Depths of Deceit

by Kellie Wallace

  “I had a meeting with Frank Boulder this morning. They are forcing me to resign. They don’t want another Hayes scandal on their hands because, they believe, Blue Tail won’t survive the downfall. But it’s my company. I can’t abandon it after I worked so hard in keeping its heart beating.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best. You’ll be giving birth in six months’ time and I don’t think I’ve ever known you to take a holiday. It’s time for a break, Ava. You deserve it.”

  Ava stroked her belly as she gazed around her multimillion-dollar mansion. Money was always the driving force in her life. She had to have the biggest house, the expensive car, the designer wardrobe, but this baby forced her to redefine what life was all about. Love. Family. Unity. Her CEO salary was more extravagant than most, so she had plenty of savings in the bank to keep her going. Maybe it was time to downsize and reevaluate things. She could take a year off after the baby was born and think about going back to work when she was ready.

  “So what are you going to do?” Liam asked.

  “I think I need to make the right decision for my family.”

  Chapter 20

  The library held a certain chill that Ava couldn’t shake. It buried deep into her bones, feeling more like an omen than air conditioning. After putting it off for weeks, she decided to attend a support group for single mothers. The only one she could find close to the office was the local library. There was something shameful about admitting to her problems, but it would be good to speak to other women in the same situation. She might make some friends.

  Ava approached reception, inconspicuously searching the library for other pregnant women. She spotted a few mingling between the aisles. A middle-aged woman behind reception stopped typing and surveyed her over thick black frames.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Yes, my name is Ava. I’m here to attend the support group.”

  A kindness came to her eyes. “Of course, my dear. Head towards the back of the library and look for Door 120. That’s where the meeting’s being held.”

  “Thank you.” Ava turned to leave.

  “Oh honey, wait,” the woman called after her. “There’s somebody here waiting for you. I’ve asked them to sit outside the room.”

  Ava turned and headed towards Door 120 with a bounce in her step. Who could be here to support her? Elias didn’t know about the support group nor did Liam. When Ava caught sight of her mother sitting outside the room she started to cry.

  “Mum, how did you know I was here?” She welcomed Veronica into a tight hug. Her hair was freshly brushed and coloured and she wore a brand-new orange cardigan.

  “Your secretary told me you were at the library,” she said. “I was hoping to catch you in time.” She stroked Ava’s belly, a small smile on her lips. “When do you go for the morphology scan?”

  “In about seven weeks. I’ll found out if I’m having a boy or a girl.”

  “What are you hoping for?”

  Ava smiled. “I don’t care as long as my child is healthy.”

  They entered the room and took a seat inside the circle of chairs. Other women had already arrived, talking amicably to each other. They were from all walks of life—big, small, rich and poor. Ava felt immediate comfort in their presence. They were all going through the same thing.

  The counsellor arrived and took her place at the front of the room. She was a young woman with a bright, round, friendly face. “Ladies, my name is Emilia and welcome to the group. I want to start by saying this is a safe place. There will be no judgment or gossip here. We are sisters bound together by love for our children.” She gazed around the room. “Let’s go around the circle and introduce yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable, you can only disclose your first name.” Her eyes settled onto Ava. “Why don’t we start with you?”

  Ava grabbed her mother’s hand and squeezed it. “My name is Ava, and this is my mother, Veronica.”

  “Welcome ladies,” Emilia said. “Is this your first support group?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t be ashamed by being here, Ava. You are taking the next step in bettering your life for your child. We all are. Would you like to tell us what bought you here?”

  Ava gripped onto her mother’s hand tightly. Veronica didn’t even flinch when her nails dug into her flesh. “I work for a well-known media publishing company in the city. I’ve always worked hard, never stopped to consider children in my future. I’m a divorcee and currently single. I’m not with the father.”

  “Have you told him about the baby?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does he accept it?”

  Ava smiled warmly at the memory of Elias’s hand on her belly. “Very much so.”

  A chorus of cheers broke out around the circle.

  “That’s wonderful news, Ava,” Emilia said. “It does make the situation easier when both parties are on the same path. Do you think you’ll ever reconcile with the father?”

  “No, he’s getting married to someone else. My chance for a future with him is over.”

  “Having a child is all about rebirth, Ava,” Emilia said. “Think of this time as a chance to grow and move on from the obstacles of your life. You are a mother now.”

  The support group continued for an hour as the other women shared their stories. Tearful, Ava sat in awe, listening to their plights. Some had left abusive relationships. Two women in the circle had been raped and considered suicide to end their suffering. She had what these women didn’t: financial support, family, and a friendly relationship with the father.

  When it was time to go, Ava gathered her things and handed them to Veronica. “Please wait for me,” she said. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need to speak to Emilia.”

  She found her packing up the chairs, storing them in the corner of the room. She smiled as Ava approached. “Ava, I appreciate you finding the courage to attend today. I hope you were able to learn some things about yourself this afternoon.”

