Page 135 of Christmas off Script
‘Oh god!’ Memories spun out of control in Ella’s mind, careering into catastrophic futures. Leo injured, hurt—
‘Ella! I’m sure he’s going to be okay.’
But she couldn’t believe it. She had to find him. Save him. This was all her fault. If she hadn’t been friends with him in the first place, he’d never have known Ronnie Chamberlain. He wouldn’t have gone to the police about him. He wouldn’t be in a car with him now going god knows where.
‘Has he rung you? Messaged you?’ Willow asked.
Ella pulled out her phone.
Leo: I’m with your dad. Won’t be long X
She showed Willow the screen.
‘There we go!’ Willow said, the relief evident in her voice. ‘It’s all okay.’
But how? Ronnie hated the Foxbrookes. Had sworn revenge against whoever had turned him in. Why had Leo got in a car with him?
‘I’ve got to go.’ Ella ran up the corridor.
‘Where?’ Willow cried as she dashed to catch her up.
‘To look for him.’
‘But curtain’s up in less than ten minutes!’
‘Stall them. They can’t start without Leo, anyway.’ Leaving Willow behind, Ella sprinted through a set of doors into the public side of the manor. It was filled with smartly dressed people on their way to the ballroom.
‘Excuse me, excuse me,’ she muttered, ignoring the bemused stares of people wondering why the star of the show was in such a hurry to run in the opposite direction to the stage.
‘It’s not midnight yet!’ someone cried, and people laughed.
Fighting back tears, Ella made it to the front hall.
‘Ella!’
She stopped dead, staring as if at a ghost.
‘Surprise!’ Lila grabbed her in a hug, lifting her off the ground. ‘I can’t believe it’s been so long!’ She pulled back, her hands clasping around Ella’s upper arms. ‘O. M. G. Just look at you! The star of the freaking show!’
‘Lila!’ Ella gasped. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come to seeyou,of course, dummy!’ She leaned forward and lowered her voice. ‘And my Prince Charming.’
‘W-what?’
Lila was beyond beautiful with her blonde hair immaculately straight, her cheeks sun-kissed by the Californian weather, and her blue eyes sparkling like the sea.
‘I’ve come back for Christmas, and…’ She winked at Ella. ‘I just might stay.’
‘But, your job!’
Lila gave an artless shrug. ‘It was getting boring. Just like the men. New is only exciting for so long, but then you kinda miss what you once had.’ She glanced around the hall, an expectant smile on her face. ‘So, tell me. How is he?’
Ella’s heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach. ‘Leo?’ she whispered.
‘Yeah, of course! Who else? I hear he’s still single.’
‘Lila?’
