She wanted a fight, I’d take it right to her.
It was time to fight dirty.
“She’s pregnant,” I said flatly.
Alex’s eyes widened, and then he laughed.
His outburst angered Amy even more. “What’s so funny?” she snarled.
Alex’s laughter subsided enough for him to speak. “You. Pregnant. For fuck’s sake, whose is it this time?” He turned his attention to Simon, who I had yet to hear speak. “Oh, forgive me, Simon, I’m so sorry, but you two are bound to have some demon child. It’s in her genes.”
“Alex,” Simon suddenly spoke up. “I know there’s some unpleasant history between us, but—”
“Unpleasant? That’s a fucking understatement.”
Simon’s shoulders dropped, and he moved away from Amy and toward Alex.
“Save it!” she barked. “He’s not worth it. Leave him to his scummy, student girlfriend.”
“Amy!” Simon shouted. “There’s no need for that.”
She scowled, and went to Rowan as soon as Simon had left her. He awkwardly placed his arm around her.
Alex moved to the bed, picking my robe from the floor and handing it to me before sitting down. I quickly slipped my arms into the robe, fastening the belt tightly around my waist before taking Alex’s hand in mine. I rubbed my thumb on his palm as the drama unfolded around us.
Simon stood in front of Alex, his gaze flitting from him to the floor, as if any sudden movement would cause him to erupt again. “Alex, look, I’m sorry about what happened before. It wasn’t an ideal situation for any of us.”
I held Alex’s hand tight as he narrowed his eyes at Simon. “You have no idea what she did back then,” he said. “How I suffered because of the decisions she made. I know she chose you over me and the baby, but I don’t blame you for any of it now. I feel quite sorry for you. My problem is that I have to work with the bitch from hell. Mind you, not any longer.” He nodded toward Amy. “I meant what I said the other day, Amy. I will not work with you ever again. It’s quite ironic, really. You missed your last ever scene with me today. A love scene no less.”
“You don’t mean that!” Amy shouted, pushing herself away from Rowan.
“Oh, yes I do. If I wasn’t going to LA today, I’d be taking Ella out tonight. We’d have a shit load of things to celebrate. My promise of never working with you ever again would be worthy of an endless celebration.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rose as she turned her attention to Alex. “I know you, Alex. You don’t mean any of this.”
Instead of responding to Amy as I expected, he turned to Simon.
“Is she keeping this one?” he asked. I didn’t know if anyone else picked up on the hurt in his voice, but I did. It was still an incredibly painful memory for him.
Simon nodded. “Yes. It’s great news for us. “
I couldn’t help myself. I snorted.
Both Alex and Simon turned to me.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asked.
I didn’t know whether to say something or not. But as Alex’s hand rose to my face and he gently rested his palm over where Amy had slapped me, I caught her hateful glare.
I’d decided to fight fire with fire. Here was my opportunity.
“Well, it would be great news,” I said coldly, picking Simon out. “If you were definitely the father.”
Alex turned on the bed so that his body faced me. “Fuck! Ella, what do you know?”
I glanced in the direction of Amy, who was back in Rowan’s arms, inclined my head in their direction, and cocked an eyebrow. Simon’s gaze followed mine.
“It could be Rowans? Has she been messing around with Rowan?” Simon asked.
I nodded as Alex’s expression changed to one of complete disbelief. “Crisp Muncher, and Amy. Whatever next?”
“She’s lying!” Amy shrieked from across the studio before heading toward me, looking intent on causing me some further bodily damage.
Alex jumped to his feet, blocking me from her path before Simon stepped in front of her, stopping her from getting anywhere near either of us.
Simon looked toward Rowan, completely ignoring Amy.
“Is it yours?” he asked.
Rowan shifted from one foot to the other. “She says it is.”
“How the hell did you find this out?” Alex whispered.
“Rowan told me. She was blackmailing him.”
Simon spun to face me. “She did what?”
I told him what I knew. “Rowan doesn’t want her to have the baby. She said she’d get rid of it if he helped split Alex and me up.”
The glare that Amy was giving me was nothing compared to the look that crossed Simon’s face.
“That’s it!” he shouted. “I’ve had enough!”
“You believe her, over me?” Amy asked, incredulously.
“The way you’ve behaved over the last year, I’d believe anyone over you!”
Alex was grinning, unable to hide his glee as the argument continued between Amy and Simon. He was enjoying this far too much. But didn’t blame him. He’d suffered for years at the hands of Amy. It was pay-back time, and it was all working out so sweetly for him. He didn’t have to get involved. He could just watch it unfold around him.
“And what exactly does that mean?” she screamed at Simon.
“It means, that I know all about your year-long affair with Paul. The other man in your life.”
“Paul?” Rowan questioned.
“Fucking hell.” Alex chuckled. “She does like to spread the love around.”
I nudged him with my shoulder.
“Yes, Paul. I’m sorry to tell you Rowan, but you are the latest in a long line of Amy’s lovers.” He shook his head. “I thought that the baby would . . . well, I thought that this would calm her down, that we could be a proper family. I was even considering marriage.”
