Make Believe (23 page)

As I head back down the aisle the air stewardess beckons me towards her. Oh jeez, so much for staying inconspicuous.

I walk towards her. She ushers me into the kitchen.  I look at her with a quizzical look.

“I’m sorry, Miss, but I’ve been asked to move you.”

“What? Why?”  My voice sounds taught.

“Um, it’s a little awkward really. Some of the people in this section have seen you in today’s paper. We have a lot of Elliott Tate fan’s on board and we don’t want any un
-pleasantries. We still have another three hours left.”

I’m dumbfounded. They’ve asked me to move because of what they’ve read?

I roll my eyes at her.

“Where do you want me to go?”

“We only have space left in first class. It will probably be better for you in there in any case, as they have screens around the beds so no one will be able to see you,” she justifies.

I laugh.

“First Class. Oh, OK then.”

“Please, I will take you straight down; we don’t want you going back in there. I’ll collect your things.” She smiles.

She’s doesn’t seem that bad, maybe she was just worried about me.

The rest of the flight is better. She was right, no one even knew I was there in First Class. I was allowed off the plane first due to the fact they didn’t want any trouble.  I collect my bags and head towards arrivals, and I notice Mia immediately.

She throws her arms around my neck. God, I’ve missed her.

“I didn’t know you were meeting me.”

“I thought it would be best as you’re headline news, girl.” She hands me some sunglasses and a baseball cap. “Put these on.”  We head out the electronic doors and are greeted with hordes of photographers  all calling my name. I try and push my way through but they are not making it easy.

“So Jessica, are you back here to patch things up with Elliott? Is he speaking to you? What is the state of your relationship?”

All these questions are being fired at me. I try and ignore them but it’s hard. Eventually I make my way past them and we reach the car, but getting in proves difficult. I don’t know how Elliott does it. Mia tries to drive off but they are blocking her way. She moves, inch by inch, but they still try and stick the camera in the car.

“See what I mean, Jess, it’s crazy. They have been camped outside ours since this broke yesterday.”

She edges the car forward nearly hitting one of the photographers, they then move out the way. I turn to look behind and we are being followed.

“What has Elliott said about this, Jess?”

“I haven’t seen him or spoken to him. The first I knew about this was on the plane when they asked me to move because I was upsetting people!” I laugh.

“Well it broke yesterday, so he would be fully aware of it. Have you not heard anything from him?”

“No, I really hope he’s OK and not really pissed at me.”

“I think you’re underestimating what he’s dealing with at the moment, Jess.”

“Why? What?” I feel so guilty just assuming I’m his only problem.

“Someone screwed up his contracts for his next two jobs. They’ve replaced him because of it. He’s finding it hard to get another decent agent. Hudson’s been spinning the shit wheel and yet another girl has come out the wood work saying Elliott ruined her life. I feel so sorry for the poor guy.”

“Oh shit. Poor Elliott, I didn’t know. That would explain his immediate departure then. Poor him, and now he has me to deal with on top of all this. Maybe I should have stayed back in the UK.” My heart sinks. My poor, poor, Elliott. How selfish am I?

I decide to text him to let him know I’ve arrived and I’m safe.

Hey babe,

I’m back. Have you seen the paper? I can explain ,it’s all innocent.

I’m so sorry to add to your problems.

Love as always Jess xxxxx

I push Send hoping for an immediate reply, but nothing.

“Jess, stop looking, he’s really busy at the moment. Work has him all over the place, poor chap. He was in the papers last week for his fight with Hudson. He had to go into hiding because of that. Work isn’t happy with him at all,” she snaps.

“I’m sorry, Mia. I hope it hasn’t affected you too much.

“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just think he needs a break from it all. Last week when I was working on him, just before he came to see you, he was really lost. His fight with Hudson has really hit him. And now you’re in the papers with Henry, I just…….feel sorry for him.”

“I hope that’s all it is, Mia?” I can’t control my jealousy.

“Of course it is. I would never do that to you. But what is the story with the half-naked pictures of you and Henry gracing the front of the newspapers?”

I laugh. “You bitch,” I tease.

I explain that was the night Mum had made us share a room, and he didn’t even stay in the end. I filled her in on my family’s strange funeral thing and Elliott’s and my night out. Everything we had been up to. I had missed having someone to share stuff with.

When she pulled into the driveway the photographers are there with their flash bulbs all going berserk. There must have be ten or so photographers waiting. I put the sun glasses and cap on and head to the front door. Why does it always take so long to unlock?

Mia slams the front door shut. “God, I’m sick of them.” 

I half smile. “I’m sorry you have to put up with this.”

She walks over and gives me a cuddle. “Hey, it’s not your fault you’re dating the hottest thing around.”

I take my stuff upstairs and check my phone… nothing. God, I really hope he’s OK. I open my iPad to check my emails.

My eyes immediately spot his email - it has today’s date on it.

From:
Elliboytate@hotma
i
l.com

To: [email protected]

Hey Babe,

Hope you arrived back safe.

Phone’s died so can’t call. Are you free this eve? About 9-ish?

We need to talk…See the attachment!

Elliott

Xx

How is it possible to feel so elated one minute and so devastated the next?

I click open the attachment. It takes a while to load but then there are several photos of me and Henry together.  One’s of us at the airport and him hugging me, then in the car on the way home, and one of him holding my hand whilst he looks at the Rolex, some of us going into mums, and
several of us standing together in the bedroom window where he has no clothes on.