  “I did. Though, I was more touched by the other women in the room. I thought my situation was difficult, but these ladies are experiencing things I never dreamed of.”

  “That’s why we have this group, so there’s a safe place for women to go without judgement.”

  “I would like to help if I can.”

  Emilia’s eyebrows snapped together. “How?”

  Ava extracted her cheque book from her purse, scribbled an amount, and handed it Emilia.

  The counsellor’s eyes widened in shock. “Ava, I can’t accept this.”

  “It’s not much, but I hope my donation can help provide a safer location, food baskets, or a night at a hotel if the women need it. They’ve touched my heart, all of them.”

  Emilia’s mouth was still open. “This is very generous of you. Twenty thousand dollars is too much.” She pulled Ava into an embrace. “I can’t thank you enough. The girls will be so happy. I see great things for you, honey. Great things. Please come back again.”

  As Ava walked back to her car with Veronica, she hoped Emilia’s prophecy would come true. She deserved it.

  ~ ~ ~

  “I think we should move in together,” Daisy purred.

  “Come again?” Elias stopped slicing the carrots and turned to her. Daisy’s eyes were bright and optimistic. “I thought you wanted to wait until we were married.”

  “I practically live here so we’re already living in sin.”

  “What do you parents think about it?”

  Daisy picked up a spoon and dunk it into the sauce sizzling on the stove top. “I haven’t told them yet. I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.” She tasted Elias’s creation with relish before tossing the empty spoon into the sink. “Besides, I wanted to be o
ut of the house before I get too old. I’m twenty-seven and still living at home.”

  “Your sisters moved out to live on campus or overseas, Daisy. It’s different. My unit is an hour drive from your folks. Your mother freaked out when her eldest daughter moved to another suburb. How do you think she’ll react when you tell her you want to move in?”

  Daisy pouted her lips like a spoiled teenager. “Why do you keep avoiding the subject, Elias? I get the impression that don’t you want us to live together.”

  “I still do, Daisy. There’s so much going on with the wedding and work that my mind is struggling to keep up. I need time to adjust.”

  “You’ve had three months to think about it.”

  “I need more time,” Elias insisted, returning to his cooking, unable to look Daisy in the eye. “We have six months until the wedding. Let’s focus on planning instead.”

  “All right, let’s talk about the seating charts then.” Daisy extracted the list of guests from her purse and laid it out in front of her. “We’ve agreed to invite eighty-six guests, but I’m still waiting on your side. We have your immediate family, but what about friends or coworkers?”

  Elias didn’t know anyone well enough at First Words Creative to ask, and he rarely spoke to his friends anymore. There was only one person he wanted to come—not to humiliate or ridicule—but so he could see her again. Ava was under his skin, in his blood. He lived and breathed thinking of her and their unborn child. There was no way Daisy would send her an invitation. She was too insecure, wanting all the attention on her big day.

  “So who do you want come?” Daisy pressed. “I have to give the venue the guest list by next Tuesday.”

  “I don’t have as many friends or family as you do,” Elias remarked, feeling a little hurt by her insistence. “I’ll give you my list this week, I promise.”

  Daisy stared at him, unblinking. “Fine. Email it to me.” She turned and wandered towards the living room. On her way, she passed the dining room table where Monday’s paper was sitting unread.

  To distract himself, Elias picked it up and unrolled it, almost gagging when he read the headline. PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: PUBLISHING GIANT CEO AVA WOLFE PREGNANT, SAYS SOURCE

  His mind circled like a hurricane as he steadied himself against the table. Who was the source? The accompanying photo of his hand on Ava’s belly looked like it was snapped on a mobile. It was poor quality, but there was no denying who the couple was.

  He reached for his mobile to contact Ava before stopping himself. They had taken a risk meeting at the park and even a bigger risk showing affection in public. The source could’ve been anyone; a stranger misinterpreting their conversation or someone in Elias’s circle.

  He tossed the newspaper into the bin when Daisy returned to the kitchen to check on dinner. He’d seen a great change in her personality over the last few months. The timid little mouse had turned into a fierce lioness—protective, envious, bitter, and yet, still insecure. He had no evidence to prove Daisy was the leak, though it wouldn’t surprise him. He deserved it after what he’d put her through.

  “Dinner’s about twenty minutes away,” Daisy announced, draining the carrots into a colander. “The roast is still raw in the middle.”

  Elias headed for his bedroom down the hall. “I’m going for a run then. I’ll be back soon.” Not waiting for a response, he dressed into shorts and a T-shirt and pocketed his mobile.

  He inhaled the brisk evening air deep into his lungs as he walked out of his apartment complex. The moon hung high in the sky, concealed by a whisper of silver clouds. Bats soared across the blackness, screeching. The city streets were deserted.

  He took out his phone and dialled Ava. She answered after the second ring, her voice thick with consternation.

  “Elias, is everything all right?”

  “I read Monday’s paper.”

