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Niko sat and picked up his drink. “Who was celebrating?”
“One of my partner’s friends who just moved here from Vegas. He wanted us to show him a little P.C. love.”
“Translated, he wanted you to bring some ladies to liven things up.”
“Pretty much. I called a few friends and invited them over. One of the girls had something pretty interesting to say. Said she wasn’t supposed to tell anybody but, you know, a little alcohol and Drake persuasion…”
Niko lifted the snifter, took a sip and waited.
“Ashley doesn’t live here anymore.”
“Now, that’s a cause for celebration. Sure you don’t want a drink?”
Terrell shook his head. “She moved to L.A. with a guy she met here, a dude who was visiting for the weekend.”
Niko shrugged. “I’m really not interested in news about Ashley.”
“You will be. She’s now dating and has moved in with Monique’s ex.”
“Rob?”
Terrell nodded. “The one we met while having dinner at Acquired Taste.”
Both men were quiet as Niko digested this news. “Ike mentioned not seeing Ashley at the debate. But with so many people there that night, I figured he just missed her.” Niko stood and paced.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That Rob shared information about Monique with Ashley, who then gave it to Dick? No, Terrell, I can’t see that happening. Ash is beautiful, but she’s not too bright.”
“Perhaps, but she’s greedy. And Dick’s shrewd. What if he paid her to try to get the goods on Mo?”
“But how would he know about Rob?”
“It’s a small town, man. Eyes and ears are everywhere.”
Niko returned to his chair and wearily sat down.
“You know Ashley’s a charmer. If a man isn’t careful, that girl can get anything she wants.”
“If Rob is indeed the man she’s with, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”
He reached for his phone and sent Monique a text:
Call ASAP re Rob, Ashley and how your story got leaked.
* * *
Lance had left and she was basically satisfied with what they’d worked out. Still, before she sent the final copy to her PR manager, Monique decided to read the script aloud one final time:
“‘Years ago, while working as an intern at my very first law firm, I made an unwise choice, developing a friendship with a young man while working his case. I was young. He was scared. And alone. I brought personal feelings into a professional situation. This mistake cost me my job, but not my integrity. A hard knock, but a lesson learned. I’m a better person for it.
“‘Recently my conduct, character and choice of acquaintances have been called into question. I am disappointed that someone felt it necessary to use unscrupulous tactics to sully my name and forward their agenda. Because I am a woman of character, I will not respond in kind. I will continue to be who I’ve always been—the person who wants to move beyond smear tactics and innuendo and help lead the citizens of Paradise Cove into a new day. I am Monique Slater, and I approve this message.’”
She sent off the email and, after turning off her laptop, climbed the stairs to her bedroom. With the adrenaline of anger wearing off, exhaustion crept in to replace it. Mind, body, spirit—every part of her was tired. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower and crawl into bed.
Shoot! I forgot to tell Lance where to meet us in the morning. She reached for her phone to send him a text. Instead, she read the one from Niko…twice, and then again. He thinks Rob outed me? “That’s ridiculous. Rob would never do that.” Would he?
She sat on the bed, remembering the L.A. run-in and how nervous and out of character Rob had acted. But the Rob she knew would never participate in tarnishing her image. Until today, the Rob she knew would not date someone like Ashley, either.
She snatched the phone off the bed and dialed his number. It went to voice mail. “Rob, this is Monique. We need to speak as soon as possible. No matter the time, when you get this message, call me.”
Reenergized, she scrolled to another number. Then, on second thought, she placed the phone on a nightstand and headed to her closet. The conversation with Niko had to be face-to-face.
