelerated and had clearly placed Danielle in total control of the situation. The die was cast and Faith's day of reckoning was here.
Not only was Faith about to learn that Danielle had her over a barrel with their book deal but she and Londyn had reached out through the writer community and to former employees to talk to others who had felt Faith's wrath. You can only bully people for so long until they say enough, or you meet the one who won't be bullied. That information would be shared widely among the novelist community and then they could make their own informed decisions whether or not to continue doing business with Faith's publishing house. Her reputation wasn't exactly a secret but the true extent of how nasty she could be was. She had mistreated LGBTQ writers, straight writers, and many current and former employees had not been spared either. She was simply put a mean and nasty person. Maybe this would lead to introspection and a change of heart, but that wasn't anything Danielle and Londyn were concerned about. Faith made her own bed, now it was time to pull back the covers, climb in, and have a little lie down in it.
In the days that followed Danielle's encounter with Faith, Londyn focused her attention on helping her wife sort through her thoughts and emotions. There was plenty of time to deal with the details of Danielle's book deal later. This was her first time being confronted about her sexuality. She wasn’t naive, and she knew it was going to happen sooner or later. She had reason to believe Faith was harboring those thoughts even before the video conference. Still, it was shocking and upsetting.
https://i.imgur.com/P5dSWDF.png
https://i.imgur.com/TCN3jAE.png
After a couple of days they got down to the business of sorting through the details of the book deal. Danielle explained how things usually work as they went through all the legalese. Londyn’s keen eye spotted something beyond the fact that nothing in the deal specified heterosexual romance novels only. She had some more questions for Danielle who filled in the needed details.
Spoiler
”I think I've found a way we can get her hon. Where do you go to track your book sales?” Londyn asked.
“SimReads uses Nielsim and we’re given a quarterly report which is also broken down into month by month sales for the three months in that quarter. The report gives sales by region as well. The new report is being put together right now or it may be done already and waiting to be sent", Danielle explained, "I have my previous reports saved in pdf's on the silver thumb drive on the desk by the computer."
"Let's take a look." Londyn said.
https://i.imgur.com/nasgf95.png
Danielle retrieved the drive and handed it to Londyn who inserted it in her laptop. After several minutes of trying to decipher the information on the screen, Londyn turned and asked Danielle, "You say you expect the next quarterly report next week? Because I would love to see that right now. I think I can see where the trend started", Londyn said as her figure traced across the screen, "Look right here. That was "Want You So Bad"?
"Yes it was, 'Want You' was the third book after I started writing what was truly in my heart."
https://i.imgur.com/e7PAZYS.png
"I think we both know what this new report is going to show, or should, if Faith didn't try to manipulate the data. I don't think she's as smart as she likes to think. If it does show us what I think it will, we have her." Londyn said as her lips started curl into a satisfied smile. "The stake in that vampire's heart is right here in the section of your contract about 'Rights Reversion'. See what it says here..."
https://i.imgur.com/kVPffxz.png
"Ohhh my God. Baby you are an angel." Danielle said as she leaned over Londyn's shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"I think," Londyn said, "that's what you call, checkmate."
“SimReads uses Nielsim and we’re given a quarterly report which is also broken down into month by month sales for the three months in that quarter. The report gives sales by region as well. The new report is being put together right now or it may be done already and waiting to be sent", Danielle explained, "I have my previous reports saved in pdf's on the silver thumb drive on the desk by the computer."
"Let's take a look." Londyn said.
https://i.imgur.com/nasgf95.png
Danielle retrieved the drive and handed it to Londyn who inserted it in her laptop. After several minutes of trying to decipher the information on the screen, Londyn turned and asked Danielle, "You say you expect the next quarterly report next week? Because I would love to see that right now. I think I can see where the trend started", Londyn said as her figure traced across the screen, "Look right here. That was "Want You So Bad"?
"Yes it was, 'Want You' was the third book after I started writing what was truly in my heart."
https://i.imgur.com/e7PAZYS.png
"I think we both know what this new report is going to show, or should, if Faith didn't try to manipulate the data. I don't think she's as smart as she likes to think. If it does show us what I think it will, we have her." Londyn said as her lips started curl into a satisfied smile. "The stake in that vampire's heart is right here in the section of your contract about 'Rights Reversion'. See what it says here..."
https://i.imgur.com/kVPffxz.png
"Ohhh my God. Baby you are an angel." Danielle said as she leaned over Londyn's shoulder and kissed her cheek.
