Ransom Drysdale - State of Grace ✔️

Chapter 5

Grace peeked into Ransom's office, seeing him at his desk with his head in his hands, looking at some paperwork late on Friday afternoon, "Ransom? Are you okay?" She came in, holding the manuscript as she shut the door behind her.

He groaned, looking up at her. He leaned back in his seat, "I can't do this Gracey. I have no idea what I'm doing."

She set the manuscript in a chair as she approached him, "yes you can." She could see he was all frazzled, his shirt unbuttoned and tie loose with his sleeves rolled up. She leaned on his desk next to him, "come here."

He sighed, standing up to wrap her in a hug as she rested her head against his chest, "I don't deserve a friend like you."

She laughed, "I know."

Ransom laughed, sitting back at the desk, "I can't do this. You were always the smart one. My parents paid my way through school, college included."

She shook her head, "that's only because you were too worried about having sex and partying. Not because you aren't smart, because you are Ransom." She sighed, sitting in the chair across from him, "come on, you're almost 30. What is it you want to be doing with your life. And don't say anything that includes, women, drugs, or alcohol."

He rolled his eyes, "I don't know. I never had to think about it."

"I know. When we were kids, you wanted to be a writer like Harlan."

He groaned, "yeah well. That isn't going to happen."

She shrugged, "why not?"

"Because I'm no good at it! I'm no good at anything Gracey! And besides, it's far too late now anyways."

She stood up, picking up the manuscript. "That isn't true at all." She plopped the manuscript in front of him, putting her hand up before he could say anything, "don't be mad. But I took it from your apartment."

"You had no right to do that!" He stood up, "it's a complete invasion of privacy!"

She rolled her eyes, "sit down." She could see he was angry, but she pushed him lightly in the chest, "sit!" He sighed, sitting back down. "How long ago did you write this?"

"Did you read it?"

Grace nodded, "of course I did." She sat on his desk, picking up the manuscript, "how long ago?"

He shrugged, watching her flip through it, "I don't know. A year or so. What did you think?"

"Why don't you write more Ransom? Do you have more manuscripts?"

He nodded, "I do. What did you think?!"

She chuckled, setting it back in front of him. "I think it's great. It has a feel of Harlan's writing mixed with your own style. I love it."

He smiled, flipping through it, seeing all the red marks as his smile faded, "it's full of red!"

She shook her head, placing her hand on his, "don't let that worry you. I told you, it's really great. All books need editing, don't take it personal. I want you to rewrite it and I want to publish it."

"Really?!"

Grace nodded, laughing, "yes. Really. Harlan believed in you, and so do I." She motioned to all the paperwork he was looking at when she came in. "I can hire someone to do all of this if you write."

He hesitated, "I don't know Grace."

She leaned towards him, "you don't believe in yourself, but I do. And so did Harlan. He wanted you to write and me to help you."

"How do you know that?"

She stood up, opening the bottom drawer of Harlan's desk, handing Ransom an envelope.

Grace -
I had Alan hold onto this to give it to you separately from everyone else. I know you might feel overwhelmed being asked to step up and help to run the publishing company with Ransom. But you were practically running it these last few years anyways. I need your help to help Ransom find his purpose. He's wandered around for too long with no direction. You and I both know what he should be doing; writing. I need you to help push him towards that.
He needs you as much as you need him.
- HT

"How long have you had this?" He handed the letter back to her.

She shrugged, "since Monday. When you were late."

"I don't know."

She sighed, "I do! Completely objectively, this is what I do Ransom. If this fell into my pile randomly, I would want to publish it."

He stood up, smiling, "you mean that?"

She laughed, "oh my god, yes!" She heard him chuckle before pulling her to him, "Ransom.."

He smiled, "we can do this all together. Everything." He pulled off her glasses, seeing her watching him, not pulling away. He brought his hand to the nape of her neck, hovering his lips over hers.

"Ransom, you're killing me."

He smirked, "because you want me to kiss you?" He chuckled as she only nodded, "do you want me to stop?"

She was glad she didn't have to answer as there was a knock on the door. She pulled away, putting her glasses on before going to answer it to see Tyler, "hey! What are you doing here?"

He kissed her on the cheek, "I went to your office first and someone said they saw you come in here. I got home early, was wondering if I could take you to dinner?"

She nodded, kissing him quickly, "I'd love that." She turned to face Ransom, who was watching them. He came out from behind his desk, leaning against it as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Tyler stepped towards him, holding out his hand, "I'm Tyler. It's nice to officially meet you."

Ransom didn't move, only nodded, "yeah. You too."

Grace rolled her eyes, stepping between them. "Give me two minutes? Go to my office."

Tyler hesitated, looking from her to Ransom, "okay."

After he left, Grace turned to Ransom, "don't have to be such an ass."

He shrugged, "he doesn't deserve you."

She laughed, "as if you do? And you don't even know him." She picked up the manuscript, handing it to him, "I want the first few chapters rewritten and brought to me by Monday."

He smirked, "are you my boss now?"

"I'm your editor, so yes. Yes I am. I'll see you on Monday. Do you need me to pick you up from your house?"

He sighed, "no. I'll be here at 9."

She nodded, "good boy." She winked at him as she heard him chuckle before she left the office.