I breathed onto Alex’s neck, not missing the shiver that my action caused. I twisted to face a very pale looking Amy. She didn’t look good.
Alex sniggered. “Well, well, well, don’t we look the glamorous film star this morning?”
I gently punched him, there were times when he needed to curb his viciousness towards her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, probably giving her more sympathy than she deserved.
She glared, but didn’t respond. Her attention turned to Alex. “I just wanted to let you know that I was here. Give me five minutes, then I’ll be ready.”
“Five minutes!” Alex exclaimed. “You’ll need a whole fucking hour in make-up to look anything like a healthy human being.”
“Well then, you’ll have enough time to sort your raging hard on, won’t you? I presume you have one. Look at the two of you. A tart and a playboy! You never could keep it in your pants!”
I widened my eyes at her accusations.
Alex sneered at her. “I was never the one who couldn’t keep my pants on. You were the one who spread your fucking legs for anyone and everyone!”
Amy frowned. “There was only ever Simon. You know that.”
“Do I?” Alex snarled. “You could have slept with everyone I know. Even Rowan!” He chuckled. “God, I could just imagine that. You and Rowan. Maybe that’s why he insists on taking your side every time we disagree about something.”
“Shut up!” Amy snapped. “Just shut up! You know nothing about me at all. You never did!” Tears formed in her eyes as she abruptly turned and left the room.
“Stupid, drama queen!” Alex shouted after her.
I backed away from him. “You promised you’d not let her get to you.”
“Ella, it was bad enough that she fed all those lies to the media. I will not have her trying to claim that any of it was true to my face. She’s deluded, a liar, a schemer, and a downright whore.”
“But she did look upset, and she is obviously ill.”
Alex huffed. “She’d better not give it to me, whatever she’s got. I don’t want to be ill whilst I’m away.” His hands snaked around my waist as his face moved nearer to mine. “And I certainly don’t want to be ill when I get back. We’ll have a lot of time to make up for.” His lips nudged mine, and I smiled against their softness.
“When are you back?” I asked, suddenly realizing that I hadn’t asked him how long his trip was for.
“Ella, if I could take you with me, then I would. But I’d hardly see you during the day, and you’ve signed up for a four-week work experience here. You’ll be busy seeing all the editing and tom-fuckery that goes on after the filming."
“I know.” I didn’t like the situation one little bit. “Are you there all week?”
“Yes. A day travelling there, five days of meetings and interviews, and a day travelling back. Mind you, the questions may be a bit more interesting now. They’ll be desperate to know about you.”
“Really?”
“Errr, yeah. You’ve seen the paps interest in you here. At least in England they give you some level of privacy. It’s a totally different case over there.”
“So, what are you going to say about me?” I asked, curious as to what he would tell them.
“Perhaps I’ll tell them that you’re my sister.”
“You think they’ll believe that?”
“Nope. Certainly not. Have you seen my sister? She’s blond and just as tall as me. I don’t know what I’ll say. Maybe I’ll pretend that you don’t exist.”
“What?” I frowned. “I don’t want to be kept a secret. It makes what we have sound dirty, like I’m something that you want to hide from everyone.”
“I’m joking, Ella. I see no reason to lie to them. If they ask me, I’ll tell them that I’m going out with an amazing woman.” His hand curled around the back of my neck. “A marvellous, incredibly sexy woman.” His lips brushed against mine again. “A woman who I intend to lock myself away with for a whole week when I get back.”
“A week!” I exclaimed
Alex grinned. “You don’t think I can’t manage to keep surprising you for a week?”
“Naaa . . .” I lifted my chin. “With what I’ve got planned for you, it’d be nearer the truth if you said that you’ll be locked away with me for a month.”
“Fuck,” he muttered before his lips sought mine.
I reluctantly raised myself from Alex’s knee, missing the warmth of his body as soon as I stepped away from him.
“I’m gonna be walking around with this all day,” he complained as he stood up and slipped his hand down the front of his trousers to rearrange himself.
“I could have done that. You only had to ask,” I said as he grimaced, trying to find a comfortable place for his 'problem' to settle. “You sure you don’t want me to help sort you out?”
“As much as I would love your hand or lips wrapped around me, with the way that people seem to forget to knock on my door, I don’t think that it’s a great idea. And I am a firm believer in equal rights and I am a gentleman, I think it’s only fair that you experience my lips on you before you even consider returning that favour.”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t regarding it as a favour. I’d actually quite like to . . . well, you know.” My face heated as I struggled to say the words.
Alex grinned wildly. “I’ll remember that.”
He strode over to the mirror, rearranging his hair before turning around.
