Saturday 23rd November
The week passed in a blur; working, dating Lydia, and playing Xbox or Wii with Callum and Brett. Life could not be more normal, and less stressful, if he tried. He was surprised at how much he wasn’t missing the thrill of acting, which usually gave him a buzz, making him feel challenged and alive. Maybe it was because he’d been living peacefully, unrecognised. That’s what he wasn’t missing. The fact he could live without the fear of the press being at his heel was surprisingly relaxing. He couldn’t have lunch out in Hollywood without someone taking his photo.
But was his life really normal? Ruby fretted occasionally about money, when a bill would come in, counting the days till her next payday. Admittedly, she stopped doing it in front of Steve. She knew his answer would be to write her a cheque in a flash or transfer the money. Was this why life was so relaxing? No money worries, yet in hiding from his own reality. The only ‘real life’ reminder he had was when he started going over his lines in the script for his next movie.
Steve also sneaked out to their old house to see how the builders and decorators were coming along. Soon he’d be able to show Ruby its transformation, and hopefully convince her it was where she belonged.
Walking back from the corner shop one Saturday morning, thinking about the house, Ruby, Lydia, and how he’d have to return to his real world, how that weighed heavy on his shoulders, he noticed the poster in the bus stop had changed.
Erica Kealey, dressed in leather and wielding a machine gun, looked provocative and sexy advertising her next film. Her husband-to-be, the hero of this movie was standing beside her. This was Hollywood.
Steve studied it, realising he felt unaffected by this picture. He admired it. Erica was a beautiful woman. She appeared taller and stronger in this picture than she looked in real life. But she no longer stabbed at Steve’s heart, that pang of emptiness and love lost didn’t happen.
He was over Erica Kealey.
Lydia was equally beautiful, and she didn’t have the money or resources like Erica, and she made him laugh. She allowed him to be himself, not the alter ego of Steve Mason whom everyone had to see on chat shows, or in glossy magazines. Okay – so he’d had that with Erica behind closed doors – sort of. It was only now, looking back, he could see how wrong Erica was for him. Lydia brought the best out of him, whereas with Erica, he’d had to work hard in the relationship. Everything was easy with Lydia. Okay, he couldn’t deny the initial attraction he and Erica had, but underneath the surface, that’s all it had been. They may have worked in the same circles, but it was obvious they were two very different people. Unlike Steve, Erica had been born into stardom, having an entourage from a young age. She didn’t know of the struggles and money worries ordinary folk worried about on a daily basis. And he had started to forget, too, as a wealth of money can easily do.
Lydia didn’t need bodyguards, an entourage – though she might when – if – Steve made his romance with her public. He swallowed down the worrying thought. He’d cross that bridge when it came to it. It was important to use this time to get to know Lydia, fully, before taking that leap. Their romance might fizzle and there’d be no need. It’s why he hadn’t yet made love to her. They were both eager. He assumed Lydia felt the same, the way she kissed him goodbye, not wanting to let go. It got more difficult every night he had to leave her. He was fit to burst. Even though his head said he needed to rush through things – Christmas was rapidly approaching – he didn’t want to. It wouldn’t be fair on Lydia. He hated lying to her. He’d hinted he wouldn’t be in the job long, maybe to reassure her this affair wouldn’t affect her job if things did go wrong. But he didn’t want to take their relationship to the next intimate level until he was truly sure. Maybe this way there’d be less fallout if things did go wrong. He didn’t need details of Lydia’s and his relationship getting into the sordid paws of the press.
In these past weeks, Steve had time to think. Reflect. Erica and he had had a whirlwind romance. The press had glamorised it, ‘Hot New Couple Alert’ and all that trash, and new to the rollercoaster ride, Steve hadn’t liked the jerk when it stopped and Erica stepped off. She’d been in the limelight longer than Steve, and had learnt to cope with a public break-up.