"I think," Londyn said, "that's what you call, checkmate."
Danielle had been right and the latest quarterly report landed in her inbox four days later. She and Londyn gathered around the computer anticipating the evidence they needed to ruin Faith's day and set Danielle free to pursue a new deal with a publisher that will embrace whatever she writes. It was right there, plain as day. The trend had not only continued but accelerated and had clearly placed Danielle in total control of the situation. The die was cast and Faith's day of reckoning was here.
Spoiler
"Hello Lori, its Danielle Huntley, I need to have a meeting with Faith. Can you set one up for me, asap dear?"
https://i.imgur.com/6ToSfoN.png
"I can try Danielle, but right now you are," Lori lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "the dragon lady's least favorite person on earth. Are you sure you want to meet face to face?" After speaking the phrase 'Dragon Lady', Lori couldn't take her eyes off of Faith's office door. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she anticipated the door being flung open and a raging Faith Middleton to emerge. Lori could almost picture her boss having super-hearing and there was no way she hadn't heard her nickname.
"Are you telling me you think she would get physical with me?"
"Not exactly...but...I don't know...I haven't seen her that mad before." Lori was completely flustered and wanted to be a long way from here right about now. "I've only been here six months, but there are stories about her temper. Frankly I'm scared of her and when I find another job I'm out of here."
"I'll take my chances. I want to see her face when I say what I have to say."
Londyn had been nearby and overheard Danielle's end of the exchange and the odd bit of Lori's. She motioned for the phone which Danielle passed to her. "Lori, this is Danielle's wife, Londyn. Can you please give us an hour or so, I would like to talk to Danielle before we set up this meeting."
https://i.imgur.com/UJCN9ot.png
"Of course! Wow, when I came in to work today I never could have imagined I'd get to talk to Londyn Huntley!", Lori said, slightly losing her professional composure and brightening up at the same time.
"You are very sweet and I'm happy I could make your day a little brighter. It sounds like you could use all the bright days you can get. Danielle will get back with you shortly. Thank you Lori."
Londyn took Danielle's hand and led her out to their cute little umbrella table to enjoy the fresh Tartosa air while they talked about how to handle the meeting with Faith. The gentle, salty sea breeze and lovely warm weather were a contrast to the cold hard subject that was being discussed. "Hon, I know you want to stick it to Faith. Lord knows I understand the urge. Let's keep in mind what we've heard from others about her. You remember what her last secretary Chrissy said? That the knick knacks in Faith's office rack up frequent flyer miles every time she gets angry."
"I don't want her to feel like she can intimidate me. I don't want to feel like a coward." Danielle said with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. Part of her wanted to slam that contract down on Faith's desk and jab her finger into the page right where her leverage would be on full display. The rational part of her knew that was not the way to handle this, but her pain at being treated like she had was still raw and real.
"You, my girl, are no coward." Londyn said while lovingly gripping Danielle's nearest hand. "It doesn't matter if she feels like she has you scared. We know better and what good would it do if she clonks you up side the head with a stapler or something in a fit of rage. From what we've learned it's clear she has major anger issues. Take it from someone who's been here before, you'll still get a great sense of satisfaction from seeing the look on her face even on a computer screen. And it comes with a no concussion guarantee. If my guess is right even after we show her our evidence she's going to take this to court. You'll get a chance then to see her face when she hears the judgment go against her, which the experts we've talked to all say it will. That is a legally binding contract, even if the clerk made one whopper of a typo. It was signed and filed and it's binding. Faith can scream and stomp her feet all she likes and say the wording is incorrect, but it won't change a thing. When you confront her now, she's still going to think she's won."
As Londyn finished, Danielle stood up gently hauling her soulmate with her. She stepped in close and whispered in Londyn's ear, "That mind of yours is just one of the million things I love about you baby. You have this inner calm and you always seem to see the big picture. While I go and call Lori back," Danielle says as she begins to trace her finger gently along Londyn's cheek and down her neck. "You can grab a towel and I'll meet you in the shower to say...thank you."
https://i.imgur.com/Hve1Ca1.png
Danielle punctuated the words 'thank you' with a kiss to curl Londyn's toes.
https://i.imgur.com/EfuA4Vy.png
After Danielle released her lip lock, Londyn said, "Do us both a favor. Next time hire a literary agent hon!"
https://i.imgur.com/6ToSfoN.png
"I can try Danielle, but right now you are," Lori lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "the dragon lady's least favorite person on earth. Are you sure you want to meet face to face?" After speaking the phrase 'Dragon Lady', Lori couldn't take her eyes off of Faith's office door. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she anticipated the door being flung open and a raging Faith Middleton to emerge. Lori could almost picture her boss having super-hearing and there was no way she hadn't heard her nickname.
