Every person in the room turned to look at Alex as he opened the doors. Most of them immediately looked away, others blatantly stared. I instinctively shifted behind him, but his hand moved from its resting place in my jeans pocket to around my waist. He pulled me toward him, ensuring I couldn’t hide.
“Morning!” He greeted the inquisitive gazes of people still staring our way.
I scanned the room for one set of eyes only. It seemed that Alex had done the same.
“Amy,” he said. “I see you’re here on time for once. Simon not up for it this morning?”
She tore her gaze away from him before whispering to Rowan.
“Rowan,” Alex said, heading toward him, taking me with him.
I wondered if Alex drew strength from my proximity. Since we’d left the studio yesterday, he had constantly touched me; his hand holding mine, his arm around my shoulders or my waist. I liked it, but it wasn’t something I was used to. Alex didn’t seem to have any problems with it though.
“I’d like to finish early today if that’s possible,” he said.
Rowan raised his eyebrows. “I think we’d all like that, Alex. None of us want to work late. You know it’s a tight schedule, forced on us by your departure on Wednesday.”
Amy sniggered, and I fought the urge so slap her. I had no idea where my violent streak was coming from, I was usually so placid. I was as bad as Alex, or perhaps he was just bringing that side of my character out. Or maybe it was because I hated her for what she had done to him.
Alex, meanwhile, nodded at Rowan’s statement.
“I know the schedule, and I also know that if there was any way I could cancel my trip, I would.”
Amy sneered. “It may have helped if you’d got here on time this morning.”
“Yeah, well, we were busy.” Alex’s words implied so much more than what had happened.
“It’s disgusting,” Amy hissed. “You’ve only just met each other.”
“I have no idea what you are insinuating.”
Amy gradually turned an angry shade of red. It swept up her neck before growing over her cheeks and then her forehead.
“Well it’s pretty obvious what you two have been up to,” she said, directing her sarcasm at Alex. “You haven’t even bothered to hide it by changing into clean clothes!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at Amy’s observations. Even though we hadn’t done anything last night, it certainly looked like we had.
“And why are you laughing?” she asked as she stamped her foot on the floor.
“Me?” I feigned a look of surprise, trying not to laugh even louder at her building tantrum.
“Yes, you.”
“I don’t know. Perhaps it’s the look on your face and the beetroot colour of your skin. Oh yes, and the glowing green of your eyes.”
Alex burst out laughing before lightly kissing the side of my head. He turned to Rowan, completely ignoring Amy.
“Right then Rowan,” Alex said. “Let’s get started. Where do you want me?”
* * *
The day went slowly yet again, and I continued to question if the career I had chosen was the right one for me. Most of the time Rowan had to deal with Amy’s diva-like behaviour, or her moans about Alex going off-script—he liked to improvise. Rowan’s role was more than that of a director. He was like a teacher trying to control unruly children and ensure they all had their say. Teaching was not a profession I’d ever fancied.
Alex was in every scene, and I didn’t get any time to sit and talk to him during the short breaks that he insisted on. But I knew he was working flat out so that we could get away on time tonight.
The scenes shot today were the lead up to the massive fall out that the characters had. I found it quite disturbing that Alex and Amy were heading to arguments on screen when they hated each other so much in real life. Although I doubted that either of them would have to act very much during the filming of them.
I was also looking forward to the scene that was planned for next week. Alex’s true acting ability would be seriously called for, as would Amy’s. It involved a very intense love scene, and was the major talking point of the film. The series of four books had been a huge hit for the author, Clarissa Williams, and the whole franchise had been named after the third book, Starshine, seeing as it was the most popular of the whole series. Starworld was the first book, Sunspark the second, Starshine the third, and then Solarflare tying the series together. I’d never read the books until I found out that Alex was cast as the lead male, Ryan. And then my obsession with him led into an obsession with the books and now the film. I still had to pinch myself about being here, and being with Alex.
The scenes leading up to the sex scene were ones where Alex had to play the part of an angry man, upset with the way his lover, Evelyn, had supposedly been messing around with his best friend. I had a strange feeling that for the beginning parts of the scene there would be very little acting, but he would need to calm down and eventually turn from angry and bitter, from snarling, shouting and physically restraining her, into a tender and passionate lover. Even though he’d be acting, I was sure that part of his true character would shine through. I giggled, momentarily lingering on the thought that maybe I’d already know what type of lover he was by then. We had three more evenings to get through before then, plenty of time for things to happen.
