Falling for Polkerran Point, page 25
Chapter Thirty-Three
“The Traitors”
‘You’ve never talked about this, Bella,’ Ellie added, confused by the uncharacteristic trepidation on her friend’s features.
‘Some things get buried deep.’
As Ellie knew all too well.
‘When Bella dumped me many years ago, neither of us appreciated the impact it would have on my idiotic, immature character, but sadly, it resulted in me making sure no one around me was happy either, hence my interference in Will’s relationship with Ellie.’
Bella winced. ‘I had no idea you’d been a victim of his backlash at the time, Ells.’
‘So why did you end things with Alex back then?’
A dull red colour infused Alex’s cheeks, but he nodded at Bella, and she held Ellie’s gaze steadily.
‘City Alex was a complete contrast to the one I’d seen that summer. I went up to London for a couple of weekends, in between starting my studies. I’d really liked him, become a bit smitten even, and I thought it might be worth pursuing. But…’ She hesitated, and Alex stirred in his seat.
‘She had the good sense to find the showy, braggy and shallow version of me wasn’t quite to her taste.’
‘I had a fascination, almost admiration, for him at first, but then I started to see through him Alex constantly tries to outdo people, even his so-called friends. Impressing others was more important to him than anything. I couldn’t find any kindness, compassion or desire to help others.’
Alex sank back in his seat, eyes cast down. ‘And Bella was the opposite. She was genuinely caring, believed in volunteering, did unpaid hours for Citizens’ Advice. And I laughed in her face when she told me, saying it was pointless.’
‘And I knew instantly he wasn’t the man for me; wasn’t the fun and funny person I’d had a blast with, been drawn to, in Polkerran. He’d disintegrated into ashes. I became ashamed. Of myself, for being so taken in by such shallowness.’ Bella sighed, casting Ellie an apologetic glance. ‘It’s why I’ve never spoken of it.’
‘Damned idiot that I was, I lashed out at those around me, set about driving apart anyone around me who was happy. I can’t change the past.’ Alex looked from Will to Ellie. ‘All I can do is try to do better in future and not repeat those errors of judgement. I’m no angel, and I doubt I ever will be, but I am determined to make changes where I can, and I look forward to working with Oliver instead of against him.’ He smiled faintly. ‘I’m still interested in making money, but I’ll try to make more balanced decisions when it comes to estate disposals.’
He drew in an audible breath as his attention fixed on Ellie.
‘I did you probably one of the worst disservices, Ellie, preventing you from reconciling with Will all those years ago, and when I realised who you were – back here in the cove at the same time as us – I initially feared the truth coming out. I was desperate to repair things with Bella. If she’d found out how I split you and Will up… it had to remain in the past.’
Astounded, Ellie threw Will a shocked look, then addressed Alex. ‘Were you trying to ruin my businesses? Slagging off my photography and posting horrid reviews on my artwork so I had to go home?’
Will’s grip on Ellie’s hand tightened.
‘No!’ Alex’s response was vehement, his expression confounded. ‘I swear. I had no idea that was happening. I’ve got my faults, but I wouldn’t… I actually admire you, Ellie. I know how tough business is. My intention at first had been to try and keep Will away from being in your company, but that concern faded once I’d seen the two of you together. There was enough animosity there to power a speedboat and effectively keep you apart.’
Strangely, Ellie believed him. It meant her suspicions on the culprit were probably right, though she still couldn’t understand their motive…
‘I need some air,’ Bella interjected. ‘Come on, you.’
She opened the door to the boot room, and Heathcliff stalked past, tail erect and nose in the air as she passed Alex.
‘There, kitty. Nice kitty,’ Alex essayed, warily extending a hand to stroke the cat’s back.
Heathcliff eyed him balefully but didn’t hiss. Bella urged Alex out the door as Will’s phone rang, and he walked into the sitting area to take the call.
Ellie could see Bella talking to Alex out on the terrace. Arms wrapped around her body, mentally pushing aside the two of them and their recent admissions, Ellie headed into the orangery, then recalled what she’d been doing earlier.
Someone had taken photos on their phone of each of Ellie’s images displayed on that screen – the reflection and the smudge proved it – and it was time to find out why.