Arriving at his front door, he slotted the key into it and entered, the smell of bacon and eggs greeting him. He patted his grumbling stomach. He needed to train harder. Ruby was feeding him too well. He threw his glasses aside on the coffee table.
“Oh, just in time for breakfast.” Ruby called from the kitchen. As he sat at the table, dumping the papers and magazines he’d fetched from the shop, Ruby pushed a fried breakfast under his nose.
“You’re too good to me.”
“Well, don’t get too used to it. But I like you being home, so I thought I’d spoil you. But you tell a soul and I’ll kill you.” She was waving the tomato sauce bottle at him. He grabbed the brown sauce already on the table. “I don’t want word getting out that I’m actually domesticated. Someone might try and make a wife out of me.”
“You’ll make a great wife.”
“Pfft.” Ruby pulled a disbelieving face and went back into her kitchen. “Someone’s got to learn to put up with my bossiness first.”
“True.” He chuckled. He knew his sister was confident and strong-willed, but they weren’t bad qualities; it meant she could handle herself and not be walked over by some git. Except Terence, but Ruby had learnt from that incident. No, he didn’t have to worry about her – too much. Swallowing his food, he asked, “Will you help me go through my script today?”
“Oh, do I have to?” Ruby pulled a face as she sat down at the table with her own breakfast.
“I can’t ask Lydia, can I? However much I would like to.”
Ruby sighed. “All right. Of course I will. When do you think you’ll tell Lydia the truth?”
Steve scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know. I want to, but then I want to make sure she feels strongly about me.”
“Have you two…?” Ruby raised her eyebrows questioningly.
“Ruby!” Steve scolded. “A gentleman should never kiss and tell…but no, I’ve been waiting – it’s only been a couple of weeks. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to make sure I do love her first.”
“And that she loves you?”
“Yes.”
***
Tuesday 26th November
Steve thought he was having a really good day at work until he answered the phone on the bar, and heard Ruby hiss “Terence is here. Hide,” while at the same time, Callum, stood right beside him, and said, “Cougar alert. Incoming.”
Should he be concerned about Terence showing up twice in just over a week? Did Terence suspect something or was he just pursuing Ruby?
Steve glanced up to see Ms Jones, aka Marilyn heading his way. “Ruby, I’ve got to go. I’ll keep out of sight, I promise.” Ruby’s reporter ex-boyfriend seemed the least of his worries right now. He slammed the phone down. Great, and he was supposed to be taking his lunch break with Lydia in a minute.
“Callum, I’ll go do that stock take and don’t disturb me,” he said, loudly.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about. For an older women, she’s hot.”
“You chat her up then.”
“I would, but she doesn’t fancy me.”
Steve ducked out of sight into the store cupboard where he could hear the conversation at the bar.
“Oh!” Ms Jones said. “Where is your colleague?”
“He’s doing a stock take. Can I help, Madame?” Callum stumbled over what to call her. All mouth, no action, Callum. He won’t chat her up.
“That’s a shame…I’ll have an Americano, please.”
“But Stuart’s British.”
Steve stifled a groan.
“Pardon?”
Callum chuckled. “Forget it…would you like the coffee taken up to your room?”
“No, I’ll sit in here. Put it on my room bill, please.”
Steve rolled his eyes – he was stuck. As he heard Callum shuffle about, using the till then the coffee machine, Steve wondered how the hell he was going to escape without being noticed. Hard, because the only way out was through the bar. He couldn’t even dive out via the back door onto the decking.
“Hi, Callum, is Stuart about?”
“Oh hi, Lydia,” Callum said loudly, Steve presumed he thought he couldn’t hear. “He’s stock taking.”
“Hi, Lydia, ready to go?” Steve appeared from the stock room, smiling. He tried to look as if he’d been working hard. “I’ll finish the rest of the stock take later, Callum.”
“Of course you will.” Callum shook his head.