My heart sinks. If I didn’t know they were innocent I would think I was guilty. The way they are taken makes it seem like we were together.

My darling, Elliott, I bet he regrets ever meeting me.  He’s lost his agent, his work, and now his pride all because of me. How did he get these photos? Or worse still, who took them?

I check my Rolex to see how long I’ve got until he arrives.  I wonder if he should come here at all. Not with all the paparazzi waiting outside.

I email him.

From” [email protected]

To:
Elliboytate@hot
m
a
i
l.com

Hey Babe,

Thanks for the email. Believe me, I can explain. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this alone.

We have the paparazzi outside our house. Do you want to meet somewhere else?

Love

Your Jess xxxxxx

I push Send.

He doesn’t reply straight away, which gives me yet more time to ponder and wonder if it’s all been too much for him and he’s going to dump me. My heart constricts at the thought of losing him. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I not say no to my mother and insist on sleeping in the lounge. Even if he does believe me that nothing happened, I’ll bet he’ll always have a doubt! I now know how possessive he can be. Why did I let this happen?

I check my iPad again and this time I have an email from him.

From: Elli
[email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Jess,

Thanks for the heads up. I guessed they probably were. I will send Simon in my car to yours. See if you can get Mia out as a decoy for you. Make sure she’s wearing a hat and glasses. I will then be along ten minutes later for you. I have somewhere we can go and talk.

Elliott

I rush downstairs to ask Mia for her help. I explain what Elliott thinks we should do and she agrees. I’m not sure if she’s doing it for me or Elliott.

I email him back letting him know that’s fine.

I look at the time. I have forty minutes until they are here. I have enough time for a quick shower and a change.

I’m dripping wet on my carpet, struggling with what to put on. I want to look sexy in case he decides he doesn’t want to dump me and we make amazing love. But it has to be subtle. I don’t want it to look like I’m trying too hard either.

I pick leggings and an off the shoulder long t-shirt with ballet pumps. It’s casual but sexy in the right places. I don’t have time to straighten my hair so the curls will just have to do. I manage some mascara and gloss before I hear Mia’s dulcet tones.

“Jess, you’d better come down and check what I look like.”

She waits at the front door, wearing my top and jeans. Her hair’s up in a bun and she has sunglasses on. She looks OK; she looks like me. Simon rings my mobile and that’s the cue he’s outside.

“Ready.?.” I ask.

“As I will ever be. How do I let myself get talked into these things?” she sighs.

“Thank you so much, Mia. I think you’ll be gone for about half an hour. That will give us enough time to get away.”

She hugs me and heads out the door. The photographers are going crazy thinking they have the first pictures of me and Elliott together since the news broke. I hear the car pull off fast, and it makes screeching noises on the tarmac. I hope they will be OK.

Elliott’s strict to his words and he’s exactly ten minutes later. My phone beeps letting me know he’s here.

The doorbell rings and I answer it, but no one’s there. I look down and there is a motorbike helmet on the door step. I grab my purse and put it on. Elliott’s plan has worked; there are no sign of any photographers outside.

He’s sitting on the bike just outside in the driveway. He’s in head to toe leather with a black helmet with a blacked out visor on it. I can’t tell if it’s even him.  He waves and beckons me to him. He taps the seat behind him and I climb on. I have never been on a motorbike before in my life; it’s so scary. I didn’t even know that Elliott had a motorbike. I guess there is a lot I don’t know about this gorgeous man.

He checks I’ve done up my helmet properly and gestures to my arms going around his waist. I hold on tight and take a deep breath. This may be the last time I will be allowed to touch him.  I have no idea how this is going to go. I’m so scared that this is it. I don’t know if it was the other way round if I would trust him.

He starts up the bike and it roars. I feel the engine throbbing between my legs. Thank God, I didn’t wear a skirt. My thoughts are distracted by our sudden dash out of the driveway. I think he’s spotted a photographer. He revs the bike again, changing gear and throwing us forward. We weave in and out of the traffic. No one’s going to be able to follow us, we’re going too fast. I close my eyes as the speed we are going is frightening.  I notice a sign saying Santa Monica. I have no idea where we are. We pull up at a huge building which I think is apartments. We head towards the garages and Elliott puts in a code, allowing us in.  The building’s called 101 Ocean View. I guess from the name we are near the beach.

Elliott parks on a private level. He turns the engine off and it’s so quiet. I take my helmet off, it makes me feel claustrophobic.  Elliott climbs off the bike and removes his as well. His hair is slightly flattened but he still looks incredibly hot. I catch a glimpse of his chest through the zip in his jacket. He doesn’t smile at me. He puts out his hand for me to take. I hold onto him as if my life depends on it. We walk into the lift and he puts another code in. I didn’t see which floor.

“Is this one of your places?” I ask nervously.

“No, I’m borrowing it at the moment.  Hiding out.” He raises a slight smile.

Oh my God, I hope we are alone. I really need to talk to him.

He doesn’t say anymore. The lift stops at the 15
th
floor and we head out. He gets out his key and we head into an apartment. It’s yet again beautiful, not that big but the view is stunning. The sofa is in a circular window and you can see the sea.

“Wow, what a beautiful view.”

“Yes, it’s nice,” his tone’s curt.

“Elliott, please can we talk now?” I plead. I want to get this over and done with.

“Yes, but let’s get a drink first.”

I smile.