"Mr. Broussard", can you give us insight into what exactly inspired Eternal Spring, your latest best selling novel?" The talk show hostess gestured to the hardcover books neatly arranged on the small sized coffee table that sat between them.

Lux crossed his legs and smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles in his black, ankle tapered slacks before he raised his eyes to flash a dazzling smile at the hostess. "Love, of course. It's what inspires each book I've had the privilege of authoring."

The vivacious hostess turned her head to stare directly into one of the cameras and exhaled a small, breathy, "Aww." She turned back to face Lux, a coy smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Can you give us any information on the lucky individual that led you to pour your heart and soul into this manuscript?"

A small laugh preceded his reply as Lux shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. While I may write about certain aspects that do come from my personal experiences, I never kiss and tell—names."

She pouted, exaggeratedly, as she huffed a small breath. "Fine, fine. However, I am interested in knowing one little fact. Your characters are usually heterosexual, but in Eternal Spring the main character and love interest are both male."

His smile faltered momentarily as he recalled reminding his publicist that any question related to his sexuality were off-limits. Lux was assured that the hostess was informed ahead of time, but...

"I'm sorry, I'm not entirely sure what you're asking." The perfect, media trained, plastic smile slid from Lux's face as he added, "Or why you're comfortable with trying to out someone on national television."

Her giggle was high pitched and strained as she shifted in her seat, adjusting her skirt and fidgeting with the jewelry that adorned her wrists. "I would never—"

"And yet, you are." Lux's cheeks dimpled as he leaned forward to lift the cup of tea to his mouth. He maintained eye contact over the rim as he sipped the honey sweetened green tea.

"Our viewers—" she started, but was cut off by the loud clatter of Lux placing his tea cup onto the saucer.

"Your viewers and my readers understand the importance of one's personal life staying personal. If I choose to use bits and pieces of my life as inspiration for my story, that does not give you, nor anyone else, free rein to continue to pry into the most intimate details of my life."

She looked over at the camera with an uncomfortable grin and stated, "We'll be back after the commercial break."

Once the red light died on all of the cameras, she leveled a dark glare at Lux and snapped, "What gives you the right?"

Lux flipped his hair over his shoulder as he stood, staring down at the woman with a warm smile that was blatantly contradictory to the ice cold stare in his stormy cloud gray eyes. "Obviously the same thing that gave you the right." He pulled the microphone from the lapel of his white dress shirt and dropped it on the table, narrowly missing the cup of tea and the neatly stacked books. "Please inform whoever has the unpleasant task of managing you, that I'll no longer do any interviews for your station." Before she was able to answer, he turned on his heels and strode past his panicking publicist.

"Lux, I told them which questions were off limits. I promise," Kerin swore. "I can show you the email."

Lux sighed heavily, lilac curls fluttering out of his face with the gust of breath. He removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing shut momentarily. When he opened them again, his gaze was softer, the storm having passed. "I know it's not your fault, Key. I don't blame you."

Kerin exhaled a loud sigh of relief and opened his mouth to continue the conversation, however the jingle of Lux's cell phone stopped him.

With a roll of his eyes, Lux answered the phone, "What?"

"Is that any way to speak to your editor?" The clicking and tapping of keys as his editor typed was the background music to their conversation.

"Yes, it is." Lux moved through the darkened studio hallway, Kerin hot on his heels, and pushed open the door to the closet that they tried to pass off as his dressing room. He put his cell phone on speaker and tossed it on the vanity. "Again I ask, what?"

"I told you that having the main character and the love interest both be male would result in speculation regarding your sexuality, did I not?"

Lux paused unbuttoning his shirt to stare at the phone, as if his editor could see him, with an incredulous expression. "This is what you're calling me about?"

His editor tittered softly and composed himself before replying, "I'm not calling to shoot the shit with you Lux. Why don't you listen to my suggestions?"

