Chapter 11
The office was empty when Elias stepped off the lift on Monday morning. Carrying a cappuccino in one hand and his briefcase in the other, he navigated through the quiet floor to his shared office with Ava.
She wasn’t in yet so he took the moment of solitude to turn on his computer, sort through unread emails, and attempt to wipe the memories of Saturday night from his mind. Images of Ava’s milk-white body writhing underneath him replayed like a movie, haunting him whenever he closed his eyes.
For two days, the guilt had chipped away at his resolve, pushing him to come clean to Daisy. But he feared her suspicions were already aroused. After breakfast, they strolled Bondi beach where she interrogated him further about the fundraiser, asking what he did, where he sat, who he danced with. Elias deserved it. He’d cheated on the one woman who supported and loved him no matter what.
The office door opened, and Ava strutted into the room, handbag hooked over her arm, eyes shaded by designer sunglasses. “Good morning,” she said, dumping her empty takeaway coffee cup in the bin. She slid her glasses down her nose and tossed him a smile. “How was the rest of your weekend?”
“Ava, we need to talk.”
She dropped her purse onto her desk and let out a sigh. “I’m not two feet inside the office and you’re already brooding. What’s wrong? You’re not worried out about Saturday night, are you?”
“Daisy suspects we slept together,” Elias blurted.
“What?” Ava removed her sunglasses and tossed them onto her desk. “I was talking about the prime minister getting plastered in front of the photographers. He’s going to regret that behaviour when the photos come out.” She switched on her PC, her gaze fixed on him. “Did you tell Daisy about us?”
“Of course not.”
“How do you know she’s suspicious?”
Elias drained the remains of his lukewarm coffee—wishing he had something stronger—and approached her desk, towering over her. “I’ve known this woman since we were teenagers. I can read her like a book. She knows. I can’t keep lying to her.”
Ava’s eyes shadowed with hurt. “Are you ashamed of what happened between us? We were drunk.”
“And that makes it okay? I’m sorry, Ava. Saturday night was a mistake. I never should’ve allowed my feelings to get in the way of our relationship.” He swallowed the lump in his throat, fearing what he was going to say next. His life could change in a heartbeat. “I think it’s best I resign before the shit hits the fan.”
The colour returned to Ava’s cheeks and she stood up to match him, a vicious fire burning behind her green eyes. “I’m not going to accept that, Elias. From what I recall, you were the one who instigated the first move. You couldn’t keep your hands off me!”
“Ava, I didn’t know what I was—”
A knock sounded at the door, silencing them both. Blake Parker popped his head into the room tentatively as if he’d heard their entire conversation. “Ava, I’m sorry to interrupt. We’re waiting for you in the boardroom. The editorial meeting’s about to start.”
Ava pursed her lips into a thin line. “I thought the meeting started at nine-thirty. I’m in the middle of something here. Can you wait ten more minutes?”
Blake’s eyes snapped towards Elias and back at Ava. “I guess we can. Will Elias be joining us?”
“No, he’s got calls to make this morning. We’ve been inundated with emails and calls from people who attended the fundraiser. I want Elias to mend fences with the press too. Everyone needs to know Blue Tail is moving on from the scandal.”
Elias remained in his seat, watching Ava gather her tablet before leaving with Blake. She tossed him a glance over her shoulder as she closed the door. He wanted to reach an understanding about Saturday night. He didn’t want to spend all day on the phone or kissing the asses of newspaper editors. He’d already betrayed Daisy and the guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders. Quitting his job seemed like the logical thing to do. He had gained enough experience at Blue Tail to find a similar role elsewhere. But he couldn’t justify leaving the company yet. He had only seen the tip of the iceberg. The scandal was still fresh on people’s minds and he had heaps of publicity and event ideas to tackle the lingering stigma. Above all, he felt indebted to Ava. She had given him what he craved most: a fulfilling and rewarding career.
