Nella Rogers
Nella is an editorial assistant and the only black woman employed at Wagner Books. Despite being smart and hardworking, she feels isolated, alone, and marginalized at work. Nella is finally relieved when Hazel, another black woman, is employed at the company. They immediately become friends, but Nella begins to get a sense that Hazel is sabotaging her position in the company. Almost immediately, she begins receiving threats telling her to quit her job at Wagner. Nella's search for the perpetrator leads her to uncover dark secrets within Wagner Books.
Hazel-May McCall
Hazel is also an editorial assistant and the only other black woman employed at Wagner Books. She immediately strikes up a friendship with Nella. Born in Harlem to civil rights activists, Hazel is unapologetically confident. She lands Nella in trouble after poorly advising her. Their friendship doesn't last long after Hazel begins receiving recognition for her work at Nella's expense.
Diana Gordon
Diana is the author of a best-selling novel published by Wagner Books in the 1980s. Both Hazel and Nella idolize her work. Diana's friendship with her editor mirrors Nella's and Hazel's brief friendship that later soured because of Wagner's dark secrets.
Kendra Rae Philips
Kendra is a former editor at Wagner Books. She is Diana's childhood friend. Kendra edited and published Diana's novel while working at Wagner. She controversially disappeared after doing an interview where she spoke about being racially abused at Wagner Books.
Malaika
Malaika is Nella's best friend and confidant. She is an eccentric queer with a knack for clever humor. Nella often goes to her to air out her frustrations about working at Wagner Books.
