The last Spark of Summer

By Judithe Williamson

Lies and drugs, tricks, whatever it takes to run a successful man's magazine. It was a man's world or so it seemed.

Elizabeth and her friend from college Josie picked up the pieces and tackled the job.

They were successful until strange things began to happen.

But together they proved women could run things when necessary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamondback Publishers International
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201635435

Book preview

Chapter 1

J.F.R.

Gone are the blossoms,

Gone is the sun;

Gone are the geese,

For their long winter run;

Elizabeth looked with an appreciative eye around her office, liking what she saw. The morning sun was streaming through the windows and dancing across her desk, making everything seem bright and cheerful. The gold drapes and matching rug, seemed to enhance the deep mahogany of her desk and the book cases that lined one wall of her office, there was a sofa in rich gold and rust tones against the opposite wall with matching arm chairs in front of her desk. Everything seemed to blend together, even to the bar that was hidden discretely behind a mirrored wall.

Elizabeth swiveled around in her chair and gazed out the floor to ceiling windows at the tops of the buildings below. She watched as a pigeon came to her small balcony and walked across to the feeder she had put out there with an assortment of seeds for all of the birds. Elizabeth reached in to the bottom drawer of her desk for the seeds she always kept there and scooped some up on a dish for that purpose, then getting up from her chair she crossed to the window and opened it giving her access to the small balcony outside, stepping out she tipped the dish of seeds into the feeder thus filling it for the birds. She looked down to the street below and thought about taking the rest of the day off, but she couldn’t just leave, too much depended on her. So she returned to her office and closed and locked the window again firmly. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirrored wall opposite, she admitted that she did indeed look the part of an executive at least, in her navy blue suit and matching heels to the pale yellow blouse, her hair was pulled back in a bun at the nape of her neck, with a no-nonsense hair clasp to hold it in place. How long had it been now since she had taken control of this poor failing magazine and made it into what it was today. She boasted of over one hundred employees on the premises and a few more in the field, it had been at her insistence that a special room was set up for single parents to bring their children, and day care was provided for them. Mothers could visit during their morning breaks if they wished and share lunch time with their little one if they desired. This was provided as a bonus to single or low income parents that found it difficult to make ends meet and paying most of their salaries out for child care. There had been a lot of opposition at the beginning, but she had been firm in regards to this point and found that it had paid off in the end as there were fewer absentees this way. The only thing that had proven difficult was running this company in such a devious manner. It was too bad that a woman in business had to resort to such tactics, she thought as she glanced toward the closed door on one wall of her office, marked ‘private’.

She looked back around toward the balcony; yes the birds were out there. Those little brown sparrows and the pigeons all seemed to be getting along quite well, she thought just as the phone rang. Elizabeth swung back to her desk and picked up the receiver, speaking in a business like tone, Hello? She listened for a few minutes commenting briefly before hanging up and buzzing her intercom. She waited briefly then swore ‘damn’ silently to herself. She rose and strode to the door swinging it open with some force and then she stormed out the door and down the hall a couple of doors, she knocked lightly and walked in not waiting for a reply. Walking past the secretaries with barely a nod toward either of them she went directly to the door marked, managing editor, and walked in unannounced. ‘Josephine M. Scott’, managing editor, it said on the plaque on the desk of the woman whose office Elizabeth had just entered. Miss Scott, was however on the phone and merely smiled, and motioned to a chair, as she continued her conversation. It was several minutes later before she hung up and turned back toward Elizabeth.

Well, what happened to you, she asked Elizabeth? You look as if you lost your best friend and the world has come to an end all at once.

For starters, my secretary quit last Friday to get married, and I need one now.

You need one now? A wedding or a husband, joked Josephine?

Without bothering to acknowledge, Josephine’s comment, she went on to say; She went and got herself pregnant.  Haven’t any of these young women heard of the pill? That’s the third one in the last two years.

