Chapter 6 - THE FAILED NEGOTIATION
Two weeks before the livestream, Margaret came to Claire’s house.
No phone.
No audience.
She brought a revised contract.
Exclusivity reduced from sixty miles to twenty-five.
Claire read.
Still unacceptable.
Margaret leaned forward.
“You are leaving money on the table.”
“Then it’s my money to leave.”
“This is not about money.”
“No.”
“What is it about?”
Claire closed the folder.
“Control.”
Margaret laughed.
“That word is lazy.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Okay. Then authorship.”
Margaret frowned.
“My customers buy because of Morgan House.”
“Yes.”
“They are buying the curation.”
“Yes.”
“They don’t care who stirred the pot.”
Claire looked at her.
“I do.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“Your pride is costing Lily.”
There.
Children as leverage.
Claire stood.
“We’re done.”
“I’m trying to secure her future.”
“No. You’re trying to make my work invisible enough to fit your story.”
Margaret picked up the contract.
“Then don’t complain when the story moves on without you.”
May you like
Claire did not understand the threat then.
Two weeks later Margaret arrived with a wooden stick and a livestream.