"Are you telling me you think she would get physical with me?"
"Not exactly...but...I don't know...I haven't seen her that mad before." Lori was completely flustered and wanted to be a long way from here right about now. "I've only been here six months, but there are stories about her temper. Frankly I'm scared of her and when I find another job I'm out of here."
"I'll take my chances. I want to see her face when I say what I have to say."
Londyn had been nearby and overheard Danielle's end of the exchange and the odd bit of Lori's. She motioned for the phone which Danielle passed to her. "Lori, this is Danielle's wife, Londyn. Can you please give us an hour or so, I would like to talk to Danielle before we set up this meeting."
https://i.imgur.com/UJCN9ot.png
"Of course! Wow, when I came in to work today I never could have imagined I'd get to talk to Londyn Huntley!", Lori said, slightly losing her professional composure and brightening up at the same time.
"You are very sweet and I'm happy I could make your day a little brighter. It sounds like you could use all the bright days you can get. Danielle will get back with you shortly. Thank you Lori."
Londyn took Danielle's hand and led her out to their cute little umbrella table to enjoy the fresh Tartosa air while they talked about how to handle the meeting with Faith. The gentle, salty sea breeze and lovely warm weather were a contrast to the cold hard subject that was being discussed. "Hon, I know you want to stick it to Faith. Lord knows I understand the urge. Let's keep in mind what we've heard from others about her. You remember what her last secretary Chrissy said? That the knick knacks in Faith's office rack up frequent flyer miles every time she gets angry."
"I don't want her to feel like she can intimidate me. I don't want to feel like a coward." Danielle said with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. Part of her wanted to slam that contract down on Faith's desk and jab her finger into the page right where her leverage would be on full display. The rational part of her knew that was not the way to handle this, but her pain at being treated like she had was still raw and real.
"You, my girl, are no coward." Londyn said while lovingly gripping Danielle's nearest hand. "It doesn't matter if she feels like she has you scared. We know better and what good would it do if she clonks you up side the head with a stapler or something in a fit of rage. From what we've learned it's clear she has major anger issues. Take it from someone who's been here before, you'll still get a great sense of satisfaction from seeing the look on her face even on a computer screen. And it comes with a no concussion guarantee. If my guess is right even after we show her our evidence she's going to take this to court. You'll get a chance then to see her face when she hears the judgment go against her, which the experts we've talked to all say it will. That is a legally binding contract, even if the clerk made one whopper of a typo. It was signed and filed and it's binding. Faith can scream and stomp her feet all she likes and say the wording is incorrect, but it won't change a thing. When you confront her now, she's still going to think she's won."
As Londyn finished, Danielle stood up gently hauling her soulmate with her. She stepped in close and whispered in Londyn's ear, "That mind of yours is just one of the million things I love about you baby. You have this inner calm and you always seem to see the big picture. While I go and call Lori back," Danielle says as she begins to trace her finger gently along Londyn's cheek and down her neck. "You can grab a towel and I'll meet you in the shower to say...thank you."
https://i.imgur.com/Hve1Ca1.png
Danielle punctuated the words 'thank you' with a kiss to curl Londyn's toes.
https://i.imgur.com/EfuA4Vy.png
After Danielle released her lip lock, Londyn said, "Do us both a favor. Next time hire a literary agent hon!"
Not only was Faith about to learn that Danielle had her over a barrel with their book deal but she and Londyn had reached out through the writer community and to former employees to talk to others who had felt Faith's wrath. You can only bully people for so long until they say enough, or you meet the one who won't be bullied. That information would be shared widely among the novelist community and then they could make their own informed decisions whether or not to continue doing business with Faith's publishing house. Her reputation wasn't exactly a secret but the true extent of how nasty she could be was. She had mistreated LGBTQ writers, straight writers, and many current and former employees had not been spared either. She was simply put a mean and nasty person. Maybe this would lead to introspection and a change of heart, but that wasn't anything Danielle and Londyn were concerned about. Faith made her own bed, now it was time to pull back the covers, climb in, and have a little lie down in it.
