The NAO Amalgamate Inc. chapter1 part 2

“There are no jokes being made.” A loud, boisterous voice said, coming from the left side of the room.

A tall man wearing a white shirt and black slacks was standing in the doorway to the office that they were all destined to be.

“Come inside, all of you. Margot dear, please make the coffee.” Mr. Haughton

“Right away.” Margot said.

Kat rose and followed the others inside the office.

“Mr. Haughton, do you not feel that she is too young to be part of this group?” Charlie immediately voiced his opinion.

Mr. Haughton sat down at his desk and waited until everyone was seated before answering.

I want you all to meet Feline Dupont. She is the renowned author of the Mary Simus mysteries.

“That is impossible. The author's name is Kat Shams, and she is definitely in her late thirties, if not forties.”

Kat sat back and stared at the Ella woman who declared that she was not who she was.

“Well I am sorry to pop your bubble but she is Kat Shams. This is the time you need to say something on behalf of yourself.”

Kat sat up and looked at everyone, threw her shaded glasses, and spoke.

“I am the author of the Mary Simus mysteries. You are correct. I am young, but I would never consider myself a child. I have been writing since high school, and I was published two years before I graduated. The name Kat Shams is a pen name, and I have adopted the name for people whom I consider friends to call me. My age should not matter, but I am twenty-one.”

The trio was at a loss for words.

“Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?”

“Zoe, that is not important.”

Kat took off her glasses, and what she expected to happen happened.

“You have two different color eyes. Are you wearing contacts?”

“No I was born this way and I do not want to wear contacts to even them out. So I wear sunglasses.”

The three writers sat there staring at her as she stared back at them. No one has intimidated her in ages.

“Alright. Introductions. You know about her now show her the same curtsey.”

Ella was the first one to volunteer her information.

“I’m Zoe Colo. My genre is horror. It really gets my blood going once I have the right intensity. I have several books out right now. One is getting a lot of buzz. The Body is in the Garden.”

“I’m Ella Hurst a world renown romance writer. You can look me up if you want to know all the writing awards I have received in the romance guild.”

Kat look at Charlie waiting for him to say something. Zoe nudged his shoulder signaling him it was his turn.

“Well, I’m Charles Vega. Unlike the others I write the more salacious things in life.” He said with a half-smile that did not reach his eyes.

“Alright enough, have a seat all of you.” They all sat in front of the desk, waiting for Mr. Haughton to tell them why he hired all of them.

“All of you are wonderful writers in your fields but you all lack what the other has.”

“This is ridiculous. We are famous in our own right.”

Mr. Haughton pulled up the times on his lap top computer. The times is where they review all writers works.

“And I quote Ms. Ella Hurst has done it again. Gives us a romance that is reminiscent of her first novel. I fear she has lost her touch, and in doing so, she is losing her audience.

Charles Vega can never and will never write a decent storyline. The intense sexual scenes can not cover up his inadequacies in the literary arena.

Zoe Colo has emerged on the scene as a world-class horror writer. But her latest novel has yet to scare a flee off a donkey’s rare end.”

The trio sat in silence and embarrassment.

“That can not be all. What about the new kid here?”

“No, I have not forgotten her. Kat Shams---”

“Kat Shams have captured the hearts of the young but there is a fundamental lack of substance in her work. Only time will tell if she is meant to be one of the greats.” Kat said with out missing a word from the critique.

They all looked at her as if she was an alien.

“Does it not bother you? The critique. Why would you memorize it.” Zoe asked with curiosity.

“Why shouldn’t it bother me? I am human after all. Mr. Haughton why did you bring us together?”
Kat was getting tired of being in that room with them.

“Right. I have hired you all to write a book. A book that will show all your talents. A book like no other.”

“There have been many collaborations over the years with writers. They are mediocre at best.” Ella said.

“Yes, but they collaborated in the same genre. You four are coming from different genres. Different styles that I hope will merge into a symphony of words that would make anyone who reads it stop in their tracks in awe.”

The four writers sat in their chairs as quiet and still. Mr. Haughton thought they had all gone into a communal shock.

“What would we write on. It would not be easy to come to an agreement on a story and plot it out.” Charles said as hand was resting his chin.

“The Marley Manor.”

“The what?” Zoe asked

“I cannot believe you have not heard of The Marley Manor,” Ella said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Do not worry about that. All will be revealed to you all.” Mr Haughton called his secretary on the phone.  “Margot please bring in those envelopes and when will that coffee be ready?” He hung up the phone and Margot came in with envelope in her right hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

“I will bring the coffee in a second for the rest of you.”

“No rush Margot. I’ll wait.” Charles said in a smooth tone. Margo's face flushed a light shade of pink as she walked out of the office.

“Stop flirting with her, Charles. Grow up, will you.” Ella scolded him.

“I have four plane tickets for you all to go to the Marley estate. There, you will be met with Mr. Colton. He will assist you with any information that you will need. Listen, the story of the Marley Manor has horror and love. Mystery and seediness flow in every wealthy family. I want one book that has it all. How it is done is up to you. You all have two months to present a completed manuscript.”

“Two months? That’s impossible.”

“No, it’s not,” Kat said, looking at Zoe's nervous face. Realizing she has never written with a time restraint.

Margot came in with the coffee she promised them all and closed the door behind her. The coffee was pretty good and kind of redeemed her from not having it ready when they arrived.

“So, are you all ready to do your jobs? I know for certain that Charles can not back out since he spent his stipend, I have given him and given you all.”

“You have no hold on me with the stipend I have it in my purse and can give back to you. But I am up for a challenge and I will do the novel.” Kat said and looked at the others.

They agreed to do the novel as well.

“Good get a good night sleep, a car will pick you up at six. Make sure you are packed by morning,” Mr. Haughton said with a smile on his face.

They all stood and walked out of the office.

“I will meet you all in the front of the house in the morning. It makes no sense to move in if we are leaving in the morning.” Kat said as she placed her glasses back on her face.

She walked past them and left. She had to admit she was excited to see what they could produce together.