He sat up from his bed, wondering if last night was a dream or reality. However, when he felt his swollen lips, he knew it had been real.

When Melissa walking in with a cup of water and a garbage bin, Eric, with widened eyes in horror, breathed, "Draven kissed me."

She almost dropped her cup of water, but she stood there a moment, blinking. Then she hurried to his side, hissing, "Justin—"

"I know," Eric gripped the sides of his hair, "I don't know what I was thinking."

"You need to tell him."

"It'll crush him, Melissa."

"Drink the water," Melissa forced, pushing the cup in his direction even though he was at all thirsty. However, the sudden realization of what happened caused him to down the drink, and she placed the garbage bin beside the bed.

Then, she gulped and said, "Last night when he dropped you off, he said he would come in the morning."

Eric inhaled sharply, his breath shortened in his throat as he said, "You're telling me this now?!"

There were knocks on the door. Melissa jumped to her feet, startled, and was moments from heading for the front door when Eric said, "Tell him I'm sick."

Melissa tried.

Draven stood with his hands shoved in his front pockets, eyeing Melissa as she said, "Eric is sick."

He merely began laughing, and stepped inside the apartment, "Yea, whatever." Eric heard the footsteps approach the door, Melissa's protests as well, but it was too late. He barge within the bedroom, and met Eric's gaze, noticing that he was as healthy as ever.

Eric looked around, then faked a small cough.

"That's not going to work with me," Draven said as he approached him, pulling his blanket off, "let's go."

He reached his dresser and searched for a sweater and sweatpants. When he didn't find anything that looked as appealing, he stared down at his own sweater and ripped it off, throwing it in Eric's face.

The strong scent of cologne engulfed Eric, and his hormones began racing.

Draven made a face, but threw on one of Eric's sweaters, "It looks better on me, you'll just look like a hobo so wear mine."

Eric obeyed, and placed the sweatpants as well. When he had done what was asked, Melissa eyeing them suspiciously, Draven nodded his head, "Ready?"

"Where are we—"

"You'll see."

He grabbed Eric by the end of his sleeve and hurriedly pulled him towards the exit, again grumbling under his breath as he descended the steep stairs of the appartement. They entered his vehicle, typical Draven being indulged in his phone as Eric eyed the roads, attempting to figure out where they were going.

As Draven descended at the famous publishing house in The entire country, it took a few minutes before Eric had enough courage to do so as well. They had parked in the back, and Draven comeptlely ignored Eric as he followed him inside, taking the hood off his head for the security guards to allow him in.

They attempted to stop Eric, until Draven said, "He's with me."

He then continued down the corridor, and when Eric read the signs saying "Changing Room" and Draven stopped in front of it, he was a bit confused. Even more weird was the fact that his secretary exited the changing room and greeted both of them, majority to Draven and sending narrowed eyes to Eric as well as a nod.

Draven nodded towards Eric and said, "Bring him to the room."

When Eric appeared a bit frightened, Draven said, "Trust me, alright? And keep your hood on your head at all times."

Eric marched away with the secretary as Draven entered the changing room. He followed behind the swaying of the hips and the clacking room, until she opened a door and they entered an gigantic hall, with seats as if it was a concert. It was completely empty, and the secretary said sternly, "Sit here," she pointed to the ones in the back.

Eric nervously obeyed, and without saying anything else, the secretary editing, leaving him in an echoing hall by himself.

Soon enough, people started wandering in. However, it was not random people, it was big time reporters with cameras ready to flash pictures. Journalists with notepads ready to take notes, amongst them being Henry Coopers, one of the most well known reporters amongst their time. Even other authors such as Cassidy Wilfred, author of My Hero's Wrongful Conviction, a book that had been translated in over fifty languages, Frederic Commers, author of Children's Bad Luck, reaching New York Best Sellers and piblished by Penguins Random House, and many more found a seat within the hall.

After an hour, the entire room was packed, chattering as people continued to fill in, standing in the back since their seats were not found. Even Eric was purposely bumped by a woman that was wearing elegant clothes as she hissed under her breath, "A hobo amongst the crowd, such nuisance."

Eric was growing impatient, and the moment he was about to leave, was when the crowd began to roar in cheers, and cameras began flashing. He heard a loud voice in the stereo of the hall, and soon enough realized it was Draven.

When he faced the stage, Draven was standing, waving at the crowd with such a smile that it was evident he loved his job. It was a press conference for his new release of Cold Shoulder; only the synopsis has attracted that many people.

He was truly an astonishment.

"Welcome! I see many faces I recognized, thank you for coming."

He began chatting about his book, evidently not revealing any spoilers, but spoke long about what inspired him, and other projects to come further along. However, when someone asked him if he had help during this project, Draven's eyes widened as he said, "Yes, I wanted to mention him for a while now."

The crowd fell into a deep silence.

Draven smiled, "His name is Eric Valence. He helped me insanely much on this project, that his name will be listed as co-author."

The entire crowd were in shock.

Draven had never released a book with a co-author. With editors yes, but a co-author? That was outrageous.

Suddenly, the crowd began to roar, some in panic, others is disappointment, other in mere adoration.

"He's an amazing writer, and I am thankful to have him on board with my team. He also helped with the Cursed Child, obviously everyone knows about that book. I strongly believe that he will make it big amongst our writing community some day."

The next question was, "Does Eric happen to be your lover?"

"No," he smiled, "not yet at least."

The crowd went into another uproar, and the next question was, "Malcom, are you homosexual?"

"I thought I was here to chat about my book, and now we're talking about my sexuality? Security!" he pointed to that reporter, and he was expelled from the hall.

After the press conference, the secretary returned and brought Eric to Draven's changing room, knocking a few times before Draven opened it.

He stood by the door for a moment, examining Eric's features before allowing him in, and winking at his secretary as a thank you. When the door closed, he returned to his seat, Eric standing nervously in the middle of the room as Draven focused on the messages he was receiving on his cellphone.

It was only after a few minutes that Eric perked the courage to speak, and only said, "Co-author?"

Draven immediately stopped typing, and raised his eyes to met Eric's gaze for a moment; he did not seem as content as he thought he would be. "Yes," Draven said seriously, "I'm giving you that position in my office."

Eric scratched the side of his face, "But that's not even true—"

"It can become true. You're editing lead me to change the plot entirely, with the ideas you gave me, Eric," he stood from his seat, "It's not that big of a deal."

"I can't go back to working at your office, everyone is going to hate me."

"But I wouldn't," Draven lowered his eye level as he bent down to Eric's, "isn't that what matters? What you wanted?"

Eric shook his head, "I didn't want to become a liar; you lied to the entire public. I'm not your co-author yet, I haven't written anything."

"Then help me write it," he breathed quietly, realizing how much the passion Eric had for writing, was the thing holding him back with agreeing with this.

Soon enough, Eric slowly nodded his head, but then asked, "Why?"

Draven raised an eyebrow, "Isn't it obvious why?"