Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of December 2, 2000
Jump to new as of February 8, 2001
Chapter 11: Power Posted on Friday, 27 October 2000
Moments after the first part of the read-through had ended Em found Olivier slouched down at the back of one of the Heatherleigh buildings. His eyes were closed and he was smoking heavily, already on his third cigarette.
She eyed him carefully, "I didn't know you smoked Ollie."
"I don't.", he replied.
She scoffed, "You're making a pretty good impression of it."
"What can I say?", he laughed bitterly. "I'm an actor."
Em's gaze softened a little and she sat down beside him, "You got one of those for me?"
He grinned and took out a cigarette and lit it from his own before handing it to her. "You could have told me, you know.
Em shrugged, "Told you what? That she was gorgeous, talented, overwhelmingly intelligent, a Greek myth, an Irish legend, a prime example of a great classical heroine...What?"
He laughed softly, "Something like that."
"You wouldn't have believed me."
"I was a real creep Em. The things I said...and then today in the car-park."
"Olivier I hate to break it to you and though it may shatter your image, Ella's not a saint. In fact she can be a class A bitch that could put Corrina to shame. She said some pretty rotten things about you too. However El's a pretty reasonable person, unlike you."
He raised his eyebrows, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well she forgives people. You know, her good opinion once lost is not lost forever.", Em replied slyly.
"Are you implying that I'm a proud, rude, arrogant..." He laughed.
She interrupted him and grinned impishly, "Pretty much, yeah."
Extinguishing the cigarette, Em got up and extended a hand to Olivier, "Come on, let's go back inside. I'm starving and I don't know about you but if I hang around those things much more I'll have to buy out the Nicorette store again."
The read-through continued without any extreme hitches or disasters except really for Corrina's broken nail if that could be called a disaster. The tension between the two leads was still quite evident though both of them seemed to have lost the urge to be scathing or maybe it was just that the mood of the script had changed. Afterwards, whilst everyone was congratulating each other, Em caught up with her friend.
"Hey Ella, do you mind if I take a rain-check on tonight?"
Ella eyed her curiously, "Why?"
"Last minute date."
"Great, my best-friend drops me for a guy. Absolutely typical." She frowned.
"It's okay Ella I can cancel."
Ella laughed, "Are you kidding? I was joking Em. You know to be honest I wasn't really in the mood for a bar-crawl tonight. I'm too tired. I think I'll just go home and conk out."
Em grinned, "Okay. Can you get a lift with your mom and Lucia."
"Eh no, they already left. I told them we were going out."
Em smiled, "Oh we'll detour past your house and drop you off."
Ella shook her head, "No honestly I'll get the bus. You go off and have a good night."
Olivier saw the small figure in the distance and recognised it immediately. Recognising this as his opportunity to make amends, he slowed his car to almost a complete standstill to match her pace and rolled down the window.
"Can I offer you a lift?"
Ella laughed, "You can offer, doesn't mean I'll take it."
"Listen I'm ...eh... sorry about earlier. I was really horrible."
"You were."
Olivier shifted uncomfortably, "You think we could start again?"
Ella shrugged, "If you want."
"Do you ever offer anything in conversations or is it just that I put you off taking?"
"You put me off life and society in general."
"Thanks for the vote of approval. Look, will you please let me give you a lift. I have to go to your house anyway and pick up your sister."
Realising that refusing was petty and pretty childish Ella gave up and got in the car. They sat in silence as Olivier pulled the car out of the Lot.
"I'm famished", he said casually. "You want to grab a bit to eat?"
Ella rolled her eyes, "I said I'd take a lift with you Mr. Darcy. I don't recollect anything about eating with you."
"You know you can call me Olivier Ella." he chuckled.
"And you can call me Miss Benay." she replied cheekily, doing her best to keep him at arms length.
Olivier sighed irritably, "Fine so forget dinner. I'll just drop you home."
Ella couldn't help but feel she had been a little hard on him and offered, "There's a little Greek place on my corner if you want. Mind you, only on the condition that I pay my way."
Though she didn't look at him, she could tell he was grinning. "You drive a hard bargain Miss Benay", he said.
"I guess you can call me Ella. For now."
"You come here a lot then?" he asked as they sat down at a table by the window in Zorba's Tavern.
"Are you kidding? This place is my away from home. They have the most incredible Gyros here and their baklava has to be tasted to be believed."
Olivier laughed, "You sound as though you know what you're talking about."