Spoiler
"Good morning Faith! I trust your day is off to a lovely start."
https://i.imgur.com/Os30npO.png
"You." Faith said with a scorn that could slice through steel. "What do you want? Did you come back to grovel and beg me to reconsider my decision?"
https://i.imgur.com/HEzznH5.png
"Oh no. Nothing like that Faith. Nothing like that at all. I just want to inform you that effective immediately, are dealings are done. You will be releasing me from my contract today. If not feel free to sue me for breach of contract because I will do the same to you. And trust me dear, you don't have a leg to stand on. I also expect documentation as soon as possible stating that I now own full publishing rights to every one of the books I have submitted to you and that you relinquish the same in perpetuity."
https://i.imgur.com/LCTj2dN.png
"Why you little witch! You think you have me, ME!!, for breach of contract!?!? You really are stupid."
https://i.imgur.com/o5DwziX.png
"Faith, such language from a charmer like you. I have to admit you're cute when you're angry. Why if I wasn't married...rawr."
https://i.imgur.com/VxRVshX.png
"Are you making a pass at me? You freak. This call is over!"
https://i.imgur.com/FeP8Rrq.png
"Oh Faith, you understand sarcasm about as well as you understand our contract. Now that I have your attention, I have two words for you, 'Rights Reversion'. Now, get your hand off that mouse, shut up, and pay attention and I will try to explain this so even you can understand."
https://i.imgur.com/WYNHtSY.png
"You have some nerve you slimy little...Arggh! What would an idiot like you know about Rights Reversion?"
https://i.imgur.com/ZqCZDra.png
"A lot more than you my dear. Let me explain them to you as they pertain to our deal. You see there is the usual stipulation that if my book sales dip below a certain threshold I have the right to reclaim the publishing rights to my books. Now the standard is usually if a book generates less than $500 dollars a month for 12 consecutive months I have the right to take back full publishing rights to that book or you may exercise the option and decline to continue publishing the under performing title. That was the terms we agreed to verbally. Now if you will look closely at the wording in the Rights Reversion clause of my contract you will notice we both missed what it actually said. Apparently we both lacked good proofreading skills that day. Great for me, really really bad for you. The clause actually says if any one of my books sells less than $1,000 a month, gross, for three consecutive months I have the right to claim full publishing rights to all titles published by you, not just the underperforming title. All. Of. Them. Faith. Oh, cheer up Faith, I'm getting to the good part. You're going to lllllove this part sweetheart. You've handed me back my full publishing rights to all of my books and voided our contract. You see, 'Meant To Be' and 'Love On The Run' have performed far below that level for the length of time stipulated in the contract. I own the publishing rights to all of my books even those red hot titles like 'Love Of A Lifetime' and 'Love Me For All Time'. Yes sweetie, kiss those golden gooses goodbye.
https://i.imgur.com/2Jsnv63.png
"I'm still going to sue you for breach of contract for changing the style of novel you write." Faith said in an absolute rage.
https://i.imgur.com/zopHfuh.png
"No you're not. If you do it's a foolish waste of time. Once again, you haven't been as smart as you think and I'm not going to submit to your bullying like others have. You will recall, we never discussed a theme for my books beyond them being romance novels. We never discussed any stipulation that they had to be heterosexual romances. If you'll look closely at the contract you will see where it didn't include any mention whatsoever of any theme, romance or otherwise. I could have written children's books, travelogues, or sci-fi. It would have all been fulfilling the deal. And I know what's coming next. See, my wife and I aren't stupid, we also checked all internet domains that SimReads has any degree of control over and on none of them, none Faith, does it say that SimReads only publishes content that is heterosexual only. So you can take the thought I see forming in your head and let fly away like a ballon that hasn't been tied shut. If you still persist in taking this to court you will be countersued for all of my legal bills, lost income, and infliction of mental anguish.
https://i.imgur.com/RsI42Nk.png
You are done Faith. And not just done with me, but done period. While Londyn and I were looking into this matter we made contact with, and also heard from, authors and employees who have dealt with you in the past. The same people you threatened, bullied, and even had ostracized from the business. They are tired of bowing to you and they are ready to come forward and tell the world who really you are. I don't know what the future holds for you but you would be wise to prepare for a storm. I hope that when its over you will have learned the price of treating people like dirt and that you have a change of heart, but I'm not sure you have it in you. Goodbye.
