Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ella
Philip held my door open, and as I slipped out, I admired the views of the castle.
It seemed to light up the entire capital, sitting proudly atop the centre, packed full of history and culture.
I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed taking it in.
Photographers from the local press hailed my date as he entered: ‘Can we get a photo, Phil? You and your good lady?’ I immediately averted my eyes to the ground.
Shit , I did not want an photo getting printed or for me to be splashed on some gossipy newspaper column.
Then I felt Philip gently tug on my arm.
‘Not tonight, lads,’ he replied, leading me inside the bar.
‘This looks amazing,’ I called out to him between the chatter and trendy house music playing in the background.
He grinned, pleased now. ‘The team has done a wonderful job. I have a table waiting for us.’ He gently touched my lower back as he guided me through the room, leading us to a small booth in the corner where another bottle of champagne was sitting on ice, awaiting our arrival.
‘Nice!’ I said, darting my gaze to the bottle.
‘You can have cocktails if you prefer – I’d recommend it, to be honest, as it’s the speciality we’re going for.
The drinks are all themed around Scotland, and the spirits are sourced from Scottish-owned distilleries.
But feel free to have whatever you like!
’ A bright smile took over his face, and I watched his shoulders finally relax as he sat down opposite me.
Now that we were seated, I glanced around the bar.
Everything gleamed gold and metallic, even the huge chandeliers overhead.
Cream leather booths and glass tables gave it a pristine look, while the brick walls gave it something of an urban twist. His team had managed to strike a balance of sophistication, classy, yet cool.
‘We managed to get a fantastic singer up from London, too. Her name is Ronniee, and she’s unreal! She starts her set around nine thirty. You’ll absolutely love her. I think she sings mainly pop songs, if you’re into that?’
‘Yeah, that sounds great.’ I instinctively wondered how close he and Ronniee were for him to be raving so highly about her music. ‘How did you meet her?’ I asked, trying to gain intel as casually as I could.
‘I haven’t met her really. I only heard her set when I was down south working and got my people to reach out. She’s going to be the next big thing, mark my words!’
I nodded back. ‘Amazing! And is she only coming up for the opening night?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, she’s recording most of the year, but we’ll have live singers on every evening, just not Ronniee, of course.’
‘Well, you have thought of everything. Genuinely, I’m impressed!’ I called over the noise and the bustle.
‘Not me, my team,’ he replied modestly. ‘So, when was the last time you were out like this?’
‘Like this?’ I questioned, not recalling ever getting brought to an opening of a fancy bar by the owner himself.
‘Well, the last time you had a date?’
I glanced up from the menu I had just picked up from the table, thrown by the abrupt change of subject. ‘Me? Erm .?.?. A few weeks ago, why?’
Philip raised a shoulder. ‘I was curious. Where did he take you?’
I thought back to the serial spunker from the other week.
‘It was a date my friend arranged, and it lasted all of twenty minutes.’ I sighed, not willing to explain in detail what had gone wrong.
‘Twenty minutes.’ Philip glanced at his fancy Rolex and then back to me. ‘I’m doing OK, then?’
I side-eyed his playfulness. ‘When was your last date?’ I returned the question, and watched him slump back.
‘It wasn’t so much of a date, but I suppose I did see a girl a couple of times around a month or so ago.’
I wondered if he was lying. I knew he had no reason to lie, but at the same time, I couldn’t imagine him not having sex for over a month.
‘And how did it end?’ I asked.
‘Well, you see, it didn’t start. She was good to look at, but besides that, there wasn’t anything of substance there.’ Philip held up his hands defensively. ‘She seemed more interested in what businesses I owned than me.’
I thought about how difficult it must be meeting someone genuine with his level of success. How hard he must find filtering out the girls who were more interested in a lifestyle boost, rather than him as a human being.
I reached for the champagne, but Philip placed his hand over mine.
‘Allow me,’ he said and began pouring. ‘It’s funny, I have seemed to have gone from someone obsessed with my job and overly keen on me to someone who doesn’t seem keen at all.’ His dark eyes flickered at me.
I lifted my glass casually. ‘Perhaps you should find someone more in the middle ground then,’ I retorted.
‘Agh, and where would the fun be in that?’
At that moment, a young blonde woman appeared, bopping her head around the side of the booth. ‘Philip! How are you?’ she said excitedly. ‘Great turnout! Everyone is so impressed at the renovations!’
Philip sat up straight. ‘Amelia, yes! It looks great! This is Ella, my .?.?.’
