Olivia, living alone in her Topanga Canyon home, expects a morning call from her partner, Tom, but instead hears from her literary agent, Nicole, about a potential job. Olivia’s career has stalled after she publicly condemned bestselling author John Calder on a conference panel, then doubled down on social media, leading to a lawsuit she lost and an industry-wide chill on hiring her. The fallout left her isolated professionally and financially vulnerable.

Nicole reveals that the job is to ghostwrite a new book for Vincent Taylor, a famous horror writer and Olivia’s father, with whom Olivia has had no contact for at least twenty years. No one in Olivia’s current life knows their relationship, and she initially deflects Nicole’s curiosity by claiming not to know him. Olivia reflects on why she changed her name to Dumont, built a career in ghostwriting after hating journalism, and has relished anonymity while championing women’s stories.

Nicole emphasizes the offer’s urgency and potential career benefits, hinting that Vincent’s team has hit unspecified “snags.” The prospect triggers Olivia’s unease, as she believes the request is a ruse by Vincent rather than a genuine need for help, given his long, prolific career. Still, the money is significant, starting at $250,000 plus royalties, and could prevent Olivia from having to sell her house, which recent showings suggest may not fetch her asking price.

Olivia weighs her history of compartmentalizing danger, a habit learned from growing up under the shadow of accusations that her father was a murderer, against her immediate need to repair her finances and reputation. She recalls the judge’s admonitions during Calder’s suit and recognizes that her agent has already exhausted most avenues to find her work. The Ojai location, close to Olivia’s childhood trauma, increases the emotional stakes.

Despite deep misgivings about Vincent’s motives and the personal cost, Olivia agrees to take the job. Nicole advises that the timeline is fast and Olivia should plan to travel to Ojai by the end of the week, with more details forthcoming under full disclosure. Olivia resolves to treat the project as a means to recover financially and perhaps gain closure, vowing not to be manipulated by Vincent.

The chapter closes with Olivia acknowledging that, at age forty-four and after nearly thirty years away, she is finally going back home to Ojai.