My Family's Bonus Was a $5 Million IOU? Cute I Took the Million-Follower Brand Enjoy the Crash novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Mitch's POV

Mitch's POV

Joan Whiting received me on the day after Christmas in an office with a view of the parking lot.

She had put out a tray of shortbread and a pot of coffee, and she poured for me herself.

"Mr. Callow," she said. "It means a great deal that you came on a holiday."

"It's the day after Christmas."

"A holiday week."

I sat in the chair across from her and did not touch the coffee.

I had flown home to Chicago on Christmas morning, and I had been back in Columbus for four hours.

I had not slept.

Louisa had sent me the voice memo at midnight on Christmas.

I had listened to all of it twice, and the second time I had written down every sentence.

"I'd like to put the unpleasantness behind us," Joan said. "Willa is going through something. She's under tremendous strain, and she has been for a long time."

"I heard her at dinner."

"You heard a recording, taken without consent, of a mother making hard decisions."

"I heard you tell your son to say she doesn't exist."

She folded her hands.

"I'm going to be candid with you, because I think you are a candid man. Willa is a gifted girl, but she is not well. She's been on medication since her father died. She is not fit to sign a contract of this size, or to manage a page of this size."

"She signed it very well."

"I'd like to offer you something better."

She slid a folder across the desk.

Inside was a three-year extension of the license, at a lower rate than the one Willa had signed, with a clause that put every approval in Joan's name.

"I would be the sole contact," she said. "You would never have to deal with Willa again. She'd be looked after, and the family would manage the brand."

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