Page 75 of Third Time’s a Charm

“We need to talk.” His last message is calmer, but no less urgent. “Call me when you’re up to it. Or if you need anything. At all. Love you.”

I’d like to say who needs a man when you’ve got friends like this. And one day, I’ll probably realise that’s true. But it won’t be today. Or any time soon.

After eating twice my body weight in fried foods and sugar, Lil runs me a bath liberally dosed with steaming lavender-scented bubble bath. When I finally emerge, pruny, but a little more relaxed, Colin is sitting on the sofa chatting with Lil and Ant and drinking … ugh … wine. My stomach flips.

“You didn’t call, but I came as soon as I could get away from the office, because OMG, this can’t wait,” he screeches, putting aside his wine, grabbing my hands and pulling me down onto the sofa next to him.

I’m not sure I’m ready to hear what’s happened, but sticking my head in the sand isn’t going to make it go away.

Ant and Lil stand and disappear from the room like ghosts. That’s weird. And Colin looks, well … constipated is probably the best word. Constipated with news or thoughts or something. Which is not surprising. I’m sure he’s been dragged in to prepare my notice.

I sigh. “I guess they’ve got you putting together my termination package. How bad is it?”

“Phht.” He waves a hand as though me losing my job is nothing. “That doesn’t even hit the top five.”

“Why? What’s happened?”

“Well, this morning I had a clandestine meeting with Jasper McSexy-Jones and his busted knuckles.”

I’m about to arc up about him talking to Jasper when the mention of busted knuckles penetrates.

“He’s … wait. What happened to his knuckles?”

“He hauled off and punched Tate Brown.” Colin squeals, leaning towards me. “Then resigned by way of flipping him the bird and stormed out. Oh, wait. Maybe it was the other way around?” He shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. I saw him waiting for the lift after the punch-up. There was blood.” Colin’s hand flutters against his chest like a fast-beating heart, his eyelashes joining in.

My mouth drops open. It’s hard to imagine the serious, reserved, professional Jasper hitting anyone. Not quite so hard to imagine the Jasper I got to know on our trip, although it’s still a stretch.

I don’t have time to comment because Colin continues.

“Apparently, Mr Brown-by-name-arsehole-by-nature made some unsavoury comments about you—and what you and Jasper might have got up to on your road trip.” He eyes me meaningfully. “Let’s put a pin in that one for now. The important thing is, Jasper was having none of it. I know I said Tate Brown had who’s your daddy vibes, but honestly, I take that back. McSexy-Jones with bruised knuckles? Oh, baby!” Colin’s words come out in a rush. “Anyway, Jasper called me yesterday and asked to meet, since you’ve blocked his number—”

I give his shoulder a shove.

“Whose side are you on? Just because he hit Tate Brown doesn’t make what he did right.” I can’t believe Colin is giving this guy and his excuses oxygen.

“Nooo. On your side, always. Ride or die and all that.” Colin leans forward and pats my knees. “But trust me, honey child. You’re going to want to hear what he has to say. Not only is there more to the story than what you heard, but Jasper has got hold of John Mackelden’s HR file from head office in London, and it makes scandalous, tabloid-worthy reading.”

“What? You’re the HR manager. Didn’t you have access to his file?”

“That’s the thing. I thought I did. Huh. I always wondered why his file was so empty.” His voice drifts off for a moment before he shakes himself and returns to his point. “Anyway, what we have here in Sydney is the bleached and sanitised version. Courtesy of dirty deals between Mackelden and Brown. What Jasper has—and I have no idea how he got hold of it, but thank God he did—is the unedited, unredacted and thoroughly disgusting version.”

I’m a little confused by why John Mackelden’s HR record has anything to do with what’s happened in the last twenty-four hours.

“Did you ever wonder why my predecessor left in such a hurry?” Colin cocks his head to the side. “No? Well, it’s all in there. And a whole lot more besides. And Jasper has it. Which means we have leverage.”

“We? We? There’s no we!” I leap off the sofa, hands on hips. “Did he tell you what he said? About how my ideas are airy-fairy and doomed to fail? Not to mention that he was sent here to shut us down and said nothing.”

“He did. And you were never meant to hear th—”

“I’ll bet I wasn’t,” I interrupt with a snort.

“Well, it’s not what you think. I understand you’re hurt. I would be too. But you really need to give him a chance to explain.”

I shake my head, which does nothing for my headache. Neither does the grinding of my teeth.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing you. Did he tell you what happened on the road trip?”

“Not in any detail, no. He might give big dick energy, but he’s also a gentleman. Killer combination, by the way. But I got the gist.”