Depths of Deceit

by Kellie Wallace

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!”

  Chapter 12

  Ava stretched out across the mattress like a cat, grinning wickedly at the hot body standing in front of her. Butt naked, Liam searched the room for his discarded clothes. His back was a patchwork of scratches and bites from their passionate lovemaking. The sheets smelled of perfume and sweat with an undertone of sex. She had to get out of the habit of calling Liam when she needed a warm body. Her black book of lovers was almost bursting but he was reliant and accessible, abandoning everything else for a roll in the hay. However, there was one man she wanted to call before considering her ex. She just didn’t think Elias would accept her offer.

  Ava rolled onto her stomach and reached for her mobile on the bedside table. It was six a.m. “Liam, I gotta get ready for work. I’m running late.”

  Liam picked up his T-shirt hanging off the dresser. “Is that your subtle way of kicking me out?”

  Ava climbed off the bed and gave him a curt kiss on his cheek. “Yes, it is. But don’t get used to sleeping over. Last night was a one-time thing.”

  “You say that every time we hook up.”

  “I mean it this time.” Ava walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

  “Have you met someone?” Liam inquired on the other side. “You always give me the cold shoulder when you’ve slept with another guy.”

  Ava stared at herself in the mirror, observing her wild, tangled hair and kiss-stained mouth. All she could think about was Elias. Ever since their night together his face had plagued her memory. She wanted him. Wanted more.

  “It’s none of your business.” She waited a beat as she turned on the shower. “I’m taking my car into work so you’ll have to find your way to the office.”

  When Ava exited the bathroom ten minutes later, Liam was gone. She dressed, put on her makeup, and picked up a takeaway coffee at the café down the road.

  Elias was already sitting at his desk when she walked into the office. He was dressed in a dark-blue business suit that matched the hue of his eyes. His black hair was brushed off his forehead. He glanced up when she entered and smiled.

  “Good morning, Ava.”

  “Morning, Elias. You had a good weekend at your parents’?”

  “It was interesting.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  He tossed her a rolled-up newspaper. “I got propositioned yesterday by an eager journalist.”

  “Oh?” Ava sat down at her desk and opened the newspaper. “What am I looking for?”

  “Go to page six.”

  She hastily flipped through The Coastal Times and gasped at Elias’s face splashed across the two-page spread. “What is this? I didn’t authorise any press.”

  “I didn’t have a choice,” Elias argued. “I was having breakfast with Mum when a journalist named Mike Cordon appeared at the table asking for an impromptu interview.”

  Ava rolled her eyes. “Jesus, not him again. I thought it might’ve been Mike when I saw the paper.”

  “Do you have history?”

  “Mike was fresh out of university when he called one day looking for a story. Apparently, I didn’t get the memo because Mike’s persistence had rippled across the publishing world, pissing a lot of editors off. He was desperate to bring anything to his new boss. So I obliged and he attached to me like a weed. Mike’s like a bad smell. You can’t get rid of him.”

  “He was very insistent,” Elias remarked. “In fact, he took a seat and joined Mum and I like we’d invited him.”

  Ava shook her head distastefully. “I’m familiar with the leeches who write for Coastal Times. In the past, I’ve been approached at the salon or petrol station. Nothing stops them when it comes to a story.”

  “Are you angry at me for doing it?” Elias asked.

  “It depends on what he wrote in the article.” Ava sipped her coffee and read the headline under her breath: Young Gun Saves Disgraced Publisher. The article was well written, showcasing Elias in an attractive and professional light. “Don’t let his cool, blue eyes fool you,” she continued out loud. “Elias Dorne may not be making waves in the publishing world yet, but the twenty-seven-year-old is riding the wave to success. As the second-in-command under Blue Tail Media CEO Ava Wolfe, Dorne built a career from the cinders of the nationalised Bobby Hayes scandal. With his extensive background in the industry, he rescued the sinking ship Wolfe spent months trying to salvage.” Ava lowered the paper and locked a hardened gaze on Elias. “What is this bullshit? You didn’t save this company. I did!”

  “Calm down, I didn’t know he was going to write that,” he shot back, looking genuinely hurt at her response. “In fact, I spoke very little at all.” He approached her desk and tapped the article. “I was very careful in what I said, Ava. I know the company is recovering but I thought it was a good opportunity to promote Blue Tail positively. It’s another form of advertising.”

  “I can see hardly any mention of Blue Tail,” Ava argued. “This article is practically a dating profile! Look, he’s listed your likes, dislikes, what you do on the weekends.” She paused as she skimmed the page, her lips twitching upwards. “But I cannot see any mention of Daisy.”

  “I didn’t disclose our relationship.”

  “Why not?”

