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Her face flushes bright red. “How could you—”
“Just read it.”
She shoots me a scowl.
“Readit,” I repeat.
She opens the folder and scans the first page. “The protagonist flees from her wedding after finding out her fiancé cheated on her.” She pauses to glare at me, then returns to reading. “At the same time, she realizes that the life she was leading wasn’t what she truly wanted, so she’s grateful the wedding didn’t happen. Empowered by her new sense of freedom, the protagonist decides to leave everything behind and travel to Europe in order to find herself. Can she avoid getting caught up in another adventure, along with some old family drama that she can’t seem to escape?”
I smile from ear to ear. “What do you think?”
Mia lowers the folder onto her lap, then interlaces her fingertips and rests them gently on the folder. “This is un—”
“Stop right there.” I hold my index finger up. “Before you tell me this is unbelievable and accuse me of being some kind of life-stealing asshole—”
“It’s unoriginal.”
“Fair, but…wait, what?” My jaw drops. I’ve been called alotof things in my lifetime, but I haveneverbeen calledunoriginal.I’m Carter Fucking Cogswell. I’m the most innovative executive producer in this whole freaking industry. How dare this girl call me unoriginal? I’d rather she called me an asshole.
“It’s been done before. In the nineties. You should know. I’m sure you were in high school then.”
I scoff. “I wasnotin high school when that movie came out. I was a kid.”
She shrugs. “Whatever you say. I’m by no means ageist.”
I adjust my body on the couch so I can face her. “Trust me, my idea for the series is different from that movie.”
Mia returns her attention to the first page of the folder, then begins to thumb through the first few pages. “Wow, a meet-cute. So original.” Her tone is flat, signifying her sarcasm.
I narrow my eyes on her. “Everyone loves a good meet-cute.”
“As a runaway bride myself, meeting a new man—even if it’scute—would be the last thing on my mind. Even now. It’s been two weeks since I broke things off with my ex. If I’m being honest, if I were to meet an attractive man, it wouldn’t be with the intent of falling in love.”
I nearly choke on my spit. Forward much? The woman has a point, though. Perhaps having the two characters meet in a romantic setting isn’t the way to go.
“Fine, I’ll scratch the meet-cute.”
She pauses on a particular page, then peers up at me with disappointment in her green eyes. “Enemies to lovers? Really, Carter?”
Carter?! “That’s Mr. Cogswell to you,” I say. “And enemies to lovers is a fan-favorite. Since the meet-cute is out, I’d like to keep enemies to lovers.” I cross my arms over my chest. “It’s fun. Unless you have a counterpoint.”
“Not particularly. I can get behind it. I just don’t see why he has to be a playboy. Not every woman wants to fall in love with a self-proclaimed Casanova.”
I sweep my eyes over at her. “What’s wrong with a playboy?”
“Nothing. I’m not really into them myself.”
I huff. “Not all playboys are bad. This one, in particular, has a good heart. He’s taken aback by her the moment he meets her. He’s just too caught up in his ways to realize it initially.”
She sighs. “You’re seriously going to give the main female lead a makeover? Is the year 1997 a pivotal time for you?”
I roll my eyes. “I was achildin 1997. Do I have to repeat myself? And it isn’t just any makeover. She’s not an ugly duckling. She’s discovering who she truly is, which involves a complete overall in her style.” I lean back against the couch and make myself more comfortable. “You know, like when women cut their bangs after a breakup.”
She shoots me a dirty glare. “We don’t do that.”
I cock my head. “You’re telling me you never have?”
Mia’s eyes turn back to the folder. “I’m only saying it’s a generalization.”