Alex nudged my shoulder. “I need to go to the bathroom to sort myself out before I face Amy.”
He grabbed my hand and placed it flat against the front of his jeans, over his hardness. “That’s all your doing, you know,” he whispered, moving my hand so it rubbed against him. “You make me so hard. I ache to be inside you whilst you writhe in ecstasy underneath me. But do you know what I really want, Ella?”
I gulped, and shook my head, suddenly feeling even hotter than I had when we were making out. I had never heard him talk like this before, and it was a major turn on. He hardened even more under the pressure of my hand.
“I want to know what you taste like, what it feels like to have my face buried between your legs when you come. I want to know you properly. Every. Last. Bit. Of. You.” He licked my ear before he backed away.
He released my hand, and headed to the door, grinning at me.
No sooner had Alex left, then Rowan stepped into the room.
“Was Alex okay? He seemed in a bit of a hurry. He nearly knocked me down in the corridor out there.”
“He’ll be fine.”
Rowan nodded, but frowned before placing his hand over his forehead. I hadn’t noticed the dark circles under his eyes earlier, or the hunched shoulders.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
He moved quickly across the room, positioning himself in the chair that Alex and I had just been making out on. “I’ve got myself in a real mess. A crazy, mixed up shit of a situation, Ella.”
I moved toward him, worried about how troubled he sounded. I didn’t want to get drawn into anyone else’s problems—I had enough trouble dealing with Alex. But I couldn’t bear to see anyone struggling with a problem.
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Believe me, it can. I actually don’t know how it could be any worse.”
“Do you want to tell me? Although, after not managing to keep the last secret you told me, I wouldn’t blame you if you keep completely quiet. It’s just that sometimes, well . . . telling someone can seem to ease the problem. Not make it as bad as it is.”
Rowan shook his head. “I can’t tell you, Ella. I wish I could, but I can’t.”
“All these confidentiality clauses flying around,” I joked, hoping that he’d manage to crack a slight smile. I had no such luck.
He frowned even more. “You’re a nice girl, Ella. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“I won’t. I’m a big girl now. And, if I do get hurt, maybe the journey along that road will have been worth it.”
“I just wanted to let you know that however bad things may look, you must always trust what you feel in your heart.”
It was my turn to frown. “Rowan? What on earth are you on about?”
He brought both hands up to his face, hiding his expression from me.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, trying to offer him some comfort. “Rowan, are you okay?” I questioned.
Amy’s sharp voice interrupted us. “Rowan?” she stepped into Alex’s dressing room. If looks could kill, I would have been dead several times over.
“Get your hands off him,” she hissed. I quickly brought my hand to my side. I was shocked at her viciousness toward my friendly gesture. She had no claim on him whatsoever. It didn’t make sense.
Rowan hastily stood up, and fled from the room.
“What is your problem?” I snapped at her.
“My problem? You’re asking me what my problem is?”
“Errr . . . yes, that is what I just said.” Was she really that slow?
“It’s you!” she shrieked. “You’ve only been here a week, and you already have your claws into Alex and Rowan.”
My eyes widened at her assumption. “I can assure you that I’m not the one with the claws around here. I have no interest in Rowan at all. Not that it’s any concern of yours.”
“He’s a friend. A good friend.”
I sniggered. “Well then, I guess I can understand why you’re so mad. You need all the friends you can get. Worried that I may turn him against you?”
“Shut it!” She stepped toward me, but I didn’t move. I fixed my feet firmly on the floor and silently dared her to come closer.
“He’s such a friend that he’s run out on you. Left you to fend for yourself against me!” I hissed.
She sniggered. “I can more than fend for myself. I have contacts you could only dream about, little Miss Work Experience!”
My hand slid to Anthony’s card in my pocket. I fingered the edge of it, but left it where it was.
“I have the media on my side. I only had to call them the other day, and they were all over your address, your college, your friends, and your family. But you just wait until next week. I’ve got the biggest bomb-shell yet.”
“You really are disillusioned.”
“Me? You think that Alex’s interested in you? I warned you before, but you didn’t listen. He’ll use you, just like he uses everyone. He doesn’t care about you. He just wants you for sex. It’s very simple. It’s how he always behaved—even when we were together.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You think you know everything that went on between us? You know nothing.”
I hated the smug look she was giving me. But, oh how I was looking forward to wiping that look off her face. “I know everything that went on between you two,” I said. “Absolutely everything.”
She swallowed, the greyness of her skin when she had arrived earlier seemed to show through her make-up.
“And . . .” I continued. “Look what I’ve got.” I pulled Anthony’s card out of my pocket.
