I Hacked Everything - Chapter 65 Velma Leaving The Gang?

“Thank you for taking me out Mr. Woods,” Velma said.

“Oh no need to be so formal,” Michael said. “Just call me Michael. Though don’t take that for granted because I only let friends and family call me that,”

Velma chuckled at his response.

‘There was literally nothing funny about that,’ Chris thought as he started rapidly drinking his coffee.

“Well Velma, I just wanted to vent my feelings. Is that alright with you?” Michael asked.

“Yes it’s perfectly fine. I’ll be here listening. But I’m wondering something. Why me?” Velma asked.

“When you said that you were a huge fan of my book, I just wanted to talk about it,” Michael said.

“Oh, I’m glad that you can trust me to talk about something so personal,” Velma softly said while looking down at the table blushing.

“Thank you for listening Velma. It really is something that I don’t really say to the media or even to a lot of my friends. However, like I said, when you said to me yesterday that you were a fan of my book, I could tell it was genuine and I appreciate that a lot,” Michael said. “Writing was something that I used to do a lot with my mother. We would always talk something weird to write about and it was honestly the most fun time of my life. However, she passed away from cancer and I thought that the least I could do was to write the best book I could write so that she could be proud of me from up there,”
for visiting.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Velma said.

“Thank you. So I wrote as hard as I can, but unfortunately, nothing I wrote ever really gained attention and I was running out of money. Fortunately, I had a job as a line cook and I was able to make just enough to get by. Time passed and due to financial reasons and the opportunities that came to me, cooking became a bigger part of my life. My job soon changed from being a writer to a celebrity chef. Life is absurd that way. There’s no telling when someone’s entire life could just change like that,” Michael said while chuckling. “After I gained some money, I finally was able to settle down and write the book ‘Spirited Away’. When it became a best-seller, I cried knowing that I made my mother proud,”

Michael’s face then changed and he now looked angry.

“However, when I saw reviews of the book, there weren’t many people that said that the book was good. People said that the book was mediocre, but they got it because it had my name on it. I think that was one of the most devastating moment of my life. Seeing those comments, reviews, and even articles describing how average my book was just demoralizing,”

“That is not true,” Velma said. “Yes the novel wasn’t perfect. Yes, the novel wasn’t the best one I’ve ever read. However, there was still something special, something spooky, and the book always made me tingle a bit with the imagery. It definitely is worthy of being a best-seller,”

Michael stared at Velma for a bit and started to laugh.

“You’re the first one in a long time to genuinely say that my novel was actually good. Thank you for being honest with me. If you had said my book was perfect, I think I would’ve politely left. Recently, all the compliments about my books were fake. It was so obvious too,” Michael said. “Velma, I have a serious question to ask you,”

Velma cocked her head in confusion.

“Will you work with me to write my next novel? This time it won’t be a novel that people will say they bought because of my celebrity fame, but because they heard it was a good one,” Michael said.

“Sure, but with me being in the Mystery Gang, I don’t know how much I can help,” Velma said.

“I know that this is asking a lot from you, but I’m asking you to leave the Mystery Gang Velma,” Michael said with a serious tone. “I think you’re the one. I think that you’re the one that I need by my side to make my dream, my mother’s dream come true. You loving books, being in the Mystery Gang, and being a fan of my novels all come to together to being the perfect partner,”

Velma blushed from his statement.

Chris finally couldn’t stand it anymore.

“You crazy?!” He shouted as he turned behind.

“Chris?!” Velma exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“I was trying to find some clues to Jacob’s disappearance and decided to take a break here. You guys happened to conveniently sit behind me,” Chris said. “And for you Mr. Woods, Velma will not be leaving the gang. Just like how you said that she is going to be an important asset to your team, she is a crucial asset to the team and no one can replace her,”

“Chris you can’t decide what I can and can’t do,” Velma said.

Chris was shocked at her statement.

“Velma you’re seriously thinking about this?! You’ve been with us for years. Not just me, but you’re going to leave Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby for someone that you met for a day?” Chris asked.

“Yeah and we still can be friends, but I don’t have to be in the Mystery Gang to be your friends. If me leaving is enough for me to not be your friends anymore then there was no friendship to begin with,” Velma said. “You know what! Michael I accept your offer. I’ll leave the Mystery Gang and help you be the best author possible,”