Rowan didn’t speak to me about the directions he was giving. Normally chatty and open about his thought process, he kept quiet, and I was left to just watch him as he filmed. The openness he’d shown me, and the chats about why he was filming scenes certain ways was missing, and any glance my way was brief. Was he annoyed with me for letting Alex into my life after his warnings, or was it more? I hadn’t missed the way that he and Amy were starting to side with each other against Alex. It was nothing major, but when I thought back to things that had happened since I’d arrived, I realised that Rowan and Amy were quite friendly with each other. I frowned, wondering whether she was sleeping with him. He had made excuses for her behaviour today, blaming Alex on several occasions for things that were quite clearly not his fault.
I snapped out of my wild musing as Alex approached. He drew level with my chair and leaned over me, trapping me in my seat as he planted a huge kiss on my lips.
“I hope Rowan keeps you busy every day if that’s how you’re going to greet me,” I whispered as his lips left mine.
He raised his eyebrows and positioned himself on the floor in front of me. “No tongue though, Ella. I thought it best with all these busy bodies around.” He stretched his long legs out on the floor and crossed them at the ankles. “Plenty of time for that later.”
I shook my head, chuckling. “So, Mr Denton, just so I know. When you take me back to yours tonight, do you live in a flat or a house?”
“House.”
“A big house?”
“Yep. I rattle around it quite a lot. It’ll be nice to have someone there with me.” He sighed as he glanced across the room to Amy. “I miss having the noise and chaos of someone living with me. It just reminds me of how lonely I am.”
“Surely, you don’t miss Amy?”
“God no, I don’t miss her. Well, not in that way. It’s just the presence of someone else being there with me. I’ve thought of getting a dog, but I’m never at home long enough to look after it.”
I understood what he meant. Living by yourself was a lonely way to exist, but it also meant you could be selfish and not worry about upsetting the person you were living with. In my case, it meant playing music at an indecent volume and dancing wilding around my flat.
I frowned at Amy who was, deep in conversation with Rowan.
“What’s going on between those two?” I asked, inclining my head across the studio at them.
Alex scowled. “I’ve no idea.”
“I don’t trust them.”
“Ella, Amy may be a complete cow, but she’s not exactly bright. And Rowan, well he just agrees with everything she says to keep her happy. As you’ve already witnessed, a pissed off Amy is like dealing with a child having a tantrum.”
“I suppose so.”
I glanced again in their direction. Rowan was nodding in agreement at whatever Amy had said. Alex may trust them, but I certainly didn’t.
“How long until you’re finished?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.
“Not long.” He reached for my leg and rubbed my calf through my jeans. “Why, you eager to leave?”
“Yes,” I responded instantly. “I mean, I’m tired, I’m hungry. And I’ve had enough of being in here.”
Alex pulled his legs to his chest and then sprang to his feet.
“Welcome to my world, Ella. It’s like this every day. What is it they say? There’s no rest for the wicked?” He leaned over me for another quick kiss. “Let me get back to it, and then we’ll head off. You think you can cope with me for another night?”
“Definitely.”
Tonight couldn’t come soon enough for me.
* * *
As soon as Rowan called out that the days filming was over, Alex ran over to me.
“I’m not getting changed. Fuck them all. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand, and pulled me behind him as we ran across the studio, down the corridor and out into the bright sunshine.
“You’re crazy, Alex!” I said as I slipped into the passenger seat.
“I know. But crazy in a very good way. Now, let’s go and see what’s happening at your house, shall we?” He turned his key in the ignition and the car roared to life.
“I still think you’re over-reacting.” I recalled his worries from this morning. But I was sure that there wouldn’t be any photographers outside my house.
“Well, let’s hope you’re right.”
As we neared the security gates Alex’s face set into a stony stare.
“Fuck. I don’t believe it.”
I followed his gaze toward the gates. Waiting just outside, held back successfully by three security men, were a group of photographers.
“Now do you believe me?” Alex turned to me, his expression one of exasperation.
“Good job my windows are tinted, but put that baseball cap on. They’ll struggle even more to get a good photo if you wear it.”
I rummaged on the floor, picking up the discarded cap before placing it on my head.
“Just look down. Don’t, whatever you do, look up. Cover your face with your hands if you want. It may help.”