“He’s very interested in writing a story about you, Miss Perfect!”
“You wouldn’t.” She gasped, backing away from me. “Ella, please, it would finish my career.”
I tucked the card back in my pocket just before Alex entered the room.
“Amy, get the fuck out of here, and leave Ella alone,” he ordered.
Amy turned to face him, but didn’t speak. It seemed I had stunned her into silence.
“Urghhh . . .” Alex grimaced as he caught sight of her. “Have you actually been in make-up yet? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Amy spun around. “I hate you,” she hissed under her breath so quietly that Alex would not have heard her.
“Get out Amy, now!” Alex shouted as he stood at the door, his arm propping it open for her.
“With pleasure.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulders and marched from the room.
Alex shut the door behind her before leaning his back against it.
“Did you get everything sorted?” I asked, nodding to his crotch.
“Yes.” He quickly changed the subject. “Are you okay? I know how nasty Amy can be.”
“I’m fine, honestly. In fact, I’ve never felt better.” I moved across the room toward him, and wrapped my arms around his neck. His fingers hooked into the belt loops on my jeans.
“Ella Summer, what are you up to?” he queried as a grin spread across his lips.
I kissed him tenderly, letting my lips linger over his. I didn’t like keeping secrets from him, from anyone. They always had a way of coming back and biting you on the bum when you least expected.
“I was a bit nasty to Amy,” I said. “I threatened her.”
Alex raised his brow whilst waiting for me to continue.
“She admitted that she was the one who had told the press about us. She gave them all my details. I should think that anyone who knows me will have been approached by the press to sell their story.”
Alex’s stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “Have we anything to worry about? Have you got any skeletons hiding away in the back of your closet? You’re not married, are you?” He leaned forward for a chaste kiss.
“No. I’m not married, and I’ve lead a pretty boring life really . . . well, until I met you. But she said that she had a bombshell of a story that was going to hit the papers next week. I’ve got no idea what she’s planning.”
“Perhaps I can have a word with her,” Alex said.
“No. I think we should just leave it—I have a feeling that she won’t do anything about it now.”
“Why not?”
I took a deep breath, preparing to tell him the next part, knowing that he would go ballistic at what she had said. “She told me that I didn’t know you like she did. That you were using me for sex, and that I had no idea what had gone on between you two. I sort of lost my patience with her.”
Alex’s body tensed, but he didn’t start shouting or cursing, and I presumed he was holding back until I told him what I had said in reply.
“I told her that I knew exactly what had gone on, that I knew everything. She understood exactly what I meant.”
“But that’s not a threat. That’s you just letting her know that you’re aware of the truth.”
I nodded and reached into my pocket. “That’s when I showed her this.”
I presented the card to Alex, who promptly took the small card from my hand.
“Ella?” a slow smile spread across his face. “Is that what you meant the other day when you said that the reporter would be nice to us?”
“Yep. I sort of mentioned that I had a story on Amy. He was very, very interested.”
“I bet he was.”
“I’m not going to do it though. Everything would get dragged up again. People would know about something that was so private, and so painful for you. I could never be the person who sold that story to the press.”
Alex hugged me before handing the card back. “I believe you. Just make sure that Amy isn’t aware of how soft you are.”
There was a knock at the door as Rowan’s voice boomed through the wood at us. “Time for action, Alex.”
“If only,” Alex muttered before placing a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I have to go to work. Come on.” He grabbed my hand and we headed to the studio. “Let’s get today over with and then we can have some serious time together tonight. I intend to have a very serious make out session with you on my bed. That is if you don’t object to my suggestion.”
I smiled so ridiculously wide at his statement. I had no problems at all with his suggestion.
* * *
We entered the studio with matching grins, and instantly caught the attention of Amy and Rowan. Rowan looked away, but Amy didn’t tear her eyes away from Alex. Her action annoyed me. He wasn’t hers anymore. She had no claim on him whatsoever, and from what Alex had told me about how she treated him, I doubted that she had ever loved him.
Alex pulled his arm even tighter around my waist.
“I didn’t think she could get any greener. But whatever’s up with her is turning her a ghastly colour,” he whispered before kissing my ear. “Tonight, Ella.” he promised, tapping my ass before he sauntered over to the set.
“C’mon then, Rowan, I’m ready now. Let’s get filming.”
Rowan began to speak to Alex, giving him directions for the on-coming scenes, but Amy remained where she was, smirking in my direction. I wanted to march over to her and slap the stupid expression off her face. What had changed? Was it because now that filming was about to start, she had Alex to herself. He couldn’t sit with me, or even talk to me whilst they were acting and being filmed. I flicked through the pages of the scenes that were due to be shot today. Alex had to be quite sweet to her in several of them, and many of them were the build-up to the actual love scene.
