Ashland Locke

Robert Newman as Ashland Locke

**Ashland Locke** (born **Robert "Bobby" DeFranco**) is a powerful and ruthless businessman. He was first mentioned by Theo Vanderway on February 8, 2021. He was the husband of Tara Locke and believed he was the father of her son Harrison. He is currently portrayed by Robert Newman since 2022. The role was originated by Richard Burgi from 2021-2022.

On January 11, 2022 it was announced that daytime alum Robert Newman would join the cast of the show as a recast Ashland. He first appeared on February 9.

## History

Ashland was born as Robert DeFranco, and was abused by his alcoholic father growing up while his mother did nothing and blamed him for it. Bobby's first job was as a paperboy, and he kept the first coin he ever made as a good luck charm. Bobby's best friend was named Ashland Locke, and at age 16, Bobby ran away from home with Ashland. They were like brothers and even got matching tattoos on their calves. Bobby and Ashland became aware that Bobby's father was looking for him, and continued to go on the run.

Ashland had lined up a job interview with Camilla Rhodes at her news station. The night before the interview, Bobby was driving when he and Ashland were in a horrible car accident where they crashed into a tree. Bobby was thrown from the car, but Ashland was trapped in the car. Bobby checked for a pulse, but couldn't find one, and the car caught fire.

Bobby was afraid if the police came, they would take him back home where his father would beat him for days, so Bobby made the decision to become Ashland Locke in that moment. He grabbed Ashland's wallet and ran into the woods leaving him to die. The body was burnt beyond recognition, so everyone believed that Robert DeFranco had perished in the fire.

Ashland went to the job interview, and got it because Camilla had never met the real Ashland Locke before hand. Ashland got the job, and was mentored by Camilla. They were really close and Ashland was like the son Camilla never had. Camilla's attorney, Jessie Gaines also took a liking to Ashland, and served as a father figure to him, favouring him over his own son.

Upon Camilla's death, Ashland was shocked to learn that he didn't inherit anything from her. Camilla's reasoning was that Ashland could make it on his own. Instead, Camilla's fortune would go to the things that Camilla liked. Ashland was furious and Jessie agreed with him, so they forged a will that said Camilla left everything to Ashland. With his newfound fortune, Ashland bought two news station that became the foundation on what would eventually become Locke Communications Group.

Over the years, Ashland acquired and created many businesses, including Cyaxares media that was named after the greek king of media. He also forged death certificates for his parents and became known as the son of Ian and Mary Locke, who were said to have died in a car accident. Not all was well for Ashland though as Jessie Gaines, Jr. learned about the forgery and started blackmailing Ashland resenting him for being favoured by his father.

At some point, He met and married the younger Tara, who worked at the antique store that he went to, but they had no children of their own, though they apparently were happy together for many years.

He and John Abbott were competing for a company that makes satellites. John owed a lot of debt to one of the banks that he owned, so he hoped to use John's debt to crush him. Instead, John paid Ashland off, who was impressed and came to respect John.

He finally became a father when Harrison was born, but he was unaware that Tara had an affair with Kyle Abbott, and that Kyle was Harrison's true father.

## Storylines

### Selling Cyaxares

On February 8, Theo Vanderway told Sally Spectra that Kyle had an affair with Tara and that Kyle may be the biological of her son Harrison even though Ashland believes he is Harrison's father. Ashland did business with Kyle's grandfather John Abbott and maybe even Victor Newman. If Ashland found out about the affair, he is ruthless enough to target everyone Kyle cares about. He is nicknamed the "Locke-Ness Monster" due to his ruthless and cruel nature. In late February, Victor discovered that Ashland was selling a media company called Cyaxares, and decided to buy it. Ashland was also contacted by two other parties interested in Cyaxares: Chancellor Communications and Victoria Newman.

On March 11, He and Tara arrived in Genoa City. He mistook Kyle Abbott and Summer Newman as employees, but then recognized Kyle as John Abbott's grandson.

