bChapter /bb19 /b

Tanya Foster couldn’t quite follow Elissa’s line of thinking. “Why not? Frank’s divorce is bound to shake things up for Atwater Group.”

After all, when the CEO of a publicly tradedpany gets divorced, rumors about share transfers and all sorts of spection fly. The stock price always takes a hit.

Elissa just smiled, the corners of her lips curving up. “You’ll understand soon enough.”

“Alright then, as long as you have a n, I can rx. If things get ugly with Frank, I can step in for you,” Tanya offered.

Elissa shook her head, her smile calm. “Don’t worry. Frank’s not that petty.”

If that scandal hadn’t blown up online, she would’ve been on the back foot. But now, the control was hers. Frank, if only to protect Marcia’s reputation, would agree to the divorce. Things wouldn’t need to get ugly.

Tanya nced at her watch–she still had to meet a client. She gave Elissa a fewst pieces of advice, then headed for the door. Just before leaving, she remembered something, reached over to the passenger seat, and handed Elissa a small gift. “Merry Christmas, darling! I have to run!”

Elissa grinned. “Merry Christmas, Tanya. Drive safe!”

She watched Tanya’s car disappear down the street before hugging the gift to her chest and heading inside.

Edna was just setting dinner on the table. “Dinner’s ready, Mrs. Atwater.”

“Thank you, Edna.”

Elissa had barely answered when she bumped into Marciaing downstairs with Hickey. The two of them were decked out in matching holiday outfits, their posture radiating the same haughty air. The way they looked at Elissa, it was as if she were some pitiful loser.

Hickey wrenched his hand free from Marcia’s grip, bounded down thest few steps, and tossed his head at Elissa. “Nah nah, Uncle Frank’s taking me and Mom out for dinner, and iyou /ihave to stay here all alone! Poor thing!”

He nced gleefully toward the driveway, then tugged at Marcia’s sleeve. “Come on, Mom! Uncle Frank’s here!”

“Sorry, Elissa.”

Marcia’s voice was apologetic, but her stance was alldy of the manor. “Hickey insisted

13:31

Frankie spend Christmas with him, so you’ll have to celebrate on your own–I hope you’re

not too upset.”

“It’s fine,” Elissa replied with an easy smile. “When I was a kid, a priest once told me I’d live a long life, with plenty more Christmases toe.”

With that, she sauntered away, utterly unbothered.

Marcia was caught off guard, then realized the implication–and nearly choked on her own indignation.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was Elissa hinting that she, Marcia, wouldn’t live to see the next holiday? That Elissa would oust her?

Furious, Marcia was about to march over and confront her when she spotted Frank stepping out of his car, his gaze fixed in their direction.

Marcia swallowed her anger, pasted on a smile, and hurried over. “Frankie, let’s go!”

Frank didn’t respond right away.

She hesitated, then realized he was distracted–his eyes hadn’t left Elissa.

Marcia’s nails dug into her palm. Her voice turned brittle. “Frankie, you’re not starting to have feelings for her, are you?”

Frank snapped out of it, frowning slightly. “What are you talking about?”

“You were staring at her just now!”

“Was I?”

He frowned, as if the question surprised him.

Marcia couldn’t shake the feeling that Frank had changed somehow. Before, no matter what she said, he’d always reply thoughtfully. Even at family dinners, if she so much as joked about how he and Elissa seemed close, he’d instantly put half a foot of space

between himself and Elissa.

But now, he just responded with a halfhearted, “Was I?”

Marcia bristled. “You weren’t? I called your name, and you didn’t even hear me.”

“I was just thinking about work,” Frank said, his tone level.

Marcia finally rxed and poked him in the side. “You better not fall for her. Don’t forget what you promised me when we were kids.”

Frank’s expression softened at the memory. “Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten.”