I was still undecided as to whether I should stay for the closed set. I was curious as to how sex scenes were filmed. They always looked so real on camera. But I didn’t fancy watching Alex being so intimate with another woman, particularly Amy. He would be acting, but he would make it very realistic—he was an exceptional actor. And then there was Amy. I was convinced that she would either give the performance of her life, or mess things up so that there were numerous re-takes.
I thought through both scenarios as I slumped into my usual chair. Cameras were moving around, Rowan was shouting directions to everyone, but I was in my own little bubble. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that watching Alex acting out a love scene with Amy was something that I was best not watching.
Rowan wandered across the studio after talking to Alex and Amy, and sat next to me.
“Are you okay now?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” he snapped. “Just don’t talk to me, please.”
I frowned, not understanding where his hostility had come from.
“You were upset about something earlier. You sounded like you were going to tell me something that was bothering you. I’d like to help.”
“Help? I don’t need your help.” He lifted his gaze across the studio toward Amy. She was shrieking at the make-up artist.
“It’s Amy, isn’t it?” I gasped, seeing the way his eyes narrowed at her.
He sprang from his chair. “No, it’s not! Stop bothering me, Ella, and stop being so nosey!”
As soon as his angry words had started to flow, Alex had dropped his script. He was already taking large strides across the studio floor toward us.
“Hey!” he yelled. “Don’t speak to Ella like that!”
“Why?” Rowan continued shouting. “You gonna stop me?”
I stood up, my chair flying backward as I placed myself between them.
“Too right I fucking will.” Alex sneered.
“Stop it. Both of you!” I shouted. “This is completely unnecessary.” The situation was ridiculous.
Alex glared at Rowan, and then looked at me. “Ella,” he said softly. “I won’t have him shouting at you like that.”
I turned to Alex as Rowan stormed out of the studio. “It’s okay,” I said. “He’s upset about something. I think it’s something to do with Amy.”
Alex raised his eyebrows. “This has to stop. I’m not prepared to put up with all this shit for the next film.”
I squeezed his hand. “We’ll chat about it tonight if you want.”
He nodded. “We’ll see. I have other plans for tonight, Ella. Ones that won’t involve talking very much.”
“Can you ever be serious?” I tried to hide my smile from him.
Amy’s shrill voice sounded out from across the room. “Are we filming today, or are you two constantly going to be chatting?”
“I’d better get back to it,” Alex said before pecking me on the cheek.
Rowan strolled back into the studio, and plonked into his chair, scowling. I wasn’t prepared to talk to him after his last outburst. Whatever was up with him, he could sort it out himself. I already had one moody, unpredictable man to deal with. Alex had already claimed my attention.
Rowan concentrated on the filming for the rest of the morning, never once speaking or offering any guidance to me. It was a relief in many ways. If he didn’t speak to me, I didn’t need to speak to him. I watched Alex with a new-found fascination. I loved the way he listened to Rowan’s directions, ever the professional when he needed to be. All animosity between them disappeared whilst he was working.
Amy managed to surprise me as well. The scenes when Alex and her had to be nice to each other, with several kisses shared between them, were acted with incredible tenderness and emotion. I found them difficult to watch, but not as awkward as I had expected. Maybe it was because every time Rowan shouted, 'Cut,’ Alex turned away from Amy and wiped his mouth, as if removing all traces of her from his lips.
The morning’s filming went quickly for a change, but I still found it tedious. It was a huge surprise to realise that the career I had thrown myself into wasn’t proving to hold my interest. I was getting experience on the most popular film franchise in the world, yet I was bored. If it hadn’t been for Alex, the whole experience would have been unbearable.
My mind drifted as I tried to sift through my confused thoughts. I needed to sort out what I was going to do with my life after all this.
“Ella!” Alex called, striding my way. “Amy wants a quick word with me, in private.” He raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
“So where’s she going?” I asked, seeing Amy’s departing figure.
“My dressing room,” he added.
I frowned, not liking the situation.
“Ella, it’ll be okay. I can more than handle Amy. I’ll not be long. Just leave me to deal with her, okay?”
I nodded, but I wasn’t happy. I may have trusted Alex alone with Amy, but I certainly didn’t trust Amy.
As they left the studio, I studied the script for the umpteenth time. I was bored. Perhaps it was because I just wanted to get back to Alex’s tonight. I was so looking forward to us being alone, it was difficult to concentrate on anything else. I had no idea how Alex managed to remain so focused and professional.
