Sideshow
Ashe’s first stop the following morning was at Rockefeller Plaza for a TV interview. Dave picked him up promptly at 5:00 a.m. Ashe had been up an hour earlier to shower and dress in a dark fitted turtleneck shirt under a sleek sports coat, black trousers, and a practiced smile. The bags under his eyes were visible in the bathroom mirror, but there was nothing he could do about that; make-up artists would have to do the rest.
As soon as he let go of her wrists last night, he’d left her apartment. His life resumed with phone calls from California where business was still ongoing due to the time difference. As much as Riley would have loved to have him stay and do her bidding, it wasn’t all fun and games being Ashe Hunter. Especially not when Catriona and Collette had set the wheels of the past in motion, and his career was at risk of combusting.
Over a period of twenty-four hours, the blind item had been the leading topic on online forums, with a consensus that the Dominants in question were probably Ashe and Catriona. It wasn’t a random guess on anyone’s part since they’d had the opportunity to view pictures taken from someone’s phone which had been posted on two other gossip sites. They showed Ashe and Catriona standing facing one another, Ashe’s arm around Riley’s waist. Thankfully, Riley’s face was partially obscured by his shoulder.
Ashe didn’t have to think hard about who had leaked the photos. Just as he’d suspected, Emmet Carsten had been taking pictures of the ‘chance’ meeting from his table. At least Catriona’s reputation as Mistress Cat was the main focus of the forums, though the rumor that he was a fellow Dominant was slowly gaining momentum.
Ashe watched the wall monitor in front of him, the latest weather temperature readings scrolling along the bottom of the screen. Would the very same screen show what the gossip forums were now discussing? Were reporters currently researching everything they could regarding Ashe’s possible BDSM involvement to use in the interview, and once the first news anchor broke it on the show as ‘news,’ would everyone else on his publicity schedule follow suit?
Ashe had four engagements to attend that day: two morning TV shows and one cable news show after lunch, followed by a radio talk show that would be played the following morning. There were also a few hours of round-table interviews at a local hotel, where he’d be talking to reporters from various magazines and newspapers. Betty Forster, his publicist, was running the round-table interviews, which included instructions that no personal questions about Ashe’s private life would be allowed; if a journalist attempted it, their interview would be cut short.
By the time Ashe finished all the interviews, it would be seven in the evening, just in time for dinner with Ben and Lance to discuss more business. Afterward, Ashe planned to return home and go straight to bed. If only Riley were living with him in his Waverly Place condo, seeing her face would be the highlight of his day.
“Someone’s been a naughty boy, I see,” said a familiar voice as Ashe stood in the green room facing a counter laden with sweet rolls and drinks. He’d been debating whether he needed another cup of crappy coffee; because Riley had spoiled him with her creations, it was getting harder to appreciate anyone else’s.
“What are you doing here?” Ashe asked as Gareth walked in, his face just as made-up as Ashe’s. His blond hair barely moved an inch when he brought his arm around Ashe’s shoulder for a casual hug. In normal light they both looked garish, their skin taking on an orange hue, but they knew that beneath the harsh studio lights they would look perfect. In show business, that was all that mattered.
“You’ve forgotten that we once had the same manager,” Gareth laughed. “She scheduled this spot for me to promote Alabama Rain before I let her go, and of course, Lawman’s Creed, the movie I did just after Sentience, so I guess we’ll be bumping into each other for a while. She was thorough, that’s for sure.”
Ashe nodded. “Of course. How are you enjoying New York weather? Does it remind you of the old days?” As soon as he’d asked the question, Ashe winced. To Gareth, the ‘old days’ meant his years with Riley.
If Gareth sensed the way Ashe flinched, he didn’t show it. “Are you kidding me? This weather makes me wish I was back in L.A. right this minute. Come to think of it, I’d be surfing right about now,” he laughed, lowering his voice. “Don’t tell my agent!”
Gareth Roman was being Gareth Roman, the movie star and deadly charmer, ever the entertainer; someone with a mischievous glint in his eyes, who could probably sell ice to Eskimos. His mantra was: What you see is what you get. The very easygoing Gareth Roman was what they saw and got, but he was also a rake, a first-class one, who broke hearts with his unconscious charm. Maybe that was all an act, thought Ashe.
Gareth could be the most clueless asshole one could ever meet, but he was also a good friend or had been until Ashe ended up getting stuck in the elevator with Gareth’s ex-girlfriend, Riley Eames. Ashe hadn’t known it then, and by the time he did the only thing Ashe wanted to do was to get to know her.
“So is it true,” Gareth asked, “this thing with you and Catriona Marks? Were you both into BDSM and all? They’re saying that apparently, Riley’s your latest plaything now.”
The smile on Ashe’s face vanished, to be replaced by a scowl. “You know me better than that, Gareth. Riley’s no plaything, nor will she ever be. Someone intends it to seem that way, and that’s not me.”
“It’s none of my business, really,” Gareth said. “I just wish that Riley knew ahead of time what she was getting into with you.”
“Like she did with you?”
Gareth opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. He took a deep breath and exhaled, glaring at Ashe. “Is it true, though, that you and Catriona used to be together? You two used to do the ‘whips and chains’ thing?”
“What does it matter to you whether I was with her or not, or whether we were both into BDSM or whatever?” Ashe said stiffly. “What I had with Catriona ended five years ago.”
“Look, you gotta ease up, man. Really, you do,” Gareth said as he turned to look behind him, making sure they were alone. He pulled Ashe aside, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Personally, I don’t think it’s anything to be ashamed of; really, I don’t. I think it’s quite hot, you know, being a Dom and all. In fact, it didn’t surprise me at all.”