“Simon,” Amy whined. “You know you are the only one I want. I promise—”
“Promise? What do you know about the word promise? I’ve had enough of your lies and your deceit! I want nothing more to do with you. I’m done here.”
He turned to Alex and me. “Good luck with everything. And Alex, I apologise for the history between us.”
“S'okay. I’m just sorry that things . . . well, you know?”
Simon nodded. “She’s hurt me too many times to count. Not anymore.” He headed to the studio doors as Amy screamed at him to come back. But he didn’t stop, he didn’t even glance in her direction.
When the studio doors swung shut behind him, she stopped screaming and ran after him.
Rowan rubbed his forehead before dragging his hands down his face.
“I didn’t think there would ever come a time when someone stood up to Amy like that,” he said in my direction.
“I didn’t do anything,” I replied.
“Yes, you did.” Alex nuzzled my neck with his lips. “You only said a few things, but what you said was more than enough. Rowan’s right. I have never seen anyone speak back at her like that. Everyone is always too scared about what she’ll do.”
Rowan nodded.
“I think she made it pretty clear what she wanted to do to me a few days ago,” I said. “I can’t believe she hates me so much.”
“Ella, she doesn’t hate you, she’s like that with everyone.” Rowan told me.
“Seriously, Rowan?” Alex questioned. “I’m pretty sure that Amy hated Ella the first moment she set eyes on her, just as I knew I had to be with her as soon as I saw her.”
“What?” I shrieked. “You hated me!”
Alex shook his head. “No, I didn’t. How can you ever think that?”
I suddenly panicked.
“Shit. She’ll hate me even more now. What the hell am I going to do if she tries even more of her nasty tricks on me? We’ve no idea what she’ll do next?” I doubted that she’d accept what had just happened. She’d blame me and she’d want revenge.
“You’ll be fine. I’m
here, remember?”
“But you’re going to LA. You’re not going to be here. What if she—”
“Shhh . . . I’ll sort something out. I promise. She won’t be getting up to anything whilst I’m away.”
“I think I can help with that,” Rowan said, suddenly springing to life. He patted his jeans pocket. “I just need to go and find Simon. I have something for him.” He winked at me before walking out of the studio.
Alex frowned. “What the hell was all that about. Has Crisp Muncher gone a bit mad?”
I shook my head. “No. I just happened to give him Anthony’s card the other day. He’s itching for a story to bring Amy down.”
“Yeah, right. That’s why he’s published her side of the story every time she’s wanted him to print something in her favour.”
“Not anymore.”
Alex eyed me wearily. “Have you got something else to tell me, Ella?”
I nervously chewed on my bottom lip, anxious about his reaction to what I was about to say. “Anthony Edwards has taken up residence in the same house as me. He now lives on the ground floor. We had a rather honest conversation with each other last night.” I spoke fast, hoping Alex wouldn’t flip.
Much to my surprise the shouting and swearing never started. He just stared at me as he chewed on his bottom lip. One of his hands rose to his hair as he characteristically scratched at his scalp. I waited for him to speak, but the silence continued.
“Say something,” I prompted. “Yell at me, swear at me, anything. Just say something.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you telling me that you have Anthony Swift on your side?”
I nodded. “Well, for the time being. I don’t think he’ll wait forever.”
“Wait? For what?”
I paused before answering. I was about to push my luck even further. Would this be what made him erupt?
“He wants to run a piece on us two. He wants to talk to you about what happened between you and Amy. He never believed her. I can’t talk to him. I’m tied up in all sorts of confidentiality clauses, and to be honest, I’d be worried about what I said.”
“I’m not though,” he grinned.
“You’re not what?”
“Tied up in any confidentiality clauses. I can say what I want—just like Amy has.”
“You mean you’ll speak to him?”
Alex nodded slowly as a determined look crossed his features. “Hell, yeah! Why not? She’s had it her way for far too long. You tell him that when I get back from Los Angeles, I’ll speak to him. But only if you’re sure he can be trusted. Do you think he can?”
“I think so, but maybe I’m not the best judge of character. I could be completely wrong.”
“I doubt it, Ella. You were completely right about me. You’ll never know just how grateful I am that you managed to suss me out and not just pass me by as a complete ass.”
“Well, you were a special case.”
The studio doors swung open, and Rowan strode into the room.
“He’s gonna do it. Simon is going to speak to Anthony. I think Amy’s days are numbered. At long last she’s going to get what’s coming to her.”
I wondered how he could sound so joyous about something that would inevitably drag his name through the mud as well. Had he not thought of that? I was just about to query it with him when he spoke again. “Oh, and your car’s here to take you to the airport.”
“Fuck!” Alex snapped. “Tell him he can wait, Rowan. He’s early.”
“Only fifteen minutes.” Rowan inclined his head at the clock on the wall. “I’ll leave you two to say your goodbyes. Ella, I’ll be in the canteen if you want to find me when Alex has gone. And Alex, have a good trip.”
Rowan left the studio, humming.
“I don’t want you to go,” I sniffed, reaching out to Alex.
