Chapter Forty-One Ella
Chapter Forty-One
Ella
I stormed through the living room and slammed my hand on the lift door to open it.
In the background, Katy called my name faintly, but I ignored her.
I ignored Ethan, too – he was still awkwardly pacing with his backpack at his side.
Furious and hurt, I stepped into the elevator.
I wanted out. I wanted away – away from New York, from Jimmy, from my friends, from all the mess happening around us.
As I stepped out into the autumn air, my shoulders dropped.
The breeze whizzed by my face and hair, making me shiver.
I started walking with no sense of direction, no place I had to be.
I walked, with every conversation with those close to me from the past few days bouncing around in my head.
I thought about Fee and Travis, my heart aching for her.
What must she think about me, knowing all this time?
I thought about Jimmy, who had lost his company and reputation – something he had built with such determination from the ground up.
I let out a huge scream and noticed people staring at me like I was insane.
Eventually, I reached a rubbish-littered alleyway, buildings surrounding me, but I couldn’t see any landmarks to figure out where I was.
The sun had set, and I realised I must have been walking for hours.
My stomach ached with hunger. I turned around, noticing graffiti on the walls and a group of sketchy teenagers staring and whistling towards me.
This place, wherever it was, felt dodgy and really unsafe.
I pulled out my phone and walked back the way I’d come, wondering who I would call.
I found myself dialling Philip; the only person who seemed to care about me right now.
‘Hey,’ he said, sounding tired, but surprised to hear my voice.
‘Philip, I’m lost and I didn’t know who to call,’ I whimpered, peeking over my shoulder, making sure I wasn’t being followed by the hooded teens.
‘Lost? Ella, where are you?’ he asked, sounding more concerned.
‘If I knew that I wouldn’t be fucking lost,’ I snapped, but felt immediate regret. ‘Sorry!’ I added.
‘OK, just think, is there anywhere you recognise? Or . . .’
My phone was beeping and I looked at the screen. Low battery, 1%.
‘Fuck, my phone’s about to die!’ I panicked.
‘It’s fine, I’ve got you!’ Philip insisted. ‘I have your location, stay where you are and I’ll be there in twenty minutes. You’ve walked for miles, Ella!’
I was confused. How did he know where I was? But at the same time, relief washed through me.
‘OK, right. I won’t move.’
‘See you soon,’ he said.
‘Philip,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’
My phone went dead, but I pretended to chat on it regardless.
‘Yeah, oh my God, New York. It’s pretty cool.
I’m just waiting on my boyfriend, he was at an advanced jiu-jitsu class there.
’ I spoke as loud as I could as the hooded teens passed.
‘He’s just around the corner. Maybe he stopped off at the gun shop,’ I added for good measure.
Twenty agonising minutes later, a yellow cab finally slid to the kerb beside me. I stood rooted – exhausted, trembling, every muscle tight with fear and relief. I had never felt so vulnerable, so utterly desperate to see Philip. He lowered the window and smiled.
‘Get in,’ he said, looking relieved I was still in one piece.
I made my way into the car and looked at him, his tanned skin, his gorgeous eyes. This man could get anyone he wanted, yet somehow he was here with me.
‘Thanks for coming,’ I said, letting out a puff of breath as my legs finally began to rest.
‘Who were you talking to?’ Philip asked with a slight smirk, noticing my dead phone screen as the taxi set off.
‘No one, I was using it as a deterrent.’
Philip let out a huge laugh and I gasped in shock.
‘What? I said my boyfriend’s just at the gun shop.’ I giggled as I realised how far-fetched I sounded. ‘Listen, it worked.’
‘It did, it did.’ He chuckled. ‘I do like you calling me “boyfriend”, though.’ He raised his brows cheekily, and I hit his arm and shook my head. ‘Do you want to be dropped off at the apartment?’ he asked.
I hesitated, anxiety twisting in my chest. Zola hadn’t called. The memory of our fight stung, every harsh word echoing, and I pictured her still furious, still hurting from what I’d said.
‘Or you could come back to mine? Chill out for a bit,’ he offered, sensing my reluctance to go home.
‘Would that be OK?’ I asked. ‘I had major beef with Zola, and I don’t fancy stepping back into that right now.’
Philip smiled, looking relieved. ‘Whatever you want, Pilates.’
The rest of the taxi ride slipped by with Philip sharing stories about New York, his conversation lightening my mood. Soon, we pulled up outside the Ritz-Carlton, and I side-eyed him.
‘Canny hide money, can you?’ I sniggered as the doorman opened my door.
