Free Kiss It Better by Jenny Schwartz Page A

the slowly rising muffins in the oven. ‘That is such a ridiculous story. No one would give it airtime.’
    ‘Eligible bachelor. Vulnerable nurse. Iconic ethical brand. Big business shark,’ Trish ticked off points. ‘And according to my contact, Leighton has photos. Honey, I’m sorry to say it, but you looked like crap a month ago. Those photos alone will convince people.’
    Great. But even as she cringed at the thought of people seeing her how she’d been a month ago, there were bigger issues to deal with. JayBay wasn’t the family business any more, but she didn’t want its reputation tarnished. More than that, she owed Theo for his kindness. So did her dad who’d handed over responsibility for JayBay to Theo’s temporary manager and raced north to his new project in the Kimberley. Theo had given her family the key to new lives. She couldn’t step aside and let Leighton smear him. ‘Forget the photos. What do you mean Leighton is presenting himself as my champion? JayBay’s sale has already gone through.’
    ‘Leighton intends to get his revenge in your name. He wants JayBay’s customers to boycott the products now that it’s owned by such an unethical bastard as Theo.’
    Cassie’s pulse thudded loudly in her ears. Her cousin would sabotage JayBay, jeopardise family and friends’ jobs, and devastate her and Theo’s reputation rather than accept responsibility for his own actions. When you put it like that… ‘Trish, did you tell your friend about Leighton’s fraud?’
    ‘Mick didn’t press charges, so it’s not on record.’
    ‘In other words, no matter what, the story is going to run?’
    ‘Sorry.’ Trish hung up.
    Cassie got the muffins out, but her appetite for an indulgent breakfast had gone. Nonetheless, she took a muffin and a mug of tea with her to the front deck and forced herself to consume both before doing anything else.
    A pair of pelicans flew low, dipping over the dunes. She barely noticed their gorgeous ugliness. Further out a dinghy bobbed in the gentle swell. Someone else had made an early start, fishing.
    She finished the muffin and curled her fingers around the warm mug.
    Trish was convinced Leighton’s story would run and Trish had good media instincts. She’d probably warn Aunt Gabby what her son was doing now. For all the good that would do.
    Leighton had cut all ties with the family. He’d left town for no one knew where and his mobile phone was disconnected. No chance he’d answer an email either.
    If the story was unstoppable, then all Cassie could do was warn those most closely involved. Fortunately, her dad basically wouldn’t care. He’d be outraged at Leighton’s attack on JayBay, but his enthusiasm was now for his new project. In his mind, JayBay’s reputation would be Theo’s problem.
    Theo .
    Well, she wouldn’t use Trish’s method of trying to break things gently. Theo needed a heads up and he needed it now.
    Brigid Care’s receptionist didn’t quite see things that way. After a bit of a wrangle, she forwarded Cassie’s call to Theo’s secretary.
    ‘No.’ Cassie held onto her patience. ‘I won’t tell you why I’m phoning Theo. I want you to tell him that Cassie Freedom is on the phone and that I only need two minutes of his time, but I need them now.’
    ‘Mr Morrigan is busy. If you’ll leave your number — ’
    ‘Honestly, if the matter could wait, I’d have emailed.’ Okay. No, she wouldn’t. This wasn’t the sort of news you shared in an email, not when the scum of the earth threatening Theo was her own cousin. She owed Theo a personal conversation. ‘Two minutes, now.’
    ‘Very well. If you’ll hold a moment I shall interrupt Mr Morrigan’s meeting.’ Chilly reproof.
    ‘Thank you.’
    Cassie was left listening to Brigid Care’s taped audio-commercials. She rolled her eyes and started putting away the remaining muffins.
    ‘Cassie?’ Theo’s voice.
    ‘It’s Leighton,’ she said abruptly. ‘Trish, the journalist