I nodded. He was used to dealing with this sort of attention; I wasn’t, and therefore followed his instructions.
The security men at the gate recognised Alex’s car, as did the photographers, who surged forward.
“Fucking idiots,” Alex mumbled as they ran toward the car. “If I so much as run over one of their toes, they’ll sue me. I’d like to run the whole fucking lot of them over—repeatedly!”
I sniggered nervously as I covered my face with my hands and focused on my feet.
“Can you imagine the headlines if I did run them over?” Alex said.
There were several bangs on the car and plenty of shouts from outside as he drove us through their mass.
“Deadly Denton, or Deranged Denton Kills.” He chuckled. “Perhaps they’ll think of something that’ll referred to my killer looks as well as my killer driving.”
I grinned, but kept my eyes glued to the floor. Bright flashes lit the car from every angle.
“Move!” Alex shouted, making me jump with the volume of his demand. I caught him waving his hand furiously at someone outside the car before he continued shouting. “I won’t be responsible if I knock you over!” He revved the engine, and gradually inched his way through the photographers, shaking his head at their insistence to get a photo.
“Un-fucking-believable.”
As we eventually drove free from them, he accelerated away quickly.
I cautiously looked up from the floor before turning to Alex.
“You should believe me now,” he said. There was no sign of smugness in his voice, just an underlying level of concern.
“But . . . but how did they know I was here? Where did they get that information from? I mean, I don’t understand how they knew I’d be at the studio.”
Alex pursed his lips, sucking in a long breath. “I think Amy told them.”
“What?”
“It’s how she operates, Ella. The man in the cafe this morning was the man that she sold her story to when we split up. That’s why I was so angry. I’m sorry. I should have perhaps mentioned it earlier. I have a strange feeling that she still has his number and he has hers. Who do you think he’ll have called after he spotted us this morning?”
“But why would she do that? What does she think she’ll gain from all this?”
“Maybe she thinks you’ll turn away from me if all this gets to you.”
My hand reached across toward him, purposely resting on his thigh as I reassured him. “Well she’s wrong. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I may hold you to that,” he said. “I’m not the easiest person to be around at times.”
“I think I’ve already worked that out. And, as I’m sure you’ll have noticed, I’m not running for the hills just yet.”
“There’s still time.” His lips twitched as he spoke. “But, first things first. Before we check out what’s happening back at yours, we need to get to a pharmacy for some condoms.”
I held in a giggle at his straight-forwardness.
“Not willing to take a chance that the ones back at yours are in date then?” I asked.
He kept his focus on the road, concentrating on driving.
“I’m just very practical. Also, your photo will be all over the papers tomorrow. It’s possible that it’s out there already. You need to pop in and get some before you get recognised. Can you imagine the fuss if the person behind the counter knew exactly what you were going to be doing with the condoms?”
I sniggered. “I sincerely hope that the person behind the counter does know what I’d be buying condoms for. They shouldn’t be working there if they don’t know what they’re used for.”
“I’m serious. It’s a nightmare trying to buy things like that when you’re famous. Once you’re recognised for going out with me, it’ll become a nightmare for you as well. You’ll not be able to go into a pharmacy—they’ll all know that it’s you and me who'll be using the condoms!”
My laughter faded as I understood how troubled he was by this.
“Do things really get that bad?” I asked, all signs of my joking disappeared.
“Not always. It usually gets unbearable near the release of the films. The media’s interest just goes into overdrive.” He slowed the car as we headed down a quiet street. “I know there’s a pharmacy down here somewhere. Hopefully, it’ll be empty.”
I looked out of the window, not recognising this part of London at all. “Where are we?” I asked, peering even closer at the houses we passed.
“On the outskirts of Maida Vale. Not too far from where I live.”
I nodded, watching the white painted, grand houses rise into the sky.
“It’s very posh,” I said, seeing the tree lined street ahead, and the smattering of very expensive cars parked outside. “Don’t people have garages round here?” I asked, not understanding why people would have such large houses and expensive cars with no-where to put them.
“You’d think they would, wouldn’t you? Maybe they prefer to have extra party space.” He tutted. “I can’t believe how easily you change the subject, Ella. Here I am talking about our evening of making love, and you’re talking about garages.” He shook his head, chuckling.
“Our evening of making love?” I questioned. “You were talking about buying condoms.”
“Well, I don’t intend on wearing them as a fashion accessory. What else did you think we were going to do with them?”
