“I read the first,” Nem said, “but not his second. I saw a review saying it was disappointing.”

“You shouldn’t listen to the critics. Those who can’t do, criticize.”

“You’re right. I hope if I’m ever published they’ll give me a chance,” she replied, thinking Mr. Barnes sounded perfect for her.

He didn’t write in her genre, but she wanted to discover if she possessed a natural writing ability. Diane assured her, after reading her manuscript, that the story was “good but just needed polishing.” How, though, could she decipher if her boss’ words were empty kindness or if this was a genuine compliment? She needed another opinion.

“I’m staying for his talk then,” Nem said. “I might learn something.”

As she busied herself preparing the store for Barnes’ visit, Nem found her mind drifting, wondering about him. Whether she’d like him instantly or his personality would grow on her. She was uncertain what role fate required her to play in the serendipity of their meeting. All she knew was that he was being sent here for her and she should be ready.

On her lunch break, she picked up Hidden in the Shadows from the front table where she’d just made a display of his books. She turned the novel over and scanned the synopsis. The story didn’t sound interesting at all, and it occurred to her this might be the reason for the negative reviews. Wrong subject maybe?

She decided to read a few pages before he arrived, so she could at least open a conversation with him around his latest work, flatter him a little. Couldn’t hurt.

She flipped it over again to stare at the cover. A big gold emblem sat on the right-hand corner.

New York Times Bestseller

How amazing! Her pen name Orelia Mason with that same moniker planted on her book. Maybe she’d even take her pseudonym out tonight when she met him. Play the role, so to speak.

“Hello, my name is Orelia Mason,” she said under her breath to his book. “Pleased to meet you.”

The click-click-click of the cogs turning as the evening drew closer sounded in her head. They whirred and busied themselves aligning happenstance and all the sliding doors between her and William Barnes.

She had no doubt that New York Times Bestseller would appear on her book one day too. With her mentor on the way, the hours flew. Destiny was coming for her and she was ready.

As she settled herself in the lunch room and opened the cover of Barnes’ novel, a rush of excitement traveled through her. Tonight she’d meet the man who would change everything. Someone to teach her, be a friend and support. The last ingredient to set her sailing forward with the momentum to really make something of this book. He would be the stepping stone to the next stage of her life.

Her finger gently followed across the first line of the page as she began to read. “This is going to be amazing,” she said, smiling to herself, as she saw her and the author shaking hands as they met. Deep in her head, she heard the faintest of whirring, the little jagged-tooth wheels spinning and vibrating as they worked on her luck. William Barnes, she thought, as she began to read, I know we will become good friends. Very good friends.