‘This is going to sound a bit mad, but I need to talk to Chloe.’
Will looked at Ellie uncertainly as he put his phone aside.
‘Why?’
‘It’s tricky. I need to ask her about those photos in the newspaper.’
Will put a hand under Ellie’s elbow and steered her back into the orangery, his eyes flashing when he caught sight of Alex outside. Bella had her arm around him now, and Ellie shook her head in disbelief.
‘Ells?’
‘Sorry.’ Ellie tried to cast her mind back. ‘I was editing the walk photos, and she called in to collect a book. It took me a few minutes to find it, and then she left. My laptop was open on the island, and I’m sure there were images of you on the screen. Look.’
Ellie pulled up the photos the paper had returned to her, then opened the originals.
‘See this.’ She pointed to the mark. ‘This was a fingerprint smudge on my screen, and it’s just about visible on these photos, but not on mine. If you look closely, here, there’s also a slight reflection of someone, see?’
‘I can, but I don’t get it.’ Will turned her to face him, his hands resting on her arms, and Ellie’s heartbeat quickened at his expression. ‘I’ve no idea where this is going, but I wish it was all over and we could be alone again.’
Ellie wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest as he held her close, relishing the sound of his heart beating steadily beside her ear.
‘I could stay here forever,’ she murmured. ‘But—’
‘You need to know. We need to know.’ Will released her with a sigh. ‘I’ll contact Chloe, see if she’s free to pop round. You don’t think Anna will mind?’
‘I’ll message her, but I’m sure she’ll be fine about it.’
Anna was quick to respond, saying it was okay, but they’d be back in about ten minutes. Ellie watched Will step into the living room, tapping into his phone, then started as the door to the terrace opened and Bella entered the orangery.
‘Ellie, we need to talk.’
‘About what?’
She followed Bella into the kitchen, and Will gave a thumbs-up from where he stood by the window.
‘What’s up?’
Bella huffed a breath, folding her arms as she leaned against the island. ‘I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t know half of this crap until recently. But I feel partly to blame for what happened to you and Will.’
Ellie was taken aback. ‘I can’t imagine for a minute you need to, but I’m listening.’
‘Don’t mind me,’ Will called, heading for the boot room.
‘When we split, Alex said I’d be sorry. I thought it was an idle threat. I mean, what could he possibly do? I had no idea you – and Will – were part of the collateral damage. I didn’t know you’d got engaged or that you were facing parental opposition. None of it.’ Bella’s troubled features became even more solemn. ‘I honestly thought the summer romance had ended, as they usually do. Like mine had. Until you opened up to us the other day, said you’d been engaged and admitted the break-up was behind you dropping out of your MA.’
Bella’s luminous eyes were wide, her smile tremulous now. ‘I couldn’t work out why Alex was so wary of you when he realised who you were, but when you spoke out about the past… at Harbourwatch that night a horrible suspicion took hold. I’d spent all these years walking in the opposite direction to Alex whenever I came across him; this time I finally faced him head-on.’
Ellie laid a gentle hand on Bella’s arm. ‘You still feel something, though, don’t you?’
Bella sighed. ‘I’m not sure. I mean, it really was just a holiday fling, and once I’d seen him in his natural environment, I couldn’t run away fast enough. He had absolutely no regard for anyone but himself, or for the aftermath of anything he did. Did you know I caught him with someone? His defence was that I was always studying, so he got bored. When I finally saw him again, here in the village last summer, the distrust and dislike came flooding back. He tried to lay on the charm, but it left me cold. I shoved him – quite literally.’ A small smirk appeared. ‘Away.’
Ellie grinned. ‘I did hear about his dip in the harbour.’ Then, she sobered. ‘But now… you seem… a bit more supportive?’
Letting out a huff of breath, Bella shoved her hands in her pockets, still leaning against the counter. ‘Leopards don’t change their spots, and we all know you should never think you’re going to be able to do it, but…’
Feeling for her old friend, Ellie gently squeezed her arm. ‘You always did like a lost cause.’
Despite herself, Bella laughed. ‘True, but for whatever reason, Alex is genuinely trying to improve.’
‘For you.’
