It took every ounce of patience for Summer to make it to thest 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 nheless swayed by the noticeable uptick in Summer’s recent test scores and granted her
the pass<b>. </b>
Stepping through the school gates, the day’s umted pressure began to dissipate. Summer slipped on her mask and sunsses, blending into the crowd as she paused at the curb. Her fingers danced over her phone, eventuallynding on a familiar number – Zach Davis. She hesitated for a moment before hitting the call button. Zach, who was currently wrapped <b>up </b>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 yed on her lips, hidden beneath her shades, as her eyes shed with a knowing darkness.
Had the years ofradery truly fallen short against the weight of blood ties? Had ite to the point where even her calls went ignored? Mirabe really was quite the force to be reckoned with.
With a cynical chuckle, Summer gged down a taxi and rattled off an address.
Half an hourter…
“What brings you by out of the blue, Summer? Didn’t you have ss this afternoon?” Emmitt dismissed his secretary and poured <b>a </b>ss of water for Summer.
She epted it with a nod of thanks. Her mask and sunsses now rested on the table as she spoke warmly. “Thest 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 nced 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 ringter, Emmitt?” Summer suggested softly, taking a sip from her ss.
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 n something when he’s less upied.<b>” </b>
A faint tension gripped Summer’s hand around the ss, 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.
“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 incidentst 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.<b>” </b>
Summer’s face momentarily stiffened, then rxed, “Well, that’s a relief.”
“Make yourselffortable for a bit. I’ve got some things to wrap up.” Emmitt turned back to his desk, immersing himself <b>in </b>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 asion, 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.