Page 113 of Living on the Edge

RYLEIGH: Can you find out anything more?

TARYN: I’ll try. A blow job might loosen his tongue. I’ll let you know.

RYLEIGH: Thanks.

I put down my phone worriedly.

I haven’t heard from Angus but I don’t want to bother him. He let me know that he landed and was on his way to his uncle’s house, but I haven’t heard from him since.

I don’t know if I want to say something to Angus when I do hear from him, warn him about what may be coming, or just wait and see what happens. He’s torn up enough about this trip to confront Alex, and I don’t want to add to his burden.

It’s going to be a long night.

* * *

I’m up early,taking an Uber to the nearest bookstore as soon as it opens and picking up two copies ofRock Harder. My name is on the front cover as the author of the headlining story about Crimson Edge, and I’m already worried when I read what he titled it: On the Edge of Deceit (The Story of Crimson Edge).

What the fuck?

My heart pounds painfully as I open to the article and the first paragraph brings tears to my eyes—both because it’s terrible and because I didn’t write it.

Angus Jeffries isn’t Angus Jeffries. In fact, Angus Jeffries isn’t even August Michael Hollingsworth, III. Well, that’s the name he was given at birth, but that name is for the son of August Michael Hollingsworth, Jr. And Angus—or August, if you prefer—isn’t his son.

No no no.

How is this possible?

The article is mostly mine, but Rich interspersed things I had nothing to do with. Horrible, personal things that make me cringe. Including“this reporter’s nights in his bed, feeling wild and wanton and completely uninhibited. Even if I didn’t know exactly who the man in bed with me really was.”

Sweet Jesus.

This isn’t journalism—it’s toxic gossip that borders on click bait.

Andmy nameis attached to it.

I pay for my two copies and call for a car, tears filling my eyes as I finish reading the article. There are things I absolutely didn’t know, things that have nothing to do with anything, like the fact that Angus slept with Callum’s ex—while they were still dating. He told me about that but it never would have crossed my mind to add it to the story. This is a smear campaign set up by Rich, Callum, Angus’s mother, or some combination of all of them.

The piece that I wrote is in there but it’s disguised and buried with things I either didn’t know or never told anyone. Not Rich, not Kirsten, not a single solitary soul.

Which begs the question of how Rich found out.

How could Callum know since I absolutely didn’t tell Taryn?

Are they somehow able to see what’s on my laptop?

I can’t imagine how—we’re not spies, for heaven’s sake—but how did he find out about Alex and Violetta? They’re both mentioned by name, so I have to warn Angus.

I send him a quick text, telling him I have to talk to him, but he doesn’t respond right away. In fact, the text doesn’t show that it’s been read. Either he’s not up or he’s already seen it and is furious.

The moment I step into the lobby I run into Lexi and her husband, Zaan, both wearing workout clothes.

“Good morning,” she says with a friendly smile. “Where have you been so bright and early?”

I look up, hold out the magazines, and then burst into tears.

“Oh, hey, what happened?” Lexi puts an arm around me while Zaan takes the magazines from my hand.

“It’s okay, don’t cry. Talk to me.”

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