A small pharmacy came into view and he parked the car a little further along the road from the store. Shuffling in his seat he raised his hips and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. He pulled out a couple of twenty pound notes and handed them to me.
“Get a few boxes in, spend it all.”
“Me!” I shrieked.
“What? You seriously don’t expect me to go in there and buy condoms, do you?”
“Why not?”
“I thought I’d explained all this to you.” He looked exasperated, but I also saw the humour in his face.
I decided to play along. I wasn’t bothered about buying condoms—well, not normally. The thought of buying a couple of boxes was a bit daunting. I couldn’t help but worry about what the server in the shop would be thinking when I placed the numerous items on the counter.
“What size do I get?” I asked, desperately trying to keep my face straight.
Alex raised his eyebrows as he leaned toward me. Placing his lips on the side of my face he lightly kissed me before sliding his mouth over to my ear.
“Normal size. I’m slight bigger than the average man in that department, but nothing major.”
I swallowed loudly. Oh, my God. Alex Denton had just told me that he had a larger than average peen. I couldn’t speak, even though my mouth was moving, nothing materialized.
Alex sucked on my earlobe, and I squirmed in my seat. The man was causing me to overheat, and he damn well knew it.
“N . . . normal size then?” I eventually managed to say.
Alex moved away from me, sitting upright in his seat, but he never took his eyes off me. “Normal size, Ella. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not hung like a donkey. If I was, I’d be a porn star.”
“Okay,” I managed, trying not to melt into a pile of goo.
“I tell you what. See what else they've got, surprise me.” He reached into his wallet and pulled out another note.
“Alex. It’s not an adult shop. It’s just a small pharmacy.”
“You never know.” He broke his intense eye contact with me and looked through the reverse mirror of the car. “It’s safe to get out. Go on, before anyone knows we’re here.”
I tutted at his remark, but knew that I had to take it seriously. He had already nursed me through two meetings with photographers today. I reached for the handle to open the door.
“Ella!” Alex’s sharp voice stopped my action. “If anyone spots me, I’ll need to drive off. But just hang around. I’ll go around the block and then come back. I won’t leave you, I promise.”
“You’d better not, Alex. Remember, I’ll be the one with the condoms. You leave me standing here, you’ll have no fun tonight.” I winked before I climbed out of the car. Pulling the peak of the baseball cap further down my face, I headed straight to the pharmacy.
The only person in the shop, apart from me, was the woman behind the counter. She appeared serious and professional. It would hopefully make things straight forward.
The shop was small, and I quickly found the shelf I was looking for. My heart sank when I saw the small collection they had. There was nothing exciting to choose from. I selected a standard box of eighteen condoms, checking the sell by date just to be sure.
“You looking for something a bit more exciting than those dear?”
I spun around to see the woman from behind the counter standing behind me.
“Well . . . I, yes. Yes, I am. But it looks like these will have to do.” I waved the box in the air before grabbing a second box of them. I could understood Alex’s fear of being recognised, and how it could also become a problem for me in the future. I wouldn’t want everyone knowing all my business. But internet shopping was a different matter. I would ensure I placed an order for something a bit more exciting over the next few days. My head filled with images of sexy underwear, silken fabrics and naked flesh.
“You alright, dear?” the woman said. “You look a bit flushed.”
“What? Oh, errr . . . yes. Sorry. I’m fine. I just struggle with the heat during summer.” I waved my free hand in front of my face.
“Come with me.”
She wandered to the serving counter, and bent over, rummaging around in a box that was on the floor. I frowned at her crouched figure, wondering what on earth she was doing. I was just about to tell her to not worry about whatever it was she was looking for, and that I’d just take the two boxes of regular condoms, when she placed three items onto the surface of the counter.
“Are these any good for you? I thought I had more flavours, but I had one customer who bought all the banana ones.”
I held in an excited giggle at the selection of flavoured body paints she’d placed on the counter; mint, strawberry, and chocolate. “How much are they?” I asked, hoping that I could afford them all.
She reached for a carrier bag and started to put all three bottles into it. “Free with a purchase of two boxes of condoms. I need rid of them. Just watch the use by date. I’ve checked the ones I’ve given you. They all need to be used before the end of next month.”
I nodded as she charged me for the condoms, then handed me the change.
“Have fun!” she called as I headed for the door with the bag grasped tightly to my chest.
