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I’ll have a talk with her and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Was she calling about her review in The Times ?”
    “No, she was wailing about her review, and yes, please do talk to her.” Kate got up to leave. “What the hell am I going to do with this, Mac?”
    “Do with what, Katie? A bad review? This isn’t your fault, you know.”
    Kate sighed, “I know, but I’m a publicist. People expect me to just magically make everything all right.”
    “I think you used all of your magic up on Haley, Kate. You did a great job rescuing that, by the way.”
    Kate was so sick of talking about Haley should could scream, but she knew Mac meant well. “Thanks, Mac,” she said quietly and started to get up to leave.
    “Katie, wait. I have something else I’d like to talk to you about.”
    “Sure, what is it?”
    “Not here. Over dinner,” Mac let the word dinner hang in the air, almost intentionally.
    Kate frowned, “What’s going on, Mac?”
    “Nothing but a big project for you, and I think you’ll want to hear about it over dinner.” He smiled.
    “A big project? How big?”
    “Big.”
    “Okay, does seven work for you for dinner?”
    “I’ll make reservations.”
    “Reservations? What’s this about? Can’t we just grab a sandwich somewhere?”
    “No, Katie, this is big. You’ll want to celebrate this.”
    Kate smiled and left Mac’s office, wondering what he was up to.

Chapter Nine

    In every publisher’s career, there is always at least one book that becomes a publishing legend. Morris & Dean was fortunate to have several such titles, but most recently it had been a book called The Promise . Written by a Texas housewife, The Promise was a runaway bestseller. Spending no less than fifty-four weeks in the top five of The New York Times bestseller list, The Promise was the topic of several Oprah shows as well as being featured by Larry King, Donny Deutsch, and Ellen DeGeneres. The book’s premise was based on the age-old law of attraction theory but packaged with numerous industry experts, each of whom brought their own flavor to the material. There was an interview-type movie, a workbook, several DVDs, and the authors had each done their own spin-offs of the various theories cited in the book. Everyone, including MD, made millions. No one quite understood how a Texas housewife with no formal education could have pulled this off, but the joke at cocktail parties was that apparently the law of attraction works, even in Texas.
    …
    Patroon was a quiet establishment just off of Lexington on Forty-Sixth Street. Mac loved it there for its intimate setting. It was his favorite spot to bring new authors. They were so impressed by the setting, it was often all Mac needed to do to seal a publishing deal. From time to time, Mac even brought a female guest there or two—none of them authors, and none of them interested in anything but MacDermott Ellis.
    He was early tonight, anxious to see Kate and tell her the news. Or so he convinced himself. But truth be told, he was eager to see her out of the office and relaxed.
    While Mac was sidling up with a drink, Kate was still fumbling in her closet for something to wear when her phone rang.
    “Hello?”
    “Katie, it’s Grace. Whatcha doing? I have a new painting to show you. Why don’t you come over?”
    “Can’t, my talented friend. I’m meeting someone for dinner.”
    This spiked Grace’s interest. “Ooooh, a date?”
    “No, Grace, just dinner with Mac.”
    “Mac? Why?”
    “He’s got something he wants to discuss with me.” Kate plucked a black sheath dress from her closet and inspected it for a minute before tossing it on the bed with three other dresses she was considering.
    “ Discuss something ? I bet he does. Honey, this is Mac we’re talking about.”
    “Grace, please. It’s business.”
    “Then why couldn’t he discuss it during office hours?”
    Kate sighed. It was a good question; one even she didn’t know the answer to. “I