  Her end went silent for a moment. “I saw it too. I can’t believe someone’s betrayed us.”

  “Do you know who?”

  “I was going to ask you the same thing,” she said. “This is the second time we’ve been outed. It’s almost becoming a vendetta.”

  “I know of two people who are against our relationship.”

  “Liam and Daisy.”

  “Of course, they’re the scorned lovers,” Elias said. “Why would a member of the public care about us? I’m more concerned about how this is going to escalate. I can lose my job if my employer finds out.”

  “Hasn’t it escalated already? The public knows I’m pregnant.”

  “But they don’t know I’m the father. Some people think it’s Liam.”

  “Can I see you?” Ava pressed. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “I would love to see you, Ava, but it’s not wise. Daisy’s staying over tonight. Maybe another time.”

  There was hesitation in her voice. “There won’t be another time, Elias.”

  Panic laced through his chest. “Why?”

  “I’m stepping down from Blue Tail and leaving the city. There’s nothing for me here, Elias. It seems every move I make is being captured. The last thing I want is to have your identity released. It will be best if I leave.”

  Elias joined the bustling dinner crowd on the street. Bright lights spilled onto the pavement, marking his path. “Where will you go?”

  “I’m going to rent my house out and buy something smaller up north. I need to get away from the jeering eyes. I can’t deal with the media anymore.”

  “Did the board kick you out?”

  “They offered me a generous resignation package. Frank Boulder will take control of the company until they hire a replacement.”

  “Are you willing to give up Blue Tail so easily after everything you did for it? You fought so hard to reclaim it and now you’re walking away.”

  “I’m doing it for us,” Ava said. “I’m doing it for our baby. There’s so much negativity in our lives right now, from our lovers’ jealousy to the media’s interest. I promise I won’t be gone for long. I’ll call you when I have settled so you can visit.”

  Elias slowed his pace, his gaze downcast, saddened. “Will you let me know when you have the baby?”

  “Of course. I will send you as many photos and videos as I can without arousing Daisy’s curiosity.”

  “I would like to help with child support.”

  Ava chuckled. “There’s no need, Elias. I can support us perfectly fine.” There was rustling on her end and he assumed she’d grabbed a tissue. “Good luck with everything in your life, Elias. I wish you all the best with your marriage. We will speak again soon.”

  “Ava, I love—” Before he could finish his sentence, she severed the call.

  Chapter 21

  Ava replayed the recorded footage of her press conference for the seventh time. Sipping her chai tea, she observed her television appearance with a critical eye, frowning at the choice of clothes she wore, how her hair was dressed, and the large swell of her swollen breasts. No one would take her resignation seriously now. They were so large that they knocked the lectern twice.

  For three weeks, Ava had been working happily as an editor for The Advocate when Frank Boulder rang one day, insisting a press conference was needed urgently. The media had heard about her shock resignation and wanted answers. Now. Besides, Frank hoped the public appearance would appease the panicked stockholders threatening to pull.

  Ava let Frank stew for a few days as she considered his plea. She didn’t want to go back to Sydney after leaving everything behind. Especially Elias. His face was a constant fog in her memory. But her office was hounded by unsolicited press calls every day, even when she’d kept her new job out of the media. To clear the waters and Frank’s conscience, Ava drove down to the city, conducted the press conference, and was back before lunch
. There was no time for socialising. In and Out.

  Ava turned off the small screen on her desk and ran her hand across her round belly. The baby was growing faster than she could ever anticipate. The swollen feet, painful breasts, night sickness, and fatigue were all worth it. In five months’ time, she would have her own living and breathing version of Elias to love.

  “Miss Wolfe.” Her receptionist Sherry’s voice sounded from the intercom in front of her. “There’s a call for you on line one.”

  Ava pressed a button on the device. “Who is it?”

  “His name is Mike Cordon from The Coastal Times.”

  Ava let out a groan. The man was a thorn in her side, constantly hounding for information about her baby’s father. “Take a message, Sherry. I’m too busy to take calls.”

  “Okay.” She clicked off and returned a few moments later. “I’m sorry, Ava. Mike’s extremely persistent. He won’t hang up until he talks to you. Do you want me to put him onto someone else?”

  She sighed. “No, put him through.” When her phone started ringing, she waited a few beats before answering. “Ava Wolfe speaking.”

  “Ava,” Mike said, “I get the sneaking suspicion that you’re avoiding my calls.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you to bugger off? I should be asking how you found out where I worked. I never disclosed my new employer.”

  Mike chuckled into the phone. “I’m a journalist, Ava. It’s my job to investigate. Besides, I rely on my network of sources to siphon information to me.”

  “Did the same source try to sell you my park photographs?”

  “No, I wasn’t aware they existed until it was printed Sydney wide. It seems you have a leak in your pool.”

  “What do you want, Mike?” Ava demanded, growing increasingly frustrated. She had reports to write, numbers to crunch, and phone calls to make before six o’clock. She didn’t have time to listen to his allegations.