I don’t think they plan it that way, E.L., and I don’t think she did it by herself. I heard somewhere it takes two to tango. Now what else is wrong?

Charlie was due back last Friday, and there’s been no word from him yet. I need him I can’t run this place alone.

Gee thanks a lot; somehow I always thought I was helping too. Does this mean I’m just a pretty face around here? I’ve never been called a pretty face anywhere before, so this will be a first. Beyond that there are over a hundred employees on the premises at this moment and more in the field, also suppliers, and delivery men, not to mention the advertising crew, photographers, and writers. Alone; seems sort of odd coming from you E.L... What’s really up?

"Oh you know what I mean Josie; on top of that Allan is pressuring me for an answer too. I’m not ready to make that commitment, and though I like him and he’s fun to be with, I don’t like him enough to settle down and get married. That new camping outfit wants an answer, we can’t afford to turn down a large advertisement like theirs either. But unless I can put our seal of approval on it, I don’t want to advertise it in our magazine. We have been lucky so far and except for that campaign last month, we have had some good things to tell about in our magazine.

Charlie was supposed to be testing all of that fishing gear, and looking into that new game reserve as well. Hills and Rivers Magazine will get the ad if we don’t hurry and get this article out. After that last little ordeal we can’t afford to take chances either."

Okay first, I have sent word to the agency, and they have sent over several applicants that are being interviewed even as we speak. I wouldn’t worry about Charlie, you know how he is, or should I say isn’t, about being punctual. He’s the only man I know that will probably be late for his own funeral. He also sent over a report on that fishing gear, so that’s one less worry. As for Allan, that’s a decision you have to make all by yourself. But if you want my advice, you already know what I think of him.

Yes I know what you think, she said laughing. I guess I just needed a sounding board. I really have made my decision, I’ve waited too long and worked too hard to leave now and get married. Besides I don’t think I care enough about him or anyone to commit  myself to one person yet. Did I tell you he offered me a job all that is needed is for me to quit working for Mr. Fredrick’s and maybe bring him some information at the same time?

Nice guy, you didn’t tell him what to do with his offer? You would not have hesitated to do that to anyone else.

Well I thought about it several times, She laughed, But I thought maybe I would give him enough rope to hang himself. Or perhaps I am being too suspicious. I should have known you would be on top of everything else, and all of my problems would be solved as usual. I guess that means there is nothing else for me to worry about. So how come I have this odd feeling, that something isn’t quite right?

It’s all part of the job, E.L., and I don’t know why you are still worried. Could it be you just remembered it’s your turn to buy lunch, and you haven’t even decided where we are going yet?

Morning dawned with still no word from Charlie, with the exception that he had sent the report on the fishing gear by messenger. Elizabeth had not seen Allan to tell him of her decision, and there was still no sign of her new secretary yet. Josie knocked, and then entered Elizabeth’s office going immediately to an arm chair and sinking in it with a deep sigh. Elizabeth looked at her friend, nodding absently at this petite stylish woman, whose short brown hair curled around her face in a sort of pixie style. She was always bright and cheerful, no matter what seemed to go wrong and she seemed to manage to fix every problem that arose alone. It had been one of the smartest moves Elizabeth had ever made, moving Josie up as Managing Editor.

She had worked for the previous owners, but due to the fact she was a woman, had gone as far up the corporate ladder as was possible, that, being secretary for the editor. Women did not run businesses, it just wasn’t done. They lacked drive and dedication and were much too busy having babies and cooking to really know what hard work was.

Let me guess, it’s your turn to be upset, right?

We finally heard from Charlie, a few minutes ago, she said, biting her lower lip, and hanging her head slightly. I just got off the phone with him, he is in the hospital, she whispered with a slight tremor in her voice.

The Hospital, My God what happened? Is he all right?

"Now who’s excited? He’s going to be all right. He broke his leg and will be laid up for awhile. I don’t usually get upset, you know that. It just caught me off