Stede Bonnet walks out of the escalator with his head held high. This is it. It’s the one. It has to be. As he walks up to the receptionist, he takes note of the sign behind her, displaying the name Grimm and Grimm Literary Agency.
“Hello. I’m Stede Bonnett. For Wilhelm.”
After the receptionist nods, Stede takes an empty seat, pulls put his sleek laptop, and pulls it open, and starts writing.
No use crying over spilt milk. Go on a treasure hunt! The great unknown awaits!
This is Stede Bonnet’s final entry. My most heartfelt thanks to everyone who stood by me all this time, and please stick around for my next adventure.
It’s not what you’ve come to expect from the Gentleman Pirate, but I hope you’ll give it a go.
Until then, farewell.
With that, he closes his laptop and puts it away once more.
“Stede?” a new voice calls out as they come put to the receptionist area.
Upon recognizing the voice, Stede breaks out into a smile and approaches, calling out, “Wilhelm!”
“Oh my word! So thrilled to finally have you back where you belong! It’s been forever since we saw you last.”
Stede laughs, “I don’t think I’ve even set foot in Barbados in almost 2 years.”
Wilhelm’s mouth drops open, “Has it really? Well where are you currently staying then?”
Stede sighs, “Most likely with old friends, if they haven’t gone on to do something better.”
Wilhelm laughs, “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t stand not having a home to come back to.”
Stede has a surprise, “Well, now that you mention it, it seems the wind is blowing me in another direction.”
’Truly? I thought you’d be exhausted. Perhaps some tea?“ Wilhelm snaps at the receptionist. “Grab him the most caffeinated tea available. And quick!”, snapping his fingers at her for emphasis.
Stede chooses to not comment on this, instead following th older man into his office.
“So am I correct in that your blog is officially over?“
Stede nods, “It is. I can hardly believe it myself.”
“That is a marvel. Congratulations.”
Stede points out, “Thank you, but I’m looking forward to working on my next project: my novel. Any word on that yet?”
But at the look on Wilhelm’s face when Stede mentions it, he knows something is wrong, “Oh dear. What’s happened? What’s wrong? Did they say no? They did, didn’t they?”
Stede starts spiraling, “Dammit, I knew going for a big publisher was going to backfire! What was I thinking, putting all my eggs in one basket for my first novel?”
“Stede! Would you calm down for just a moment?” Wilhelm interjects, then says, “You’re all set to be published this coming winter!”
At this, Stede freezes, stammering out a, “W-what? I am? Am I?”
Wilhelm nods, “Indeed you are.”, then slides an envelope over. “With an advance, no less.”
Curious, Stede picks it up, and upon pulling the check out and seeing the amount, it’s his mouth’s turn to drop open.
“Holy—” He just barely cuts himself off, before he remembers. “But then why did you hesitate?”
Wilhelm shrugs, “It might have just a little bitty catch to it.”
YOU ARE READING
A Pirate and a Gentleman
RomanceStede Bonnet, a successful novelist, buys his dream home on a beautiful beachfront. However, Edward Teach, a project manager, is in charge of building a hydroelectric dam on the beach, so Stede has 30 days to change his mind.