Ella nodded, her eyes shining, "My Grandmother is Greek. I practically grew up there."
Her childlike enthusiasm entranced him and he couldn't help but stare at her.
"So how did you enjoy today?"
"My favourite part... hmm. It's a hard push between the mud and you." she said sarcastically, still not quite able to be friendly.
"Thank you Ella. I see it's going to be difficult to keep this civil."
Ella shrugged, "Where's the fun in that. My turn. How does your fiancée feel about you going out to dinner with me?" Ella knew almost as soon as she had said it that she shouldn't have. The question seemed to upset him and make him uncomfortable.
"How did you know she was my fiancée?"
She tossed her head and answered nonchalantly, "I hear things."
"Sounds like you have a penchant for tabloid magazines."
She sniggered, "Don't need one. I've got your cousin."
Olivier shivered, he'd forgotten about her and Richard. He eyed her, "How does your fiancé feel about you going out to dinner with me?"
"Who told you I was engaged?"
"I hear things."
Ella shifted uneasily, "Maybe you need your hearing checked."
"I highly doubt it. My sources were pretty reliable."
"Perhaps you should have better sources than Gossip Columnists."
"I do. I have your fiancé."
He stared at her, challenging her. Just as she had found his weak spot, he had found hers. He had found the one thing that could upset her to the very core. Olivier felt dizzy from the power trip, somewhere all thought of making amends has disappeared. Now being the one with power was all that mattered.
Chapter 12: High Flyers Posted on Thursday, 2 November 2000
A few days later Ella stood in her bedroom packing with her mother.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? By yourself?", Fran asked concerned.
Ella laughed, "Yes mom. I'm almost twenty years old and I have been on a plane before."
"There's no need to be smart Ellie, I just don't like you over there alone, without anyone."
Ella would be flying to England the following day by herself. Her mother and the rest of her family would follow on a few days after, when Fran had wrapped up her latest movie.
Ella shook her head, "I won't be "alone". Em will be over on Tuesday. Anyway it's not like I have much of a choice. Rehearsals start on Wednesday and I have to be there."
Fran tutted, "It's not like you'll see much of Em anyway and I can't understand why you won't stay in the hotel with us."
Ella sighed and threw in a blue sweater into the suitcase, "Mom we were over this before. There is no way I'm living for over five months in a hotel. I much rather letting an apartment and Jenna's going to come over and stay in a while anyway. I'll be fine. And don't blame Em, it's not her fault Olivier didn't extend the invitation to us.", she finished with a smirk.
"It's not like he didn't have the room.", Fran muttered. "Really Ella it was an obvious slight. He invites everyone, the Darcy's, the Bentley's, Emmeline, even your Aunt and Uncle and all the other people barely connected to the project to stay at Heatherleigh for the duration of the filming and then ignores us."
Ella raised her eyebrows at her mothers over-exaggerating, "Why should we care? We don't need to beg him for charity. And in any case I would rather not stay at Heatherleigh. Working with man will be difficult enough. Living with him would just be plain dangerous."
Fran chuckled and tousled her second daughter's hair, "Say that now but it'll all be nothing once you see that house."
Ella rolled her eyes, "Ugh if I hear one more thing about the great Heatherleigh estate I'll scream. Between you and Em I could tell you what colour wallpaper each of the guestrooms has."
Fran shrugged, "Anyway you'll see it soon enough. You'll be filming there. The Colonel's going to use it as Pemberley."
"Ugh", Ella groaned as she lay back on her bed. "Another asset for Olivier to boast about. My wonderful car, my wonderful clothes, my wonderful Oscars, my wonderful girlfriend. And now... my wonderful Pemberley or Heatherleigh or whatever he's calling it now.", she mimicked. "I swear I hate that man."
The following Monday found Ella in the airport waiting for her flight to begin boarding. She had already said goodbye to her family that morning and left for the airport alone to avoid irritating scenes with her mother.
Ella looked up from her magazine when she heard an announcement being made, "Flight JA16121775 to London-Heathrow is now boarding. Would all First Class passengers please make there way to Gate C."
Ella threw her magazine into her bag and headed for the departure gate.
Walking up the isle of the plane she located her seat and her eyes widened in horror when she saw who was sitting next to her.
"Wonderful.", she spat aloud. "I should have known."
Olivier looked up when he heard her voice; the surprise was evident on his face. "Ella", he said simply.