“I will!” I replied before stepping outside.
I looked up the road to where Alex had been parked earlier, but there was no sign of him.
“Shit,” I muttered as I looked in the other direction. He must have seen someone who he didn’t like the look of. Damn paparazzi.
There was a bench near the side of the road and I headed toward it to wait for him, hoping that he wouldn’t be too long.
Whilst I waited, I thought about how unreal my life had become in the last week. How my excitement at meeting Alex had been completely dulled by his arrogant behaviour, and then how I’d seen another side to him. Learning the truth about what had happened between him and Amy had well and truly knocked the edge of the happy fairy-tale the public had been fed. And now there was us, whatever ‘us’ was. I was sitting on a street bench with two boxes of condoms and a selection of edible body paint—all of which I intended to use tonight. Well, maybe not all the condoms, not thirty-six of them.
A man leaned against a lamp-post only a few feet away from me.
“Hello, sweetheart,” the man said. His deep London accent was easy to place. It was the man Alex and I had the misfortune to meet in the café this morning.
I didn’t turn to look at him. I concentrated on the road, bouncing my feet on the ground, willing Alex to appear.
Where was he?
“I know all about you,” he said. “Your name’s Ella Summer, and you’re on work experience on Starshine with Alex Denton and Amy Strickland. It seems that you’re getting more than work experience with Alex though.”
I tutted at his remark.
“If you give me details about what you get up to with him, I can make it worth your while. Ten-thousand just to talk. Depending on what you say, depends on how much more I’ll pay.”
I snorted. Was this why girls made up stories about him? They were given money for the juicy details, even if they weren’t true?
The man mistook my snort as a rejection to his offer of money.
“Well, I must say. You are a bit special, you’re in a relationship with him. I’ll increase my offer to twenty thousand, plus the extras, as normal.”
I was just about to turn around and tell him to piss off, when I realised what he had said. I turned to him, pushing his arm down that held the camera.
“How do you know whether I’m in a relationship with him or not? You only saw me having breakfast with him in a cafe this morning. That doesn’t signify that I’m in a relationship with him.”
He didn’t reply. But, someone must have informed him about what was going on between Alex and me. I took a guess on believing what Alex had said earlier. It had to be Amy.
“It was Amy who told you, wasn’t it?” I said.
“What if it was?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t know how she has the bare faced cheek to call you about what Alex does.”
“We understand each other, sweetheart. She gave me the inside scoop on their split. She got paid very well for all that in return for keeping me informed on what he’s up to.”
“Even after all this time?”
“Well, he sells papers. She’s a useful contact for me.”
I heard the distant rumble of Alex’s car. It was so damn noisy. I stood up, glaring at the man who was prepared to part with money for any dirt on Alex.
“Tell Amy that I don’t care for her little games,” I said. “Tell her that if she’s not careful, I’ll give you a story about her.”
His eyes widened, a look of pure greed filled his gaze.
“You have a story on her?” He rummaged in his pocket and handed me his business card. I stared at it for a few seconds, noting the name—Anthony Edwards—then pushed it into my pocket before answering him.
“Oh yes. Just tell her that I know everything. And she needs to be careful.”
I stepped toward the curb as Alex’s car approached.
“I’m willing to talk to you, pay you as well. I’m incredibly interested in what you’ve got to say about her. I never did think she was as sweet and innocent as she likes us to believe. Maybe we can make a deal?”
“Maybe,” I replied as Alex’s car pulled up beside me. The passenger door flew open.
“Ella? Are you okay?”
I climbed into the car, grinning like mad. “I’m fine, Alex. Absolutely fine.” I pulled the door shut. “I just had a little chat with our friend there.”
“Friend? You are joking?” Alex pulled away from the curb, focusing on the road.
“No. I think you may find that he will be pretty nice to us from now on,” I said, unable to hide the glee in my voice.
“Ella, what have you done?”
“Shhh . . . let’s not talk about him.” It was my turn to lean over and whisper in his ear. “Wait until you see what I’ve got for you.” I reached across the central console and rested my hand on his thigh. Repeating what he had done earlier, I sucked on his earlobe. He groaned, and I slid my hand higher, just checking to see if he had been telling the truth about the size of condom he needed. I kissed along his jaw, whilst letting my hand slowly rub against what it had found.
I purred in his ear. “Why, Mr Denton, it seems that you lied to me earlier.”