“Oh, there you are.” Ms Jones stood up from her table to greet Steve. “I wondered if you’d like to join me for dinner this evening.” There was a twinkle in her eye. Did she know who he really was? Surely not…Steve straightened his glasses on his face. Act dorkily. “As you know, I’m all alone in this hotel.”
Lydia frowned, and Steve grasped her hand firmly. “I’m sorry, flattered as I am, I have a girlfriend and we’re going out tonight.” Lydia beamed, and Steve tugged her arm, “Let’s get some lunch, sweetheart.”
Ms Jones gave Lydia a dirty look.
Steve rushed out of the bar, and then remembered Ruby’s call. Cautiously, he looked around, checking the coast was clear. Hopefully Ruby had the reporter hidden away in her office. Alice walked out from the spa, heading towards Ruby’s office. There were raised voices coming from inside. He wanted to help but knew it would make matters worse. Quickly, he jerked at Lydia’s hand and pushed through the double doors, striding along the corridor, eager to tuck himself away in the staff room.
“Why are we walking so fast?” Lydia said, running to keep up with him.
“I’m hungry.”
***
Terence had knocked at Ruby’s open office door, and leaned casually in the doorway, as she finished her warning call to Steve. Lydia had given her the heads up that he was in the building.
“I was going to meet you at reception,” Ruby said, coldly, scowling, her hackles up.
“It’s okay, I told the receptionist I’d find my way to your office.”
“You’d snoop about more like.” Ruby shut up. You’re acting like you have something to hide. Which you do, and he’ll cotton on.
“Ruby, I was in the area, and thought I’d pop in to see you.” Terry took the seat opposite Ruby’s desk – uninvited. The man really had a nerve. Ruby would not be taken in by this guy’s charm. She’d lost all trust in him a long time ago, and it would not be returning any time soon. He might look hot with his good looks and flashy suit, but underneath his falsely warm exterior ran an ugly cold-hearted liar.
“But I no longer wish to see you.” Ruby interlinked her fingers in front of her, leaning on her desk. All business, no messing.
“Please don’t be like that. I made a mistake all those years ago.”
“It’s been three years, Terry. I can even give you to the exact day you hurt me. You can’t walk back into my life as if nothing happened.” Ruby stood up from her chair as her fist thumped her desk and her blood pounded around her body with rage.
“Tell me what I need to do to get your forgiveness?”
“Nothing. I don’t trust you.”
“Is everything okay? I heard shouting.” Brett poked his head around the door. When he spotted Terry smiling at him from the chair, Brett’s expression hardened, and he entered the office, making more of a presence.
“Everything is fine, we’re catching up on old times,” Terence said, grinning at Brett. Too annoyingly cool for Ruby’s liking.
Brett frowned. “Ruby?”
“Terry was just leaving – weren’t you?” She glared at Terence, her hands still forming fists.
“I’ll show him out,” Brett said. He looked impressive in his chef whites. Twice now he’d rescued Ruby from Terry. Terry stood, and Brett stood a remarkable couple of inches taller than him.
“Ruby, what can I do to make you forgive me?” Terry pleaded. He’d grabbed her hand in the moment, trying to soften her will. Ruby paused at his touch, good times flooded in to her mind, good memories, then the heart-breaking horror which had followed. Her heart hardened. Terence had had his opportunity, Ruby would be a fool to give him a second chance. She deserved Brett – better – she meant better.
“No, get Doug to make sure he leaves the property,” she said, coldly to Brett. “I wouldn’t want you getting your hands dirty.”
“Oh, hello, are we all having a party in Ruby’s office?” Alice entered, bubbly and looking her usual striking self. She gave an appreciative smile towards Terry.
“Terry was just leaving,” Ruby said, sternly, and Brett took the hint to escort him out of her office. Ruby didn’t like the way Terry had smiled back at Alice as he’d left.
“What can I do for you, Alice?” Ruby’s words were still laced with anger. She needed to calm down.
“Someone’s in a bad mood.”
“You’d be too if you were being harassed by your ex.”