Ella flung herself down in her seat, "That's the last time I ever entrust Richie with doing anything so simple as booking a plane ticket.", she snapped.
"Well you know what they say.", he laughed sarcastically. "When a job needs doing, don't ask your lover."
"Curious question "Liv", explain to me how, in the two conversations we've ever had, you've always brought Richie into it. If one didn't know better, one might think it was your jealous streak rearing it's ugly head for whatever reason."
Olivier sniggered, "And if one didn't know better, one might think you wish it was my jealous streak. In any case Ella I'm just not nepotism's greatest fan."
"I'm not even going to justify that with an answer.", Ella replied wearily as she took her laptop out and booted it up.
"Ella your not allowed to use a laptop while the plane's taking off."
Ella continued to type, "Too true but the plane's not taking off for fifteen minutes. And for those fifteen minutes I can continue taking great pleasure from ignoring the hell out of you."
Olivier rose his eyebrows but didn't reply.
Their war of words continued throughout the flight and even the air stewards found enjoyment in Ella and Olivier's sparring. For the first half of the flight Ella had ignored him rigidly but not one to usually be so unsociable she soon found the silence very uncomfortable and relented a little.
"Liv, why isn't Georgia coming with you? I would have thought you'd travel together."
Olivier looked up and noted with chagrin and a small degree of amusement that Ella already had a nickname for him, something she was renowned for. "Well you thought wrongly El."
"Is she flying over with Richie and Em?"
"Yes."
Ella rolled her eyes, "Jeez, getting conversation from you is like getting blood from a stone."
Olivier smiled simply and misquoted, "I keep my breath to cool my porridge." He promptly returned to reading his book.
Trying a different tact Ella asked, "What are you reading?"
"A Room With A View."
Ella grinned, "A Room With A View. How predictable, I figured you were the sort of person who liked to draw parallels between yourself and a character you're reading about. I suppose right now your thinking, "Oh poor Cecil. How much Lucy misjudged him." Or perhaps you feel you have more in common with Charlotte; snobby, self-obsessed busybody."
Olivier flinched a little at her blatant insult and asked, "What are you reading at the moment?"
"The Queen's Confession. Victoria Holt."
Olivier laughed, "I suppose you see yourself as a Marie-Antoinette, compassionless child-bride with a thing for frilly dresses."
Ella smiled lightly at him, "Yeah and with you as my Louis; spineless and impotent."
Olivier was prevented from replying as the steward interrupted with their meal.
Olivier watched her as she ate and he had to admit she was good. Strong, fiery, beautiful and well able not to let him walk over her. Her would not be sorry to be able to know her better, provided he could stop insulting her for five minutes.
Unbeknownst to Olivier Ella's thoughts were of him. She hated the fact that once she was near him; her blood started to boil. She couldn't help it. In a strange sort of way she had grown to like him. His droll sense of humour suited her sarcasm and she couldn't deny he was a very attractive man, tall, dark, and handsome. She cringed at the thought of falling for a stereotype. They were the type of people who could either become the best of friends, or the worst of enemies. Unfortunately it seemed they were headed for the latter.
Chapter 13 ~ Truth or Dare?
"Christ Liv, don't you know the difference between your left foot and your right?"
"Oh yeah, your standing on my right one."
"Well if you moved your foot out of my way I wouldn't have to stand on it."
"You know El, when talents were being distributed in your family someone went all out when giving Katerina her dancing that they forgot to save a normal amount of rhythm and grace for you"
"Are you implying I can't dance?"
"Honey you couldn't even slow dance if someone moved your legs for you."
"Bite me Darcy."
Joely Stevens rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration. "Fine, just do it once more and then we'll call it a day. Just be thankful Olivier that you only have one dance in this bloody thing. God knows I am."
Ella smirked at him, "Don't worry Olivier if you can't quite cut it, I'm sure Richie can ask J.J Wicks to stand in as a body double for the dance scenes."
Ella watched with amusement as he tensed up.
"What the hell would you know about J.J Wicks?", he snapped.
Ella laughed lightly, "Only that he's walking around London at the moment sporting a very fashionable broken nose. Rumour has it that his girlfriend's big brother decked him."
"It was slightly more complex than that Ella."
Ella sniggered, "Sure. Just a little more complex than the big brother discovering that his seventeen year old sister is in a better relationship than he is."
Olivier replied snappily as they took their places. "I'm her custodial guardian Ella and anyway it's none of your business."
"Too true. It is none of my business."
