Chapter Two Ella
Chapter Two
Ella
As I got ready for dinner that evening, I went through the conversation I’d planned with Philip in my head, over and over.
He’d ask about my day, and I’d say, ‘Well, actually, it was amazing. We’ve just had an unbelievable last-minute invite to go to New York!
What the fuck!’ Then I’d smile incredulously, pretending it hadn’t been in the works for months.
And after he was done congratulating me, he’d ask what the invite was for, and I’d massively play down The Dicktionary Club part and say it was a tech company thing. Everything would be fine.
I took a deep breath, flicked out the layers of my hair, then slipped on a long silk skirt with a sizeable split up the side and a cropped black top. I added a touch of Mac lipstick and gloss. Sophisticated and sexy – yes.
Just after six, I heard a toot outside and headed down the stairwell. I could see him smiling at me through the window and my nerves settled.
I opened the passenger door and Philip leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. He looked as fresh and handsome as always – his deep musky scent engulfed me in a second. His toned, tanned arms on the steering wheel – fuck me, he was gorgeous.
‘Hi, how are—’ I began, but he raised his hand and pointed to the speaker. He mouthed ‘Sorry’. Then I realised he was still on a work call. Great.
He chatted aimlessly to one of his bar designers as we drove through the city, occasionally mentioning actual work, but mostly making inside jokes about interior fails.
At the same time, I gazed out of the window.
It was approaching September, and the autumn leaves were beginning to appear on the trees.
We continued through Glasgow’s rush-hour traffic, eventually reaching Mini Grill, our favourite spot for steak.
But as Philip parked up, he continued his call.
I stared out of the window, watching crowds of glammed-up women enter the King’s Theatre across the street, ready to enjoy their night.
I eventually turned, watching him laugh and crack jokes, not even aware I was death staring him by now.
‘OK, mate. I have to go. I have a night of making up to do with Ella. She has listened to far too much of this renovation chat.’
He finally cut off the call and faced me, bringing both his hands to my cheeks and pulling me in for a kiss.
I began to laugh as he kissed my lips and moaned, muffling ‘I’m sorry’ over and over.
Eventually, I batted him off me, wiped my Mac ‘Locked Kiss’ (not as kissproof as the price point would have you believe) off his face, and shook my head. ‘Let’s go, I’m hungry!’
We headed inside and were seated by the friendly staff at a small table by the window.
‘I’m sorry about that, but duty calls! There are big developments with the bar opening in Leith,’ he said as he picked up the menu.
‘Oh, that’s good,’ I replied, trying to sound interested. But inside, I felt nervous, wanting to get this New York weight off my chest as soon as possible.
Philip raised a brow. ‘Are you OK?’
The waitress approached, smiling widely. ‘Mr Khan, what would you like to drink?’
Philip’s eyes lit up. ‘The house red for you?’ he suggested, looking my way. ‘Coke for me. I’m driving.’
I shook my head. ‘Actually, I’m more in the mood for champagne. We’re celebrating!’
‘Oh, sure!’ the waitress replied and headed back.
‘Wow, champagne?’ Philip looked surprised, placing his menu down. ‘What’s going on? Are we getting blotto? I can park up for the night, so we can get a taxi home?’
I started to laugh. ‘I thought we could celebrate some work news that I have for a change!’ I sat back and smiled, although nerves twisted under my skin.
‘Go on . . .’ Philip began, then his phone started ringing once more.
‘Aghh, shit. I’m sorry.’ He hesitated, glancing between the phone and me.
‘Duty calls.’ My face fell at that stupid fucking catchphrase yet again.
He stood up and walked to the restaurant door.
I watched him through the glass wall as he giggled and gestured at the other end of the call.
‘Champagne?’ the waitress announced, returning with two glasses and popping the cork.
I forced a grin, but familiar disappointment settled in.
I gulped down my glass and the waitress refilled it, watching Philip chat and chat on the phone. He’d occasionally glance towards me, then his attention was pulled back to whoever had called. I was halfway through the second glass when he finally came back in.
‘Right. Tell me your news?’ His dark eyes fixed on me playfully – his way of apologising, no doubt sensing I was annoyed at the continuous interruptions.
‘Do you have to take calls when we’re out for dinner?’ I asked, sitting up a little too straight. ‘Surely they can wait until you’re home?’
Philip’s lips twisted. ‘Yes, they probably could, but I like my employees to know they can reach me at any time. It shows I care. Look, I’m sorry!’ He stuck out his bottom lip jokingly.