“What’s your point?”
This time Gareth’s face clouded. “Collette’s got an axe to grind with the two of us. Now, I’m all for the empowerment of older women and happy to see her taking on Catriona to help her succeed where many women of a certain age find it difficult, but you and I need to watch our backs. If Collette and Catriona hurt any of us, Riley gets hurt, too.”
Gareth exhaled, continuing, “That’s the bottom line, man. I don’t want her becoming the sideshow to your drama because believe me, Ashe, you’ll survive it. Your career will survive it, but Riley won’t.”
“You think I’m going to let that happen?”
“I know you’re a control freak, but if you think you can control this, you’re in for a shock,” replied Gareth. “When it comes to Collette and that Dominatrix of yours, you might as well play nice because whether it’s true or not, they’re only going to make this BDSM shit explode in your face.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
Gareth raised an eyebrow at the question. “You already know the answer, but in case you don’t, the best thing to do is do nothing.”
Ashe turned to look at the TV monitor again, knowing Gareth was right. Even Ben had suggested radio silence on all matters regarding Ashe’s past. Not only would any admission or even reaction have an adverse effect on Coriolanus, but it could also affect his upcoming movie roles, three of which already had production schedules arranged for during the year. Ashe’s career was hot, it was true, but that same career could crumble beneath such controversy if he didn’t handle it right.
“Hey, why don’t we play a game? Name me one gay actor,” Gareth said, pausing for effect before continuing. “Now mention one transgender actor.”
Ashe frowned. “What’s your point, Gareth?”
“Now name me an actor with an openly kinky lifestyle,” Gareth said. “Go ahead; tell me.”
Ashe glared at him.
“You can’t name anyone, can you? Even if you could, you won’t. Do you know why that is, Ashe?” asked Gareth. “It’s because no one’s ready to hear it. Even if they were, I don’t want Riley to end up as your ex-girlfriend’s sideshow just so she can get her damn cable series renewed for a second season.”
Ashe turned to look at him. There were a few words to describe Gareth, like ‘cheater,’ for example, because he’d slept with Riley’s sister, Paige, and fathered her triplets. Whatever else he was, though, Gareth Roman wasn’t stupid.
“You do know that’s the only reason she’s doing this, don’t you?” asked Gareth, his serious expression followed by a wide grin. “Well, maybe wanting you back as well, you hot stud!”
Just then, a young production assistant poked her head through the door.
“You’re on in five minutes, Mr. Hunter,” she said before turning to look at Gareth, surprised to see him there. A blush suffused her face. “So that’s where you are, Mr. Roman! And here I was thinking you were interested in learning more about news gathering.”
“But I am, Jen!” Gareth exclaimed. “Really! I’m just saying hello to an old friend.”
“You’ve got one minute,” said Jen, trying to be serious though her blush deepened as Gareth and Ashe flashed their smiles. “You’re supposed to be on the second floor, so you’d better get back up there before you get me into trouble.”
As she shut the door behind her, Ashe turned to face Gareth. “This wasn’t just a chance meeting, was it?”
“Not really, no,” Gareth replied, his expression serious. “I wanted to know if this story about you and Catriona Marks was true, and now that I have my answer, I want to help you get out of this cluster-fuck alive.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I got a call from Sid yesterday; remember, Riley’s father?” said Gareth, taking a step closer and dropping his voice. “He told me that he’d told you about Riley not being his. I don’t care if he’s lying or not, but if Riley finds out that the world she grew up in, where her mother could do nothing wrong, wasn’t even real, then the last thing she needs is to find out that you aren’t either.”
Gareth’s eyes narrowed and he drew closer to study Ashe’s face, his eyes moving down to the stubble that did little to conceal Riley’s nail marks. “God, I hope you didn’t tell her yet.”
“I did.”
“Why?” Veins popped out of Gareth’s neck as he exclaimed. “What were you thinking?”
“Because she deserves to know,” Ashe replied angrily. “Did you really expect me to hide it from her? She’s been through the same sort of thing before, everyone else knowing something that she should have known herself, such as your relationship with Paige.”
“All right, all right, you don’t have to raise your voice,” said Gareth, raising his hands as the door opened again. This time Jen reappeared accompanied by Blaze, another assistant responsible for escorting Ashe to the appropriate stage. Jen threw Gareth a withering look before turning to Ashe and telling him he was on the air in two minutes.
“Blaze will escort you to 1A, Mr. Hunter,” she said. “Good luck!”
As Ashe turned to leave Gareth grabbed him by the upper arm, an act that wasn’t lost on both assistants, who looked away immediately.
“Look, Ashe, I don’t care if you have every confidence in Riley being able to handle this type of news, so much so that you didn’t hesitate to share it with her right away. But shit just got real here, all right? As much as you believe in letting her grow up and finding her own way, or whatever new-age mumbo-jumbo you’re into, learning that you’re really a bastard isn’t the kind of news that anyone can take lightly,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Hell, even I would find it hard to deal with if it were me and that’s saying something because my mother was a whore; but Riley’s mom was a good woman, a decent woman.”
“Are you telling me that Sid lied?”
“Mr. Hunter, we need to go now,” insisted Blaze, pressing a button on his earpiece and muttering something about Ashe arriving at the stage on time.
“If anyone knows, Paige will,” Gareth said as Blaze ushered Ashe toward the door. “And next time you plan to drop any more life-changing news on Riley, call me first, for crying out loud!”