"This book is crap." Meg dropped the heavy manuscript onto her desk.

Belle looked up at her in shock. "Excuse me?"

Meg was known for being blunt and telling it like it is, but she had never outright trashed one of Belle's novels before. Belle was a best-selling romance author, mostly period pieces about princes or pirates, and Meg had been her agent- and friend- since she published her first novel five years ago. Of course, Meg always had her opinion about Belle's novels. Meg had been burned by too many men and now had a negative outlook on romance and was just all-around cynical about love.

"Are we really supposed to believe that both of these men love her that much?" Meg asked. Belle opened her mouth to respond, but Meg interrupted her. "No, Belle. The answer is no. Men don't do stuff like this."

"They used to. My novel takes place in a time when men were actually chivalrous and romantic and faithful-"

Meg snorted. "Men were never like that. You read too many fairy tales."

Belle sighed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Nonetheless, Megara; the publishers have been waiting for my next novel and there it is."

Meg nodded. "I'll send it to them. But, maybe next time you can write a realistic novel? One where the heroine is completely devoted to her man and then he dumps her for the next big-breasted whore who walks by."

Belle rolled her eyes. "I'll think about it."

Meg shrugged and leaned back in her seat. "Forget it; people want fantasy. They have to carry on relationships with the fictional men in your stories because real men are disappointing."

Belle couldn't argue with her there. To be honest, Belle didn't have the best luck when it came to dating either. Her last real relationship ended almost a year ago and she was also beginning to think there were no men worth her time. Not that she had a lot of time to give anyway; work kept her busy. But, she would be lying if she said she didn't wish some of the men she's created were real.

"I retract my previous statement," Meg said. "This novel isn't crap; it's actually your best one so far. But, it certainly isn't believable."

"Well, thanks," Belle told her.

Meg nodded. "Your fans are going to go crazy over this one. And Jasmine is going to have a field day promoting this."

Belle laughed. Jasmine was her publicist; she was in charge of promoting and marketing all of Belle's novels and scheduling appearances for Belle. Belle had also become friends with Jasmine, but she didn't hang out with her much outside of work. Jasmine was the only person Belle knew who was actually living a real life romance novel. She and her fiancee, Aladdin, were the couple that everyone strives to be. It was non stop romance and fun with them. They even looked like they could be models on a romance novel cover. In fact, they had been the models for the cover of Belle's last novel. The novel had been inspired by them where Jasmine's character was a sheltered princess and Aladdin's character a was pirate. She left her life to runaway with him and see the world- when they could drag themselves out of Aladdin's quarters.

"I'll bring the manuscript to the office tonight," Meg was now saying. "It should be on shelves of bookstores in about two months. They'll prolong it to build up the anticipation. Your premiere party will be around then as well."

Every time Belle published a new novel, Jasmine insisted on throwing an extravagant party with a theme that fit the novel. These parties have come to be a big deal and the guest list usually included many A-List people; including celebrities.

"I'll keep my schedule open," Belle told her. Just then her phone started ringing. She pulled it out of her purse and answered it. "Belle O'Hara."

"You're awesome, Belle!" It was Jasmine. "Meg just emailed me and told me you finally finished your novel."

Belle smiled. "Yeah I did. I think you'll like it."

"Of course I will."

"It's actually going to be a two-part book. I've already begun working on the sequel."

"This is why you're my favorite client, O'Hara," Jasmine said. There was a faint clicking on the other line and Belle could tell she was in the process of typing an email or text message on her phone. "As soon as Meg emails me the full manuscript, I'll read it and begin planning the promotions."

"I look forward to hearing your ideas."

"You'll hear from me within the next couple days." Jasmine hung up then and Belle put her phone away.

Meg was busy typing something on her laptop and glanced up at Belle. "She's excited?"

Belle nodded. "I think so."

There was a knock on Meg's office door. "Come in!" she called out.

Belle's assistant, Jane Porter, stuck her head in. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

Meg waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine."

Jane stepped into the office. She was twenty-three, the same age as Belle. She graduated from the local university last year and had interned with the publishing company for the last semester. When she graduated, she was hired as a receptionist and then became Belle's assistant about a month ago. So far, she had been an excellent assistant. "Miss O'Hara, you asked me to remind you about your lunch with your sister this afternoon."

Belle nodded. "Of course. I'll be done here in just a minute. Thank you, Jane."

Jane turned and walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.

"I love her accent," Meg commented.

Jane was born in London and lived there until she was a freshman in high school, when she moved to the United States. She went to high school in suburban Illinois and then went to college in the city of Chicago; so now her accent was a mix of English, Midwestern and big city Chicago.

Belle nodded in agreement. "Well, I have to go meet up with Kayley."

"Of course. I'll be in touch."

Belle gathered her stuff and walked out of Meg's office. As soon as she was in the cab, her phone started ringing again. She glanced down at the caller i.d. and saw it was her editor, Shang Li. Every time she finished a new novel, she was instantly bombarded with phone calls and emails from every one of her business contacts.

Belle sighed. "And so it begins."