Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“M arcus. Please pick up.”
Hot tears clustered in my eyes. My repeated call; my pleas for him to speak to me were going unanswered. His mobile kept going straight to voicemail.
I paced in vain up and down in my sitting room, but my brother didn’t ring me back.
I made the decision to call Mum next. “Marcus was just here in a real state. He knows, Mum. He knows about the money you gave Sam.” I groaned. ‘I knew we should have been honest with him.’
“How on earth did he find out?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I screwed my eyes up as my Christmas tree lights dazzled. “Marcus is the innocent victim in all this, Mum. He’s the one who’s hurting and thinking his own family are keeping secrets from him. I should never have listened to you. I should have told him.”
Mum fell quiet down the line.
“If you must know, Samuel’s sister Siobhan moved jobs recently and now works for some advertising agency in Glasgow. She attended the same meeting as Marcus today and they got talking.”
“Oh bugger!”
My teeth ground against one another. “Let’s face it, Mum. You’ve got previous form for meddling in our relationships.”
Mum ignored this, of course. “I’ll speak to your brother,” she said briskly. “Once he realises we had the best of intentions and that it was Samuel who asked for the money with the intention of blackmailing me, he’ll see sense.”
My hackles rose as I honed in on my mother’s use of the word we .
“Oh no. Don’t you dare include me in all of this.” I ran a frustrated hand over the top of my ponytail. “Has Dad made any attempt to speak to Marcus to try and smooth things over?”
Mum was evasive. “Your father doesn’t know everything yet.”
I was incredulous. “Hold on. Are you saying that you didn’t tell Dad you gave Samuel money?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
“I can’t believe you. Are you even capable of being straight with anyone?”
I ended the call abruptly and then hurled a sofa cushion against the far wall.
My bloody family!
All I wanted to do was speak to Marcus. I wanted to explain and to beg his forgiveness and make everything right between us again. Mum’s relationship meddling had been done with what she thought was the best of intentions, but the whole thing had blown up in our faces. In trying to protect Marcus from knowing about Samuel being a money-grabbing bastard, he’d concluded I was complicit by not telling him.
It galvanised my thoughts. No more harbouring secrets and willing them to vanish.
But dear God, what a horrendous Christmas this was going to be!
When my mobile rang a few moments later, I scrambled forward, almost tumbling off the edge of the sofa in my haste to answer it. Was it Marcus? Or Zach?
But it wasn’t either of them. It was my accountant, reminding me about my end of January tax return.
* * *
On Tuesday, I was still festering over what had happened with Marcus. He was stubborn, like me. Mum was convinced he’d still come for Christmas but I wasn’t so sure. The gift I had bought for Marcus – a gorgeous wooden pen set carved from an old Scottish whisky barrel in Tyree – was wrapped up in glossy blue and silver paper. I wasn’t sure whether to pack it, but I decided to think positively just in case. My stomach dipped. I tried to call him again but he didn’t answer.
He wasn’t even picking up the phone to Dad – probably assuming Dad had been in on it too. Needless to say, Dad was exasperated with Mum when she finally told him, but not entirely surprised. My parents’ relationship had always been a mystery to me.
I forced myself to refocus on the shop. Amber asked to leave early as she was in a blind panic about getting a couple of last-minute gifts before tomorrow when Christmas Eve would arrive with all its fanfare. Rowan was helping me tidy up, water the plants and deadhead a few of the flowers before we closed for the day. She was telling me about some gorgeous festive flower table decorations she’d spotted earlier in the week in a department store in town when Ezra suddenly burst through the door. He was out of breath and his eyes were wild.
“I don’t know what to do!” he burst out from under his baker-boy cap.
“Ezra! What’s wrong? Are you ok?” I said.
He scrambled about in his coat pocket and thrust a crumpled sheet of paper at me. “That journalist friend of yours said this might happen.”
I frowned at him and unfolded the sheet of A4 paper. In bold type was printed:
WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTERS. PUBLICLY RETRACT BOOK CONTENTS OR THEY WILL PAY IN KIND.
I blinked at Ezra, revulsion taking hold. Shit.
Ezra’s expression was grim as he stuffed the note back in his pocket and hovered by the counter, his shoulders sinking under his coat.
“What on earth was I thinking? I revealed all that information in my book, to do good; to name names and show those cretins up for what they really are. And now my honesty is backfiring.” He shoved a lock of stray hair away from his brow. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but I feel as though it’s taken something like this to give me a short, sharp kick up the rear end.”
“What do you mean?”
His expression was grim. “Whoever these villains are, they’re ratcheting up by their threats. I was hoping Zach had got it wrong, but it seems he hasn’t.” He set his jaw. “I think I’m going to contact Caroline and Laura. I don’t know how serious this threat is and it could be dangerous. They didn’t ask for this.”
