AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Chase would be just as happy in a small farmhouse someday," Ashley said. "The place we're in now has security others don't, that's all."
"And a view of the bay that people would kill for," I said with a sigh. It was hard not to be a tiny bit envious. "And probably have."
Like anywhere in Australia, Storm Valley had its criminal element. Some powerful families had homes and influence here. I tried not to wonder too much about what business Carson Thomas did behind closed doors to make him a billionaire. As far as anyone talked about, he made his money in real estate. Anything beyond that was both none of my business and another reason he wasn't my type.
"A view which we're too busy to stop and look at," Ashley said.
I arched an eyebrow at her, but she just smiled back.
Personally, if I lived in either of their houses, I'd get nothing done. I'd stare out the window all day. Probably just as well I had a view of a car park out mine.
"So anyway." I gave Casper a scratch under his chin. "I need to contact a few charities and see what they have planned for the next month or so."
I had some contacts in several, having worked with them when I worked at Lacey's, in their publicity department. It blew my mind I worked in an office so close to Ashley, but barely knew her, apart from exchanging smiles as we walked past each other. Different departments didn't interact as often as they probably should. If they had, we could have been besties long ago too.
"I'm happy to give you, and Bam, publicity on my blog," Bec offered.
I grinned. "That would be awesome."
"I can fix him up with a new suit," Ashley said. "Mint green is out already. Black is back to being the new black. Or the old black. Or something." She frowned and shrugged, but she was holding back a laugh.
"Black is always the best," I said. Although my black t-shirt and dark blue jeans were currently getting covered in white cat fur. I was almost certain Casper took pleasure in spreading his fur far and wide. I should adopt more black cats. Their fur wouldn't show up on my clothes as much.
"Bam looks good all dressed up," Ashley said. She gave me a speculative look.
"They all look good in a suit," Bec agreed. "Especially Hawk."
"Not that you're biased," I teased. I had the funny feeling that, for some reason, Ashley was trying to draw my attention to Bam's good looks. He could be the hottest guy in the world and I wouldn't be into him. He was a player with a capital P.
"Not biased at all." Bec grinned. She looked like a woman who was head over heels for the guy. Honestly, I think she fell in love in high school and never stopped. She would deny that strenuously, but I knew her too well for that.
No one could deny they were meant for each other.
"I'm starting to think we should set Grace up with someone," Ashley said to Bec. "There was a guy in my old building. The lead singer in some band. He seemed nice."
I held up a hand, palm out.
Casper gave me a dirty look because I stopped stroking him.
"Hard pass on being set up," I said. "The last time anyone did that, he wouldn't say no to a second date. I had to block him and hope he never found out where I lived."
"Sorry about that," Bec looked regretful. "He seemed so nice. I mean, until he was arrested for assaulting a guy at work."
"You can pick 'em," I joked. I dodged a bullet with that one. Maybe a literal bullet. Hopefully the guy was getting the help he needed.
"Usually I can," she said. "I can tell a sleazeball a mile away." She wrinkled her nose.
"Harvey Danbury?" I guessed.
The reporter was infamous for following famous people around, waiting to take an embarrassing or compromising photo, or to get someone to spill everything about them. If one word in three was actually true in the articles he wrote, I'd be surprised.
Bec and Ashley both told me about run ins they had with the man. I knew to be on my guard, with my new job, in case he came sniffing around. I suspected it was more a when than an if.
With the video of Bam doing the rounds, Danbury would smell blood in the water. He could ruin what good I might do with Bam. No way in hell I was going to let that happen.
"Him and others," Bec agreed. "When I worked at the National Daily, the office was full of them. Money was so much more important than integrity and honesty." She made a face. "I don't miss working there."
"You do seem happier working on your blog," I agreed. She didn't need to worry about money these days, but she wouldn't stop working just because her boyfriend was loaded. Neither would Ashley. They'd both probably be bored out of their minds if they did. No doubt I would be too.
