Chapter 150
It took every ounce of patience for Summer to make it to the last period of study hall. She seized the opportunity to concoct an excuse about needing to return to her artist camp for training. With a slightly hesitant request, she approached Morgan for a leave of absence.
Morgan, who typically frowned upon students making a habit of ducking out early, was nonetheless swayed by the noticeable uptick in Summer’s recent test scores and granted her
the pass.
Stepping through the school gates, the day’s accumulated pressure began to dissipate. Summer slipped on her mask and sunglasses, blending into the crowd as she paused at the curb. Her fingers danced over her phone, eventually landing on a familiar number – Zach Davis. She hesitated for a moment before hitting the call button. Zach, who was currently wrapped up in court proceedings, had entrusted his phone to his assistant, a guardian of his privacy. The assistant knew the significance of a call from a personal number and didn’t answer when Summer’s attempts came through.
After two unanswered calls, Summer didn’t bother trying again. A wry smile played on her lips, hidden beneath her shades, as her eyes flashed with a knowing darkness.
Had the years of comradery truly fallen short against the weight of blood ties? Had it come to the point where even her calls went ignored? Mirabella really was quite the force to be reckoned with.
With a cynical chuckle, Summer flagged down a taxi and rattled off an address.
Half an hour later…
“What brings you by out of the blue, Summer? Didn’t you have class this afternoon?” Emmitt dismissed his secretary and poured a glass of water for Summer.
She accepted it with a nod of thanks. Her mask and sunglasses now rested on the table as she spoke warmly. “The last period was just study hall, nothing too pressing. I was hoping to catch lunch with Zach, but he wasn’t picking up. Maybe he’s tied up with something.”
There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice, which didn’t escape Emmitt’s notice. He glanced at his watch subtly before replying. “He’s probably busy.”
“It’s been ages since we all got together. Why don’t you give Zach a ring later, Emmitt?” Summer suggested softly, taking a sip from her glass.
Emmitt’s thoughts drifted to something Zach had mentioned a few days ago. After a brief pause, he replied, “He seems swamped these days. Let’s not bother him for now. We can plan something when he’s less occupied.”
A faint tension gripped Summer’s hand around the glass, but she casually set it down. “Sure, that works too.” After a pause, she added, “I just don’t want Zach to get the wrong idea.
Chapter 150
“What do you mean?” Emmitt’s brow furrowed, not quite catching her drift.
Summer bit her lip, her voice dropping to a whisper, “After the incident last time, Mira’s been avoiding me. And now Zach isn’t answering my calls… I can’t help but worry he might be
getting the wrong impression.”
Emmitt’s expression grew more concerned as he listened, taking a while before responding in at measured tone, “You’re overthinking it. Zach isn’t one to be easily influenced by rumors.”
Summer’s face momentarily stiffened, then relaxed, “Well, that’s a relief.”
“Make yourself comfortable for a bit. I’ve got some things to wrap up.” Emmitt turned back to his desk, immersing himself in his work.
Silence enveloped the office, leaving Summer sitting there, lost in thought. Watching Emmitt pore over his documents, she felt an unfamiliar awkwardness, a void where conversation used to be. It was as if today marked some peculiar occasion, a day where everything and everyone seemed to be shifting, subtly but surely.
Summer was growing weary of this uneasy sense of losing grip on the world around her.