He met with Billy Abbott and Lily Winters, who headed ChanceComm. He had a stipulation that he remain on the board, and Billy said they could accommodate him. He explained that Cyaxares has been his baby for generations, and said he needed to make sure he would hand it off to the right people.

He said he does his homework on people he does business with, and asked Billy about his gambling. Billy assured him that his gambling was under control, but noted that it would have been a gamble to turn Cyaxares into the media powerhouse that it was. As he went to leave, Billy warned him that the Newman family would use Cyaxares in their feuds.

He next met with Victor and his son Adam. Adam's pitch was assurance that Cyaxares wouldn't be folded into another company and they would instead use it to create something new. Adam told him that he would run the company, but his father would serve as his advisor. Ashland said there's nothing more important than family, and said he had a son as well, but he was too young to compete against him. He told Adam he knows about his past, and Victor assures him Adam's past won't play a factor in running the company. As he goes to leave, he says he has one more person he needs to talk to, and is stunned that Victor and Adam don't know that it is Victoria.

As soon as he sees Victoria, he says she is the prettiest Newman, but Victoria quips that that would be her brother Nicholas Newman, and she is the brains. Victoria tells him that her offer will be the most generous, but he says he isn't just thinking about money. Victoria tells him that she will be competing against her family and intends to win.

Victoria starts to talk up Billy, which impressed Ashland since he is her competitor. He brings up her work at Newman, and wonders why she wants a media company. Victoria says his media company is infamous and she doesn't want it falling into the wrong hands. Ashland assumes she is referring to Adam, and says he was unimpressed with his pitch as Wall Street is crawling with guys like him.

Victoria says ChanceComm would care for Cyaxares, but they don't have the resources that Newman has. Impressed, Ashland says he'd like to hear more over dinner. Victoria asks about Tara, and Ashland says that she has pretty full day, so Victoria asks to reschedule the dinner when Tara is available.

Ashland and Tara go to Society where they get acquainted with Jack Abbott Jack compliments Ashland for his business skills and said his father drove the moves they make into his head. Ashland compliments Billy's pitch, and Jack asks if that means he will give them Cyaxares. Ashland admired how Jack has his brother's back.

Later, Kyle and Summer arrive and Ashland gets to know Kyle better. He takes a liking to Kyle and expresses a desire to face off against him in business. As Kyle and Summer leave, Ashland notices a strange look between Kyle and Tara.

Ashland checks out of the Grand Phoenix, telling its owner Phyllis Summers that admired the Grand Phoenix, but they'll be leaving since his business has concluded. Later, Ashland calls Tara and tells her to come back to the hotel as he has made his decision and they'll be returning to New York.

Ashland picks Adam and Victor as the new owners of Cyaxares, but declines to celebrate since he has a plane to catch. Ashland is sure his company is in good hands and says he'll send contracts. Ashland returns to the hotel, and sees Tara and Kyle arguing. He doesn't let on, and he and Tara leave to go back home.

### Suspicions confirmed

A week later, Ashland called Kyle and said he had a business proposition for Jabot, which worried Kyle because Tara had phoned him about Ashland being quiet on the flight home.

Ashland later met with Jack at Society where talk turned to Kyle, and Ashland brought up how Kyle seems to have followed in his father's footstep. Kyle soon showed up, and Jack left. Once Jack left, Ashland asked Kyle if he slept with Tara in New York since Ashland remembered seeing him there.

Kyle was shocked by Ashland's accusation, who repeated it. When Kyle laughed off the assertion, Ashland told him that Kyle's reaction proves his suspicions were unfounded and they started talking about why Ashland should partner with Jabot.

When Ashland got back to his room, he contacted an employee and asked them to find the areas where Jabot was most vulnerable. Later, he declined to do business with Jabot, and also left Kyle a message and asked him to call him back.