‘So he says. And I feel as though I’d like to hang around to help, if I can.’
‘Well, he’s made quite the start, ceasing hostilities with Oliver, apologising. Even Heathcliff looked as though she might come round.’
A smile softened Bella’s firm mouth. ‘There’s something here.’ She pressed a hand to her chest. ‘An inner desire for him to become the person he aspires to be. It won’t be an easy road, and I suspect there’ll be a few potholes to come…’ Her gaze drifted towards the window, where Alex could be seen still leaning on the wall, staring out to sea.
‘But you want to hang around to see if they can be filled?’
Their eyes met, and the corners of Bella’s crinkled as her normal smile returned. ‘I’m up for the adventure, I think.’
Before anything else could be said, a commotion arose as the door to the boot room opened to reveal the return of Anna, Oliver, Dougal and the buggy, just as the front doorbell rang.
‘That must be Chloe.’
Ellie was about to head for the hall, but Will overtook her. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘They’re fast asleep,’ Anna whispered as Ellie joined her. ‘I’m just going to wheel them into the snug.’
‘I’m so sorry for the disturbance.’ Ellie felt awful as she unfastened Dougal’s lead, giving his ears a thorough rub. This was their home, after all.
Anna shook her head. ‘Not at all.’
Just then, the door to the hall swung aside as Will ushered Chloe in. Oliver’s eyes narrowed, steely blue as they swept over the new arrival, who’d frozen just inside the room, colour flooding her cheeks.
‘Oh no,’ she squeaked.
‘What’s she doing here?’ Oliver growled, turning to Will.
‘Shhh,’ Anna whispered. ‘You’ll disturb Bertie and Emma.’
‘Sorry.’ Oliver gestured to the others to move out of the way so Anna could wheel the buggy into the hall, closed the door and swung round to face the others. ‘What’s going on, Will?’
‘It’s a bit complicated.’
‘What is?’ Chloe all but croaked. ‘I thought this was about another guided walk, or something.’
A sound near the boot room door drew Ellie’s attention. Bella, who’d been out to retrieve Alex, stalled with him on the threshold.
It was impossible to miss the momentary alarm in Alex’s eyes as he spotted Chloe, his gaze then flying to the others. ‘Shall we go?’
‘We?’ Chloe exclaimed, suddenly coming to life, brushing past Oliver. ‘Is she… Alex?’
‘No!’ He responded firmly. ‘We’re not a “we” in that sense. Sadly.’
Chloe paled, halting in her progress across the room.
‘I’d appreciate an explanation.’ From Oliver’s tone, it wasn’t an invitation, more an order.
‘It’s my fault,’ Ellie admitted. ‘Will did check with Anna about asking Chloe here. I’m sorry if it’s caused a problem. We just wanted to talk to her about something.’
Will reached for Ellie’s hand and squeezed it. ‘We’ll take this somewhere else.’
The door opened and Anna returned.
‘Still asleep, bless them.’ She looked from her husband to Chloe, frozen part way across the room.
‘Shall I put the kettle on?’ Anna was already moving towards the kitchen, pausing by Chloe. ‘Hello. You must be the Chloe that Ellie mentioned in her message. I’m Anna.’ Then, she faltered. ‘Have we met before?’
‘She worked for me before you did,’ Oliver informed his wife.
Ellie and Will exchanged a confused look. This wasn’t going entirely as they’d anticipated.
‘Oh gosh! I remember now.’ Anna’s face pinkened as she shot a look over at Alex.
Chloe bowed her head. ‘Yes, Oliver fired me.’
Anna’s eyes widened. ‘I remember now. For snooping through his papers. We later found out it was to get information for Alex. For the estate, when Oliver started his philanthropical venture.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Chloe raised a mortified face to them.
Anna, in the meantime, turned her attention to Alex. ‘The two of you had a fling, didn’t you, when you were dating me?’
‘I… er…’ Alex puffed out a breath. ‘Yes.’
‘A fling!’ Chloe choked out. ‘You said I was your girlfriend. We dated whenever you were in the cove. I was working at the council then, and you asked me to help stall the paperwork for Anna’s B&B.’
‘I’ll own up to that one,’ Alex said, sending Anna an apologetic look.
