The Elliotts: Secret Affairs. Susan Crosby

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СКАЧАТЬ Summer’s eyes and a lightness in her step that hadn’t been there before. A totally different kind of aura surrounded her, and for that Scarlet thanked Zeke.

      He’d just better not ever hurt her ….

      Pasting on a smile, Scarlet returned a wave to a fellow employee then stabbed a piece of avocado in her Cobb salad. Seated in the company cafeteria, she was grateful she’d been able to grab a booth. She hated eating alone in public—Summer knew that. And it was especially bad here where noise bounced off the walls and the steel tabletops, the modern decor not helping to absorb sound, not letting a person think clearly. Plus, the entire twenty-five-story Park Avenue building was owned by EPH—Elliott Publication Holdings, her family’s business. Or rather, businesses, their many magazines, so that a lot of people could pick her out of a crowd. Plus she was an Elliott, one who’d already caused enough talk.

      She should’ve told Summer to meet her at the deli down the block.

      “Who are you waiting for?”

      Scarlet looked up to find Finola Elliott, editor in chief of Charisma magazine and Scarlet’s boss for the past two years—and for twenty-five years, her aunt Finny.

      “Summer. She’s late.”

      “That’s unlike her.”

      “I know.”

      Fin lowered her voice. “Are you okay?”

      Surprised, Scarlet focused on her aunt instead of the cafeteria entrance. “Sure. Why?”

      “You’ve seemed tense lately.”

      “I’m fine,” she said, resisting the temptation to make a similar comment to Fin, who was under a great deal of stress since her father, Scarlet’s grandfather, had issued a challenge regarding who was to fill his shoes when he retired at the end of the year—a challenge which had only added to the long-standing tension existing between Fin and her parents. The fact that Fin was eating in the company cafeteria instead of the executive dining room indicated her discomfort, as well.

      “I’d ask you to join us, Fin, but Summer called this meeting. Here she is now.”

      “No problem,” Fin said as Summer hugged her then slipped into the booth. “I’m meeting Bridget. See you later.”

      “Sorry I’m late,” Summer said, her eyes shimmering. “Cute outfit. Can I borrow it?”

      Scarlet smiled. Even though Summer had made sweeping changes recently, her wardrobe still wouldn’t include anything like the purple-and-red minidress that Scarlet had designed and made this past week. “My closet is your closet,” Scarlet said.

      Summer laughed.

      Scarlet could usually anticipate what her sister would say, but not this time. Not for the past few weeks, actually. She only knew that Summer was revved about something. “What’s up?”

      She linked her fingers together and set her hands on the table. “I’m taking a leave of absence from The Buzz.”

      Shock heated Scarlet from the inside out. “Why?”

      “I want to go with Zeke on his international tour.”

      “For how long?”

      “A month.”

      Scarlet could barely find words. “We’ve never been apart for more than a week.”

      “Life is changing, Scar. We’re changing.”

      “Separating.” I used to be able to read your mind. We used to finish each other’s sentences.

      “It was bound to happen someday.” Understanding and determination rang in Summer’s voice.

      “I can’t believe you’re giving up your dream job, and an imminent promotion, for a … man.”

      “Not just any man, but Zeke. The man I love.” Her calm voice was offset by a stubborn glint in her eye. “The man I’m going to marry.”

      “When do you leave?”

      “Tomorrow.”

      “So soon?” Scarlet felt more vulnerable than ever. Her link to life as she knew it was breaking. It had been hard enough this past month not to confide in Summer about her night with John Harlan, especially when Summer had asked her where she’d been all night.

      “Don’t be jealous,” Summer said, laying her hand on Scarlet’s.

      “Jealous? I—” She stopped. Maybe she was, a little. She’d been wanting to try her hand at fashion design but hadn’t had the nerve to quit her job as assistant fashion editor for Charisma. “Granddad will accuse you of being ungrateful,” she said to her sister instead, reminding herself of that fact, as well—the main reason why she hadn’t quit her job herself.

      “That’s what I’m afraid of. But Zeke has tried to convince me otherwise. Loyalty matters more than anything to Granddad, but I need to do this. I want to do this. I’m going to do this.”

      And everyone thought Summer was the meek twin. “Have you told him?”

      “I’m telling you first. I’ll tell Shane after lunch. Then Gram and Granddad.”

      Shane—Uncle Shane—was Fin’s twin and the editor in chief of The Buzz, EPH’s showbiz magazine, where Summer worked as a copy editor, and was about to be promoted to reporter. Scarlet didn’t envy Summer telling Shane or, worse, Granddad.

      “I’m going to miss you like crazy,” Scarlet said, nearly crushing Summer’s hand.

      “Me, too,” she whispered, her eyes instantly bright. “I’ll call lots. I promise. Maybe you could meet us somewhere on the tour for a weekend.”

      “Three’s a crowd.” Scarlet made an effort to keep things as normal as possible. She dug into her salad again. “Want some?”

      “Butterflies,” Summer said, patting her stomach.

      Scarlet nodded. “What I said about my closet being your closet is true, you know. If you’d like to take some of my stuff on the tour, you can.”

      “Zeke likes me as I am.”

      So had John, Scarlet thought. Summer was so much easier to be with—not anywhere near as demanding of equality or independence as Scarlet. At least, not openly.

      “There you go again,” Summer said, tapping the table next to Scarlet’s salad bowl.

      “What?”

      “You’ve been zoning out for, I don’t know, about a month now.”

      “Have I?”

      “Yes. Right after you spent the night away from home and wouldn’t tell me where you’d been. Seems to me you’ve been keeping a secret, and that’s a first for us, too.”

      Scarlet wanted so much to talk to Summer about СКАЧАТЬ