Olivier looked at her strangely as the music began again. He was kind of intrigued that she'd given up so easily. He'd expected her to be a little nosy, like any other woman when it came to gossip.
Ella read his thoughts, "You're surprised that I'm not interested in your little power play with J.J."
"I was under the impression that you were one of those people interested in everything.", he replied haughtily.
Ella smirked, "Ouch. No I'm really only interested in things I care about. While I care deeply about Georgia I sense that this has more to do with some bad blood between you and J.J. And right now I couldn't care less about either of you."
Olivier was about to reply when Joely's voice cut through the air, "Shut the hell up and concentrate. Is it any wonder neither of you can dance if you're going to spend the whole time chattering."
They had never really planned to end up having a pyjama party on Ella's living room; it'd just kind of happened that way. Jenna had flown in that morning for a photoshoot and the plan had been that she would meet Ella and Emmeline in the local for drinks. How exactly they all ended up on the floor with Katerina, Georgia and Corrina was something of a mystery. Corrina had curtailed Emmeline as she was leaving Heatherleigh and invited herself along and Georgia and Katerina in an effort to avoid both Corrina and Lucia had decided to take refuge in Ella's apartment.
They were all sprawled out in Ella's living room, Kat and Georgia flicking mindlessly through the television channels and Corrina rabbiting away to Jenna who was studiously ignoring her.
"You know Ella", Em called from her position on the couch. "It's common courtesy that when one has friends over one feeds them."
Ella rolled her eyes and stuck her head around the kitchen door, "That's very difficult when one doesn't know what friends want."
"I think one will find that friends would be very appreciative of Chinese takeaway."
Ella sniggered and walked into the living room. "Okay what do people want?" , she asked as she dialled the telephone.
"Georgia and I will have sweet and sour with fried rice, spring rolls and barbecue ribs. Oh and prawn crackers."
Ella rolled her eyes, "Anything else? Jenna?"
"Um Chicken Noodles."
Ella nodded, "Em you want the usual?"
"Yup. Corrina what'll it be?
"I think I'll have the crispy fried duck."
Ella sniggered and asked flatly, "You want orange sauce on that?"
This elicited a snort from Em and pretty soon the whole room was in convulsions, Corrina remaining oblivious.
After the Chinese food had been eaten and well walked into the carpet and Em had got sufficiently drunk she waved around an empty wine bottle, "Okay girlies Spin the Bottle?"
This was met with a chorus of groans but they went unnoticed. Em spun the bottle and it stopped, pointing to Georgia. "Ah hah Georgia! Truth or Dare?"
"Truth."
Em grinned, "Gutsy girl. If the only two men left on this earth were Chess and the Colonel, who would you kiss?"
Georgia looked appalled, "Ugh Em that's sick. Richard's my cousin!"
Em shrugged, "So? It's not illegal."
Georgia shuddered, "It's incestuous but honestly Em I think I'd rather die that kiss either of them. I mean kissing Chess would be like kissing my brother."
Em nodded in approval, "True.I've kissed your brother and I wouldn't recommend it."
They all laughed and Corrina glared at Em, "Maybe it wasn't him that was the bad kisser."
Ella smirked at Em who grinned, "Hey I never said he was a bad kisser. We just weren't very compatible. Your Mr Darcy is an excellent kisser."
Ella watched in amusement as Corrina went a deep shade of jealous green. "Em, lay off a bit would ya?", she reprimanded gently.
"What? What's a little kissing among friends?"
Georgia laughed and quickly spun the bottle again. She smirked, "Ella what's it going to be? Truth or Dare?"
"Dare, I suppose"
Georgia raised her eyebrows. "Dare? Really? Brave girl! Hmm what'll it be?"
Em shrieked, "Ooh Georgia I have one."
Ella watched with growing nervousness as Em crawled over to Georgia and whispered in her eye, causing the younger girl to burst out laughing.
"Okay Ella. I dare you to call my brother."
Ella rolled her eyes, "Call your brother? Oh yeah and what am I going to say to him?"
Georgia piped up, "You're going to tell him you have a crush on him."
Corrina yelped in protest but it went unnoticed. Ella shook her head vehemently, "No. No way."
Jenna laughed, "You did say Dare honey."
"Aah come on Ella.", Em asked. "Don't you want to play with his head?"
Ella considered this a moment. "Okay fine but first you had better give me another glass of wine."
Em filled up her glass, "Okay his number is-"
"Em I know what his number is. If you remember you're staying there."
