“Of course I would. As far as I’m concerned,youare my agent. You sought me out when I was in a low place after being dropped by that awful woman.” He shudders. I only know part of the story of what happened back then, but I know he went through a tough time. “I owe you a lot.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” I feel a lot better. Maybe it would actually be workable. It’s something I’ve thought a lot more about since my meeting with Cordelia and Aiden at the beginning of the week. They quizzed me about Chase, but Ididn’t give anything away, avoiding their questions as much as possible, omitting the truth rather than telling outright lies. I know they weren’t pleased with me, getting more derisory with every comment, but I shrugged it off the best I could knowing I’d be out for the rest of the week. Chase’s words about their loyalty come to mind yet again.
“But . . .” he starts, and I snap my attention back to him. “I’ve known of a few agencies who won’t let agents take their clients with them if they leave.”
His words are like icy water down my spine. I hadn’t even considered that possibility. I can’t answer him, though, as the car pulls up at the station and we have exactly six minutes to find the train and board it. It’s a mad scramble to get our bags and run across the station, and we make it onto the train just as the doors close and the whistle blows. We stow our bags and find our seats as I’ve reserved us a place in first class. As soon as we’re settled I open my laptop and pull up my own contract with ANC, intending to spend the rest of the journey looking over it. I’m used to clients’ contracts, not my own employment one, and the words start dancing on the screen in front of me. I can feel a headache coming on, not to mention my anxiety ramping up, now I know there could be a chance I can’t leave, or that if I do, I might have nothing to show for the last few years. I start to feel twitchy and Chase’s idea is seeming even more impossible.
In the end I give up and call on the one person who might be able to make some sense of it. My dad is a lawyer and he should be able to help me unravel my contract. I email it to him with a message of what I want to know, asking if he could look it over before I come to dinner tomorrow. I know he’ll have questions about what I’ve asked, so I’ll figure out something to tell him by then.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Noah
“What did you find out?”I ask my dad as soon as I can after I’m through the door on Friday evening. I’ve hugged my mom and given her the flowers I’ve brought her. We have a few minutes before Rafe and his parents arrive, and I don’t want to wait until after they’re gone.
“Come on through.” I follow him to his study and he seats himself behind his desk. I walk around and stand beside him. He has the contract up on the screen.
“It’s a long contract. It mentions lots of penalties and what they consider breaches of contract.” He pauses and I suck in a breath, waiting for him to continue.
“It also says if you leave, then you can’t automatically take your clients with you.”
“Damm.” I let out the breath loudly and my shoulders slump. That’s it. I have to start all over again and I can’t do that. I don’t want to. I love my clients and have a lot of pride inwhat they’ve achieved. My dad swivels his chair round to face me.
“Why did you want to know?”
All the vague answers I’d thought up get stuck in my throat. I swallow and decide to tell him the truth.
“I’ve met someone, initially because he was interested in writing a book. No, that’s not true, he was approached by the big five who are all desperate for his autobiography.” My dad’s eyebrows rise as he figures out it must be someone important for the publishers to notice.
“It’s more than that, we’ve become close. But ANC have a policy about not being involved with clients so I haven’t let it go any further.”
“And you’d like to?”
“Yeah, Dad. He’s fun, smart, good looking, we have the same interests, and he makes me feel really special. I thought I could start up on my own so I could be his agent as well. He’s even offered to invest in me having my own agency.”
“He sounds like a real knight in shining armour,” he says and I choke back a laugh at how true that is. I gulp in air the wrong way and it starts a fit of coughing. He stands and rubs my back, just like he used to when I was a child.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say when I’ve recovered enough to be able to speak. “But it’s no good. I’ve spent a lot of time and effort building up my clients. I can’t let them down, it’s not fair on them.” I feel deflated, not realising how much I’d got my hopes up since yesterday.
“There could be another way,” he says and I look sharply at him.
“You’ve found a loophole?” I try to keep my voice even.
“Potentially, yes, but I’d need to see one of the contracts you have with your clients.”
“That’s easy, I have a blank template I can email you straight over.” I whip out my phone and send it across in seconds. Dad sits back down just as the door opens and Mum pokes her head in.
“Henry,” she admonishes. “Our guests are here.”
“We won’t be a minute. Actually, even better, show Reggie in.” He glances at me for my permission. I appreciate it but I know Rafe’s dad is just as good a lawyer as mine, and Rafe already knows half the story as well. My mum lets out a sigh, but a minute later Rafe and his dad are entering while mum draws Rafe’s mum away.
I hear her say, “C’mon, Mary. If I know Henry, he’ll be a while yet. Let’s open a bottle of wine.” I close the door and turn to see Rafe smiling. He’d heard it too. I look across at where our dads are both staring at my dad’s computer screen and talking in low voices.
“Is this to do with the contract?” Rafe asks and I nod my head.
“I had my dad look at mine, and it says I can’t transfer my clients over if I leave.”
“I’m sorry,” he says sincerely. “But are you really thinking of leaving the agency? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”