“Hey beautiful, how are you feeling today?” Elliott’s standing there with a tray of breakfast for me.
“Oh, you know, sore.” I manage to raise a smile.
“Here, eat before it gets cold.”
“You cooked this?” I ask enquiringly.
“Yes, of course I did - you see I’m not just all beauty but brains too….No not really, Simon did.” He smiles his beautiful smile.
I take the first mouthful.
“I’ve booked you an appointment with my doctor for 10:00a.m. I’ve also cleared it with the studio. I told them you weren’t feeling well.”
All of a sudden I don’t feel very hungry. The thought of being examined makes my stomach churn.
“Come on, Jess, try and eat some more for me, baby. Please.”
“Where do I have to go and see the doctor?” I can’t keep the emotion out of my voice.
“It’s at her private practice. Don’t worry Jess, I’ll be there. I have no intention of letting you deal with this on your own.” He brushes the hair off my face around to my ear.
Damn, you have to pay to see a doctor over here. I don’t think my insurance will cover it as I’m not going to the police.
“How much do doctor’s appointments cost here?”
“Hey, you don’t have to worry about that, I’ve covered it. I don’t want you to have to worry about anything.”
“No Elliott, you don’t have to. I can pay my way,” I plead. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone.
“Shh Jess, let me help you please, it’s the least I can do for you. If I hadn’t insisted on you coming to the drinks then none of this would have happened. I will never forgive myself for that. Thank God Hudson was there!”
There’s that fucking asshole’s name again.
“Elliott, please don’t feel guilty. It’s not your fault, honestly. You don’t have to pay.”
“It’s too late, I already have done so,” he smirks his cheeky smile.
We arrive at the doctor’s ten minutes early. It’s so private, he was right. Her practice is at her house which is locked behind huge wrought iron gates. You have to be buzzed in, just like Elliott’s. Does anyone in LA live in a normal-sized house?
The good doctor is at the door before we have a chance to ring the bell.
“Good morning, I’m Doctor Leonard. Do come in.”
“Doctor Leonard, this is Jessica,” Elliott introduces us.
I smile and shake her hand.
“How’s everything going, Elliott? You still working out so much?”
“Not at the moment. I’m in the middle of a shoot.” He smirks.
“Don’t let that be an excuse Elliott. OK, you sit here. Jessica, would you like to follow me?”
I pause for a second; do I really want to do this on my own? I feel the panic rising. You have to, I convince myself. Elliott has been so amazing so far. Him seeing me naked is one thing but making him come in and watch me being examined is another. I look at him.
Elliott stands next to me and looks into my eyes, “Jess, you’ll be fine. She knows everything, but if you want I can come in with you.” He’s so sincere.
I smile. “Thank you, I think I’ll be OK.” With that I follow Dr. Leonard into her room.
Elliott really had told her everything about the attack, even the bullshit accompanying it!
Dr. Leonard tries to convince me to go to the police. But I just can’t, it would be more hassle than I need right now. I’m just trying to figure out how on earth I’m going to cope with seeing the bastard again.
I lay on her couch and she examines me. It’s so uncomfortable but she makes small talk to make the whole process better.
“Thank you, Jessica, I’ve seen everything I need to. You can get dressed now,” she smiles, handing me a paper towel.
Whilst I get changed she explains exactly what’s happened down there and how it’s all superficial and there’s no physical lasting damage. But it will take a couple of weeks for it to heal. When we come out of the room Elliott is waiting.
“What did she say, Jess?” Elliott asks concerned.
“I’m fine; I have a cut and some bruising but nothing time can’t heal. I’ve been really lucky.” Talk about getting personal. “She’s given me some antibiotics to keep any infection away.” I raise my eyes to heaven.
“So there is no permanent damage then? That’s good,” he smiles.
I wonder if the sex question is flying around in his head. He hasn’t asked as I suspect he doesn’t want to seem like a callous asshole.
“What about future relationships?” he asks.
I smile to myself.
“What about them?” I’m playing with him now.
“Is it OK? Normal?” He blushes.
I decide to put him out of his misery.
“Yes Elliott, everything is normal. I can have a normal relationship……, sex when I feel comfortable,” I smile, brushing his face.
For a player he’s very shy!
He pulls me towards him and places his arms around my waist. “I’m so sorry, Jessica, for this. If I could get my hands on the bastard that did this to you, I would seriously hurt him!” He points to the marks on my neck.
If only he knew he could get his hands on him. That man he trusts with his life did this.
“I’ve had an idea for this weekend, Jessica. It’s a bit crazy but I have a beach house in the Hamptons. Why don’t we head up there? We’re not working. It would be a great way to get to know each other better and forget the last few days.” He smiles resting his hand on my stomach.
His words float through my head. I can’t believe how quickly the “us” thing is moving. It was only last week I thought he was a total asshole.
“It sounds amazing. Would it just be the two of us?” The thought of Hudson coming anywhere near me terrifies me.
“If that’s what you want. Yes, apart from Simon - he has to come.” His eyes sparkle.
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hey beautiful, is that a yes then?”
How can I resist? “OK, yes, thank you, it will be amazing.”
