‘Look, Ella, I just… had to do something. You know everything about me, you’re constantly threatening to tell – and now I have a hold over you. I just couldn’t work out if you’d fallen for Jamie – turns out you hadn’t.’
‘You bitch.’
She was leaning on the kitchen counter, angry, but most of all devastated that the offer wasn’t real.
‘You sent me a message stating that you’re single, no commitments and ready to go anywhere at any time.’
‘Yeah… because I thought it was from…’
‘I know, and I shouldn’t be meddling in your career, it’s none of my business. But you shouldn’t be meddling in my life either – and what happened three years ago between me and Jamie is none of your business… Do you see where I’m going here?’
She just stared. I could feel her hate, like a solid block between us.
‘So, if you keep what you know to yourself and don’t tell Dan – then I’ll keep what I know to myself and I won’t show Jamie the messages you sent stating how single you are and how you’re up for anything, with anyone, for your little slice of fame,’ I explained.
She rolled her eyes like a petulant teenager being lectured by her mother – but I saw the pain and disappointment in those eyes. It was so stark, I almost felt sorry for her. ‘You’ve played the bride, the newlywed, you’ve enjoyed a free holiday and completely beguiled Jamie and his family,’ I continued. ‘Then, as soon as something better comes along, you’re ready to dump him, prepared to end your marriage without a second thought.’
‘I did give it a second thought, as it happens.’
‘I’m sure you did,’ I said sarcastically, ‘before saying “yes please!” Anyway, my point is, if you don’t want Jamie to know that you were about to end the marriage to “star” in a tacky TV show for singletons, then you should keep quiet about me and Jamie.’
She stood for a few seconds, composing herself, all her hurt and disappointment channelling into anger. ‘God, what a bitch you are,’ she said, like she was talking to herself.
‘I’m sorry, Ella, but you drove me to it.’
‘No, you’re not sorry. You’re a smug, jealous cow,’ she hissed. ‘You’ve looked down your nose at me all the time I’ve been here… And thanks to you, me and Jamie are over.’
‘You don’t have to be over,’ I said. ‘If you don’t rock my boat, then I won’t rock yours. No one needs ever to know.’
‘You’ve made me look an idiot,’ she laughed. ‘I’ve messaged my agent, texted my friends and told them. You’ve trampled on everything; do you have any idea what you’ve done?’
‘I’m sorry, but I had to…’ I had no pity for her. I felt vindicated; she was clearly set on abandoning Jamie and the Taylors at the first sniff of something better.
‘Yeah right. You’re just nasty. SO jealous because your pervy husband hangs around me all the time. “Let me put your sun oil on, babe”，’ she said in a whiney voice meant to be Dan’s. ‘Jamie says he can’t keep it in his pants, that Bob told him he worries when Dan does staff interviews because he picks young, pretty women who can’t do the job. But that doesn’t bother Dan, he soon finds something to keep them busy,’ she added with a smirk. ‘I see him staring at me– and so do you.’
I didn’t want to hear this. ‘Ella,’ I said, ’I don’t know why, but it seems to me all you’ve ever wanted to do is destroy me, and I don’t know why.’
‘Me destroy you? You told everyone I was a thief, that I stole my motherin-law’s earrings – and then said I was lying about my own sister drowning. Who would lie about something like that?’
‘I’m sorry… about your sister. But the earrings, you took them, I saw you.’
‘I didn’t. Joy told me to get them for her.’
‘She said that to help cover it up, that’s what Joy would do because she doesn’t want the embarrassment, the shame…’
‘No, she asked me to get them from her dressing table. I took them downstairs to her – she said she wanted me to have them, but I mustn’t let you know because you’d be jealous.’
‘That’s just not true, Joy wouldn’t do that. You’re lying again, Ella. When will it stop?’