“A meeting with Claire,” she says. “Yes.” Somewhere in the distance, I hear a pencil snap. “As you are well aware, Will, Pennington thrives on being a stable foundation in the nonfiction and literary fiction sector—” “Given the financial reports of the past twelve months, one might disagree on both the terms stable and foundation here—” Everyone’s eyes bounce back to Ms. Pennington. “We have a loyal following—” “Who are leaving in flocks for competitive publishers—” “And decades of accomplishments lining our walls—” “The dusty clippings from the eighties. Yes. I’ve seen them.”
okayyy, will, i see you