A huge smile appears across his face. “My pleasure, Miss Ing.”
Dr. Leonard reappears at her office door with my prescription.
“Look after yourself, Jessica, and please try and reconsider my advice,” she smiles at me. I know she means well.
She opens her front door and we head to the car.
Elliott’s on his phone straight away. “Yes Tara, the Hamptons this weekend...yes, charter the private plane…yes, just for three. No, I haven’t spoken to him...why? Well, he’ll just have to change his plans, won’t he! Good…as early as possible, it would be nice to have both days there. Thanks, bye”.
Elliott starts up the car.
“Is there a problem with the weekend?”
“No, beautiful. Hudson just had plans to use it, that’s all.”
“Oh, will he be cross about it?”
“It’s tough shit if he is. It’s my place; I don’t go there enough as it is and he’s always using it for yet another one of his conquests. I think he takes them there to impress them!” he smirks.
More like it imprisons them so that he can attack them at free will, I want to shout.
“Hey Jess, don’t let it worry you. I’ll deal with him. Are you ready to go back to work?”
Chapter 7
We arrive at the private air strip. Simon collects the bags from the trunk and we are greeted by the air stewardess.
I walk up the stairs to the plane. Oh my God, I have never seen anything like it.
It’s small but luxurious. There are four white leather seats facing each other with tables in front of them. The whole interior is beige and cream with wood paneling on the walls. It is unbelievable.
“Jess, take a seat there for me, please,” Elliott smiles whilst he talks to the air stewardess. You can tell she’s in absolute awe of him. I’m half expecting her to ask for his autograph. But
surely that would be unprofessional. I take my seat and watch him in action. He is smooth, incredibly smooth. He has her eating out the palm of his hand. She stands there all smiles, fluttering her eyelashes at him. What a bitch, it’s as if I’m not even here. You’d think she’d be a bit more subtle with her flirting when his girlfriend’s watching.
Elliott looks over and points at me. I smile and wave back but she is having none of it - her smile soon disappears, and she glares daggers at me.
Elliott sits in the seat next to me and Simon sits in the chairs behind. He is certainly well trained.
“You OK, beautiful?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Elliott places his hand on top of mine and entwines his fingers in mine. The stewardess appears again with champagne for us. She smiles at Elliott when he takes his glass but just looks through me.
“She likes you, Elliott,” I whisper.
He laughs.
“I know I have this effect on women!” and he raises his eyebrow at me.
“Stop it, I’m not like her.” My feelings a little hurt.
“No, Jessica, you’re certainly not. I had to make the first move with you. These looks didn’t help me out at all,” he smirks.
“Huh, what do you mean?” I really have no idea what he is talking about.
“You, on our first day. Normally I can’t stop the women from strutting over to me and shaking my hand or worse still, kissing me. But oh no, not you, you were hard pushed to even say hello to me.”
“Oh my God, how wrong you are. Me saying hello - I was summoned to your room the minute I arrived to be confronted by you and that asshole. You didn’t even look at me to acknowledge I even was there,” I defend.
“Oh Jessica, believe me I knew you were there. I noticed you from the moment you arrived, with your hair up and a white vest that accentuated your tits perfectly!”
I feel my mouth fall open. I can’t believe he said that out loud, or remembered in that case.
Elliott smiles his illustrious smile.
“So what was with the hostile greeting then, Elliott?”
“You see, Jess, when I see someone I’m attracted to I clam up. I’m a shy guy really.”
Is he joking? My mind wonders. This is the most confident man I know, he walks around naked on set half the time in front of numerous people. He has women stalking his every move and he’s shy? What the hell?
“Really, Elliott? Or is this all a plan to make me feel sorry for you so you can get your wicked way with me?” I tease with an enormous grin.
“That’s better, Jess. It’s great to see you smile again,” and he tips my face down and kisses me gently on my nose.
I bury my head into his neck. God, he smells good. It’s that manly smell mused with aftershave.
The air stewardess appears again.
“The captain says it’s OK to remove seat belts now. Can I get you anything, Mr. Tate?” His name rolls off her tongue with a slight insinuation.
“No, I’m good. Thank you, Britney, but my friend Jessica here would like some nibbles, please.”
I would?
“I’ll get that right away, Mr. Tate,” she smiles inaptly at him.
“I didn’t realize I was hungry,” I whisper.
He laughs, “I know, beautiful - I’m just making sure that Britney is fully aware that you’re here too, that’s all.”
I smile inwardly. How very gallant of him. He can be so lovely sometimes.
With that thought I close my eyes and try and drift off to sleep. I don’t seem to be scared of flying when I’m with Elliott, or maybe it’s the plane putting me at ease.
As we touch down at JFK airport, I’m jostled awake. I glance over and notice that Elliott’s busy working plans out with Simon. He must feel me gazing at him as he turns around immediately.
“Hey you, you’re awake. Did you sleep OK?” he asks as he kisses me on my head.
“Yes…lovely, thanks.”
