Chapter 16. Jean’s Proposal

Mondays were the worst but only because they came immediately after the weekend. Elaine swirled around her chair to pick up a pile of manuscripts from the slush pile. All she had to do was read the first page to eliminate those who did not meet the standard. She used to think that others were too harsh on the writers but with over 120 manuscripts to read, she didn’t have time to pity any writer. Such senseless pity had landed her a client like Timothy.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I am doing?” she demanded.

Jean placed her hand on the table and bent till she was staring at Elaine face to face. “So, how did it go?”

Elaine pushed her glasses further up her nose and raised a manuscript so she could avoid Jean’s prodding eyes. “How do you think it went?”

“Well.” Jean stood upright, shrugging. “I was hoping for a miracle.”

Elaine dropped the manuscript and reached for her coffee mug. She’d hoped for a miracle too. She’d almost been so