Chapter Thirty-Four
A day passed, maybe two, Alex wasn’t sure of time any more.
He spent hour after hour staring at his silent phone and replaying their last conversation over and over in his mind.
Savannah and Liam returned from their island early, and his brother tried to talk to him about it. But he couldn’t understand it himself.
She’d said they would remain friends… what had changed?
The morning after they’d slept together, she’d been obviously worried, had said they were going too fast, and he’d ignored her. As he’d done with Savannah, as he always did when people didn’t fit in with his plans.
Except this time, he actually cared. Not because of hurt pride or disappointment.
He’d thought losing Savannah had broken him.
No. Losing Ellie was real pain.
Soul-crushing, desolate pain.
Staring up at the ceiling of the glamorous impersonal bedroom that was apparently his, he wondered what the hell he was supposed to do. Move on?
No, he couldn’t bear life without her. Even if all they could ever be was just friends, he wanted that. She was the only real thing in his dumb life. He’d gladly change all of his plans if it meant Ellie called him back.
He should go back to London. Force her to speak with him. But what would that accomplish? Her note had been pretty clear.
His worst fear had come true – she didn’t want him. She’d just been swept away by the romance and glamour of this dumb life.
Richie had suggested he return to LA for good, do the franchise and forget about London… forget about Ellie. He was almost tempted to agree. But he needed time to think before he did anything else rash.
The holiday might be over for her, but he’d never seen it that way. She wanted to get back to her normal life and that didn’t involve Alex.
Nothing was normal with Alex, and maybe, just like his own privilege, he needed to learn how to accept that.
It wasn’t until the next morning, after a restless night, that Alex saw the press coverage, and only then by accident.
Some of the Gatsby cast had sent him messages asking if he was okay; Isaac had even asked if he should do a wellness check on Ellie and her family…
which had immediately raised alarm bells in Alex’s mind.
There’d been no alerts in his emails. In fact, there was nothing about the wedding either, which didn’t seem right. He quickly realised that the alerts had been switched off somehow.
After a quick Google search, his stomach began to ache with growing nausea. This was why he avoided the vitriol of the papers and social media. It was pure evil.
Had Ellie read some of this shit? Was that why she’d left?
NURSE STALKER: BLACKMAILER AND WEDDING SABOTEUR. The headlines were shocking, and in each one Ellie’s character had been dragged through the mud. The press were hounding her family, and the world was reacting like he’d been the victim of an unstable and abusive woman.
After everything she’d done to help him reconcile with his family, this was her reward?
My damn family.
A blazing-hot rage seared through him.
He knew who was to blame.
Alex stormed into the sun room, where his family and Richie were relaxing over the remains of a leisurely breakfast, his laptop gripped tightly in his hand and wielded like a weapon.
‘What the hell did you do?’ he shouted.
Liam and Savannah jumped.
‘Hey, what the hell is wrong with you!’ snapped Liam, jumping to his feet despite Savannah’s pleading hands.
‘Not you,’ growled Alex, his eyes fixed on the parasite that had been leeching off his family for years. ‘No one has access to my emails but you, Richie. My alerts were switched off. So I had no idea about your latest narrative until it was too late!’
Confused looks passed between his family, but Richie remained stony-faced and silent.
Alex passed the laptop to his father. ‘I guess he’s turned yours off too.
Hoping you’d get the deal signed before the truth came out, right?
’ He pointed to yet another script on the coffee table – this time with a stapled contract beside it.
‘Take a look. There’s half-naked photos of Ellie by the pool.
No one else could have taken them but you.
Always walking around with your phone. Fucking bloodsucking leech!
’ He turned to Liam and Savannah, teeth gritted against his barely contained fury.
‘There are stories about Ellie ruining your wedding, deliberately ripping up Savannah’s bouquet.
Ellie’s family own a florist – this will ruin them!
And that’s nothing compared to all the other bullshit.
Claiming she’s drugged and stalked me!’ He spun back to Richie. ‘What the fuck were you thinking?’
Richie rolled his eyes. ‘She served her purpose, and the press will soon move on, they always do. And don’t feel too bad for her.
You paid her, remember? Nice little flat for pretending to date you, and she was more than happy to take the cheque I gave her.
She even signed an NDA,’ he said, adjusting his cuffs calmly and rising to his feet.
Shocked gasps rang around the room, but he shrugged.
‘What does it matter, your relationship was all a ruse anyway. We agreed a fake girlfriend would be a good distraction for you, and would help ease some of the awkwardness of this wedding.’
‘You weren’t really dating?’ asked his mother, pressing her hand to her chest.
Richie nodded. ‘Alex, it’s time you come back to LA and stop playing at this London theatre nonsense – it’ll never make any money for you, not like the franchise.