"True." She replied handing Ella the phone, "Well get dialling and put it on speaker."
"I can't believe I'm letting you make me do this." Ella keyed in the number and after a few short rings the house keeper answered.
"Hello. Heatherleigh. Can I help you?"
"Um yeah could I speak to Olivier Darcy please?"
"What's your name?"
"Ella Benay."
"Hold on a moment please."
Ella glared at the girls clustered together in her living room. A few moments later Olivier picked up.
"Ella?"
"Uh yeah. Hi."
"What can I do for you?"
Ella ginned and already getting into the joke drawled, "You could do a lot of things actually."
Em sniggered and Ella tensed for a moment afraid Olivier had heard her.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. See I was kinda thinking about you today."
"Were you?"
"Kinda."
"What were you thinking?"
Ella grinned, going in for the kill, "I was kinda thinking about how I find you so attractive."
Olivier almost choked in shock, "What?"
"Ever since that day at the read-through I've had the biggest crush on you. ", she giggled. "I mean I know you probably think it's just a phase but when we were dancing today, God Liv, when we were dancing today and you touched me I thought I was going to faint."
By this time the girls were holding their sides from laughing so hard though Corrina's face still had a stony expression.
Ella could hear Olivier's deep-throated chuckle on the other end of the line. "Ella you're drunk."
"No, no I'm not.", she protested. "I've only had a couple of glasses of wine."
There was no reply from him and she asked, "Are you still there?"
"Yes Ellie I'm still here." Ella ignored the shiver that went up her spine when he called her Ellie.
"So you know we're going to be spending a lot of time together now. Do you think there is any possibility that you would ever consider going out to dinner with me?"
"Ella honey you and I both know that that could be a very distinct possibility", he replied and added gently, "but how about we wait until you've sobered up a bit before we make any definite arrangements."
Ella had to remind herself to breathe. This had suddenly got a whole lot more serious than she had imagined. Was Olivier actually admitting to finding her attractive? Ella couldn't fight this horrible guilty feeling that was beginning to form in her stomach for leading him one.
"Okay, I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow. I better go now.", she said softly and her friends, noticing the change in her voice, immediately stopped laughing.
"Bye Ellie, see you tomorrow."
"Bye.", she breathed softly as she hung up. No one moved for a few moments. Each person had there eyes focused solely on Ella. All of a sudden they heard a rustling in the corner and they looked over to see Corrina putting on her coat. Sniffling back tears she said, "I'm going to go home. I can't believe he would do this to me...I hate-"
Ella cut her off, "Corrina it didn't man anything. I'm sure he knew it was a joke. He couldn't have not know, I mean they", she said gesturing to the girls, "couldn't shut up. Corrina he loves you. He wouldn't go behind your back like that."
Ella almost felt the urge to cross her fingers behind her back and Corrina shrugged, "I guess so. I'm going to go home though. I think I need to talk to him."
Ella nodded and walked her to the door. The door was scarcely closed behind her when Georgia, Kat and Em began to burst out laughing.
"It's not funny." ,Ella reprimanded them harshly.
"Oh but it is.", Em laughed. "I can't believe that in one phone call you managed to do what I've been trying to do for months."
Ella tried to remain annoyed but they could all see how her eyes began to shine with mirth. Pretty soon she was laughing on the floor with the rest of them.
"Oh God", she groaned. "I'm going to have to talk to him tomorrow. What am I going to say?"
Em giggled, "You could always tell him you thought he was Richard. I'm sure he'd love that!"
After a while things had settled down and they returned to Truth or Dare, though without have the enthusiasm of the last time.
"Georgia.", Ella asked. "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth."
"What the hell happened between Olivier and J.J?"
Georgia laughed, "I really wish I knew though I've been banned from ever leaving the house again."
"Did Olivier catch you and J.J. doing something you shouldn't have?"
Georgia grinned, "Ella, we both know that J.J. couldn't do something he shouldn't if his life depended on it."
Jenna stifled a giggle, "What happened?"
Georgia shrugged, "I think my brother and Richard overheard J.J bragging to some of his friends about me and him and Olivier lost his reason and beat the hell out of him. I'm surprised J.J isn't going to sue."
Jenna looked at Georgia curiously, "But surely Olivier knows that J.J's-"
"Gay?", Georgia asked. "Nope. I think Richard tried to tell Olivier that J.J's bragging cause he's too embarrassed about it but Olivier would listen and went ahead and broke J.J's nose."