Lux pulled off his shirt and tossed it to Kerin, who in turn handed him a plain black tee. He quickly pulled his long hair up into a messy topknot before slipping on the shirt. "Because they're just that, suggestions. How long have we been working together Cirrus?"

Cirrus exhaled a long, labored breath. "Four long ass years. Why do you remind me?"

"Because in the past four 'long ass years', have I once taken your suggestions to heart?"

"No, but—"

"There are no 'but's'," Lux spat out. The rustling of him removing his slacks to slip into jeans filled the awkward silence as Cirrus waited. "I tell my stories how I want. If the publishers have an issue with what I write, I'll strongly take their opinion into consideration."

"I work for the publishers!" Cirrus loudly reminded him. "Who do you think is talking to me about the changes and suggestions?"

Lux pulled on a pair of boots and took his time lacing them in silence in an attempt to make Cirrus sweat during his tantrum. Kerin coughed lightly and Lux lifted his eyes to stare quizzically at his reflection in the mirror. Kerin's face was torn between maintaining a stern, taut expression and falling slack with his large pleading eyes. Lux sighed heavily, rolling his eyes as he did so and finally answered,

"If the publishers have an issue, tell them to contact me directly." He ended the call in the middle of Cirrus' rant, much to Kerin's apparent dismay. "Before you start, don't. Cirrus never had a problem with my characters until Eternal Spring."

Kerin's heavy sigh was accompanied by him pulling his hand through his hair. "He's already made threats to quit editing for you, Lux."

"Idle threats don't move me. And if he does quit, so what?" He grabbed his leather jacket from the clothes rack and slipped it on, flashing a reassuring, dimpled smile at Kerin. "I'll be fine."

———— Three Months Later ————

The calendar above his desk served only to agitate him as he stared at his own neat handwriting that read: "Final deadline", "Final, final deadline," and "How much do you enjoy eating and buying nice things? Final deadline before you're poor and destitute," on three separate dates.

Lux could only stare at the screen of his computer as words eluded him. He needed to have a copy of the first half of his manuscript finished and roughly edited by last month. The publishing company worked with him, giving him grace and leeway because he was one of their only authors that was a worldwide best seller. However, the emails went from being extremely friendly to stern in a span of a few days.

The last email simply read,

"If you are unable to produce a finished, and roughly edited manuscript by the end of this week, we'll be assigning a new editor to you."

It was now the end of the week.

Lux's phone rang with a heavy metal ringtone, Kerin's ringtone. Lux pushed his glasses up into his hair to rub at his eyes before answering. He had been up for more than 24 hours at this point and any patience he would have had was long gone, along with any remaining caffeine in his home. He took a moment to compose himself; it would be wholly unfair to snap at Kerin for something outside of his control.

"Yes, Key?"

"Nicknames today. Someone's in a good mood?" Kerin's attention became divided as he covered the receiver and spoke to a barista in order to place Lux's usual coffee order. He added a half dozen bagels with raspberry cream cheese as well.

"I am, now that I can hear you're bringing food," Lux yawned. He leaned back in his chair, cracking his back as he did, and sighed loudly. "You don't make house calls this early in the morning. And you rarely bring me coffee and bagels just because. What's wrong?"

The eye roll and mild panic was apparent in Kerin's voice. "Can't I bring my favorite client something to eat? I know how hard he's been—thank you, you too! —working lately." Muted sounds of tinkling bells followed by the noise of morning traffic nearly drowned out Kerin's speech. "I'm on my way to your home. I stopped at your favorite bakery, so I'll be there in five."

Lux sat up straight, shaking his head as he vehemently expressed his displeasure. "I don't want company, Kerin. Just tell me about your news over the phone."

"Can't," he stated, slightly out of breath. "You'll hang up on me."

Lux dropped his head to his desk as he mumbled, "And coming to see me face to face is the safer alternative?"

"Maybe not the safest," Kerin laughed, "But it's definitely the best way to share information because you can't ignore me."

"I don't have to let you in."

"Good thing you gave me a key," Kerin yelled from the foyer.