‘Look, I really think we should go,’ Bella insisted, grabbing hold of Alex’s arm.
‘No, wait.’ Oliver turned to Will and Ellie. ‘There’s obviously something you wanted to talk to Chloe about. Why not go into the orangery? We’ll make some coffees for when you’re done. Strong ones.’
Bella ushered Alex back towards the boot room door as Anna and Oliver began preparing drinks.
‘I’m scared,’ Chloe said as Ellie invited her to go with them. ‘Can’t you give me a clue about this?’
‘It’s just a few questions about some photos.’
‘Oh my God!’ Chloe’s hand shot to her throat, and she threw Alex an agonised look across the room. ‘Don’t go, Alex.’
Brow furrowed, he and Bella exchanged a puzzled look. ‘Why?’
‘I did it all for you. For us.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
Chloe’s words fell into a profound silence. Then, Will took charge.
‘Into the orangery. You too, Alex.’
He led the way, Bella and Alex sinking onto the small sofa as Ellie encouraged Chloe to take a seat by the table containing her laptop and a scattered array of papers, notebooks, memory cards and charging leads.
Will brought in two chairs from the dining table, then closed the door to the main house.
‘Over to you, Ellie,’ he suggested, taking the seat beside her.
It didn’t take long to explain how she knew who had taken the photos, and Chloe made no effort to deny it.
Ellie, however, wanted to find out more, and with a little prodding, Chloe also confessed to all the other things she’d tried to chisel away at Ellie’s businesses, from the initial attempts of calling the shops to remove the cards, then leaving the anonymous negative comments and reviews and onwards to flooding socials claiming Ellie used AI rather than her own talent to create her images.
An awkward silence hung heavy in the air, mixed with a heady dose of puzzlement. Bella was the first to voice everyone’s immediate thought.
‘But why? What has Ellie ever done to you, that you wanted to harm her in this way?’
Chloe twisted in her chair to stare at Bella. ‘I told you, I did it for Alex.’ She sounded surprised anyone could think otherwise, but Alex’s flabbergasted countenance told another story.
‘What the hell are you talking about?’ he exploded, shooting out of his seat beside Bella. ‘I’d never do that.’ He paused. ‘Well, maybe years ago, but not now!’
‘But you did tell me, remember? When we bumped into each other last month? You bought me a drink.’
‘Alex is always buying drinks for people. It’s his way of breathing,’ Will chipped in.
‘We talked about nothing. I don’t remember anything. And I sure as hell didn’t ask you to do any harm to Ellie’s businesses.’
Alex looked around helplessly, but Chloe sent him a pleading look, and Ellie bit her lip. Was she yet another conquest Alex barely noticed?
‘You were feeling low,’ Chloe persisted. ‘There was something you’d done in the past, and you dreaded Will, or someone called Ellie finding out now their paths had re-crossed. You wished something would happen to drive her out of the cove, sooner rather than later.’
Alex slumped back into the sofa.
‘I had a good old moan. But I never asked her to do anything.’ His repentant gaze fastened on Ellie. ‘I promise.’
‘Did he, Chloe?’
She flicked a glance at Will, then reluctantly shook her head before turning pleading eyes on Alex. ‘You were used to me helping you. I thought we’d be together again, but we won’t, will we? Because of her.’
Chloe pointed a shaking finger at Bella.
‘Alex?’ Will spoke firmly. ‘Anything to add?’
Alex seemed flabbergasted, eyes flitting from Ellie to Will. ‘It’s true. I did say I was in fear of you both somehow finding out I’d done something. But I did not ask Chloe – or anyone else – to intervene.’
Chloe sniffed, raising her chin and glaring at Alex now before turning her attention to Ellie.
‘I’m sorry. I thought if your efforts to earn money here failed, you’d have to return more quickly to your old life, and Alex’s secret – whatever it was – would remain hidden.’ Chloe dabbed at her eyes. ‘The photo thing wasn’t planned, but everything I’d done so far to hamper you hadn’t worked, and I’d seen you at the walk. Both times you and Will talked, the chemistry was obvious. I grabbed the chance. Took those snaps of a few images to send to the paper. You had no clue.’