### Further Business

Ashland was stopped in the Grand Phoenix lobby by Billy, who asked him if he was aware that Adam was on he run for attempted murder. Ashland said he was, and Billy warned him against giving Cyaxares to Victor, saying he would use it as a weapon to attack other companies without thinking of it's well being. Ashland said he would keep that in mind.

Ashland met Victor at Society and said he was going back on the Cyaxares deal, citingThe fact that his partners was on the run. Victor maintained Adam was innocent and being set up. Ashland called Victoria and Billy and asked them to meet with him in his suite, saying Cyaxares was back on the market. After getting off the phone, he asked Victor if he would like to up his bid, and Victor calmly declined the offer.

Ashland met with Billy and Victoria and asked them to both argue why they should get Cyaxares and the other one shouldn't. Billy and Victoria both refused to trash others, so Ashland took out his lucky penny. Ashland explained it was the first bit of money he made as a young boy and it has never let him down. Billy flipped the coin and Victoria won Cyaxares, but Ashland didn't immediately sign a contract with Victoria.

Jack later confronted Ashland and asked if he was behind the vicious rumours being spread about Jabot employees being exploited and having unsafe work conditions. Ashland denies being responsible and asks Jack if they are true. Jack firmly denies it, and Ashland suggests someone with a grudge could be targeting Jabot.

Kyle interrupts the confrontation and tells Ashland they need to get some things straight. Tara arrives much to Ashland's surprise and she observes how close she and Kyle appear to be. Tara asks to talk to Ashland in private, but he has to leave to meet with Victor.

Ashland starts to feel ill as he and Victor bicker about Cyaxares and the fact that reneged on their deal. Victor tried to push Ashland to sign, but he refused and said the deal was off. As Ashland stood up, he started having a heart attack. Victor refused to call for help until Ashland signed the contract, so he reluctantly did and vowed that this wasn't over to Victor.

According to Tara, Ashland's heart attack caused him to change. He ceased all attacks on Jabot and he and Tara went back to New York to be with Harrison. During this time, Ashland tricked Tara into admitting she slept with Kyle, and immediately threw her out and told her he was going to take Harrison away.

### Separation from Tara

Ashland showed up at Kyle's hotel room, looking for Tara. Ashland accused Kyle if keeping his son from him, and also asked Summer that she can't be okay with this. Summer said she supports Kyle, and Kyle forced Ashland to leave and slammed the door on him. Ashland then threatened Phyllis with legal action since she was harbouring a kidnapper at her hotel.

Ashland went to Society where he ran into Victoria. Victoria was very cordial to Ashland's surprise since he ended up signing Cyaxares over to Victor and Adam. Victoria said it was just business and Ashland asked if she'd join him for a drink. Victoria accepted, and asked how Tara was. She quickly realized she touched a nerve and Ashland said that his marriage was over. Victoria expressed sympathy, but Ashland was looking towards the future.

Ashland ran into Tara at the Grand Phoenix and they start arguing about Harrison. Phyllis happened by, and demanded they stop making a scene. Ashland suggests he and Tara take this up to her suite, but Tara refuses. Tara reaffirms they aren't getting back together, but Ashland says he doesn't want her anymore and has already filed for divorce. Ashland warns Tara that she has made a grave mistake before Phyllis orders him to leave.

At Crimson Lights, Ashland runs into Victoria and invites her to have coffee with him. Ashland asks Victoria for her take on Kyle. Victoria says that she doesn't really know Kyle all that well aside from the fact that he is engaged to her niece. Ashland says Kyle and Tara had an affair, and Victoria realizes that's why they are divorced. She expresses her condolences.

Ashland later meets with Victor and Adam, and tells Victor there are no hard feelings as he would have done the same. Victor and Adam reveal their plans for Cyaxares, including the fact that they have changed the name to Newman media. Ashland is taken aback, but ultimately approves of the name change. Ashland is later approached by Sally Spectra, and offers to help her whatever she wants if she helps him find his son. Sally finds out that Tara and Harrison are staying with the Abbotts.