“OK Jess, the plan is as soon as we can depart the plane we have to follow through security towards immigration. I will go ahead of you as I have to go a different way, but Simon will stay with you and I’ll meet you out by the car, OK? But please be aware that there are lots of photographers around fighting for a photo. They will do anything to get one, so be careful, baby, please…”He leans down again and plants a gentle kiss on my head.
Britney announces that we can leave the plane. As I undo my seat belt I look up and Elliott’s already disappeared. I wish just for a moment that he isn’t the most recognized face around and he could stay with me.
Simon escorts me off the plane and out towards the car. I follow him immediately, hoping not to get lost as I have never been to this airport before. We make our way through immigration and baggage and head towards the front of the airport. But there is a huge queue forming.
“What’s the holdup?” I ask Simon whilst looking around.
Simon, gently nudges my arm and I look ahead. I recognize him immediately, that’s the reason for the huge people pile up.
“Shouldn’t you be with him?” I ask, worried as he is literally being mobbed by female fans.
“He’ll be fine. He has airport security with him and he knows what to do.”
We don’t stop to watch, we head straight for the Range Rover which is parked right out front. I keep checking my watch as he seems to be taking such a long time. When I glance up I see the automatic doors opening and Elliott heading directly towards us with lots of girls hysterically screaming for him.
Simon jumps out the front of the car and he is standing with the door open for him. As he climbs in, there are camera flashes everywhere.
I feel the anxiety rising, I remember the conversation we had about the paparazzi getting pictures of us together.
“Hey beautiful, you made it through OK?” he smiles grabbing my hand and kissing it.
“I did, how about you? We saw the buildup of women.”
He smiles, “It’s all part of the job, baby! It’s expected.”
“But it’s so constant. Does that not drive you crazy? Not just the fans but the photos the whole time?”
“I like the fans. They are well worth taking the time out for, but as for the journalists – I hate them. Did you notice if they got a picture of you in the car? You’ll be on all the front covers tomorrow,” he laughs, squeezing my hand.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think to duck or anything,” I blush red.
“No baby, it’s fine. I told Hudson after the last time that I want people to know we’re together!”
I feel my mouth drop open.
“Jessica, close your mouth!” he laughs. “What did you think we were, just friends?” he asks, watching me intently so he can gage my reaction.
But I don’t know what to say, it’s all moving so fast. I’m finding it hard keeping up with each day’s events.
“Jess, you’ve gone very quiet all of a sudden. Is something wrong?” he asks, kissing my hand.
I choose my words wisely.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be in a relationship with you, it’s just I think we should take things slowly that’s all. I’ve only just realized you’re a decent guy, for heaven’s sake,” I wink trying to lighten the mood.
He turns towards me so that he is facing me. He picks up both my hands and holds them. He looks into my eyes.
“Jessica, I will do whatever I have to, to make you my girlfriend. Even if it means I have to wait for you to decide who you want.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me and smirks in that I–know-you-have-a-boyfriend way!
I glare at him. How dare he? If he thought for a second that I was in a relationship, he shouldn’t have been trying it on with me in the first place.
I try and pull my hands from him, but he doesn’t let them go.
“Elliott, you’re hurting me.” He’s not, I’m just so angry with him. Or is it the guilt that’s reeling inside of me?
“Jessica, stop it and look at me,” he demands.
&n
bsp; Like a petulant child I turn to look.
“I’m not angry with you – I’m trying to make it easier for you to tell me about it, that’s all,” he gently strokes my cheek.
“How do you know about him?”
“How do you think …? Hudson, of course. He told me yesterday after I told him what I was planning for us. He didn’t want me getting involved in some stupid, messy love triangle,” he smirks.
I bet he didn’t, that bloody man! Will he never stop interfering in my life?
“It’s not as it seems. He’s not my boyfriend now, but he was once. But when I told him I was coming out here he finished it. We left on really bad terms and we’re not speaking now. We are going to talk when I get back.” I try to hide the tears welling in my eyes. I’m so scared that this will change how Elliott feels about me. I need him more than anything at the moment.
“Hush baby, it’s OK, I believe you. I’m just glad we cleared that up that’s all. I’m not very good at sharing, especially not my girlfriends!” he smiles.
We arrive at his beach house. Yet again we are greeted with huge security gates which open on to a beautiful glass-fronted beach house. I can’t wait to get out of the car, and as I open the door I instantly hear the sound of sea. I love the beach so much; it’s the one thing I really miss living in London. Being brought up by the sea was the best thing a child could ask for. Even now when I go back to my mum’s, I always pay a visit. I find it so calming and tranquil, watching the waves lapping onto the sand.
Elliott opens the front door - the house is beautiful. It’s so light and airy. I follow him into the lounge, like a lost dog, and we are greeted immediately by floor to ceiling glass which overlooks the beach. The view is spectacular. It must have cost him an absolute fortune. The interior is all very modern. It’s all very white; it’s massive for a beach house. No wonder the asshole likes to use it. At the thought of him I remember why we are here. I try not to let it play on my mind. I won’t let him ruin this for me. Elliott distracts me.
“Hey Jess, what do you feel like doing? I was thinking we could go and have a swim and then order take out. Keep it all very easy,” he smiles at me, that award winning smile.
Make Believe Page 7