https://i.imgur.com/e1AZhd8.png
https://i.imgur.com/Os30npO.png
"You." Faith said with a scorn that could slice through steel. "What do you want? Did you come back to grovel and beg me to reconsider my decision?"
https://i.imgur.com/HEzznH5.png
"Oh no. Nothing like that Faith. Nothing like that at all. I just want to inform you that effective immediately, are dealings are done. You will be releasing me from my contract today. If not feel free to sue me for breach of contract because I will do the same to you. And trust me dear, you don't have a leg to stand on. I also expect documentation as soon as possible stating that I now own full publishing rights to every one of the books I have submitted to you and that you relinquish the same in perpetuity."
https://i.imgur.com/LCTj2dN.png
"Why you little witch! You think you have me, ME!!, for breach of contract!?!? You really are stupid."
https://i.imgur.com/o5DwziX.png
"Faith, such language from a charmer like you. I have to admit you're cute when you're angry. Why if I wasn't married...rawr."
https://i.imgur.com/VxRVshX.png
"Are you making a pass at me? You freak. This call is over!"
https://i.imgur.com/FeP8Rrq.png
"Oh Faith, you understand sarcasm about as well as you understand our contract. Now that I have your attention, I have two words for you, 'Rights Reversion'. Now, get your hand off that mouse, shut up, and pay attention and I will try to explain this so even you can understand."
https://i.imgur.com/WYNHtSY.png
"You have some nerve you slimy little...Arggh! What would an idiot like you know about Rights Reversion?"
https://i.imgur.com/ZqCZDra.png
"A lot more than you my dear. Let me explain them to you as they pertain to our deal. You see there is the usual stipulation that if my book sales dip below a certain threshold I have the right to reclaim the publishing rights to my books. Now the standard is usually if a book generates less than $500 dollars a month for 12 consecutive months I have the right to take back full publishing rights to that book or you may exercise the option and decline to continue publishing the under performing title. That was the terms we agreed to verbally. Now if you will look closely at the wording in the Rights Reversion clause of my contract you will notice we both missed what it actually said. Apparently we both lacked good proofreading skills that day. Great for me, really really bad for you. The clause actually says if any one of my books sells less than $1,000 a month, gross, for three consecutive months I have the right to claim full publishing rights to all titles published by you, not just the underperforming title. All. Of. Them. Faith. Oh, cheer up Faith, I'm getting to the good part. You're going to lllllove this part sweetheart. You've handed me back my full publishing rights to all of my books and voided our contract. You see, 'Meant To Be' and 'Love On The Run' have performed far below that level for the length of time stipulated in the contract. I own the publishing rights to all of my books even those red hot titles like 'Love Of A Lifetime' and 'Love Me For All Time'. Yes sweetie, kiss those golden gooses goodbye.
https://i.imgur.com/2Jsnv63.png
"I'm still going to sue you for breach of contract for changing the style of novel you write." Faith said in an absolute rage.
https://i.imgur.com/zopHfuh.png
"No you're not. If you do it's a foolish waste of time. Once again, you haven't been as smart as you think and I'm not going to submit to your bullying like others have. You will recall, we never discussed a theme for my books beyond them being romance novels. We never discussed any stipulation that they had to be heterosexual romances. If you'll look closely at the contract you will see where it didn't include any mention whatsoever of any theme, romance or otherwise. I could have written children's books, travelogues, or sci-fi. It would have all been fulfilling the deal. And I know what's coming next. See, my wife and I aren't stupid, we also checked all internet domains that SimReads has any degree of control over and on none of them, none Faith, does it say that SimReads only publishes content that is heterosexual only. So you can take the thought I see forming in your head and let fly away like a ballon that hasn't been tied shut. If you still persist in taking this to court you will be countersued for all of my legal bills, lost income, and infliction of mental anguish.
https://i.imgur.com/RsI42Nk.png
You are done Faith. And not just done with me, but done period. While Londyn and I were looking into this matter we made contact with, and also heard from, authors and employees who have dealt with you in the past. The same people you threatened, bullied, and even had ostracized from the business. They are tired of bowing to you and they are ready to come forward and tell the world who really you are. I don't know what the future holds for you but you would be wise to prepare for a storm. I hope that when its over you will have learned the price of treating people like dirt and that you have a change of heart, but I'm not sure you have it in you. Goodbye.
https://i.imgur.com/e1AZhd8.png
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