Echoes of Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

were over, and Stephen showed them to their seats, Madison turned on the screen and began the presentation.
    Stephen didn’t take over exactly, but he added comments with each slide, going into more detail than what they had gone over just hours ago. As the presentation continued, Stephen got more and more animated, taking her ideas and elaborating on them. As he got into it, Madison could see that his enthusiasm was contagious, and the representatives from Doewin were practically eating out of his hands. The woman especially.
    They’d be signing with Carlson Agency for sure, but Madison fumed inside. How could he do this to her? Mr. Carlson looked impressed with Stephen, yet rarely even glanced at Madison, making her fear she might be in jeopardy of losing footing with her boss, yet the ideas had almost all been hers in the first place.
    As the presentation wrapped up, Madison felt like her only role in the whole thing had morphed into changing screens while Stephen got the clients laughing at the potential commercials they could do. She admired and hated him for it.
    Mr. Carlson leaned forward in his seat and took control of the conversation as Madison closed the presentation. “As you can see, you’d be in good hands with Carlson Ad Agency. What do you say?”
    The woman glanced at the man to the side of her. He nodded, and she leaned back and crossed her long legs under the table. “I’m very impressed and believe we can go far together.”
    “Wonderful news, Ms. Daws,” Mr. Carlson said. “We’ve got a standard contract written. Madison will get it to you. Have your legal department check it over, and we’ll meet again tomorrow to sign if you’re in agreement.”
    Ms. Daws’ eyes widened in surprise. Most clients expressed appreciation that they weren’t bullied into signing anything right away and always came back to say the contract was fair and generous. It was something that made Madison happy to work for Carlson Ad Agency.
    Stephen looked surprised as well. Before he could speak and ruin their tradition, Madison stood and shook hands with Mr. Gregor and began walking toward the door. “If you have any questions, give me a call. We’re looking forward to working together.”As Madison pulled out her wallet for the business card, her driver’s license slipped out and fell to the floor.
    “Thank you, Madison.” The representatives from Doewin took the business card, shook her hand, and then left the room.
    Stephen, out of nowhere, bent down to pick up the driver’s license and Madison cringed. As his fingers reached it, he slowed down and took a moment to lift it. His gaze never left the card, and Madison had a horrible feeling he was checking out her weight.
    She’d lied on it of course, but it still wasn’t something she wanted him to think about, or even notice. Madison held her hand out for the license, and Stephen’s eyes met hers, searching her face in a way that made her uncomfortable.
    “Bea?” His voice was soft and unsure, nothing like it had been moments before during the presentation.
    Madison closed her eyes. Of course he would have seen her legal name. And now he’d finally made the connection as to who she was. Did she admit she remembered him, or pretend she was just now coming to put two and two together?
    “Yes,” Madison said. “My name is Beatrice. I go by Madison at work, though.”
    “You’re the Bea from King, Montana, where my grandparents lived.”
    Madison scrambled once more, trying to decide the best way to deal with this mess. It would have been much better for him to have never remembered her. Now they’d have all that awkward stuff from their past.
    “Yes.” Madison sighed. “One and the same.”
    Stephen’s gaze roamed her face and hair. “You were brunette back then. And a skinny little—” He stopped short and blushed and cleared his throat. She’d been a little on the awkward side and a bit of a late bloomer. “You remember me,