Scandals of Tokyo

By Heather Hallman

INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL

Intent on being an international journalist of repute, Evelyn Prescott will do what it takes to make her mark.

It doesn’t hurt her father has built a newspaper empire, but finding a scandal in Japan is no easy task.

As much as she hates to admit it, she is forced to meet with the owner of the Tokyo Daily News, Ned Taylor, also an Englishman.

Ned holds a deep-rooted dislike of Evelyn’s father’s approach to journalism, and Ned, a notorious rake, pushes her to see just how far Evelyn is prepared to go to get her story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953810984

Book preview

INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL

Intent on being an international journalist of repute, Evelyn Prescott will do what it takes to make her mark.

It doesn’t hurt her father has built a newspaper empire, but finding a scandal in Japan is no easy task.

As much as she hates to admit it, she is forced to meet with the owner of the Tokyo Daily News, Ned Taylor, also an Englishman.

Ned holds a deep-rooted dislike of Evelyn’s father’s approach to journalism, and Ned, a notorious rake, pushes her to see just how far Evelyn is prepared to go to get her story.

SCANDALS OF TOKYO

A prequel to the Tokyo Whispers series

Heather Hallman

www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

SCANDALS OF TOKYO

Copyright © 2021 Heather Hallman

All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

ISBN: 978-1-953810-98-4

To expats and adventurers who brighten our world, especially those in Tokyo

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Boroughs Publishing Group, especially to Jack and Michelle for their care and attention in ushering a (not really short) story to publication, and for being wonderful to work with.

I'm grateful to two readers of an early version. Their comments guided the evolution of the story.

And much appreciation to my loves, Candler and the girls. I'm so glad you're satisfied with pizza for dinner. . .every night.

SCANDALS OF TOKYO

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

Tokyo 1896

Foreign Quarter of Tsukiji

Evelyn rested an elbow along the stone balustrade separating the Hotel Metropolis terrace from the glistening waters of Tokyo Bay and contemplated the man holding court near the hotel bar. Are you positive that’s him?

Aunt Prissy raised a fan between them for privacy’s sake as guests strolled past, their various languages lending a cheerful symphony to the evening atmosphere. Evelyn doubted they were inclined to pick up English phrases muttered between her and Aunt Prissy, but to make sure, she shifted nearer until they were shoulder to shoulder.

Aunt Prissy nodded at the man in question. Without a shred of doubt. That’s Ned Taylor.

Among tables filled with hotel patrons and waiters scurrying by with trays of champagne and sake, Mr Taylor stood beneath one of the terrace gas lamps, its light catching on his grin, which spread from his lips to the corners of his eyes and left affable creases atop his cheeks. His Japanese companions leaned forward as though to bask in its glow, pure and genuine as a freshly minted sovereign.

Invariably, the most accomplished charmers had that smile. Evelyn had met enough newspapermen in her twenty-two years to know. They lit up a room. Or the Hotel Metropolis terrace, apparently.

But the man not far from her couldn’t be older than thirty, which was too young to own a newspaper. Back in England, Papa hadn’t purchased his first broadsheet until he was nearly forty. Ten years later, he had more newspaper distribution outlets across the United Kingdom than one