I eventually smiled.
The waitress approached with her notepad. ‘What are you guys having then?’
‘Could we have the Chateaubriand? Medium-rare? You’re good with that, yeah?’
I handed back my menu. ‘Sure, thank you.’
‘So, come on! No more interruptions. The news. Tell me!’ Philip sipped on his Coke, ignoring the flute of champagne.
‘Well, I’m going to New York in three days to pitch to a huge tech company with the girls!’ I gabbled quickly, taking another gulp from my glass.
There. It was out. It was done.
I watched Philip tilt his head, looking unsure.
‘What?’ I asked.
‘No, nothing. Wow! It’s a shock, I suppose. I thought you were focusing on social media? Making business pages more aesthetic? That type of thing.’
Great start. I felt like he had taken a massive dump over my news, squeezing it directly into my champagne flute.
‘No,’ I said with a laugh that was starting to sound a little forced.
‘That’s basically all the work we can get at the moment, but I was running major events for massive companies before, remember?
So, I have to think bigger than Instagram reels.
And now we’ve been offered this pitch in New York and . . .’
Philip sipped his drink, seeming more convinced. ‘What’s the company? One I know?’
I felt my breath turn shaky, then cleared my throat. ‘Erm, the company is called Flirtify, and they’ve asked the girls and me to pitch to them.’
Philip smiled, his eyebrows raised in shock. ‘Owned by Jimmy Link? Wow. Now that is impressive! Why did they ask you girls? Did you send an application to pitch something specifically?’
I took a swig of champagne and slowly shook my head.
‘No, actually, they read an article about The Dicktionary Club and wanted ideas for setting up something similar in the Big Apple. Cool, eh?’ I took another gulp, finishing the glass and immediately reaching for a refill, not waiting for the waitress.
I noticed the silence between us and eventually gazed up at Philip, who looked like he had been smacked in the face with an eight-ounce steak by one of the kitchen’s beefiest chefs.
‘An article about me?’ he asked, and I managed a tight smile back.
There were so many articles when the shit hit the fan with The Dicktionary Club, but almost all of them did mention his name.
‘OK. News really does travel, eh?’ He paused briefly, then continued.
‘I thought you hated that website, Ella. I thought you hated everything it stands for.’ He set his glass down with a small thump that made me jump.
Shit, he’s ragin’.
‘Well, I hated what it did to you, to us, yes. But obviously there’s a market for it if these guys are reaching out. It’s an amazing opportunity that we need to explore. If we don’t, then someone else will.’
Stone-cold silence surrounded us. I began wishing his phone would ring again to help ease the tension.
Eventually, I got the balls to look up from the table and into his eyes. Philip was leaning back in his chair, his dark eyes glazed over, staring straight through me.
‘What? Why are you acting so weird? I don’t really think this is a big deal.’ I started to giggle in a pathetic attempt to restore the mood between us.
‘Maybe not for you, Ella. But I don’t think you should go and pitch that horrendous club to anyone else.
You and your friends went on dates to review and ridicule men purely for your own entertainment.
And I was included in that, in case you’ve forgotten.
How do you think it made me feel? And just when I thought we’d moved on from it, you tell me you’re taking the idea to one of the biggest cities in the world?
’ Philip shook his head, disgusted with me.
Before I could muster the courage to say anything else, the waitress appeared with our steak.
‘OK, guys, we have the Chateaubriand. Would you like anything else?’ she asked, setting our plates down.
‘No, thanks,’ I answered for both of us, then lifted my cutlery as she disappeared, knowing that not even my steak knife was sharp enough to cut through the tension between us right now. I felt like I had been booted in the stomach. Eating was the last thing I wanted to do.
Eventually, Philip spoke again. ‘I’m so surprised you would say yes to this without even consulting me. I feel disappointed, if I’m being one hundred per cent honest. How long have you known about this, Ella?’
My jaw dropped and I felt dizzy – maybe from the champagne, or maybe from adrenaline pulsing through my veins.
I didn’t know whether to scream, apologise, or cry.
Truthfully, I’d known for months that Flirtify wanted us over to pitch, but I hadn’t wanted to rock the boat with Philip when it wasn’t absolutely set in stone that it would happen.
‘You’re disappointed? Wow. So, when was the last time you asked me about how my business was going?’ My head tilted. ‘Hmm? When have you ever actually asked, Philip? Do you know what I’m working on? Or how empty our bank account is?’