Plotting to Win by Tara Chevrestt

him suddenly. He needed a good lay. There were no cameras in here. She was pretty much offering.
    But she wasn’t what he wanted.
    “Not in the mood,” he stated curtly. And that has got to be the first time I’ve ever turned down a willing woman .
    “Too bad. Guess I’ll see you later.” She lowered her eyes as she stepped around him, brushing her breasts against his arm.
    “Later.” He watched her sashay her way out of the room, feeling absolutely no response down below.
    With a grunt, he reclined on his bed, placing a hand behind his head. Had Felicity finished her book that fast? Yesterday he could swear she was only halfway through that hefty novel. Well, none of his business.
    “Hello, contestants. Welcome to round two. There are six of you left. The winner of this challenge will be able to manipulate the second elimination challenge, which will be in two days. By the end of the week, one of you will be closing your manuscript and going home. One of you will continue on to become the next bestseller, 100,000 dollars richer, with a Bright House publishing contract in hand.” As usual, Ophelia stood before them, her hands clasped behind her back, her purple suit straining at its buttons.
    She focused on Tiffani. “Tiffani, readers voted for your story in the challenge between Dez and yourself. The fireplace room is now yours.”
    Tiffani squealed so loud Victor winced. Her breasts moved up and down as she jumped, threatening to spill out of her pink tank top. He shook his head at the display. Why couldn’t Felicity wear tops like that? His day would be complete then.
    “Damn,” Dez swore quietly.
    “Tiffani,” Nicole Roberts drew their attention, “I must say, that piece was a pleasant change from what you did in the last competition. I commend you for it. The idea of a woman horse whisperer and a vet not seeing eye-to-eye, but yet falling in love despite their differences was well thought out and …”
    Felicity gasped. Victor turned just in time to see her eyes narrow into slits and her jaw harden. It was not an expression he’d yet seen on her soft face. What was going on?
    Before he could muse on it further, Ophelia spoke again. “Today we have a guest judge. Anthony Peters is an author who has made a name for himself outside of writing. Besides being a bestseller in fantasy and science fiction, he also started a website called R. Peters Internet Publishing Guide.” Ophelia paused to let the gasps and applause die down. “Over the last three years, this site has grown to over five million followers, mostly authors seeking the hard facts on miscellaneous publishing houses. Authors from all over the world email him their troubles, concerns, and experiences, which he then reveals on his website. Please welcome Anthony Peters.”
    Victor clapped and grinned as the man in question appeared from behind the screen. This was a writer who had made a good, solid name for himself in the literary world. Victor was one of those five million followers. He’d not only read the guy’s books, but followed the site in question.
    “Hey, everyone!” Peters was an older man, long gray hair, wrinkled, tanned skin, and his frame was a mere five-foot-six, but he stood before them with an air of confidence as he smiled and nodded. “I think most of you are well aware by now that e-books are taking over in the publishing industry.”
    Everyone but Felicity nodded — what the heck was her problem? Peters continued, “This means a lot of authors are sidestepping the whole agent thing and just going straight to a publisher. Now,” he raised his hands as though pausing the questions they were all thinking, but not speaking aloud, “my website does not advise you what to or not to do. My website is solely a list of facts about many publishers that offer their services, people who may be posing as publishers but are really vanity publishers — folks that charge you money to publish your books. Stay away from