Page 113 of Christmas off Script
Lucinda returned her hand to Oliver’s chest, transferring her dazzling smile to him. ‘October. He proposed at the top of a black run in Val d’Isère.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘Gave me quite the incentive to make it down the slope in one piece.’
Leo turned his attention to Oliver. ‘You piece of shit,’ he snarled.
‘Hey, hey.’ Oliver raised his hands in a pacifying gesture. ‘Look, I didn’t know how to tell her—’
‘Her?’ Leo interrupted. ‘Her name isElla.’
‘Okay, okay.’ Oliver glanced at Ella. ‘Can I have a quick word?’
She shrank back into Leo’s arms, shaking her head, her heart racing out of control.
‘Anything you want to say to Ella, you say here and now,’ Leo said. ‘Make it quick, then you can both fuck off out of this theatre and never come back.’
‘You can’t—’ Lucinda began.
‘Yes, I can. I work here.’
Oliver turned to his fiancée. ‘Luce, sweetie, this won’t take long. I’ll see you back in our seats. Okay?’
‘Of course, darling.’ She kissed him on the lips, then walked away.
Ella clutched her stomach as bile rose up into her throat. This couldn’t get any worse.
Leo tucked her tightly into his side to keep her from falling and eyeballed Oliver. ‘Well?’
He ran his hands through his hair. ‘Look, Ella. I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t know how to tell you, and time kept slipping away, and you kept asking when I was coming home, and—’
‘Are you done?’ Leo snapped.
Oliver’s cheeks reddened. ‘You need to pay my parents the money you owe them.’
‘What?’ she gasped.
‘The rent for December. They’re giving you another chance to pay before they start legal—’
Leo’s fist flew through the air, connecting with Oliver’s jaw and knocking him to the ground.
20
Ignoring Oliver sprawled on the floor, Leo turned to Ella. ‘Are you okay?’
Her face was ashen. ‘I’m so s-sorry,’ she stammered.
The question cut through the adrenaline pulsing through his body. ‘For what?’
‘Oliver. Did you hurt your h-hand?’
Leo wanted to laugh, but then Ella glanced in panic behind him and he braced for impact. Suddenly he was spun around and Oliver’s fist was heading his way. Instinctively ducking to the side, the punch only grazed his jaw. However, as Oliver pitched forward, his fist ended its journey by smashing into Ella’s shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground.
Despite the blood lust demanding he pummel Oliver to a pulp, Leo dropped to his knees in panic. ‘Jesus, Ella! Are you alright?’
She nodded unsteadily, her gaze flicking to the commotion behind him. Leo turned to see Jules and Mike holding Oliver back, expressions of shocked horror on their faces.
‘We’ll call the police,’ Jules said. ‘Are you alright, Ella?’
‘We saw him punch you,’ Mike added.
‘Let go!’ Oliver shouted. ‘Leo hit me first!’
