Rowan ordered everyone out of the room, and he followed.
I was grateful that he gave Alex and me some private time, alone. We needed it.
Alex remained where he was, with his head buried in the pillow next to mine. Even though we had been acting, we had just shared something incredibly real and intimate. I wondered how on earth he would have acted the scene with Amy.
I pushed thoughts of her from my mind, and concentrated on the weight of Alex. I loved the strength of his muscular body, and the feel of his hot naked skin sticking to mine. It was as though we’d made love, particularly with this calmness afterwards. I was convinced we would be amazing together whenever it eventually happened.
Alex kissed the side of my face. “Ella Summer, you are fucking unbelievable,” he whispered.
I turned my face toward his before gently kissing his lips. “I hope that what they filmed was good enough. I can’t do that again,” I admitted.
Alex lifted himself up on his arms, not crushing me anymore. He frowned. “What? You never want to make love to me again?”
“No, silly.” I swatted his shoulder. “Pretend to make love to you. Next time I want it to be for real. And private.”
I traced my fingers down the side of his face letting them finish their journey with a gentle rub across his lips. He kissed my fingers before rolling to my side. Grabbing the sheet that was pooled around our feet, he pulled it over our bodies. I tucked it under my arms before turning sideways to face him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, seeing a frown appear across his forehead.
“I can’t believe I’ve to leave for LA in about an hour.”
“I wish I could come with you,” I said. “I’ve never been to America.”
He smiled, as he turned onto his side to face me. His hand immediately rose to my hair and he twisted the long lengths in between his fingers. “You’ve never been to America?”
“No.”
“But you do have a passport?”
“Yes. I’ve been to Spain a few times.”
“Is it still in date?”
“Yes.” I eyed him cautiously. Was he about to ask me to go with him? “Why?”
“Just curious.”
“I thought you were going to ask me to come with you.” I tried to hide my disappointment.
“Not this time, Ella. The idea has crossed my mind, but you’ll hardly see me. You also have two weeks of editing to do with Crisp Muncher. I can’t make you miss it. It’s important that you stay.”
“Not as important as you,” I offered, pouting at his refusal to take me.
“I promise when I get back we will have the first of many nights together. I won’t be going anywhere. I’ll be exhausted, but I’m sure you’ll find ways to perk me up.”
He wriggled closer so that the whole length of our bodies was touching. I was reminded of just what we had been through by a hardness pushing against my thigh.
I smiled half-heatedly, annoyed for not quite having finished my period. If I had, I would be jumping on top of him and continuing where we just left off filming. Only this time, there’d be no acting.
I didn’t want him to go away. It meant that I had a week to cope without him, without his smiles, touches and words. I curled my leg over his. “LA sounds so glamorous and exciting,” I said.
“I promise that I’ll take you there one day, but it needs to be when I’m not working. I’ll take you to all the places I like and I’ll treat you to all the finest restaurants.”
“Perhaps we could just curl up together in a posh hotel somewhere,” I offered.
“I don’t have to take you to Los Angeles for that. There are perfectly good hotels in London. And we both have our own places. From now on, I hope we’ll be sleeping together a lot more than we’ll be sleeping by ourselves.”
I widened my eyes. “Sleeping?”
“Eventually.”
We both smiled at each other for what seemed like ages before we lost ourselves in another slow, long kiss.
One kiss led to another, and another. I was happy, relaxed and at peace with our renewed relationship. This following week would be difficult, I’d miss him so much. But it was only a week, and I had a lot to look forward to when he returned from his trip.
My shoulders were roughly grabbed and I screamed as I was pulled away from Alex.
Within seconds I was dragged onto my feet.
Amy.
I had a brief snapshot of her wide eyes and angry snarl just before she slapped me across my face.
“Bitch!” The word flew from her mouth as I stumbled sideward onto the bed.
Alex sprang out of the bed, wearing nothing but the stupid cock sock. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Rowan had run into the room with another man, and they had already reached Amy. He grabbed her arm, and another man stood in front of her, blocking Alex from getting near.
“Get out of my fucking way!” he shouted. “I’m in no fucking mood for this.”
“Don’t upset her, Alex,” Rowan warned.
“Upset her? I feel like murdering the mad bitch.” He glared at Amy. “How dare you walk in here and attack Ella?”
Tears rolled down my face as the stinging on my cheek took hold. “Alex,” I sobbed, reaching for his hand.
He crouched down at the side of the bed. “Ella, fuck. Seriously, are you okay?” He held his hand up against my face. “I can see each finger mark where she slapped you,” he said.
The man who had stepped between Alex and Amy, gave Alex his robe.
Alex quickly shoved his arms into the sleeves.
“This needs sorting out, once and for all,” he said. He kissed me on the forehead before standing up. I lifted my gaze to see who had handed Alex his robe, and instantly recognised him—it was Simon, Amy’s boyfriend.
I jumped as Alex shouted at Amy. “Speak. Explain all of this, or I will make a phone call to the police on Ella’s behalf. I will inform them that you have physically attacked my girlfriend, and that I want to press charges against you. I have several witnesses!”
Amy smirked, and my own anger started to rise.
“Try it!” she snapped. “I have so much dirt on her. I have contacts that will print whatever I want.”
Was she referring to Anthony? I doubted that he would print what she said, but I was also aware that he was a reporter. These types of stories were the ones that sold newspapers. It was how he earned his living. He wouldn’t stay quiet forever.
“You. Attacked. Her.” The anger rolled off Alex, and I hated Amy more than ever for bringing out this side of him.
“She’s acting my scenes with you. Not only has she got her claws into Rowan, she’s now stealing my career!”
I frowned at her through my watery eyes. Was she serious?
“Don’t be so fucking stupid," Alex said. “You were ill this morning. You called in sick. We were meant to be acting one of the most important scenes in the film. What was I supposed to do, sit here all day until my flight left?”
She began to cry. I doubted that her tears were real.
“What was up with you anyway?” Alex asked. “You seem fine now. You’ve obviously got plenty of energy to attack Ella.”
“He’s frightening me,” Amy whined. “Please, tell him to stop.” She buried her head into Simons shirt.
I sat up, pulling the sheet tightly around my chest as I stared in disbelief at Amy’s performance. Simon and Rowan were comforting her, supporting her, fighting her side against Alex’s. I hated her.
Alex was standing by himself, his face red and angry. My chest tightened. This was what he had to face every single day. No-one fought for him. It was all about Amy.
“So?” Alex continued, still shouting at her. “You gonna tell me what was wrong with you? What had you so ill that you couldn’t come to work this morning, but enabled you to storm in here and attack Ella?”
He was met with silence.
Amy glared at me, but as her expression morphed into a gloating sneer, I decided that I’d had enough. I wouldn’t stand by and let Alex feel like this whenever she was around.
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?