It was the month of March when the publishing company pressured Skyler for another book. Skyler can't think of any ideas on another excellent book. He just can't write anything he wants because he has a reputation and pride to maintain.
Liane saw it and offered her help to the love of her life.
It may be against his principle, but Skyler has no choice. "Writing books is my life," he said to himself.
After one month of pulling an all-nighter in Skyler's office, Liane and Skyler finally finished the first part of the book series named As Ever.
The book was a hit as soon as the publishing company releases it. It was a boost to the outstanding career of Skyler. However, happy as she is for her boyfriend, Liane wants to be recognized too; after all, she wrote the story's whole plot.
"It's okay," she said to Skyler when he asked her if publishing her ideas into his book without anyone's recognition for her is okay.
After a couple of months of break from writing the first book of the series, the publishing, again, pressure Skyler into producing the second book of the series. And also, Liane gave her best for the second book to be a hit.
It became a hit.
The sales of the second book even surpassed the first one.
And again, Liane received no recognition for her from the people who praised the author's work, ideas, and effort. It was all for Skyler.
The feeling of need for appreciation and want for recognition lingers into Liane's system until the five-book series of As Ever is completed.
Being a hit was an understatement for the book because requests for translation for other languages flooded the publication office after a week of its release. And after a month, the translated version of the book is released. The publishing company chooses Hachette for French, Mondadori for Italian, Penguin Random House for Spanish, and Harper Collins Publishing Company as their foreign publishers for the book.
She is proud of herself, but no one, except for her boyfriend, knows that the book's content was all of her ideas. But she can't tell him what she felt for a long time because he is not always with her. He is busy accepting book signing events, hosting writing events, giving speeches about writing to aspiring writers. If not, he's in another country to visit the foreign publishers and fans of his and "his" book.
One day in Skyler's office, as Skyler is beaming with happiness as he reads the positive comments about the book and his looks, Liane confronts him about the feeling she's been hiding for a long time now.
"Skyler, I want to tell you something," she started as she sat on the rectangular couch next to where Skyler is sitting while holding his phone to his face.
"Yes, what it is, my love?" he responded, but he didn't even throw her a glance. She felt like she was now nothing compared to when Skyler woo her and when she didn't write his book and boost his career.
"What if? How about?" she cannot find the right words to ask. Knowing Skyler's relatively narrow brain, as they've been dating for two years now, he will get angry when he misunderstood what you say.
Finally, he threw her a glance, but it was rather short. He glanced back to his phone and laughed melodiously.
"What if you announce me as one of the writers of the As Ever?" she bravely asked while readying herself for shouting from Skyler.
"What if!?" Skyler started.
"What if I do that?" he stands up, looking angry and frustrated now.
