Chapter 5
“Don't dwell on what happened today. I've warned them. If nobody talks about it for a while, they'll forget.”
He paused.
“I know it wasn't fair to you. But I can't lose Vivian again.”
“I understand.” Summer's voice remained level. “If that's all, Mr. Cole, I need to get back to work.”
She opened the door and left before he could respond.
Alone in the stairwell, Adrian felt that irritation return.
Since Vivian had come home, Summer had been understanding. Almost impossibly understanding.
The more she accepted, the more something felt wrong.
Friday was his grandfather's birthday. Adrian took Vivian to the celebration.
Just before the end of the workday, he called Summer.
“Vivian left her gift in my office. Bring it over now.”
Summer arrived with the elaborate gift box just as the guests began presenting their gifts.
She offered it to Vivian, who didn't take it.
“Carry it. Come with us while I give it to him.”
Summer followed Adrian and Vivian, holding the box. Vivian chatted with his grandfather until he was laughing, then lifted the gift from Summer's hands.
“Mr. Cole, I found an instructor and spent three whole months embroidering this family portrait for you. Please open it. I want to know if you like it.”
“Of course, my dear.” Smiling, he opened the box himself.
His face fell. Vivian screamed, and the guests gasped.
Instead of an embroidered portrait, the box contained a large black alarm clock with a taunting message on its face: YOUR TIME IS UP.
Summer was as shocked as anyone. Before she could react, Vivian pointed at her.
“Summer! You switched my gift!”
“I didn't! I never opened it. I didn't even know what was inside. Why would I do that?”
“If it wasn't you, are you saying it was me?” Vivian's eyes filled. She held up her hands, showing the little needle marks covering her fingertips. “I got these making his gift. I'm telling the truth. Adrian, you have to believe me.”
The guests looked at her injured fingers, then turned accusing eyes on Summer.
Adrian took Vivian's hands, his expression a mixture of concern and anger.
Then he looked coldly at Summer.
“Why did you do this?”
Standing in the middle of the crowd, Summer pressed her nails into her palm. Her face was white.
“I didn't touch her gift. If you don't believe me, call the police—”
“It was you!” Vivian interrupted again.
She pulled a stack of papers from her purse and flung them in Summer's face.
“You've been in love with Adrian for years. You wanted to hurt me because we're together!”
The pages struck Summer and scattered onto the floor for everyone to see.
Some were covered with Adrian's name. Others contained Summer's private thoughts about her unrequited love. There were letters addressed to him and signed with her name.
Summer went deathly pale. She had written those pages years ago and kept them in a combination-lock box inside her locked desk drawer.
When had Vivian stolen them?
“Oh my God. She looks like that and thinks she has a chance with him? Doesn't she own a mirror?”
“If he knew an ugly assistant was obsessed with him, he'd be too disgusted to sleep.”
“And she tried to sabotage Vivian? Vivian and Adrian are perfect together. An ugly, vicious nobody like you thinks she can come between them?”
Someone eager for more entertainment picked up a page and began reading Summer's private feelings aloud.
She swayed, her face bloodless and her eyes red.
Adrian saw her and looked briefly troubled.
“Enough. This ends here. It's my grandfather's birthday—”
Vivian cried out again.
“Adrian! My bracelet's gone!”
