Can You Keep A Secret? Part 33

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 c.r.a.ppy a.s.sistant, 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.

'Dunno.'

'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.

'It will,'I say desperately. 'He's ... he's my boss too!'

'Yes, well,' says Artemis sarcastically, 'I think there's a slight difference. You've barely even spoken to Jack Harper.'

'I have!' I say before I can stop myself. 'I have! I ...' I break off, my cheeks turning pink. 'I ... once went to a meeting he was at ...'

'And served him a cup of tea?' Artemis meets Nick's eyes with a little smirk.

I stare at her furiously, blood pounding through my ears, wis.h.i.+ng just once I could think of something really scathing and clever to put Artemis down.

'Enough, Artemis,' says Paul. 'Emma, you're staying here, and that's settled.'

By five to twelve the office is completely empty. Apart from me, a fly and a whirring fax machine. Disconsolately I reach into my desk drawer and take out an Aero. And a Flake for good measure. I'm just unwrapping the Aero and taking a big bite when the phone rings.

'OK,' comes Lissy's voice down the line. 'I've set the video.'

'Thanks, Liss,' I say through a mouthful of chocolate. 'You're a star.'

'I can't believe you're not allowed to watch.'

'I know. It's completely unfair.' I slump deeper in my chair and take another bite of Aero.

'Well, never mind, we'll watch it again tonight. Jemima's going to put the video on in her room too, so we should definitely catch it.'

'What's Jemima doing at home?' I say in surprise.

'She's taken a sickie so she can do a home spa day. Oh, and your dad rang,' she adds cautiously.

'Oh right.' I feel a flicker of apprehension. 'What did he say?'

I haven't talked to Mum or Dad since the debacle at the Corporate Family Day. I just can't bring myself to. It was all too painful and embarra.s.sing, and for all I know, they've completely taken Kerry's side.

So when Dad rang here on the following Monday, I said I was really busy and I'd call him back and, never did. And the same thing at home.

I know I'll have to talk to them some time. But not now. Not while I'm so happy.

'He'd seen the trailer for the interview,' says Lissy. 'He recognized Jack and just wondered if you knew about it. And he said ...' She pauses. 'He really wanted to talk to you about a few things.'

'Oh.' I stare at my notepad, where I've doodled a huge spiral over a telephone number I was supposed to be keeping.

'Anyway, he and your mum are going to be watching it,' says Lissy. 'And your grandpa.'

Great. Just great. The entire world is watching Jack on television. The entire world except me.

When I've put the phone down, I go and get myself a coffee from the new machine, which actually does make a very nice cafe au lait. I come back and look around the quiet office, then go and pour orange juice into Artemis's spider plant. And some photocopier toner for good measure.

Then I feel a bit mean. It's not the plant's fault, after all.

'Sorry,' I say out loud, and touch one of its leaves. 'It's just your owner is a real cow. But then, you probably knew that.'

'Talking to your mystery man?' comes a sarcastic voice from behind me, and I turn round in shock, to see Connor standing in the doorway.

'Connor!' I say. 'What are you doing here?'

'I'm on my way to watch the TV interview. But I just wanted a quick word.' He takes a few steps into the office, and fixes me with an accusing stare. 'So. You lied to me.'

Oh s.h.i.+t. Has Connor guessed? Did he see something at the Corporate Family Day?

'What do you mean?' I say nervously.

'I've just had a little chat with Tristan from Design.' Connor's voice swells with indignation. 'He's gay! You're not going out with him at all, are you?'

He cannot be serious. Connor didn't seriously think I was going out with Tristan from Design, did he? I mean, Tristan could not look more gay if he wore leopardskin hotpants, carried a handbag, and walked around humming Barbra Streisand hits.

'No,' I say, managing to keep a straight face. 'I'm not going out with Tristan.'

'Well!' says Connor, nodding as though he's scored a hundred points and doesn't quite know what to do with them. 'Well. I just don't see why you feel it necessary to lie to me.' He lifts his chin in wounded dignity. 'That's all. I just would have thought we could be a little honest with each other.'

'Connor, it's just ... it's complicated. OK?'

'Fine. Whatever. It's your boat, Emma.'

There's a slight pause.

'It's my what?' I say puzzledly. 'My boat?'

'Court,' he says with a flash of annoyance. 'I meant to say ... the ball's in your court.'

'Oh right,' I say, none the wiser. 'Er ... OK. I'll bear that in mind.'

'Good.' He gives me his most wounded-martyr look, and starts walking away.

