Private Affairs by Michael Judith

Author:Michael, Judith [Michael, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Newspaper publishing, Marriage, Adultery
Publisher: New York : Poseidon Press
Published: 1986-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

Tell Matt? The last time she'd told him about herself—that she had a chance to do her interviews on television—all he'd thought of was how much it would increase her value as a columnist in Rourke's papers.

Anyway, when had they last shared news of their triumphs, or setbacks? Why hadn't she gotten over wanting to do it?

Why should I get over it?

"Lost in thought," Markham observed. "Anything I can share?"

Elizabeth met his eyes again: warm and admiring. "Not yet," she said. "I'm getting used to it."

Four hundred papers. The only way a newspaper writer could break out of home territory and enter millions of households all over the country.

Of course she did that now, on television. And television had that exciting glamour that nothing else matched. But still, newspapers were different. They were tangible; they could be held, savored, clipped, filed. Long after the television set had been turned off, a newspaper story, like a book, could be picked up, re-read, brought to life again.

It all fell into place—her own treasure, her own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—and Elizabeth laughed, a joyous peal that caused others to turn, smiling, because her delight was infectious. "Thank you, Paul. Of course I can enjoy it. I've been dreaming of it since college."

"I'm glad," he said. "I thought I might have to talk you into it. Now tell me about yourself. I've been curious. Where did you learn to talk to people? Where did you learn to listen? Almost no one listens, these days. Most people are so busy thinking about what they'll say next, they can't hear what's going on around them. You're every man's dream: a beautiful woman who listens."

"And what do women dream of?" Elizabeth asked.

"The same thing in reverse. I've never met a woman who thinks a man listens to her with the attention and sympathy she deserves. You do. And you're a stranger, so your beauty isn't threatening."

"If you really believe all that," said Tony, coming up behind them, "how could you wait so long to offer Elizabeth a contract?"

Markham smiled easily. "I had to be convinced that the public would care about people no one ever heard of. I know how many people buy books about Bette Davis, Lee Iacocca, Joan Collins, Jane Fonda, John Belushi; I know how many people turn on their television sets to watch the glamorous, the notorious, the ridiculously wealthy, the criminal . . . or all the above. You should know, Tony; they're your guests."

"That's what I'm known for," Tony said. "And why should I change? I have Elizabeth to delve into the secret thoughts of those waiters over

there, and my gardener, and the man who presses my pants, and all those other people I can never tell apart because they all look exactly alike to me."

Elizabeth gave him a quick look. "Do you really mean that?"

"I do; I can't help it. I was brought up to divide the world into those who are worth knowing—and all the rest.

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