The Quiet Hours

Chapter One: The Rejection

The email arrived at 2:17 a.m.

Lila Moreno was still awake, which meant she was either writing or worrying. Lately, there wasn't much difference.

She opened the email from the publisher she'd been waiting on for three months.

Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately...

She stopped reading.

She closed the laptop and stared at the overdue rent notice on the floor.

Five rejections.

Four years spent writing The Quiet Hours.

Maybe this was the point where she finally admitted it wasn't going to happen.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown: Is this Lila Moreno, author of "The Quiet Hours"?

She sat up.

Nobody outside the publishers should know that title.

Lila: Who is this?

Unknown: Someone who read it. All of it.

Another message followed.

Unknown: Tomorrow. 10 a.m. Langford Foundation. 48th floor. Ask for Elias Langford.

Lila stared at the name.

Elias Langford.

Billionaire. Philanthropist. The famously private man behind countless libraries and literacy programs.

This had to be a scam.

She looked at the rent notice again.

Then typed:

Lila: Why?

Unknown: Come tomorrow and I'll explain.

She should have deleted the message.

Instead, she wrote:

Lila: Fine.

---

The next morning, Lila stood in the lobby of Langford Tower wearing her only decent coat and wondering if leaving would be less embarrassing than being thrown out.

It wasn't.

Forty-eight floors later, she entered Elias Langford's office.

He stood behind a black stone desk, tall and composed, dark hair slightly untidy, gray eyes fixed on her.

"Miss Moreno."

"Mr. Langford."

He gestured to the chair.

"I read your manuscript."

Lila sat.

"Twice."

Her fingers tightened around her bag.

"Why?"

"I couldn't stop thinking about it."

She didn't know what to say to that.

"It's unfinished," he continued.

"I know."

"I'd like to offer you a six-month residency. A private cottage on my estate. Living expenses covered. Time to finish your book."

Lila stared at him.

"What's the catch?"

"You'd have to live on the estate."

"With you?"

"In a separate cottage."

She looked toward the windows.

Six months without bills. Without shifts. Without wondering whether she could afford groceries.

"What happens if I can't finish?"

"Then you can't."

"And if I do?"

"I'll make sure it reaches the right publisher."

Lila looked at him.

"Why me?"

Elias was quiet.

"Because I read your book."

That simple answer hurt more than any rejection.

She looked down before he could see her eyes filling.

"When would I leave?"

"Tonight."

She laughed softly.

"You really don't waste time."

"No."

She picked up her bag.

"Okay."

He looked at her.

"Okay?"

"I'll do it."

For the first time, something shifted in his expression.

Lila wasn't sure what it was.

She only knew that, after four years of hearing no, one quiet yes had just changed everything.