'Wait!' I say suddenly. 'Hang on a minute! Connor, could you do me a real favour?' I wait until he turns, then pull a wheedling face. 'Could you possibly man the phones here while I quickly go and watch Jack Harper's interview?'

I know Connor isn't my number one fan at the moment. But I don't exactly have a lot of choice.

'Could I do what?' Connor stares at me in astonishment.

'Could you man the phones? Just for half an hour. I'd be so incredibly grateful ...'

'I can't believe you're even asking me that!' says Connor incredulously. 'You know how important Jack Harper is to me! Emma, I really don't know what you've turned into.'

After he's stalked off, I sit there for twenty minutes. I take several messages for Paul, one for Nick and one for Caroline. I file a couple of letters. I address a couple of envelopes. And then suddenly, I've had it.

This is stupid. This is more than stupid. It's ridiculous. I love Jack. He loves me. I should be there, supporting him. I pick up my coffee and hurry along the corridor. The meeting room is crowded with people, but I edge in at the back, and squeeze between two guys who aren't even watching Jack, but are discussing some football match.

'What are you doing here?' says Artemis, as I arrive at her side. 'What about the phones?'

'No taxation without representation,' I hear myself responding coolly, which perhaps isn't exactly appropriate (I'm not even sure what it means), but has the desired effect of shutting her up.

I crane my neck so I can see over everyone's heads, and my eyes focus on the screen and there he is. Sitting on a chair in a studio, in jeans and a white T-s.h.i.+rt. There's a bright blue backdrop and the words 'Business Inspirations' behind him, and two smart-looking interviewers sitting opposite him.

There he is. The man I love.

This is the first time I've seen him since we slept together, it suddenly occurs to me. But his face is as warm as ever, and his eyes look all dark and glossy under the studio lights.

Oh G.o.d, I want to kiss him.

If no-one else was here I would go up to the television set and kiss it. I honestly would.

'What have they asked him so far?' I murmur to Artemis.

'They're talking to him about how he works. His inspirations, his partners.h.i.+p with Pete Laidler, stuff like that.'

'Sss.h.!.+' says someone else.

'Of course it was tough after Pete died,' Jack's saying. 'It was tough for all of us. But recently ...' He pauses. 'Recently my life has turned around and I'm finding inspiration again. I'm enjoying it again.'

A small tingle runs over me.

He has to be referring to me. He has to be. I've turned his life around! Oh my G.o.d. That's even more romantic than 'I was gripped'.

'You've already expanded into the sports drinks market,' the male interviewer is saying. 'Now I believe you're looking to expand into the women's market.'

'What?'

There's a frisson around the room, and people start turning their heads.

'We're going into the women's market?'

'Since when?'

'I knew, actually,' Artemis is saying smugly. 'Quite a few people have known for a while-'

I stare at the screen, instantly recalling those people up in Jack's office. That's what the ovaries were for. Gosh, this is quite exciting. A new venture!

'Can you give us any further details about that?' the male interviewer is saying. 'Will this be a soft drink marketed at women?'

'It's very early stages,' says Jack. 'But we're planning an entire line. A drink, clothing, a fragrance. We have a strong creative vision.' He smiles at the man. 'We're excited.'

'So, what's your target market this time?' asks the man, consulting his notes. 'Are you aiming at sportswomen?'

'Not at all,' says Jack. 'We're aiming at ... the girl on the street.'

'The "girl on the street"?' The female interviewer sits up, looking slightly affronted. 'What's that supposed to mean? Who is this girl on the street?'

'She's twenty-something,' says Jack after a pause. 'She works in an office, takes the tube to work, goes out in the evenings and comes home on the night bus ... just an ordinary, nothing-special girl.'

'There are thousands of them,' puts in the man with a smile.

'But the Panther brand has always been a.s.sociated with men,' chips in the woman, looking sceptical. 'With compet.i.tion. With masculine values. Do you really think you can make the switch to the female market?'

'We've done research,' says Jack pleasantly. 'We feel we know our market.'

'Research!' she scoffs. 'Isn't this just another case of men telling women what they want?'

'I don't believe so,' says Jack, still pleasantly, but I can see a slight flicker of annoyance pa.s.s across his face.

'Plenty of companies have tried to switch markets without success. How do you know you won't just be another one of them?'

'I'm confident,' says Jack.

G.o.d, why is she being so aggressive? I think indignantly. Of course Jack knows what he's doing!

'You round up a load of women in some focus group and ask them a few questions! How does that tell you anything?'

'That's only a small part of the picture, I can a.s.sure you,' says Jack evenly.