Ashton Scott

Jack’s doctor told me he needs routine, so I’m going to give it to him. Day by day, hour by hour, I’m going to be by his side, helping him, annoying him, frustrating him, pissing him off, and anything else he needs to get back to a good place. We’re going to do this together.

* * *

I manage to convince Jack to watch a movie with me after we take our walk on the beach. After it ends, around 5:00 p.m., he heads back to his bedroom, but not before I tell him we’re ordering Thai for dinner. It’s my way of letting him know I expect him to eat, because I’m fairly sure if I leave him to his own devices, he’ll skip dinner and not leave his room again until morning.

I’ve just made myself a coffee and logged in to check my emails when Jessica calls.

“So, it’s Asshole Wednesday here, because Ryan Shandwick has fucked Lorelei in the ass, and let me tell you, she won’t be getting any joy from it,” she says before I can get a word in. It takes a lot to get Jessica furious, but by the way her words are coming out in an angry torrent, it seems Shandwick has managed that.

“What’s happened?” He’s shady, but so far we haven’t been able to find something to convince Lorelei of this.

“The Herald is breaking a story tomorrow about the high levels of corruption in the State government, and their main focus is the development Lorelei’s tied up with. From what I know, they’ll be splashing photos of her with the politicians from a party she attended recently. Shandwick used that night to introduce her to them while using her grandmother’s reputation to h

elp sway their approval for this development. He’s also thrown a lot of cash their way, but the fact he’s really pushed Lorelei as the face of it all will ensure this hits her harder than him.”

Fuck.

“I’ll take care of this. Is there anything else I need to know about?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, there is.” The anger in her voice eases, and I hear what sounds like satisfaction. “I dug up some dirt on Shandwick for you. It seems he has a thing for underage girls, in particular, the daughter of one of his business partners. I’ve emailed some photos to you. Have fun with that, and you’re welcome.”

We end the call, and I open the email she sent. Jessica really is a rock star when it comes to her job. This is exactly what I’ll need to help get Lorelei out of this mess.

I search the contacts in my phone until I find the one I need. The editor of The Sydney Morning Herald. I’ve had him on my list to call since one of his reporters published that story about Cassia and me, but I’ve been busy with Jack. Now he can help me with two things.

“Ashton Scott,” he answers the phone, a smile in his voice. “It’s been a while since we’ve spoken.”

Robert Carmody and I enjoy a friendly relationship. Mostly because I help him out when I can, connecting him with people in my network. Today, that friendly relationship may end. The smile in his voice will certainly disappear.

“Robert, I’ve got a problem I need your help with.”

“Go on.”

“You’re printing a story tomorrow that features Lorelei Winters and Ryan Shandwick. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“It needs to be rewritten. Lorelei Winters has nothing to do with Shandwick or that development.”

“That’s not what our sources are telling us. I’ve got photos and emails confirming everything.”

“Your sources are wrong. Just like they were wrong about Cassia Brampton and me over the weekend. That article was a complete fabrication, and I’m less than impressed you would run it without confirming information with me first.”

“We had photos, Ashton. And Cassia confirmed it. Just the same as we have with this article. Photos and confirmation from some reputable people.” His voice turns firm when he adds, “I’m not pulling it.”

“Yes, you are. Otherwise, you and I are done. And since my contacts are invaluable to you, I know how much this will affect you and the paper.”

That quietens him for a moment. “I’m guessing the stories I’ve heard about you being tied up with Lorelei Winters are true, then. I have to say it surprises me that you would put a woman before business, because these kinds of threats you’re making don’t sit well with me, and I’d hate to see how that affects you down the track.” His anger bleeds through the line, but nothing he says convinces me I’m taking the wrong course of action.

“Rewrite the article and take Lorelei’s name out of it completely. And while you’re at it, fire that reporter who wrote that trash piece. I never want to see her name on a byline again.”

His fury is evident when he snaps, “There’s going to come a time when you need me, Ashton. When that time comes, don’t fucking call.”

The line goes dead, and I immediately key in the number Jessica emailed me for Shandwick. He answers almost straight away.

“Shandwick.”

“Ryan, it’s Ashton Scott. We need to have a little talk.”