Zeagar Chapter 1 Rough Draft

Here's the start of my latest book. Let me know what you think. I'm still working on the title. This is rough, but it gives you an idea as to how it's starting...

Chapter 1:

DAPHNE FOUND THE AGE OF seventeen a difficult one at best. It was an awkward year because she was not a kid, but she wasn't considered an adult yet. Then, there was the whole figuring out where to go to college and what to be when she was out in the world on her own.

Yes, the pressure got to her. She was glad it was her junior year of high school. One more year was what she had before she applied for college. However, she was busy now as she wrote her two columns for the school paper. Actually, the paper had its own website and she had two blogs. One of her columns was a book review blog and her second was her science fiction column where she worked on her novel.

Her blog of her sci-fi novel was a major success. Other high schools actually kept up with her blog and she had a loyal following of 826 and the number grew daily.

Her guidance counselor told her that it would help her to be published and would help her beef up her college applications. It was a pleasure for her because it gave her the opportunity to live her dream.

She wanted to write novels.

"Pardon me. Are you Daphne?" A deeper masculine voice asked from her back.

She pivoted in her seat so she could see him. She guessed he was college age or so. Cute. "I am. You are?"

He handed her a business card. He was from a company called ZET, whatever that was. His name was Michael. Just Michael. There was no last name listed. The card gave a website address, an email address, and his cell number, however. "I'm Michael and my business card is rather non-descript for a reason. May I join you, please, for a few moments?"

"Go ahead." She gestured toward the chair across from her at the table.

He sat beside her instead. "I'm sorry to be rude and ignore your preference, but this is a library. I need to talk to you and don't want to speak loudly to do so. Furthermore, what I have to say is to be held with the strictest confidence. You can't tell anyone about our conversation, regardless of how simple or unimportant you might think. Do I have your agreement?"

Daphne wondered what in the world he had to say to her that might require such secrecy. She actually laughed it off and dismissed it in her mind. Nothing was that serious, after all. "Sure." What else was she supposed to say?

Michael grinned and looked her in the eye. "I've read your blog."

Oh. So, that's what this was about. Good to know. "Yes?" She stared at him and tried to get him to hurry and tell her what he wanted.

"You like to get straight to the point." He stated it as a fact and pulled out his Smartphone from his pocket. He pressed a couple of buttons. "You also love almonds, guacamole, Stargate, Star Trek, Star Wars, running, swimming, Harry Potter, Twilight, and country music. Those are the surface things. I also know you've never been kissed, have written eight novels if you include Katt, and secretly want to be an astronaut, if it wasn't for physics or calculus." Michael mentioned a could of facts not even her mother knew.

"How do you know those things?" Daphne stared at him. Then again, it was probably a glare and not just a stare.

Michael grinned and asked, "Do I have your attention now?"

"Naturally."

"The company I work for wants to hire you." He explained to her and studied her facial expression.

"I'm going to college after graduation and don't want to skip college. Thank you, though." She shut him down before he wasted more of their time, his or hers.

"The job would start immediately and would pay you half a million dollars per year because of the danger involved. But, there's another catch." Michael warned her.

Did he really say half a million? "I would think so with that kind of money. What's the catch?"

"The catch is that you have to leave home. Your parents will think you're accepted to go to a private arts school and your blog and novel earned you a full-ride scholarship this year and next. Furthermore, it's a thirty-five year commitment." He gave her the cover story.

"Why would I agree to any of this? Why would I give up my life my life for you and for ZET?" Daphne didn't see any reason to agree to go with him anywhere.

Michael cocked his head and said to her, "What would you think if I told you your imagination and writing are a great deal more accurate than you might realize."

The way he said it told her he was serious...

Stacy Duplease

SLSBS Vol. 4