As Elias turned his computer on and scrolled through his unread emails, it terrified him to think that it wasn’t the company he was prepared to part with. It was Ava. Their one night of passion might’ve been a mistake, but he couldn’t get it out of his head, imprinted on his memory like a tattoo—the yearning in Ava’s eyes, the hunger in her kisses, her heart pounding against his chest.
He was determined to keep those memories buried and the harsh reality that went with them. If Daisy ever found out, she would leave him. But worst of all, if her father got involved, Elias had little chance of seeing the next sunrise.
~ ~ ~
A soft breeze carried the crisp aroma of saltwater air, filling the beach-side café. It was busy for Saturday morning, with surfers, joggers and couples spilling onto the veranda, drinking coffee and eating breakfast. The laid-back atmosphere was stimulating, unparalleled to Sydney’s bustling orchestra of car horns, loud music, and industry.
“Do you want another coffee, honey?” Karen asked, nibbling on the remains of her chocolate chip cookie. “I can go for another one.”
“I’m fine, Mum,” Elias replied as he sipped his lukewarm cappuccino. “I’m still going with this one. I don’t think I can have another cup.”
“If you’re not having one, I won’t either.” Karen pushed her empty plate aside so she could lean on the table. “So tell me more about your new job. You haven’t told me anything since your first week. I get all my gossip from the magazines. Are you still enjoying it?”
After a big week of fighting his conflicting emotions, Elias decided some time away might ease the tightness in his chest. On Friday night, he drove up the coast to spend the weekend with his mother. A part of him felt bad for leaving everything behind—his girlfriend, unresolved issues with Ava, and his work phone—but his mental health was dependent on this respite.
Elias tore at his napkin underneath the table. “It’s hard work and I’m rarely home before seven most nights, but I’m enjoying it.” He tossed his mother a wayward smile. “I wanted a challenging job and I got one.”
A spot above Karen’s manicured eyebrow ticked. “I hope you don’t work too hard, honey,” she said, patting his arm. “I worry about your health. You work too hard. You burned out in your last job, remember? Does Ava Wolfe treat you well? I’ve read many things about her in the papers.”
Elias tried to hide the involuntary blush in his cheeks. “Ava’s very good to me. I get paid for any overtime and I’m the only one in the office who gets ninety-minute lunch breaks. But in return, I’m on call twenty-four/seven and must have my work phone on me at all times. Whatever Ava needs, Ava gets.”
“She sounds high maintenance,” Karen said. “Do you enjoy working for her?”
“She’s not a bad person. The media portrays her as this ruthless, man-eating bombshell. She’s nothing like that. She’s a hardworking businesswoman trying to keep her multimillion-dollar company afloat.”
Karen’s lips thinned. “Please see your situation from my point of view. You’re my only child and I want the best for you. The last thing I want is for you to be exploited or taken advantage of. It happened quite a bit when you were younger.”
“Do you mean the fish and chip shop owned by the bikies? Okay, working long hours without pay was a mistake,” Elias said, “but I had to learn things the hard way. I’m a grown man, Mum, and I don’t regret making the decision leaving the studio. I was bored doing the same thing every day. At least with Blue Tail, I’m meeting new people and building my career.”
“What does Daisy think of your job?” Karen questioned. “Before you resigned from the studio, you were thinking about getting back together. I want grandchildren before I’m eighty, Elias.”
As much as Elias wanted to bury the memories of his night with Ava, he realised he was never going to be free of them. Every time he looked at Daisy, he saw Ava’s face twisting in pleasure. He couldn’t even touch her without recalling the soft curves of Ava’s milky white skin. Unwillingly, he had welcomed Ava into his soul.
“I’m working on my relationship with Daisy right now,” he said. “The long hours apart are making it hard, but I’m willing to make it work. She doesn’t understand what I do so it’s difficult to explain why I call clients at one a.m. or duck out at midnight to pick up a report.”
“Do you love her?”
Elias hesitated for a second and inwardly hated himself for it. “Yes, I do.”