He pulled me against him, wrapping me in a tight, comforting hug. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” He kissed my nose. “I need to get changed before I leave. Much as I’d like you to come back to my dressing room with me, I think it best that you stay here. I know I won’t be able to keep my hands off you if we were somewhere private. And I have to leave pretty much straight away.”
“I know.”
Alex dipped his head, capturing my lips with his. His hands rose into my hair, and he wrapped his fingers through its length. My own hands near enough copied what his were doing as I twisted my fingers in his hair, caressing the softness at the base of his neck. The kiss was slow and sensuous. There was no clashing of teeth or mingling of tongues. It was just a slow, toe curling kiss. When he eventually broke away, he pushed himself off the bed before walking backward toward the doors, not releasing me from his penetrating gaze.
It was only as he reached the door that he spoke.
“Just remember, Ella,” he said seriously.
“Remember what?” I breathed, suddenly overcome with a sadness I was struggling to control.
“That I love you.”
I was stunned into silence, falling into a rush of emotion that flooded through me. When I was ready to tell him that I loved him too, he had gone.
I let my tears flow. How on earth was I going to get through the next week?
I gave Alex time to depart for the airport before heading to his dressing room to get dressed. I couldn’t stand to say goodbye again.
I didn’t wander to the canteen as Rowan had suggested either, instead I called the taxi firm that Anthony had kindly offered to pay for.
The same driver as this morning picked me up, and like in the morning, my journey was in complete silence.
There were even more photographers outside my house when the taxi eventually pulled up. I literally had to fight my way through them today. They were nothing like as courteous as they had been when I arrived home the other day. I made it through the melee, slamming the door to the house shut and leaning against it, shutting my eyes.
Was this what my life was going to be from now on?
Would I have to run the gauntlet every time I came home?
The reporters had seemed more anxious today, each of them wanting a candid shot, each of them waiting for me to say something wrong, or do something stupid.
I was about to open my eyes when I heard the click of Anthony’s door open.
“Go away, Anthony,” I moaned. “This woman is no mood to talk to you today.”
His distinctive laugh sounded out as he approached me.
“Bad day at the office, Ella?”
I snorted. “You could say that.”
I opened my eyes. I wanted to get upstairs and let my body soak for a long time in a bubble filled hot bath.
“Care to share the details of your day? I’ll treat you to a Chinese take- away and a bottle or two of wine if you step this way.” He waved his arms in the direction of his flat.
I shook my head. “No thanks, I’m knackered. I need a long soak and then bed.”
“But it’s Wednesday night!”
“I’ve had a busy day. I need sleep,” I explained as I moved across the hallway to the stairs that would take me away from this bouncing character who seemed to have endless enthusiasm for everything.
“What are you doing tomorrow seeing as lover-boy’s out of the country?”
I stopped, and turned to face him, but I shouldn’t have been surprised at his knowledge of Alex’s departure abroad. Once again, I was reminded of his profession.
“You need to be careful what you say to me, Mr Edwards,” I said. “Because I have spoken to Alex today about you interviewing him and running some sort of feature on his side of the story.”
Anthony’s eyes widened dramatically. “And . . .?”
“He said that he’ll speak to you when he gets back from Los Angeles.”
I was nearly knocked down as he rushed toward me and picked me up in his arms. He swung me around the hall before placing me back on my feet.
> “You are amazing! But I now want the story on you two as well. I have never known Alex agree to anything with the paps. He hates us. If you’ve managed to persuade him to talk to me, you must mean a hell of a lot to him. I want to know everything.”
“Will you ever just leave me alone?” I groaned in mock frustration.
“No, never.”
“Well, I suggest you do for now. I’m off to bed, and I don’t want to be disturbed. You start annoying me Anthony, and I can just as easily get Alex to change his mind.”
“You wouldn’t. I’m your friend.”
I began my climb up the stairs.
“Oh,” I added as I turned to face him. “I think you might be getting a call from Simon Hurst over the next few days.”
“Amy’s partner?”
“Yep.”
“Why? What’s happened there?”
“Speak to Simon when he contacts you!” I shouted as I continued the climb to my flat.
“I love you, Ella!” he shouted after me.
That was twice in an hour that I had heard those words directed at me. But I knew whose was genuine and whose was said in jest.
I turned my key in the lock of my door, before entering my cosy abode. I dumped my purse on the side table, and headed straight for the bathroom. There were only two things that would help me relax this evening, and one of them was currently flying across the Atlantic. The other option needed filling with water. I sighed as I turned the taps on. I was already missing him.
I woke up in the morning, feeling more tired than when I’d gone to bed. I hadn’t slept well at all. I should have told Alex that I wasn’t bothered about finishing my work experience next week. I would much rather have gone to LA with him. I should have insisted he took me with him. Even though he was working whilst there, we could have spent our nights together.
I eventually crawled from my bed around lunch time, having caught a few more light snoozes as my mind ran through everything that had happened yesterday. I had well and truly dropped Amy in it. I should have experienced some feeling of guilt over informing Simon about her behaviour, but I didn’t. I was unable to feel even the slightest bit of sympathy for her current situation. And I couldn’t believe that she had not only been messing around with Rowan, but there had been others, lots of them. She had no-one but herself to blame for the situation she was in.
Starshine Page 25