  “He didn’t ask and it’s none of Cordon’s business.” A muscle ticked in Elias’s jaw as he sat back down at his desk. “If you read the article, you will find that your name is mentioned more times than mine.”

  A flame of hope ignited in Ava’s chest at the nonchalance in his voice. “I would expect so. I practically built your image.”

  He smiled at her cheeky wink. “Anyway, the article should help with exposure so I’m going to let this one slide. Next time, I expect a call.” Ava finished her coffee and made a few phone calls to advertisers, keeping Elias’s strong silhouette in her peripheral vision. His mere presence had made her stomach flutter when she skimmed the article when he wasn’t looking. He had called her a strategic businesswoman, which was one of the nicest things anyone had said about her. Every word written or said about her had a critical undertone. She couldn’t do anything right in the eyes of the public or the board. But she always had Elias’s loyalty. Their relationship had blossomed way before their liaison
at the fundraiser. She felt safe and human around him. She wanted him so much it hurt. There was only one obstacle in the way: Daisy.

  Her office phone buzzed and she welcomed the distraction, picking up the receiver. “Good morning, this is Ava.”

  “Miss Wolfe, my name is Mary. I’m calling from Event Sydney. How are you?”

  Ava bit back a sigh, wondering how an unsolicited phone call made it past the girl outside her office. “I’m well, but I cannot talk right now. I’ll transfer you back to my receptionist.”

  “Miss Wolfe,” Mary insisted, “I promise to be quick. We’re running a social media seminar in Long River Valley next weekend and I wanted to offer you a place. You have attended our seminars in the past and may be interested in our experienced speakers.”

  Ava’s gaze flicked towards Elias as he worked opposite her. Attending the seminar may be a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with him without their lovers. “How many tickets are available?”

  “I’ve reserved two tickets for you,” Mary explained. “However, I cannot hold them for long so I need an answer by close of business today.”

  “Give my receptionist all the details,” Ava replied without a second thought. “I’ll make payment this afternoon.”

  “Can I have the name of your plus-one so I can update your itinerary?”

  “Certainly. His name is Elias Dorne.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Heavy drops of rain splattered the windscreen as Elias drove the long, ribboned road towards Long River Valley. Beside him, Daisy hummed along to her MP3 player with one headphone bud in her ear. A tourist brochure was spread opened in her lap.

  “Elias, did you know that Rosewood Hotel has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a tennis court. I haven’t played since I was ten years old!”

  “We can play a game after the seminar,” he said, navigating around a bend. “It’s only a one-day event so we’ll have the rest of the weekend to ourselves.”

  Her fingers brushed his groin as she squeezed his upper thigh. “Thank you for asking me along this weekend. The girls in the office were jealous when I told them where I was going. I’m so excited!”

  Elias scanned the dense bushland, grateful to be away from the concrete jungle. While it was still a working weekend, he looked forward to waking up to native bird calls, kangaroos feasting in the orchards, and early morning runs. “Look, I know things have been hostile between us lately so I thought time away would do some good. We’ve never been to wine country before. It will be an experience for both of us.”

  Daisy unplugged her headphones and wound them around her MP3 player. “I’m not picking a fight but”—she dropped her device into her handbag—“is Ava bringing a guest?”

  Elias wanted to curse at the sound of Ava’s name on Daisy’s lips, but he buried the notion. He had invited Daisy to settle the dust, to mend new wounds. He knew that it would take more than a weekend away to reclaim Daisy’s trust, but he hoped both of them could move on.

  “She’s invited her ex-husband,” he replied, with a bitter undertone. “Liam has played a big role in the company’s expansion and Ava thought he would benefit from the seminar.”

  “Are they getting back together?”

  “I don’t know. She hasn’t said anything to me.”

  They crested a hill and Long River Valley emerged from the sleet of rain. Nestled in a sweeping mountain range, the popular tourist destination was known for its lush wineries, hot balloon rides, animal sanctuaries, and the rippling Long River that cut the wine region down the middle. Elias drove into the valley, keeping an eye out for Ava’s black Mercedes. In the back of his mind, he’d hoped she and Liam had taken separate cars.

  “Are we there yet?” Daisy’s voice distracted him from his thoughts.

  Elias scanned the passing signs and laughed. “Just around the corner, Daisy. The hotel is in the middle of town so it won’t be hard to miss.”

  Then, Elias’s mobile phone vibrated in the centre console and Daisy instantly reached for it. When her lips hardened into a scowl, he guessed who the caller was.

  “Who is it?”

  “Your boss. Do you want me to answer it?”

  “Yeah, Ava’s probably gotten lost.” Elias eavesdropped on Daisy’s conversation as he turned into the hotel’s parking lot, listening for any judgment or prejudice in his girlfriend’s voice. To his surprise, it sounded like the two women were getting along.

