The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Yvonne was thrilled to hear Jessica agree to her plan. "Of course!"

Brimming with confidence, Jessica said, "In that case, we'll have to work smart. I'll convince Steven to come up with the investment money while you sort out the termination." "Roger that!" Yvonne said happily.

Jessica was about to call Steven after getting off the phone with Yvonne when she stopped herself. She figured she should talk to him about this in person, so she had the driver drop her off at Pelham Group.

The staff at Pelham Group knew her and did not stop her from seeing Steven. They were a couple, after all.

Jessica made her way toward Steven's office without hassle. She knocked on his door, and upon getting his permission to enter, she opened it.

Steven was alone in his office. She pulled out a chair across from him and took a seat, propping her face up with her hands as she stared at him earnestly.

He barely looked up from his work as he said flatly, "If there's something you need to tell me, spit it out."

Jessica tested the waters. "Don't you think we'd be making a loss if we invested in Huxham Corporation for only a meager return?"

Steven paused in his work and looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

She leaned forward, seemingly nervous. "I asked Yvonne about it. Right now, Annalise is only getting 15% in royalties for her work. Can you imagine how much merchandise we'd have to sell before we get our investment back?" Steven hadn't planned to make money off Jessica's work in the first place. He only wanted to use this chance to show Annalise that he could give her whatever benefits Zane was affording her, if not more.noveldrama

He wanted Annalise to see that he was more generous to Jessica than Zane was to her. That way, Annalise would start comparing herself to Jessica and realize what a mistake it was to leave him for Zane! He met Jessica's gaze and asked, "And?"

Jessica leaned forward after hearing his prompting. "I was thinking I could sign with your company instead. That way, you'll be raking in the profits, and I won't lose out on my revenue share."

Instead of getting on board right

away, Steven leaned into his chair and seriously considered Jessica's proposition. She knew he no ger had feelings for her, and the chances of him investing in her merchandise in her best interests were slim to none.

She thought quickly and said with a grin, "I know your company is doing well as it is, and the profits my comic can make don't mean much to you. But consider this: if you invest the money you made off my work into marketing, I'll be earning more than Annalise.

"She'll think the mighty Huxham Corporation is ripping her off and compare her circumstances with mine. Once she sees how much revenue share you're willing to give me, she might think Zane is not half

as generous as you are."

That reason alone was enough to convince Steven this was a good idea. He grinned-suddenly ambitious-as he said, "True. In that case, we'll do as you say."

Jessica was pleased to learn that her plan worked. "I'll follow up with Yvonne on the contract termination at Huxham Corporation, then."

Steven nodded. "Go ahead."

At once, Jessica called Yvonne and asked, "How are things on your end?" She heard Yvonne take a deep breath on the other line, and a bad feeling washed over her. "Please don't tell me they refused to terminate the contract." "They were reluctant at first..." Yvonne lied. The termination had gone smoothly, but she had to put on a show for Jessica so that the latter would think her services were valuable.