“What are you saying?”
Ezra pinned me to the spot with desperate eyes. “I have to do what’s right by those girls. Christ knows, I haven’t so far.” He flashed me an apologetic look and rubbed at his face in frustration. “I’m not prepared to take the risk when it comes to two innocent women who may be my daughters. Whoever is behind this has to be stopped. I’ve got to stop thinking about myself for once.”
I nodded. “Come on. Let’s step outside for a moment.” We moved out onto the doorstep of Flower Power, leaving behind the festive scent of pine needles.
The afternoon sun was struggling to appear from behind the patchy clouds and our Christmas window display of the ice palace glittered against the white tea roses.
While Ezra stared straight ahead, his recognisable profile pensive, I plunged my hands into the pockets of my grey trousers. “I understand that you’ve focused your mind on what’s important, and I admire it. But what about how you’ll feel in six months or a year from now? If you do issue a public statement, retracting your comments and essentially clearing these people of their wrong-doings over the years, they’ll have got away with not only what they did back then but what they are doing now.” I turned to him. “Isn’t that sending the wrong message to people like them?”
Ezra’s mouth turned down.
I felt so bad for him. He was torn between two different versions of trying to do the right thing. Here he was, a celebrated actor, used to being the centre of his own universe and revered by so many people, and now he was confronted with the fact that he had two adult daughters who had been put in danger by his attempts to stand up for himself.
“Caroline and Laura are about the same age as me. It’s not as if they’re little girls. They grew up with famous mothers and will be able to get security, if they need it.” I offered him a small smile. “Why don’t you speak to them? Tell them what you’ve been trying to do in your book and tell them about this note. And also tell the police. They should take this threat seriously.”
Ezra dragged a worried hand down his face.
I took a step closer to him. “I know it’s hard, Ezra, and it might not be what you wanted, or the way you wanted, but you know what you have to do.”
Ezra stared up at the Christmas lights strung from the lampposts. The shimmery images of Santa and his sleigh sent a golden glow onto the planes of his face. After processing what I’d just said, he looked at me.
“I suppose you’re right. Come on then, Lady Anastasia. Lead the way.”
I gave him a jokey glower.
Back inside the shop, I asked Amber and Rowan to keep an eye on the counter, collected my laptop and gestured to Ezra to follow me to my office, where I closed the door behind us.
“You can Zoom call Caroline and Laura on this. I’ll help you set it up.”
Ezra looked appalled. “What? You mean now? Right this minute?”
“Yes, why not? No time like the present. This problem isn’t going to go away.”
I set up my laptop, created a Zoom meeting and then texted Caroline and Laura the details. I saw the blue ticks appear, so I knew they had both received the message. I hoped they were ready to meet the man who they strongly suspected was their father…
“I’m going to meet them on this?” he said, staring with increasing panic at the blank screen. “What the hell am I going to say to them?” His voice sounded small and he suddenly wasn’t the confident man-about-town I was used to.
“Just tell them the truth,” I said simply. “About you, about their mothers, about your book and the situation you’ve found yourself in.”
I offered him an understanding smile before launching the Zoom meeting. I made a move to leave to give Ezra some privacy and eased open my office door, letting the sound of Amber’s pleasant chatter and the tune of “White Christmas” drift in.
I saw Ezra’s startled face as the laptop screen flashed indicating that at least one of the girls had joined the Zoom call and was in the “waiting room”.
“What are you doing?” he whispered to me.
“I’m going back to work.”
Ezra pointed to the empty chair next to him. “Oh no you don’t! You sit right there.”
“But––?”
Ezra’s expression brooked no argument, however, so I rolled my eyes, closed the office door again, and took up the seat next to him.
“What do I do now?” he said.
“You let them in to the meeting,” I said. “They’re in a digital waiting room.”
“How very bizarre,” he frowned. “I must admit, I wasn’t as nervous as this on opening night at the Old Vic.”
He clicked to let the first participant, Caroline, into the call.
Her pretty face appeared on the screen. She was in an office, talking to someone, who I presumed was a work colleague. When she saw me first, an engaging smile broke across her features. “Hi, Bailey. Well, this is a lovely surprise. How are you?” Then her voice vanished when she caught sight of Ezra.
Her eyebrows jumped under her thick, dark fringe. She gave me a hesitant look. “What’s going on?”
Before I could answer, Laura was invited in by Ezra, and her pale features morphed onto the split screen. She appeared to be at home. There was a bookcase behind her and on top of it was a holiday photograph of Laura and a smiley brunette, both gazing into each other’s eyes. That must be her partner.
Ezra offered me several petrified, sideways glances. He reminded me of a deer caught in headlights. “Go on,” I whispered. “Just say the first thing that comes into your head.”
