Stephanie Radar was due in Chase’s office any moment. He had prayed continuously since being informed of the appointment. He needed to project his Christian values without jumping down the woman’s throat. That was what the flesh side of him wanted to do.
His assistant’s head popped through the door. “Mr. Carson, Ms. Radar is here.” Carol nodded her support.
“Send her in.”
Chase took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to try to release his tension.
“Mr. Carson,” Ms. Radar said as she flourished into the room. She made herself at home by taking a seat in the chair across from Chase’s desk. She simply ignored his outstretched hand.
Chase pulled his hand back in. “Ms. Radar.” He seated himself again.
“I know what this is about.” She sighed, picking lint off her skirt.
“I’m sure you do. You have put us in a position we don’t like to be in.”
“Look, I know this new release is different than what I’ve been writing for you, but there’s no reason I can’t do both.” She shrugged.
Chase leaned forward, propping an arm on his desk. “Actually, there is a reason you can’t do both. We have a contract with a morality clause. We feel strongly about the morals and values we portray in our books. That’s why we have the clause.”
Ms. Rader waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, come on Mr. Carson. You’re gonna have to catch up. Most publishers now maintain an inspirational division in their company, but they publish other things, too. That’s just keeping up with the times.”
“We aren’t trying to keep up with the times.” He paused to lower his tone. “We are a Christian publishing company. Period. We can’t continue to publish and distribute your books if you have others out there that go against what we promote. It sends a mixed message.”
“Then, I suppose you’ll have to do what you have to do. The secular company gave me a better advance anyway.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Chase’s blood was on a slow simmer, yet he also had a wave of sadness. Stephanie Radar had sold out to making money. She came across so cold that he was rather taken aback. There would be extreme costs to Carson Publishing to pull her titles. This was the third author who had been sucked into the secular market.
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I can’t hide my disappointment. My father established this company on Christian principles and made it his goal to produce books that would speak to readers’ hearts for the sake of God. I still believe in that.”
Ms. Rader shrugged. “Then, I guess we’re done.” She stood, spun on her heels, and left the office with a slam of his door.
It was only moments before Carol entered. “You okay?”
“Not really.” He rolled his eyes. “I want to be angry, but I’m more saddened by the fact that these authors can just turn their backs on their Christian convictions so easily.”
“I know. It’s disturbing. This would have broken your father’s heart.” She patted her chest.
“Don’t you know it. I wish he were here at times like this to help me.”
“Chase, you know what he would do, even if it meant losing lots of money. He ran this place by his founding principles. That’s why I’m still here.” Carol straightened her shoulders.
“You’re right.” He gave an emphatic nod. “Pull the books.”
“We’ll have to give a statement.” Carol scribbled notes onto her notepad.
“I know. Can we stall for a couple of days on that? I need to pray for the right words, you know?”
“Yes, I know. It will take a few days to get the books pulled. That should give you a little bit of time before a statement is required.”
“Thanks.” Chase tried to muster a smile for his faithful assistant.
“It’ll be okay. You just keep doing right. You’ll win in the end.”
“Sounds like Proverbs.”
“Yep, I was just reading that this morning. God’s timing is perfect.” She exited.
Suddenly Chase craved the sound of Alex’s voice. He pulled out his phone and punched the button.
“Hey!” Her voice warmed him.
“Hello. What are you doing?”
“What’s wrong, Chase? You sound down.”
How had she learned so quickly to read him over the phone?
“I am down. Trouble with an author.”
“Want to tell me about it? Might make you feel better.”
Just hearing her voice boosted his doldrums, but he proceeded to tell her about Stephanie Radar.
“Wow, it amazes me what greed will make people do. I mean, it can make you turn your back on everything you’ve ever stood for. I won’t say that could never happen to me because that would be arrogant, but I just wasn’t raised that way.”
“Me either. Enough of that. What have you been up to?” He leaned back in his chair.
“Well, I’ve turned into a regular Nancy Drew.”
“What?”
“I found some of Granny’s personal journals. It seems she was still haunted by the fact that her husband was murdered, but the perpetrators got away with it. I’ve been doing my own investigating.”
“So, what have you found?” He rubbed at the tension in his neck.
“Not much more than we knew before, but hopefully a trip to the archives tomorrow will shed more light into this mystery.”
“Now about the mystery of whether you are going to come to New York?”
“I might be talked into it, if you still want me there.”
His heart skipped a beat. “If I still want you here? Yes, I want you here. I…miss you.”
There was a long silence on the other end. “Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“I...I guess I’d better go. I’ll be in touch. Don’t doubt that I want you to come. I don’t know how to convince you, but I’ll find a way.”
“That sounds mysterious.” She giggled, and the sound warmed Chase to the core.
After saying goodbye, Chase propped his elbows on his desk. His mood was totally altered. Alex had lifted his spirits. His feelings for her ran deep, but could he tell her? The right words escaped him. If he could just get her here, he could look into her eyes and get a sense if she had feelings for him as well. He began to devise a plan to get Alex to New York.