Lux had forgotten that he gave Kerin a key a few years ago. He had one isolated incident where he needed to have his publicist retrieve his manuscript and since then Kerin had refused to return the key.

Kerin placed the coffee and bagels on the desk next to Lux. "An offering."

"I'm not a kind or merciful god, Key." Lux glared over at the man but accepted the offering of caffeine and carbs. "Spit it out."

"The company is giving you a new editor."

"No, thank you," Lux replied politely between sips of his chai latte.

"It's not a request."

"I know that, but my answer is still no." He held out the box of bagels to Kerin and gestured to the couch in his study. When he sat and began to nibble on the bread, Lux explained, "I work better on my own."

"I would agree with you," Kerin muttered around a mouthful, "but you've missed several important deadlines. I was blind copied on the last email the company sent to you. Yesterday was the end of the work week. Did you turn in your manuscript?"

He had not. He still had an entire last chapter to write and all of the edits and corrections to make. "No, but—"

Kerin held up his hand and shook his head. "There are no more "but's", Lux. You're the company favorite because you make an insane amount of money, we get requests all the time for you to go on talk shows, and there have been several brands that have reached out wanting you to endorse their products, however, however," he stressed, "you can't keep missing deadlines. It's unprofessional." Kerin waited, his shoulders visibly tense as he prepared for Lux's usual bite and snarky tone.

"Ugh," Lux pinched the bridge of his nose and replaced his glasses where they belonged. "Can you ask them to give me more time?"

"You wouldn't need more time if you had an editor."

"So, that's a no?"

Kerin popped the last bit of his bagel into his mouth and in between chews replied, "That's a hell no." He wiped his hands on the paper napkin and stood, tossing it into the bin. "You'll be receiving an email from your new editor shortly. Please, we've been friends since we were in college. Don't be the reason I lose my job. I enjoy eating and having a roof over my head."

Lux scowled and rolled his eyes, but huffed out a clipped, "Fine. Fine."

Kerin gulped down the last of his energy drink with a smile and placed the can in the recycling. "Thank you. I think you two will be a good fit." He turned to walk out of the study, yelling over his shoulder, "Let me know how it goes!" The door closed behind him, plunging Lux into momentary silence.

His computer and phone sounded with a loud chime that alerted him to an email.

Sender: Williams.Rhys

Recepient: [email protected]

Subject: Introduction

Good morning Mr. Broussard.

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take the time to (in)formally introduce myself. My name is Rhysend Williams, but please call me Rhys! I'll be your new editor! I'm a huge fan of your work and have been since your collection of short stories, "Requiem for Love"! I'm looking forward to getting to know the man behind the brilliance!

I was informed face to face meetings are more effective, so please respond with days and time that would work best for you!

Looking forward to meeting you soon,

Rhys

Lux stared at the email, counting four unnecessary exclamation marks and immediately dialed Kerin. "Who uses five exclamation marks in an email, Kerin?"

"Back to full names," Kerin sighed. "I take it Rhys reached out to you?"

"Five exclamation marks?! Five?! In one email?" Lux repeated.

"Why are you so difficult?"

"Because a life without difficulty isn't worth living."

"Don't quote your characters to me. You're doing this. I don't care if Rhys emailed you nothing but exclamation marks, he's your editor or I'm no longer your publicist."

Lux gasped lightly. Kerin had never threatened to quit before, and he really couldn't lose his publicist and friend. He swore loudly before agreeing, "Fine! But tell him—"

"Nope, you tell him yourself. Bye!" Kerin disconnected the call, leaving Lux to stare at his phone with his eyebrows drawn together and the corners of his mouth turned down.

Lux groaned loudly, throwing his head back and flailing his limbs a bit before he composed a well thought out response.

Sender: [email protected]

Recepient: [email protected]

Re: Introduction

If you'd like to speak, call me.

xxx-xxxx

I'm already highly doubtful of your skills due to your excessive use of exclamation marks.

Attached you'll find chapters 15-30.

You have a week to wow me.

Lux