Can You Keep A Secret?

'We're not all lawyers,' she says defensively. There are a couple of merchant bankers, too, and

a judge… Emma, stop laughing!'

'I'm sorry,' I say helplessly. 'Lissy, I'm not laughing at you, honestly.' I take a deep breath and

try desperately to clamp my lips together. But all I can see is merchant bankers dressed in

tutus, clutching their briefcases, dancing to Swan Lake. A judge leaping across the stage,

robes flying.

'It's not fu

themselves through dance. What's wrong with that?'

'I'm sorry,' I say again, wiping my eyes and trying to regain control of myself. 'Nothing's

wrong with it. I think it's brilliant. So… are you having a show, or anything?'

'It's in three weeks. That's why we've been doing extra practices.'

'Three weeks?' I stare at her, my laughter melting away. 'Weren't you going to tell me?'

'I… I hadn't decided,' she says, scuffing her dancing shoe on the floor. 'I was embarrassed.'

'Don't be embarrassed!' I say in dismay. 'Lissy, I'm sorry I laughed. I think it's brilliant. And

I'm going to come and watch. I'll sit right in the front row…'

'Not the front row. You'll put me off.'

'I'll sit in the middle, then. Or at the back. Wherever you want me.' I give her a curious look.

'Lissy, I never knew you could dance.'

'Oh, I can't,' she says at once. 'I'm crap. It's just a bit of fun. D'you want a coffee?'

As I follow Lissy into the kitchen, she gives me a raised-eyebrow look. 'So, you've got a bit of

a nerve, accusing me of having sex. Where were you last night?'

'With Jack,' I admit with a dreamy smile. 'Having sex. All night.'

'I knew it!'

'Oh God, Lissy. I'm completely in love with him.'

'In love?' She flicks on the kettle. 'Emma, are you sure? You've only known him about five

minutes.'

'That doesn't matter! We're already complete soul-mates. There's no need to pretend with him

… or try to be something I'm not… and the sex is amazing… He's everything I never had

with Co

time, and he seems really genuinely fascinated by the answers.'

I spread my arms with a blissful smile and sink down onto a chair. 'You know, Lissy, all my

life I had this feeling that something wonderful was about to happen to me. I always just…

knew it, deep down inside. And now it has.'

'So where is he now?' says Lissy, shaking coffee into the cafetiere.

'He's going away for a bit. He's going to brainstorm some new concept with a creative team.'

'What?'

'I du

he's going to email every day,' I add happily.

'Biscuit?' says Lissy, opening the tin.

'Oh, er… yes. Thanks.' I take a digestive and give it a thoughtful nibble. 'You know, I've got

this whole new theory about relationships. It's so simple. Everyone in the world should be

more honest with each other. Everyone should share! Men and women should share, families

should share, world leaders should share!'

'Hmm.' Lissy looks at me silently for a few moments. 'Emma, did Jack ever tell you why he

had to go rushing off in the middle of the night that time?'

'No,' I say in surprise. 'But it's his business.'

'Did he ever tell you what all those phone calls were about on your first date?'

'Well… no.'

'Has he told you anything about himself other than the bare minimum?'

'He's told me plenty!' I say defensively. 'Lissy, what's your problem?'

'I don't have a problem,' she says mildly. 'I'm just wondering… is it you who's doing all the

sharing?'

'What?'

'Is he sharing himself with you?' She pours hot water onto the coffee. 'Or are you just sharing

yourself with him?'

'We're sharing with each other,' I say, looking away and fiddling with a fridge magnet.

Which is true, I tell myself firmly. Jack's shared loads with me! I mean, he's told me…

He's told me all about…

Well, anyway. He probably just hasn't been in the mood for talking very much. Is that a

crime?

'Have some coffee,' says Lissy, handing me a mug.

'Thanks,' I say, a touch grudgingly, and Lissy sighs.

'Emma, I'm not trying to spoil things. He does seem really lovely-'

'He is! Honestly, Lissy, you don't know what he's like. He's so romantic. Do you know what

he said this morning? He said the minute I started talking on that plane, he was gripped.'

'Really?' Lissy gazes at me. 'He said that? That is pretty romantic.'

'I told you!' I can't help beaming at her. 'Lissy, he's perfect!'

NINETEEN

For the next couple of weeks, nothing can pierce my happy glow. Nothing. I waft into work

on a cloud, sit all day smiling at my computer terminal, then waft home again. Paul's sarcastic

comments bounce off me like bubbles. I don't even notice when Artemis introduces me to a

visiting advertising team as her personal secretary. They can all say what they like. Because

what they don't know is that when I'm smiling at my computer, it's because Jack has just sent

me another fu

in love with me. Me. Emma Corrigan. The junior.

'Well, of course, I had several in-depth conversations with Jack Harper on the subject,' I can

hear Artemis saying on the phone as I tidy up the proofs cupboard. 'Yup. And he felt — as I do

— that the concept really needed to be refocused.'

Bullshit! She never had any in-depth conversations with Jack Harper. I'm almost tempted to

email him straight away and tell him how she's using his name in vain.

Except that would be a bit mean.

And besides, she's not the only one. Everyone is dropping Jack Harper into their

conversations, left, right and centre. It's as if now he's gone, everyone's suddenly pretending

they were his best friend and he thought their idea was perfect.

Apart from me. I'm just keeping my head down and not mentioning his name at all.

Partly because I know that if I do, I'll blush bright red, or give some huge, goofy smile or

something. Partly because I have a horrible feeling that if I once start talking about Jack, I

won't be able to stop. But mainly because no-one ever brings the subject up with me. After all,

what would I know about Jack Harper? I'm only the crappy assistant, after all.

'Hey!' says Nick, looking up from his phone. 'Jack Harper's going to be on television!'

'What?'

I feel a jolt of surprise. Jack's going to be on television?

How come he didn't tell me?

'Is a TV crew coming to the office, or anything?' says Artemis, smoothing down her hair.

'Du

'OK folks,' says Paul, coming out of his office. 'Jack Harper has done an interview on

Business Watch, and it's being broadcast at twelve. A television is being set up in the large

meeting room; anyone who would like to can go along and watch there. But we need one

person to stay behind and man the phones.' His gaze falls on me. 'Emma. You can stay.'

'What?' I say blankly.

'You can stay and man the phones,' says Paul. 'OK?'

'No! I mean… I want to watch!' I say in dismay. 'Can't someone else stay behind? Artemis,

can't you stay?'

'I'm not staying!' says Artemis at once. 'Honestly, Emma, don't be so selfish. It won't be at all

interesting for you.'

'Yes it will!'

'No it won't.' She rolls her eyes.