“You shouldn’t ever trust him completely, you know,” Rowan muttered from beside me.
“You and Amy sound like you rehearsed the same lines,” I replied, lowering the script from my scrutiny. “You’ve been around Amy for too long. Not only are you sounding like her, you’re beginning to act like her as well.”
His features hardened. “The same could be said of you and Alex. You’ve changed.”
“I’ve changed?” I guffawed. “How can you make such a statement? You’ve only known me for a week, and most of that’s been through grunts as you eat your stupid crisps. You know nothing about me, Rowan, and that’s exactly how it’ll stay.”
“I know enough. Amy has told me all about you.”
“Amy?” I was astounded. “She knows nothing.”
Rowan sniggered. “Well she certainly knows Alex better than you. And as you just pointed out, I’ve only known you for a week—so has Alex.”
I was searching for a sarcastic answer to his comment, but couldn’t think of one fast enough.
“You should listen to her. Regardless of what you think, perhaps she’s got your best interests at heart where Alex’s concerned.”
My mouth dropped open. Was he serious?
At that moment, Amy practically flew into the studio. Everyone in the room turned to look at her as she wailed and cried, running toward Rowan.
“Amy, what on earth’s the matter?” Rowan asked as she flung herself at him. He wrapped his arms around her. “Calm down. You shouldn’t let yourself get so upset.”
“It was Alex, he . . . he, he tried to . . .”
“He tried to what?” Rowan questioned.
Her gaze dropped to her skirt which was ripped up the side.
“I knew he still felt something for me,” she wailed. “He tried to force me, Rowan. It was horrible.”
Rowan turned to me. “Now do you believe me?”
I was already on my feet, charging across the studio. I didn’t believe her for one second. But I wanted to know exactly what had happened. I needed Alex’s explanation.
I wanted to believe that he hadn’t tried to force Amy to do anything but leave his dressing room. But she had been in such a state that there was a tiny bit of doubt niggling at the back of my mind. What if he had tried something? Back at his house, he still had her room exactly as she had left it. His constant anger toward her, whilst understandable, could also be a sign that he still had feelings for her. I shook my head, not liking the way I was thinking. I had never doubted him, but things just weren’t making sense.
I reached Alex’s dressing room and raised my hand, ready to knock on the door. I paused momentarily, taking deep breaths to try and calm myself. Then I heard Alex’s voice.
“Fuck, Tessa. What on earth?”
I pushed open the door.
“No!” I cried.
Alex had his back to me, his trousers nowhere to be seen. But the image of a woman on her knees, facing him made me freeze in shock. I had seen exactly this scene two years ago.
“Ella? Shit!” There was panic in Alex’s voice as he stepped backward, away from the woman, and reached for his jeans that were slung over a chair.
“Don’t.” I sniffed, holding my arms outstretched in front of me. “Just don’t even try to explain any of this.” I released a shuddering breath, unable to take in what I was witnessing—again.
This was exactly what Sam had done with that skank, Janet. And now Alex had done the same. I glanced at the woman Alex had called Tessa, but all I saw was Janet. She looked like all her Christmases had come at once as she stood up. Alex was frantically pulling his jeans over his hips. At least he had the decency to cover himself, Sam had just moved toward me, still naked, and thrown me out of the room.
“Always a pleasure,” she drawled, and then blew Alex a kiss.
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge I had to cry. I could feel my survival instinct kicking in—just like it had before.
Fight or flight, fight or flight?
I focused on Alex but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. Why not? Why wasn’t he explaining? Why was he just standing there, looking anywhere but at me?
“You’re welcome to him,” I snapped, my tears starting as I turned sharply, heading back into the corridor.
“Ella!” Alex called.
I walked faster, heading away from him and skanky Tessa.
“Ella, wait!”
I ran. I wanted him to stay as far away from me as possible. I wanted nothing more to do with him. I headed for the ladies’ room, needing privacy and time to compose myself.
I stumbled into one of the cubicles and locked the door. I shivered uncontrollably as I leant against the wall and cried. Large unstopping tears flooded from my eyes as the scene I had just witnessed played repeatedly in my head. I was shattering from the inside, splitting into thousands of pieces as my heart broke over and over again.
I kicked at the door in frustration and banged my fists against the wall.
Why had I thought that I could help him? All this had been a bad idea from the start.
My cries turned into dirty big sobs when I realised that I had well and truly fallen for him. I had never intended for that to happen.
I’d let Alex Denton into my heart, and now he was breaking it.