"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but your conditions are indeed a bit surprising and beyond the scope of my decision, I need to ask for the opinion of the headquarters, I'm really sorry. ”

"Understandable, feel free to-"

For the request of the person in charge of Random House Publishing House, Arthur naturally will not block it, indeed, according to the general practice, no author will hide his true identity, you know, now some writers can squeeze their heads in order to become famous, Arthur's strange request is really rare.

However, since the other party wants to ask the headquarters, then Arthur also wants the other party to ask for another objection by the way, so he continued with a light smile: "By the way, there is also the amount of this advance remuneration, one million dollars, for the data and popularity corresponding to the novel "Gray's Fifty Shadows", in my opinion, this amount completely underestimates the influence and sales it may create!"

"No, no, Your Excellency Earl Arthur, a million dollars is definitely a very generous amount of advance payment, and it also represents the sincerity of our publishing house, which is definitely a best-selling writer in the American publishing industry. ”

Regarding Arthur's objection, the person in charge of Langdon Publishing House shook his head directly and said, in his opinion, the young earl sitting opposite is really a little greedy, and the advance payment of one million US dollars is definitely the greatest sincerity given by his publishing house to successfully win the publishing rights of the novel.

Arthur didn't argue with it, but shook his head with a smile, and said lightly: "Then I'm really sorry, this amount is a little different from the amount in my heart, it's a pity to let you run in vain."

I'm sure you also know that I also have a publishing house, and I can let my own publishing house publish it, so that my interests will be maximized, but out of recognition of your company's strength and global sales channels, I agreed to negotiate cooperation with your company, to be honest, the novel "Gray's Fifty Shades" is a big hit, according to the current data, it is absolutely phenomenal, I believe that any publishing house knows its potential, and I believe that your company is more aware of the value it may create.

I also believe that Hollywood should also pay attention to it, and perhaps selling it to a film company is the first choice, after all, if the work can be made into a film and television series, the income will immediately multiply. ”

Arthur's words made the faces of the people at Random House change greatly, they never thought that the previous conversation was good, not at all, the young earl opposite directly flipped the table, this speed of turning his face is too fast, how can there be such a talk in business negotiations?

"Ahem... Dear Earl Arthur, please wait a moment, I will immediately report this situation to the headquarters in New York, don't worry, I think, there is nothing that cannot be sat down and talked slowly. The person in charge of Random House laughed dryly, and hurriedly said that this mission was assigned by the New York headquarters, and if he messed up in his hands, there would definitely be no good fruit to eat.

"Yes, boss, if there is a disagreement, we can discuss it slowly, and we will eventually find a win-win solution. Tom on the side also said in a timely manner that although he really wanted to let Boleyn Press publish "Fifty Shades of Gray" directly, he also understood that his young boss wanted to get the manuscript fee in advance, and Boleyn Publishing House could not do this alone, so he couldn't let the boss pay him in advance.

Knowing what the boss was thinking, Tom naturally wouldn't watch the business negotiations become an impasse and end up unhappy, so he would interject to relieve the awkward atmosphere.

It seems that Arthur attaches great importance to Tom's subordinate suggestion, and after a deep groan, he nodded and said indifferently: "Okay, I'll wait for your good news." ”

"Okay, please wait, I'll leave for a while, and I'll be back right away. The person in charge of Langdon Publishing House, looking at the completely undisguised blunt cooperation between the two in front of him, really couldn't cry or laugh in his heart, but after all, it was a task assigned by the New York headquarters, and he couldn't make any claims, so he could only call and ask for instructions.

"Please—Paul ... ”

Arthur smiled and stretched out his hand, then turned back to Paul the butler behind him.

"Guest, this way, please—"

With a calm and elegant smile on his face, Paul, the butler, stepped forward and stretched out his hand to make an inviting gesture, and then led the other party to a quiet room to make a call.

After they left, Arthur smiled and said to the others, "We'll wait while we have tea." ”

"Thank you... ”

In the face of everyone's gratitude, Arthur picked up the teacup, and when he drank the tea, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, he didn't care at all whether the other party would think that he was too greedy, or that his cooperation with Tom was too tricky, as long as he could finally achieve his goal, it was success.

After all, no matter how elegant literature is, it still has to be paid, and writers also have to make a living, so they can't really live on love and cold water, right?

Looking at the world, behind the glamorous title of writers, how many people's living circumstances and means of livelihood are very different, and only a very small number of people have entered the ranks of the rich by relying on bestsellers, of course, some writers in the system of a large eastern country are much happier, and they can create with peace of mind with their salaries, but how many so-called writers have to run around for life, and some writers are even embarrassed to live due to social changes.

Besides, he was already short of money and insecure, so he naturally wouldn't let go of this opportunity to increase his account balance again, anyway, the advance payment of the manuscript remuneration will be deducted from the remuneration after the publication of the novel, and it is not unacceptable for him to ask for a little more now, of course, it also depends on how much recognition and confidence Random House has in "Fifty Shades of Gray".

Time passed minute by minute, everyone sitting in the gorgeous and magnificent main hall was a little quiet, Arthur was not in a hurry at all, the indifferent smile on his face has been maintained, although there is an element of pretending in it, but as a nobleman, learning to wear a mask is one of the skills cultivated since childhood, not to mention the opposite or the guest who sent him money, even if the opposite side is a mortal enemy, the demeanor that should be maintained, it is still to be maintained!

"Da Da Da-"

Finally, the footsteps came from far and near, and everyone's eyes passed, and the housekeeper Paul walked back quickly with the person in charge of Random House, and after the other party sat down, he said with a smile: "The New York headquarters has agreed to your request not to disclose the author's identity for the time being, and at the same time, it has also decided to increase the amount of advance payment to 1.5 million US dollars again, which is already the greatest sincerity of our publishing house."

The headquarters believes that "Gray's Fifty Shadows" is absolutely phenomenal, and its appearance will drop a bombshell on the world publishing industry, and I hope you can stop the network update, complete the creation of the first volume as soon as possible, publish it on the market, and face readers!"

After he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned at this time, gathering on the young earl, Arthur pondered for a moment, a smile appeared on his indifferent face, stretched out his hand, and said, "Happy cooperation!"

"Happy cooperation!" said the person in charge of Random House hurriedly reached out and shook Arthur's hand, and said with a smile on his face.

The others also smiled, and their hearts were relieved, and finally there were no more problems.