Ezra cleared his throat and studied both images of his daughters on the screen. “Hello. Hello there. Hi. Um … hi.”
Caroline gestured to the colleague hovering beside her, and seemed to be explaining that she needed to take a personal call, though she was on mute so the only sound was Ezra awkwardly greeting his daughters for the first time.
Laura ran a hand through her messy bob and gave Ezra an unfathomable stare.
Caroline sat rigidly in her leather chair. Her lipstick coordinated with the berry shade of her satin blouse and she looked elegant and professional. Like her sister, her eyes scanned Ezra with a look of shock, as though not quite believing it.
“Go on,” I encouraged Ezra.
Ezra gradually began to relax and talk. He faltered at first, struggling to find the right words, but soon the story of his young life and the numerous affairs he’d had came spilling out. I could tell that the girls were wondering where he was going with this story and how long they would have to listen to it before he got to the parts they were specifically interested in. I also noticed he hadn’t asked them anything about themselves. Still, at least he was here and that was a good thing.
“I had a rampant ego that was fuelled by my modelling days in London. I would languish in bed all day then get dressed up and haunt The Marquee Club. I was obsessed with David Bowie and copied everything he wore. Everyone was, to be honest, and we were like glittering jewels amongst the gaudy, neon venues of Soho.”
Ezra smiled at the memory as the three of us listened.
“I had long, shaggy hair, cheekbones you could ski-jump off, and the brash attitude to match.”
He regaled the girls with tales of the strict dress code of Annabel’s nightclub and the various hangers-on that would congregate outside in the hope of gaining access to its hallowed chambers. “It felt rather like you were at a party in someone’s opulent drawing room!” he exclaimed.
Then something clouded in his eyes. I could sense he was gearing up to a revelation and I hoped that Caroline and Laura would bear with him until then.
“I got noticed on the modelling circuit. After RADA, it wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I needed the money and it didn’t take much effort to lean against a wall and look brooding and rebellious.” He rubbed at his chin. “I love what I do – being able to transform into someone else; to inhabit another life – but there’s also a dark side to the industry. I didn’t realise… There were things… Back then I was so na?ve, and what I witnessed along the way…”
He trailed off, and I could see that he’d got their attention now.
“Like what?” Caroline asked. I realised these were the first words either of the girls had spoken to their father.
I watched Ezra carefully consider what he was about to say, so as not to cause the girls undue alarm. “You might have heard that my autobiography was released very recently. In it I’ve laid bare many of the traumatic and distasteful memories I carry with me from that time as a young model and actor.”
Laura’s light, whispering voice echoed out. “Yes, we’re reading it now, but we haven’t got to those parts yet… It’s been all over the press, though. Sounds like it’s rather explosive.”
Ezra snorted. “That’s rather an understatement.” He sat back in his chair. “I’ve kept quiet for years because … well, for lots of reasons. Fear, shame, a misguided sense of duty… For a long time, I just wanted to forget it ever happened, but I’m not prepared to do that anymore.” He shifted in his chair. “But now I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve done the right thing.”
“What do you mean?” asked Caroline.
Ezra rooted in his coat pocket, located the note, and held it up to the screen so Caroline and Laura could read it.
“But… My God! Who is it from? And how do they know about us?”
Ezra sat forward, his cleft chin growing hard. “I don’t know for sure. I have my suspicions, but it could be a few people. There are a number of names I’ve shamed in the book, and some of them aren’t thrilled about that, to say the least. But there’s nothing in the book about either of you. I didn’t know about you when I wrote it, so I don’t know how they found out.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked down at his hands. “I… I had to leave London for a while. I had to get away because…” He took a deep breath and met his daughters’ eyes. “It turns out that an eminent film director has spread rumours throughout the industry that I stole a confidential movie script, because his father is named and shamed in my book. He tried to blacklist me and I lost roles over it, but please believe me when I say that I didn’t do it.”
Caroline chewed the inside of her mouth. “That’s awful! But Ezra, you haven’t said what it was you saw during your career that’s stirring up trouble. What are they afraid that you’ll reveal?”
I could see how hard it was for Ezra to talk about this, especially with Caroline and Laura when their relationship was only minutes old. “The exploitation of young actors and models, blackmail, sexual assault, as well as the awful and, frankly, illegal working conditions imposed on staff at a well-known London fashion house. You name it, I saw it.”
Caroline’s insistent words made me start. “You have to name and shame the people responsible. It’s important, Ezra. It matters.”
Ezra’s reluctance was clear. “But Caroline, they’re threatening you and Laura.” Realisation gripped his features. “I’m not worried about myself. I’ve been in this game for a long time now, but I couldn’t bear it if they hurt either of you in order to get to me.”
Laura appraised her father with a cool stare. “A tad late to enter the Father of The Year competition, isn’t it?”