  Daisy threw her head back and laughed. “I know, right! The traffic was a bitch, wasn’t it? We’ve just arrived. Okay, we’ll see you when you get here.”

  “What did she want?” Elias questioned as Daisy ended the call.

  “Ava asked if you could order champagne for her room when you check in? She said we can have a drink together when she arrives.”

  “Did she say if Liam was with her?”

  “No, but I heard a man’s voice in the background. It was probably him.”

  Elias parked the car and carried their luggage into the lobby. After checking in and ordering Ava’s champagne, he followed Daisy upstairs to their room. The plush carpet cushioned his feet as he strolled the stark-white hallway. Paintings of fruit bowls hung neatly on the walls.

  They reached Room 103 and unpacked their belongings to the sweet sounds of birdsong in the trees opposite their balcony.

  Daisy flopped onto the king-sized bed and shut her eyes, smiling ear to ear. “This place is amazing! It’s going to be such a fabulous weekend.” She rolled onto her stomach and hitched her head in her hands, watching Elias unpack. “When does the seminar start?”

  “Ten a.m.”

  A cheeky grin spread across Daisy’s face as she unbuttoned her cardigan seductively, her green gaze unwavering. Tossing the garment across the room, she purred, “Do we have time for some fun in the Jacuzzi before you leave?”

  Elias didn’t need to ponder the invitation. He unshed his clothes and jumped into bed, lowering his warm body onto hers, rewarding Daisy with a passionate kiss. “There’s always time.”

  Chapter 13

  “How’s Daisy enjoying the hotel?” Ava asked Elias as they followed the crowd into the conference room. A sizable stage took up space at the far end of the room, adorned with a black and white banner with the words: OPTIMISE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

  The room was bustling with business people in casual clothes, cradling tablets, notepads, and booklets handed to them by ushers at the door.

  “She’s spending the entire day by the pool,” Elias replied. “With her fair skin, she’s going to cook under the sun.”

  “It was very sweet of you to invite her.” Ava manoeuvred through a group of people congregating in the aisle. “I gather the girl doesn’t get out much.”

  Elias followed her to their seats five rows from the stage. “She’s very excitable, that’s all.”

  “I look forward to meeting her at dinner.”

  “Are you serious? Or is it some ploy to suss out the competition?”

  Ava turned to him, her luscious mouth opened in shock. “I am offended, Elias. You’ve told me so much about her that I wanted to meet Daisy in person. Is that a crime? I have no ulterior motive, I swear.”

  “There you are.” Liam squeezed down the aisle and took the empty seat next to Ava. He leaned over her to shake Elias’s hand. “Good to see you again, mate. Did you find the hotel okay?”

  “I had my trusty GPS.”

  “We got lost, didn’t we, babe?” Liam patted Ava’s thigh, locking gazes with Elias. “My GPS is so old it didn’t recognise the new roads that were built four years ago.”

  Biting at his lip to divert the jealousy, Elias drew his gaze to the floor-length windows. Thick, heavy clouds formed on the horizon. A thunderstorm was on its way. He wanted to have a swim before it started ra
ining, but the seminar was already running ten minutes late. Elias pulled out his phone and texted Daisy. She didn’t respond straight away, replying when the lights dimmed.

  Daisy: When do you break for lunch?

  Elias: One o’clock. There’s a storm coming. Be safe

  Daisy: I will. Have fun

  He pocketed his phone and unpacked his notepad and pens, eager for the seminar to start so he could take advantage of the mini holiday. Music played from the speakers surrounding the room and the host stepped onto the stage, waving at the crowd. For the next two hours, Elias tried his hardest to concentrate, keeping one eye on the impending storm and the other on Liam’s wandering hands. His entire body grew rigid at the sight of Liam’s fingers caressing the soft skin on Ava’s thigh. He couldn’t justify how he felt for her, ashamed for his body’s reaction whenever she was near. Today, she wasn’t helping his resolve at all. Ava looked breathtaking in casual attire, dressed in a floral skirt that showed off her slim legs. Her hair was unrestrained, falling around her face in copper curls.

  Her gaze slewed to the side, catching him staring, and she rewarded him with a ghost of a smile. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered.

  “I didn’t know I was staring.”

  “Subtlety was never in your repertoire, Elias,” Ava said with a giggle. “Are you enjoying the seminar? I think it’s very informative.”

  Elias glanced down at his blank notepad and frowned. “It’s a little repetitive. I studied social media at university but a lot has changed in the industry since then.”

  A clap of thunder exploded above the ceiling, momentarily startling everyone in the room.

  “We’ll stop here for lunch, folks,” the host declared. “There are sandwiches, tea, and coffee in the mess hall down the corridor. Please return to your seat by two o’clock.”