### Harrison's true father

Ashland heads to the Abbott mansion to confront Tara, but first asks to see his son. Tara agrees and lets Ashland spend sometime with Harrison. Afterwards, the discussion with Tara gets heated and Kyle announces that he is Harrison's father. Ashland is shocked and leaves without a word as Tara expresses remorse to Ashland. Ashland phones his lawyer with the news and wants to conduct his own paternity test, but wonders what his rights are even if Harrison isn't his son, showing that he still wants to be Harrison's father.

Ashland asks to speak to Tara alone and they meet at Society where Ashland asks Tara why she cheated since she had a good life. Tara said she missed Ashland because he was always working and the material items didn't make up for it. Ashland offered an ultimatum to Tara: He'd grant her sole custody of Tara, but Kyle couldn't be involved at all. Ashland later changed his mind and allowed Kyle to be a part of Harrison's life during Tara's time.

### Relationship with Victoria

Ashland had to go to New York to finalize his divorce with Tara and asked Victoria to come with him. Victoria turned him down at first, but Ashland eventually wore her down, and she accepts his offer. While in New York, Ashland reveals to Victoria that he has been diagnosed with Stage six small cell sarcoma.

Ashland and Victoria continue to get closer as she supported him through his diagnosis. They eventually fell for one another, but Ashland had some heath set backs. He had one when he went to see Harrison in the park, and panicked. He didn't want to Harrison to see him in the state he was in and demanded Tara get Harrison away from him.

Ashland and Victoria were shocked when a video of the encounter got leaked online, and Tara also was trying to get sole custody of Harrison, so Ashland suspected that Tara was behind the video leak. After the video, Ashland went public with his illness. Ashland realized he would have to decide what to do with his Locke Communications Group as a whole, and Victoria suggested they merge it with Newman and become business partners. Ashland agreed, even though Billy made a pitch for it.

Ashland publicly announced the sale, and he and Victoria planned for the future. Victoria wanted Ashland to get chemo, but he was hesitant because of it weakening him. He and Tara eventually told Harrison together about his illness. Victoria and Ashland became engaged, and he decided to try the chemo treatment, so he could live as long as possible.

Tara was arrested for embezzlement, and Kyle and Summer moved to Milan. Kyle wanted Harrison to come live with them, and Ashland agreed since Kyle could be a more hands on father. He requested that Harrison be allowed to see Tara since she was his mother, but under careful observation. Kyle agreed to all of Ashland's terms and Ashland said good bye to Harrison.

### Secrets Revealed

Jessie Gaines Jr, started sending Ashland's text. He wanted a final big payout since Ashland was now dying. Ashland agreed to pay Jessie off one final time, but decided to tell Victoria that he was a runaway, who chaned his name. He didn't reveal his true name, how he became Ashland Locke, or how he acquired his fortune. He later told his story to Victor, Nikki, Nick, and Billy.

Victor then decided to pay Jessie off, but told Ashland that he owes him now and would use the information he knows against Ashland if he crossed him. Nick dug into Ashland's past and learned his true name, so Ashland talked about his friend Ashland, and how he switched names. Victoria was mad at Nick, but Nick no longer trusted Ashland since he left his friend to die.

### Tuscany Wedding & Revenge

Ashland and Victoria flew to Tuscany to get married, and Ashland decided it was time to tell Victoria the whole truth. Victoria was shocked, but decided to go through with marrying Ashland. Billy and Jessie Gaines showed up, but Victor and Adam managed to contain him, and Ashland married Victoria without any problems.

Ashland resented Billy for trying to ruin his wedding, so he teamed up with Victor and Ashland to use Jessie and set a trap for Billy, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist. Billy had written the story about Ashland's shady past as a way to try and get them to back off, but ChanceComm got hacked and the story was released.

Ashland filed a lawsuit, and then Jessie retracted the story claiming he made the whole thing up. As such, ChanceComm's credibility was shot and Ashland was able to make sure his secret would remain safe as any attempts to expose him would be met with immediate skepticism.

