“Twenty-eight thousand dollars in two years? Are you kidding me? I would have thought you made way more than that. I know you said you weren’t on the bestseller list, but you were for historical fiction for your second book for almost a month last year. That’s how I found your book. How have you made so little?”

“I only earn about three dollars from every book I sell. Actually, earning three dollars from each book is really good. Most writers only make about two dollars from every book. With my publisher being smaller there is less overhead to pass on bigger royalties to me. Then there’s the work that goes into writing them. With me working during the day and only able to write at night and on the weekends, it can take about three to four months to finish a book. So right now, I need to work.”

“I had no idea I guess I just always thought writers made a lot of money and it was really easy to write a book.”

“You aren’t the only reader I’ve heard that from. Only it’s not that simple.”

“Did you tell Leo about writing?”

“Yeah, I was sure it would come up in any report he had done of me.”

She nods, “It was on the second page. I made a few adjustments just to add information on Felix and when you got married that kind of thing.”

“How did you get a hold of the report before Leo?”

“This isn’t the first time Leo has run a background check through the security company instead of the one we use in HR. I told them that Leo ordered it for me, to deliver it to my office instead of his. I’ll go in early today and put it on the secretary’s desk. He’ll think she forgot to give it to him before she left yesterday. This is really simple Alexa, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

“You’re not the one who has to work with him every day knowing you’re lying to him.”

“Maybe I don’t work with him every day, but I do have to work with him. If he ever found out about this, he’ll fire me then roast the shit out of my reputation. I’ll be lucky if I can find a job flipping burgers.” Our eyes meet, we both know we are taking a chance on what we’re doing. “I better go. Leo doesn’t usually get in until seven, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

“Bye.”

Once she’s gone I go back to eating, only the breakfast I normally love isn’t as appetizing as it usually is.

***

Leo

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