Page 114 of Christmas off Script
The ushers gazed at Ella as if for confirmation.
‘No,’ she replied, her voice strong as she got to her feet with Leo. ‘He didn’t touch him. This man is my ex-boyfriend. Despite cheating on me for months, he’s angry that I’ve moved on with Leo.’
‘Yeah right,’ Oliver spat. ‘In his dreams.’
Putting her arms around Leo, Ella reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘Leo is my boyfriend now.’
Oliver shook his head. ‘As if.’
Another usher came running down the corridor towards them. ‘What’s going on? Oh, hey, Leo.’
‘Tim, this man assaulted Ella,’ Jules said. ‘Can you ring the police?’
‘This is bullshit!’ Oliver yelled.
‘Wait!’ Ella cried. ‘I won’t press charges if Oliver promises he and his parents will leave me alone.’
Holding tightly to Ella, Leo stared daggers at Oliver, willing him to do the right thing, whilst also wishing he could punch him again, only harder this time.
Oliver gave Ella a terse nod.
Lucinda entered the corridor. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Is she with you?’ Jules asked Oliver, still holding onto his jacket.
‘I’m his fiancée,’ Lucinda replied icily.
‘Let go of me,’ Oliver snarled, struggling in their grip.
‘Mike and I are going to escort you off the premises,’ Jules said to him. ‘Then we’re going to make a written statement about the incident to support Ella if she changes her mind about pressing charges.’
‘What?’ Lucinda screeched.
‘You’re welcome to enjoy the second half of the show,’ Jules said to her. ‘Or leave with him.’ With that, he and Mike frog-marched Oliver down the corridor towards the entrance.
Shooting a look of hatred towards Leo and Ella, Lucinda turned to Tim. ‘I need to get our coats.’ She disappeared back into the theatre, Tim following.
Leo gazed at Ella’s pale face, his heart breaking at the sight of her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘Go back to the manor, please,’ she replied shakily.
‘Okay. Let’s get you home.’
Ella wassilent during the drive back to Foxbrooke, and Leo didn’t know what to say. He’d always thought of himself as easygoing, but the hatred he felt towards Oliver felt like acid burning his insides. And god only knew what was going through Ella’s mind right now. She’d loved Oliver for years. Those feelings couldn’t be easily turned off, no matter how much of a shit he’d been to her.
Leo’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as he thought of Lucinda. She couldn’t hold a candle to Ella, but he also knew his best friend well enough to know she would have thought Lucinda was somehow better than she was. He repressed a sigh. It didn’t matter what Lucinda looked like, her very existence would have made Ella feel inferior and question herself.
I love you. I love you. I love you, Ella. The words ran around his head, but he wouldn’t let them out. Not until he knew they wouldn’t make her run a mile. The last thing Ella needed was him declaring his love and expecting her to reciprocate when she was processing her break up with Oliver, her decision to walk away from Michelle, and the prospect of her dad getting out of jail.
Don’t be selfish. Think about what Ella needs right now.
He would wait until the panto was finished before telling her how he felt. Or maybe until Christmas was over, or even the whole year was done and dusted. Could a part of her still be in love with Oliver? At least now she knew for certain there was no chance of them getting back together.Christ. Oliver had got engaged to someone else before even finishing his relationship with Ella.What an arsehole.
‘How’s your hand? Is it sore?’ she asked quietly as he drove up the long drive towards the manor.
He flexed his fingers. ‘Feels fine. How are you doing?’
She rubbed her shoulder. ‘A bit stiff. I think I should get into an Epsom salt bath.’