“Oh, Elias.” The disapproval in Karen’s voice raked across his skin. “I can read you like a book, my boy.” She reached across the table and squeezed his hands. “It’s cruel to lead someone on, especially when it comes to love. You need to spend some time to think if this relationship is really going to work. If you love Daisy, you need to make a sacrifice somewhere else. Come home when she expects you and go on a holiday together. If you think it’s hard work now, just wait until you’re married.”
Elias tossed back his cold coffee and welcomed the bitter, milky taste. He didn’t know what he wanted anymore. Leaving Sydney for the weekend meant he left his emotions behind, but they always followed him, like his guilt.
“Mr. Elias Dorne?” A man materialised by Elias’s shoulder, casting a shadow across the table. “May I speak with you for a minute?”
Elias glanced up and noticed the notepad and mobile in the stranger’s hands. “Who’s asking?”
“I’m Mike Corden from The Coastal Times. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
Elias shot his mother a quick glance. “I’m off-duty today, mate. I’m with my mother. Call the office on Monday and I’ll speak to you then.”
Mike cleared his throat and tucked his notepad into his jeans pocket. “Look, my editor’s been riding my ass about coming up with a good piece and I can’t go back to him empty handed. I want to hear more about Blue Tail Media and its climb back to the top.” He grinned widely. “It will make for a great profile piece. My readership covers all of the coast.”
“Where did you say you were from again?”
“Coastal Times.”
Elias let out a sigh. “Maybe some other time.”
Karen turned in her seat and patted Mike’s arm. “It’s okay, honey. You can take my chair.”
“Mum?”
She pushed her chair back and stood up, slipping her sunglasses on. “It’s fine, Elias. I’ll leave you boys to it. I’ll meet you outside the ice cream shop in half an hour.”
Elias watched his mother retreat down the road as the journalist took her seat. She owed him big time for this.
“I promise I won’t be long,” Mike said excitedly, placing his mobile on the table between them. “I appreciate you taking the time for me.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” Elias replied dryly.
“Your mother is a wonderful woman,” Mike preened, ordering himself a coffee as a waiter appeared with a menu. “I can only imagine you’ve inherited a lot of her charming traits.”
“Please start this interview,” Elias pressed, growing incredibly frustrated. “I would like to get back to her.”
“Of course. Do you mind if I record this conversation?”
“No.”
Mike pressed a button on his phone. “This is Mike Corden with The Coastal Times sitting with Elias Dorne of Blue Tail Media.” He flipped open his notepad, his pen hovering above the paper. “Mr. Dorne, I would like to start with your previous position at disgraced television show Manny Magpie. You resigned shortly after the studio was outed in the scandal involving the presenter. Was it your intention abandoning the studio when it needed you?”
“I never abandoned it,” Elias insisted. “I was there from the day they aired their first program. Bill Gander gave me a chance when no one else would. I supported the company during the incident and moved on when I was satisfied I had done all that I could. I’m not the type of man to turn my back on the people who helped build my career.”
“Speaking of that, I’ve been hearing your name pop up in certain circles. In such a short time, you’ve created a solid career in the industry. It's quite impressive. Can you describe your job title at Blue Tail?”
Elias cleared his throat and leaned towards the phone. “I’m the Director of Communications. My role involves event management, content control, sales and public relations.”
“Were you employed when the Bobbie Hayes scandal hit the papers?”
“No, I was hired afterwards.”
“Doing what?”
“What I said before.”
Mike’s lips twitched before he scribbled on his notepad. “Blue Tail Media’s reputation was very rocky after the scandal. The company’s stocks plummeted and its portfolio halved. Ava Wolfe was appointed CEO after extensive years in business. Do you think she’s succeeded at rebuilding Blue Tail’s public image?”
Elias swallowed the lump in his throat. “Ms. Wolfe is a strategic businesswoman. She understands the market and its fluctuations, and after owning businesses in the past, she recognises consumer strengths. She handled the scandal very graciously.”
Elias saw his mother round the corner and shot her an unspoken plea to rescue him from the intrusive journalist. Instead, she flashed him a smile, waved, and stepped into a gift shop.