Be grateful that I’ve gotten rid of that fat little hanger-on sooner rather than later.
She was a joke from the start, wasn’t she?
A weird choice to upset Liam and Savannah with, but a choice all the same. ’
‘I knew it! As if someone like her would ever end up with Alex,’ cackled Holly, and Savannah smacked her in the arm.
Alex’s face was numb with shock, and then his heart began to pound with such overwhelming rage his clenched fists shook.
He didn’t realise he was walking towards Richie until his brother’s arms held him back.
‘It was real to me!’ he yelled. ‘Have you any idea what you’ve done to her?
People are calling her a stalker, accusing her of drugging and blackmailing me.
She could lose her job and her family could lose their business – all because of your lies!
I don’t care what you paid her, it’s not enough, she deserves better than this! ’
‘It’s not just about you, Alex,’ snarled Richie, finally losing his temper and revealing the snake beneath the carefully tailored suit.
‘I have to look after all of your careers. Liam’s popularity has taken a nosedive since the affair.
And then they decided to marry, despite my advice to wait.
’ He took a moment to glare at Savannah, whose eyes were wide with horror.
‘I had to ensure there was damage control. You were meant to find a pretty little thing to take the heat off your brother. Not a charity case!’
Before he knew it, Alex had barged through his brother and his fist had flown.
Richie’s face connected with his knuckles with a hard crack, and he was thrown back onto his chair, which tumbled backwards, sprawling Richie on the floor.
It was the second time he’d hit someone, and this time it had been worth it.
His mom leapt up and his father rushed over to help hold him back. But it wasn’t needed; seeing the bloody nose and the snivelling wreck of a man he thought he’d trusted was enough.
‘How could you? Get out!’ shouted his mom.
Richie straightened his shirt with a jerk and sat up, patting his nose with one of his silk handkerchiefs.
‘That might be wise, Alex. Otherwise, you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.
This family has put up with your nonsense long enough.
Consider your contract with me terminated, and good luck with your little theatre career. You’re a joke in this industry.’
‘I meant you, Richie!’ his mom snapped coldly – to both Richie and Alex’s surprise.
‘What?’ Richie struggled to his feet. Only Holly reached out to help him.
‘You have hurt both of my children and their partners with your lying and scheming. I want you out of my house. Consider your contract with Robert and me terminated, right, Robert?’
His dad nodded firmly, his arm wrapped around his mom. ‘Absolutely.’
‘And mine,’ snapped Liam, his jaw tight as he placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder.
‘And mine,’ added Savannah, she stood up and hugged Liam, leaning into his embrace. Alex wasn’t surprised to realise it didn’t hurt to see them together any more. He smiled at them, and they gave him an emotional nod of solidarity.
They were family after all.
‘Thirty years I’ve managed you, and this is how you repay me? You’ll never work in this industry ever again. Any of you,’ screamed a hysterical Richie as he stalked towards the door.
Holly was the only one not agreeing with them. ‘Richie, you’ll still put me forward for the franchise, won’t you?’
Savannah grabbed Holly’s arm as she tried to follow him, and forced her to stay put. ‘Don’t you dare! You think our mom would have approved of this?’
Holly lowered her eyes with shame. ‘I just want to be like you…’ she whimpered.
Savannah’s eyes filled with tears and she pulled her sister close. ‘We’ll talk later.’
Alex’s father called out to Richie just before he left the room. ‘You seem to have forgotten something, Richie.’
Richie spun on his heels, looking at Robert expectantly.
Alex’s father looked him dead in the eye and said calmly, ‘You didn’t make us. We made you.’
Richie left this time, with a lot less bluster.
After he had gone, all the eyes in the room turned expectantly to Alex. But it was his mom who spoke first. ‘So… You’re not together, you and Ellie – it was all a ruse?’
His shoulders slumped and he flopped down into a nearby couch. ‘Yes, at first. But now I wish we were together. More than anything. I love her, Mom… and I’ve ruined her life.’
Alex’s dad sat down beside him. ‘Then go get her, make it right. I’m not allowing you back into this house until you make Ellie one of us. Understood?’
Alex could barely turn his head to look at him. His chest ached with every breath. ‘After everything that’s happened? I’ll be surprised if she ever speaks to me again.’
Liam leaned down in front of him, and placed both hands on his shoulders, until Alex raised his eyes to meet his. Liam repeated the same words that Alex had said to him on his wedding day: ‘You can do this. Everything is going to be okay. Okay?’
Alex stood, wrapped his arms around his brother, and squeezed him tightly. His family were finally supporting him in the way he’d always wanted, with love and acceptance.
Now, all he needed was Ellie, and for once he wasn’t going to give up.
‘I’ll bring her back to us,’ he said firmly. ‘I promise.’