‘Friend,’ I interrupted and stuck my hand out.
‘Oh, Ella! It’s fab to meet you! Philip’s told us all about you.’ She approached me, dodging my hand and going for a hug instead.
I smiled instantly at her warm, energetic personality.
‘And I’m sure I included that she wasn’t a hugger,’ Philip said under his breath. ‘This is Amelia, my PA.’
‘Oh, Amelia ! It’s lovely to meet you,’ I replied, immediately remembering her name, which had popped up on his phone numerous times.
I examined the bright, pretty girl and wondered if the lines were ever blurred between them.
She placed her hand on Philip’s shoulder as they spoke closely, pointing outside at the queue forming.
‘Should I run through the plan for tonight now, or .?.?.??’ Amelia asked Philip eagerly, hovering at the table, unsure whether to take a seat or not.
‘Oh, no, no. I’m sure Ella doesn’t want—’
I shook my head, sliding out of the booth. ‘No, please. You guys talk shop. I’m going to nip to the bathroom.’ I stood up, feeling the effects of the champagne hit me. Fucking hell, I felt drunk, I thought. But I played it down, glancing around the bar.
‘Oh, it’s just through the back to the right-hand side,’ Amelia said. ‘Or if it’s too busy, there are staff facilities upstairs you’re more than welcome to use.’
‘Not at all. I won’t be long.’ I smiled back at the pair and headed to the bathroom, feeling Philip’s eyes on me as I disappeared through the crowd.
I wondered if they were chatting about me, or what he had told her.
Probably that I’m some business associate, making sure he kept all of his options open.
The bright bathroom was busy with groups of girls with strong Edinburgh accents taking selfies and reapplying their lipsticks.
I stood in line listening to them drunkenly chatting about various men leaving them on read, liking other girls’ Instagram photographs or acting like complete dickheads after a few dates, and I wondered when we could expand the Dicktionary Club to other cities.
This was an epidemic, and I felt like my friends and I had suddenly stumbled upon a vaccine.
After a quick pee, and reapplying some gloss to my lips, I wandered back through the lively bar, weaving and edging my way through tables of noisy partygoers. I had just spotted an empty path to squeeze by two people when one guy turned, spilling a drink down my arm.
‘Oh shit. I’m so sorry!’ he said.
I rubbed my arm and shook my head. ‘It’s OK, honestly. It’s so rammed in here.’
‘Ella? No way, Ella Banks! I can’t believe it!’
His voice sounded familiar.
I glanced up at the stranger, and bile instantly scorched my throat.
‘Joshua?’ I managed back quietly, my voice swallowed by the noise of the bar.
‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ He put his drinks back on the bar and wrapped his arms around me, gently lifting me from the ground.
I was immediately enveloped by his familiar scent and his warmth. He was as bright and instantly attractive as I remembered. He looked older though, but even more handsome somehow, in David Beckham type way.
‘I .?.?. I .?.?. came through for this bar opening,’ I said as he lowered me down to the floor again.
‘Wait. What are you doing here?’ I was still in complete disbelief.
I needed a moment to take in the fact he was really standing before me.
Never in the three years since splitting up had I ever bumped into him.
He had grown out his dark hair so it sat pushed back to the side.
It was much more mature and sophisticated than the skinhead he’d had while we were together.
He looked healthy and glowing, his arms muscular and his shoulders broad, like he’d entered his gym phase era.
‘I live here now. Well, not here, more in the outskirts. It’s a friend’s birthday, and he told us about this place opening tonight. Fuck, you look great, Ella. So good!’ Joshua rubbed my arms again, and I could feel electricity bounce between us. ‘I take it you’re still hammering the gym?’
As I watched his eyes skim down my body, every emotion and feeling from all those years ago came rushing back.
‘Yeah, I am.’ I paused, then looked up at him, just inches away from me, in reality. Was this a sign from the universe? ‘I was talking about you earlier today,’ I heard myself blurt out, still entirely in disbelief he was here.
‘No way!’ He laughed, grabbing my hands. ‘Wait, let me guess: to Zola and Katy?’
I nodded back, not wanting to admit it was with Philip. ‘Yeah.’ I chuckled. ‘Of course!’ I made a guilty face, thinking of my two best friends.
‘We had something really special, Ella. Jeez, I think about you constantly. Honestly, I could see something totally random and think, “Oh, Ella would love this”!’ His grin was infectious, and I burst out laughing, knowing the same thing happened to me still, even after all this time.