‘Can’t take it with you either,’ he laughed, paying the cab and stepping out.
We headed through the grand foyer and Philip steered us towards the elevators. We stepped inside, and he pressed for the second floor. I smiled, remembering his fear of heights, and knew he must have requested a lower-level room for a reason.
When the elevator reached the second floor, Philip allowed me to step out first and pointed to the room directly across from us.
He took the key card from his pocket and swiped it down, then opened the door.
As I stepped inside, the lights turned on, detecting my movement.
His room was a grand suite with a large living area and a bedroom off to the side.
Everything was a pinkish cream with pale gold accessories, elegant and pristine.
I walked over to the wide window, which gave a view of Central Park.
Almost by reflex, I tried to work out where Jimmy’s apartment was. I knew it was close by.
‘What are you looking for?’ Philip asked, creeping up beside me as if he’d read my mind.
‘I’m not looking at anything, just the view!’ I forced a smile, but inside I felt pain. So much had happened with Jimmy, and I knew he was probably in an apartment around the corner, feeling like shit, while I was in the Ritz with my ex.
‘Would you like me to run you a bath?’ Philip asked. ‘You look cold, Ella.’ He walked around to face me, placed his warm hands over my cool ones, and grinned.
‘No.’ I pulled them away and took a seat. ‘I’ll be fine in a few seconds, thanks.’
Philip sat down beside me and reached for the TV remote. An F1 race came on the widescreen. Instantly, I flashed back to life with him before, watching all the things that he liked. Although he was being kind and caring now, something felt off.
I stood up. ‘Do you have a charger I could plug into?’ I asked, scanning the suite.
‘It’s just over there.’ He pointed to a small table. I spotted the cable hanging off it, plugged in my phone, then took a seat back on the sofa.
‘Are you OK, Ella? You seem . . .’
‘I’m fine,’ I breathed, knowing myself I was being awkward, but something didn’t feel right here. ‘I hope you don’t get the wrong idea because I’m in your hotel room.’
Philip laughed and rolled his eyes. ‘I do not think we are going to have sex, Ella, OK?’
I managed a smirk at his bluntness. ‘OK, I just had to check.’
‘But . . . if you wanted to, then of course . . .’
‘Philip!’ I slapped his arm and he laughed. ‘You haven’t changed one bit!’
‘My feelings haven’t changed either.’ His voice was suddenly softer, and I closed my eyes for a second. This was too much of a head fuck to deal with.
‘Please, don’t start this. I’m tired and all over the place. My head is too busy as it is.’ I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. I wondered if I could ask him to order me some food, a drink.
‘OK, I’m sorry.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Again.’ He took a deep breath as if he had no idea how to kill the time if he had to behave himself.
‘Look, Philip, last night was one of the worst nights of my life. I still have to process it. I’ve lost so much. I need support from a friendly face. That’s all I want, OK?’
‘OK,’ he said. ‘You’ve got it.’
He opened his arms to me, and slowly I let myself lie down, curled up against his chest.
‘The things that have been said, in the press and on socials, have been so awful. I can tell Katy is terrified,’ I said.
‘No wonder.’ He tutted at the drama. He began stroking my hair, allowing me to talk.
‘I watched a TikTok today, and someone actually said I had made a pass at her rich grampa one night in Tennessee. I’ve never even been to Tennessee!’
‘You’re the only ten I see,’ Philip joked.
I turned to face him, hoping he’d be serious.
I wanted to vent, to be understood properly, to moan to someone and even try to work things out.
‘I’m sorry, that one was too easy! Back to being serious.
Ella, you have to stop watching TikTok. Especially right now – just stay off social media. It’s not going to do you any good.’
I agreed, but I knew there was no way I’d resist.
‘I think coming back to Glasgow, or a nice holiday somewhere, a reset, is honestly what you need.’ He was playing with my hair again, and I could feel myself relax into his body.
‘A holiday would be amazing,’ I admitted. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had time off in the sun. ‘Zola wants to stay a bit longer, to try to fix things more, but maybe I’ll suggest it to the girls when this blows over.’
He paused, and I sensed I’d not quite said what he expected me to. ‘I just don’t like you girls getting hounded by this stalker. Look what they’ve done, Ella. Someone is going to serious lengths to get you out of the country. Maybe you should listen.’
I held my breath.
Panic crashed over me. I couldn’t move. My heart hammered, icy fear surging through every vein.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Philip said as I sat up.
‘It’s you,’ I gasped, scrambling to my feet.
‘What? What’s me?’ He stood up and stepped towards me, a slight laugh in his voice.