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‘Can you tell me who was in it?’

‘Also, no. She’s an innocent party. She doesn’t need to get dragged into this.’

‘I can assure you, I won’t drag anyone,’ Leigh said.

‘I won’t say her name, Leigh,’ Erin replied bullishly.

Leigh nodded. ‘OK, I understand.’

Erin was relieved. ‘Thank you.’

‘So that’s what we need to get ahead of. The affair rumour. You need people to know your character, that you wouldn’t do this.’ Leigh thought it over. ‘Actually, what you want people to know is that Isabelle is Goliath and you’re David.’

Erin clicked her fingers. ‘Exactly.’ She paused. ‘But, well, the thing is, I don’t have any money for your services anymore.’

‘But you paid your fee for the month?’

‘Yeah, I guess Isabelle didn’t get to the card in time. But she will. I wouldn’t assume that bill will be paid next month, though.’

‘Then we better make the time we have count,’ Leigh said with a smile. She wasn’t trying to sell. A lot could be achieved in this short time.

Erin was relief itself. ‘You’ve made me feel a lot better,’ she said. ‘I talk to Jack all the time, but I never reallytalkto him, if you know what I mean. I like him, but he’s a bit slick.’

Leigh laughed. ‘You won’t have that issue with me.’ She paused. ‘Does that mean you’re good with me handling your PR?’

‘In truth, I don’t have a choice.’ Erin shrugged. ‘But I would have been, anyway.’

Leigh smiled. ‘I appreciate your honesty.’ She stood. ‘OK, I’m going back to the office to put together a strategy. Then we’ll talk about it.’

‘OK.’ Erin walked Leigh to the door and let her out.

Out in the car, Leigh wasn’t jubilant as such. It was clear that Erin’s choices were not exactly vast. But it didn’t matter because she needed help, and Leigh wanted to do everything she could for her.

Five

Alex was on the phone to a journalist she knew, Ivy Coulter. Alex knew a lot of journos, but Ivy was particularly keen on celebrity breakups. ‘Ivy, do I have something for you!’ she began. ‘Let’s take a long boozy lunch, and I’ll lay it out for you.’

‘I can’t today. Too much on,’ Ivy replied. ‘And if it’s another reality divorce, there’s been a drop off in interest.’

‘Has there?’ Alex replied, filing the info away.

‘I think people are starting to think these marriages are not entirely on the up and up.’

‘Ivy, I want you to assure me that you haven’t stopped believing in divorce,’ Alex joked.

‘God no. I just need some longevity, that’s all. The kind of marriage that makes a nice big mess when it ends.’

‘Then you’re gonna love this.’ She paused for buildup. ‘It’s a couple that were together for fifteen years, and both of them are big act—’

‘Is it Erin Porter and Isabelle Kane?’ Ivy broke in.

Alex’s stride was thoroughly broken. ‘How did you know that? Did someone file for divorce?’ she asked. She thought she had a few days before that happened.

‘Are you working for Isabelle?’ Ivy asked, ignoring the question.

‘Yes,’ Alex admitted.

‘Other camp beat you to it.’