### More Secrets

Ashland went to Peru to try an experimental life saving treatment that caused his cancer to go into remission. As such, he started taking a more active role in Newman-Locke, including letting go of a long time employee to make room for an associate of his. Ashland supported Victoria's plan to buy Newman Media from Victor. As a condition, Victor wanted Adam to remain as the company's CEO, and he remain in his advisory role.

Victoria accepted as she and Ashland believed Adam would quit as a result. Instead, Adam surprised them by saying he would remain with the company even if it meant working under Victoria. Victoria was unnerved by this, but Ashland gave her reassurance. Ashland and Victoria had dinner with Victor and Nikki, and Adam showed up. He was invited to join, and the Newman's toasted to their unity.

Victor was suspicious of Ashland's sudden recovery and investigate the clinic in Peru where he was treated, discovering that Ashland had made previous donations to the clinic. Ashland admitted to Victor that he knew about the clinic beforehand because a friend had been diagnosed with cancer.

Later, while alone at Society, Ashland got a call from someone that told him someone was investigating the clinic, and Ashland told this person to stick to the plan. On Valentine's Day, Victoria bought Ashland a small replica of the Locke family crest. She tells Ashland that it's about the mam he is now and not who he used to be.

Ashland and Victoria had Valentine's celebration with Victor and Nikki where Victor made Ashland so uneasy that he confessed to having donated and been aware of the clinic in Peru way before they met. Victoria was furious that Ashland had kept yet another secret from her, but Ashland swore that he was sorry and that he loved Victoria with his whole heart, so Victoria forgave him.

Ashland approached Victoria and asked to made a full partner now, and share the CEO duties now that his cancer was in remission. Ashland learned that someone was in Peru looking for information on him. Victor eventually confronted Ashland about the fact that he was never sick and had faked his cancer diagnosis. He demanded Ashland divorce Victoria and leave town.

Ashland stood his ground, but became uneasy when Victoria was ready for Ashland to sign the contract, so he had a panic attack and left immediately. Eventually, Ashland's contact told him the man that was snooping was Michael Baldwin, and that he and the three doctors that had exposed him had been dealt with. However Victor is determined to exposed Ashland and bring Michael home when he ends up missing. Victor orders Nate to investigate Ashland's medical reports even with Michael missing. Nate confronts Ashland and informs him that he has proof that he lied about having cancer. Ashland tries to get Nate back on his side and blames Victor into getting in his head. However when Nate refuses to believe Ashland threatens Nate to keep quiet or he will get his medical license taken away. Ashland later sees Nikki and asks if she believes Victors accusation, but Nikki gives Ashland a warning if he hurts Victoria. Ashland and Victoria talk about their partnership for Newman-Locke and Victoria lets Ashland know that she is on board for him to be co CEO, and show him the paperwork. Ashland is happy that Victoria believes in him and signs the deal.

### Exposed by the Newman's and Victoria learning the Truth

Ashland sees Nate and tries to apologize to him. Nate lashes out at Ashland for using him and Victoria, as well as putting his career on the line for him. Elaine sees Ashland and Nate, and confronts Ashland for threatening Nate. Ashland leaves and goes to Newman. Unaware that Victor, Nikki, Nick and Adam is having an intervention for Victoria to get through to her about Ashland's lie. When Ashland see's the Newman's and Victoria he isn't surprise that Victor and the Newman family is trying to get into Victoria head about him. Victoria tell Ashland that they are leaving, but before they do Victor asks Ashland to address Nate's report to Victoria. Victoria asks Ashland is Nate's report a mix up and to tell her the truth. Ashland realizes that his time is up and tells Victoria that he can't be with her anymore and realizes that she will always put her family first and leaves. Which lead to Victoria realizing that Ashland played her.

## Trivia

* Ashland likes Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (August 11th, 2021)