Mike didn’t seem to notice, asking another question. “The Daily News said that last weekend’s charity fundraiser was a brazen move for popularity. Why do you think it defied the critics and became a newsworthy success?”
“The company has loyal shareholders,” Elias replied. “We provided a quality night with good food and good entertainment. People respond well to charity.”
“What’s your background, Elias?” Mike pressed, with a brief smile. “Tell me more about you. Are you single, married, have children?”
Elias rarely did interviews for this reason. He understood human interest stories sold newspapers, but he was a businessman, not a celebrity, and he wanted this chance to promote the company instead. No personal crap. “I would prefer not to say, Mike. I doubt your readers would care about my childhood.”
“You’ll be surprised, Elias. My readership may be purely business but they are people too.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Look, I promise I won’t ask about your first kiss or job, I just want to know more about your family, especially your lovely mother.”
Elias sighed. “Fine, I’ll comply but not everything I say is to be published. My family life is private. Got it?”
Mike gave him a curt nod. “You have my word.” He cleared his throat and consulted his notepad. “Okay, let’s continue.”
As Elias described his sibling-free, nomadic, and chilled childhood to the enthused journalist, Karen made her way back to the café, carrying multiple shopping bags in her hands. She pulled out a chair beside Mike and listened intently as he threw questions at Elias about the origin of his passion for media. They’d been sitting for an hour when Mike asked one question that sent a cold rush through Elias’s body.
“What’s your relationship with Ava Wolfe?”
“What-what do you mean?” He hoped the quiver in his voice wasn’t noticeable.
“I saw the pictures of the fundraiser. You and Ava looked pretty close.”
“We have a strictly—”
“Elias has always been a ladies’ man,” Karen interjected proudly, squeezing his arm. “I’m not surprised women are attracted to him. Even as a child, those big, blue eyes got a lot of attention from females.”
“Mum!” Elias exclaimed. “This is a business meeting, not a celebrity interview.”
“It can be,” Mike said with a smile. “Now, answer my question. What’s your relationship with Ms. Wolfe? She has quite a reputation in the industry for her—”
“All right, I’ve had enough,” Elias interjected, slamming his fist on the table. “Mike, I’m assuming you have everything you want?”
“I do for now.” A disappointed frown pulled at his lips. “Do you have a business card if I need to clarify things?”
Elias removed a card from his wallet, slapping it onto the table. “Call me during office hours. Only office hours.”
Mike gathered his things and shot out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Elias. I’ll email you a copy of the article when it’s published.”
“When will that be?”
Mike hooked his canvas bag over his shoulder. “Next week sometime. We go to print this afternoon.” He turned to Karen and shook her hand. “It was lovely meeting you, Mrs. Dorne. I appreciate you giving up your breakfast so I can interview your son.”
Karen let out a girlish giggle. “My pleasure. Anytime.”
Elias bit back a groan and slipped into his jacket hanging on the back of his chair. “Come on, Mum. We’ve got a movie to catch.” He turned to Mike. “We'll be in touch.”
“I look forward to it.” Then Mike leaned in, squeezed Elias’s shoulder, and whispered, “You’re fucking brilliant, you know that?”
“I’m what?”
“Hooking up with the boss. It’s done wonders to your career.”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Mike. I’m not sleeping with Ava.”
A knowing sneer pulled at the journalist’s lips. “You can play dumb all you want, Elias. I have photographic evidence. There are more than a few staff at Pameer Hotel who are willing to go the extra mile for some dough.”
“What are you talking about?” Elias’s heart raced anxiously as he replayed Saturday night in his head. The hotel was plagued with cameras, and he was discreet until he reached Ava’s room. What type of evidence did Mike have? A kiss could be easily explained, but something more would tear at the seam.
“Nothing happened,” he hissed, “and if I read anything about this in your article, I will sue you for defamation.”
Mike’s grin got wider. “Calm down, mate. Only yanking your chain.” He spun on his heels. “I’ll call you soon. Got an article to write!”