A blazing-hot rage seared through him.
He knew who was to blame.
Alex stormed into the sun room, where his family and Richie were relaxing over the remains of a leisurely breakfast, his laptop gripped tightly in his hand and wielded like a weapon.
‘What the hell did you do?’ he shouted.
Liam and Savannah jumped.
‘Hey, what the hell is wrong with you!’ snapped Liam, jumping to his feet despite Savannah’s pleading hands.
‘Not you,’ growled Alex, his eyes fixed on the parasite that had been leeching off his family for years. ‘No one has access to my emails but you, Richie. My alerts were switched off. So I had no idea about your latestnarrativeuntil it was too late!’
Confused looks passed between his family, but Richie remained stony-faced and silent.
Alex passed the laptop to his father. ‘I guess he’s turned yours off too. Hoping you’d get the deal signed before the truth came out, right?’ He pointed to yet another script on the coffee table – this time with a stapled contract beside it. ‘Take a look. There’s half-naked photos of Ellie by the pool. No one else could have taken them but you. Always walking around with your phone. Fucking bloodsucking leech!’ He turned to Liam and Savannah, teeth gritted against his barely contained fury. ‘There are stories about Ellie ruining your wedding, deliberately ripping up Savannah’s bouquet. Ellie’s family own a florist – this will ruin them! And that’s nothing compared to all the other bullshit. Claiming she’s drugged and stalked me!’ He spun back to Richie. ‘What the fuck were you thinking?’
Richie rolled his eyes. ‘She served her purpose, and the press will soon move on, they always do. And don’t feel too bad for her.You paid her, remember? Nice little flat for pretending to date you, and she was more than happy to take the cheque I gave her. She even signed an NDA,’ he said, adjusting his cuffs calmly and rising to his feet. Shocked gasps rang around the room, but he shrugged. ‘What does it matter, yourrelationshipwas all a ruse anyway. We agreed a fake girlfriend would be a good distraction for you, and would help ease some of the awkwardness of this wedding.’
‘You weren’t really dating?’ asked his mother, pressing her hand to her chest.
Richie nodded. ‘Alex, it’s time you come back to LA and stop playing at this London theatre nonsense – it’ll never make any money for you, not like the franchise. Be grateful that I’ve gotten rid of that fat little hanger-on sooner rather than later. She was a joke from the start, wasn’t she? A weird choice to upset Liam and Savannah with, but a choice all the same.’
‘I knew it! As if someone like her would ever end up with Alex,’ cackled Holly, and Savannah smacked her in the arm.
Alex’s face was numb with shock, and then his heart began to pound with such overwhelming rage his clenched fists shook. He didn’t realise he was walking towards Richie until his brother’s arms held him back. ‘It was real to me!’ he yelled. ‘Have you any idea what you’ve done to her? People are calling her a stalker, accusing her of drugging and blackmailing me. She could lose her job and her family could lose their business – all because of your lies! I don’t care what you paid her, it’s not enough, she deserves better than this!’
‘It’s not just about you, Alex,’ snarled Richie, finally losing his temper and revealing the snake beneath the carefully tailored suit. ‘I have to look afterallof your careers. Liam’s popularity has taken a nosedive since the affair. And then they decided to marry, despite my advice to wait.’ He took a moment to glare at Savannah, whose eyes were wide with horror. ‘Ihadto ensurethere was damage control. You were meant to find a pretty little thing to take the heat off your brother. Not a charity case!’
Before he knew it, Alex had barged through his brother and his fist had flown. Richie’s face connected with his knuckles with a hard crack, and he was thrown back onto his chair, which tumbled backwards, sprawling Richie on the floor. It was the second time he’d hit someone, and this time it had been worth it.
His mom leapt up and his father rushed over to help hold him back. But it wasn’t needed; seeing the bloody nose and the snivelling wreck of a man he thought he’d trusted was enough.
‘How could you? Get out!’ shouted his mom.
Richie straightened his shirt with a jerk and sat up, patting his nose with one of his silk handkerchiefs. ‘That might be wise, Alex. Otherwise, you’ll be hearing from my lawyer. This family has put up with your nonsense long enough. Consider your contract with me terminated, and good luck with your little theatre career. You’re a joke in this industry.’
‘I meantyou, Richie!’ his mom snapped coldly – to both Richie and Alex’s surprise.
‘What?’ Richie struggled to his feet. Only Holly reached out to help him.
‘You have hurt both of my children and their partners with your lying and scheming. I want you out of my house. Consider your contract with Robert and me terminated, right, Robert?’
His dad nodded firmly, his arm wrapped around his mom. ‘Absolutely.’
‘And mine,’ snapped Liam, his jaw tight as he placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder.
‘And mine,’ added Savannah, she stood up and hugged Liam, leaning into his embrace. Alex wasn’t surprised to realise it didn’t hurt to see them together any more. He smiled at them, and they gave him an emotional nod of solidarity.
They were family after all.
‘Thirty years I’ve managed you, and this is how you repay me? You’ll never work in this industry ever again.Any of you,’ screamed a hysterical Richie as he stalked towards the door.
Holly was the only one not agreeing with them. ‘Richie, you’ll still put me forward for the franchise, won’t you?’
Savannah grabbed Holly’s arm as she tried to follow him, and forced her to stay put. ‘Don’t you dare! You think our mom would have approved of this?’
Holly lowered her eyes with shame. ‘I just want to be like you…’ she whimpered.