“Touché,” I muttered under my breath at Ezra.
“I’m sorry but I agree with Caroline,” Laura went on, “you have to carry on and not waver. You have to clear your name and you’re right to expose what they did. How will anything change if you had stayed quiet??”
Ezra shifted in his chair. “But it could be dangerous. I’d never forgive myself?—”
Caroline was imploring. “And we’d never forgive you if you try to redact what you’ve said and let them off scot-free. It’s important, Ezra. This kind of thing really matters.”
Ezra pushed himself upright in his chair. He studied the images of the pretty, forthright young women in front of him. “I admire your courage, I really do. I think we ought to go to the police, but that will mean that the story will leak about us … about us possibly being family. Are you sure you’re ready for that?” He sighed. “Obviously I’m not going to win any medals, but when I said I didn’t know either of you existed, I was telling the truth.”
There was a considered silence.
“If you want to do something for us now, you’ll push on with publicity for your autobiography and make sure it continues to receive the fanfare it deserves,” announced Caroline, the emotion in her voice practically bouncing off the cream walls of her office. There was also an odd expression on her face.
“Are you all right?” I asked her.
She didn’t reply.
Ezra grew more frustrated. “You don’t know what it feels like to have carried around something like this.”
“Oh yes, I do,” bit back Caroline, her distraught image on the laptop screen giving me cause for concern.
“Caroline? What is it?”
Her eyes, daubed in beige shadow, glittered with tears. “I was sexually harassed at work eight years ago.”
Ezra stiffened beside me.
Laura lent closer to the camera. “What? You never told me that.”
Caroline swallowed. “It’s not a time in my life I like to revisit.”
Ezra’s heated glance at me was a mixture of anger and confusion. “What happened?”
“I ended up leaving.”
Ezra struggled to contain himself. “And the bastard who was harassing you? What happened to him?”
“He was transferred. And promoted! Can you believe it? They removed the problem and foisted it on to someone else in another department, and gave the guy a pay rise.”
Ezra stared with incredulity at Caroline’s troubled image on my laptop.
“I couldn’t stay after that. I needed a fresh start.” Caroline gathered herself. “Since then, attitudes and procedures have changed to a large degree, although there’s still so much room for improvement. I’m convinced that had it occurred now, the outcome would’ve been so much different.”
Laura’s voice broke. “I agree with Caroline. You have to expose what these people did and stick by your autobiography.”
For a moment, it was as though Caroline had almost forgotten about Laura being present. She widened her eyes in surprise, before they misted over again.
“We’re big girls,” carried on Laura. “We can get some additional security if we need to.”
Caroline sniffed and nodded.
Ezra let out a frustrated sigh. “But these people sound like they won’t give up easily.”
“Neither will we,” insisted Laura. “All the more reason to stand up to them.”
I shot Ezra a fleeting smile. Then I turned to glance at Caroline and Laura’s images on my laptop. “Determined, wilful, courageous… I can’t think for the life of me where they get that from.”
Ezra pulled a face. “Very amusing.” He leant forward, his brows gathering as he contemplated the situation. “But I want you to take this threat seriously. I want you both to come to Heather Moore where I can arrange protection.”
Both Laura and Caroline began to protest. “It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow!” stuttered Laura.
“Yes, I’m aware of that, but I can’t do this if I’m worried about you. I have great security, and with the people I use, you’ll be far safer up here. We can reassess after the holiday.” Ezra warmed to his idea. “Will you both come?”
“I’m supposed to be spending Christmas with my girlfriend,” said Laura. “I’ll have to see if I can persuade Tori to come too because I’m not leaving her on her own.”
“Wonderful!” answered Ezra. “Caroline?”
“I’m going with two friends to a cottage in Cornwall. We’ve had it booked for ages I can’t just?—”
Ezra arched his brows.
Caroline shrugged helplessly. “Ok, ok. I get the hint. If Laura’s in, so am I.”
Ezra clapped his ringed hands together in delight. “Excellent. I’ll make the necessary arrangements straight away.” He paused. “Oh, and before I forget, there’s something else. I’m throwing a little get-together on New Year’s Eve at Bailey’s family home,” announced Ezra. “And I’d be honoured to have you both accompany me.”
Caroline and Laura both gawped down their screens at their famous father.
“I won’t take no for an answer. I insist.” He leant forward, looking more intently into the camera. “And if, as seems very possible, we find out through DNA testing that we are related, I’m very happy to go public about our relationship.”
Caroline and Laura looked shocked.
“Laura, if you’re happy to do this, then so am I,” said Caroline a little nervously.
Laura blew out a breath. “In that case, it looks like we’ll be coming to Scotland for Christmas!”
Well, well.
Ezra King might just turn out to be a wonderful father after all.