Em shook her head, "No. This whole J.J - Olivier thing has been going on for years. I don't know what it's about but you know Olivier and his grudges. I can't believe Richard actually cast him in Pride and Prejudice. What was he thinking?"
Georgia nodded in agreement, "Once they get on set, heads are gonna role."
Ella smirked, "Yeah, hopefully into each other."
Chapter 14 ~ One Too Many
Ella squinted as she surveyed the set from behind her sunglasses. The consequences of the previous night's escapades were killing her. Her head felt as if it was about to explode and her body was tense, expecting Olivier to show up at any moment. What had seemed like fun under the influence of a bit of alcohol now made Ella cringe in embarrassment. She had actually told him that she had a crush on him. Ugh!
Feeling like hell wasn't aided by the fact that today was the first cast rehearsal. Richie had decided to run rehearsals of all the big scenes, namely the dances that use the most people, for the week before filming started proper. And today of all days was the Netherfield Ball. It couldn't have been the Meryton Assembly or one of those little gatherings at Lucas Lodge, no it had to be a scene where she would actually have to talk to him!
Suddenly from behind Ella felt herself been lifted into a bear hug. She knew who it was the moment he had touched her and she didn't bother trying to suppress a groan.
"Ella you look awful .", Richard told her chirpily. "I heard what happened last night. Brilliant! I wish I'd been there."
Ella bit back the overwhelming desire to stick her tongue out at him, "Go away Richard."
"That's the attitude I love to see sweetie.", he said, kissing her on the nose. "Go inside and get a cup of coffee Ella, I want you and Olivier rehearsing that dance in ten minutes. Joely wasn't exactly singing your praises."
"I'll bet she wasn't.", Ella muttered, heading to her trailer.
Olivier speeded into the car park, the brakes of his silver Mercedes screeching as he came to a sudden halt, almost knocking down Richard in the process.
"Well, well, well", Richard chortled as Olivier slammed the car door shut. "Someone's in a bad mood today."
"What?", Olivier snapped, not fully listening.
Richard shrugged, "You always drive like a maniac when you're in a bad mood. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed his morning? Or rather the wrong bed altogether." He laughed at his own witticism.
Olivier sighed as he headed in the direction of his trailer, "What are you talking about Richard?"
"I know what happened last night. Well actually I heard what happened last night. How many pieces of your mother's Lladro collection bit the dust at Corrina's hands?"
Olivier rubbed his forehead, "I really don't want to talk about it."
"You and Ella both."
Richard watched as Olivier's body jerked at the mention of her name. "Ella? What did she say?"
"Nothing much. Called me by my full name which is never a good sign but she wasn't very talkative if you get my drift."
Olivier groaned, "I am never going to live this down. She's going to kill me."
"Yup. Well I'll shorten your pain as much as possible. Rehearsal begins in five."
Ella sat on the steps of her trailer, seemingly reading though all the while watching each car that entered the car park to see if it was his. All this morning he had been uppermost in her mind. His confession the night previous had startled her. Though not unused to having men find her attractive, this was very different. It was, though she hated to admit it to herself, mutual. Fine, there, she had said it. She had a crush on Olivier Darcy. In fact she had since she her early teens. He was her first teen crush, the first (and only) "teenage heartthrob" that had ever adorned her bedroom wall. She vaguely remembered, at the age of twelve, telling Jenna that when she older she was going to marry him. And here she was seven years later after conning him in to admitting he had feelings for her. Something about this whole situation left a bad taste in her mouth.
The screech of brakes interrupted Ella's reverie as she looked up to see Olivier tear through the gates in one of his obscenely expensive cars. She watched as he climbed out of his car saying something to Richie that she couldn't quite hear. She couldn't help but catch her breath at the sight of him.. He was wearing black jeans that seemed plastered to his body, a loose black woollen v-neck jumper with the collar of a black tee-shirt peeping out from underneath and brown leather boots. With his curly brown hair tousled from the wind he looked every inch "The World's Sexiest Man" that he was and she hated him for it.
She couldn't bear to meet his gaze as they both stood awaiting the Colonel's instructions. Ella knew he was watching her but her eyes remained firmly focused on the floor.
"Okay", Richard shouted amidst the noise. "Dancers for the Maggoty thing can you please take your places. Ella and Olivier no lines, just a quick run through of the dance okay?"
Ella and Olivier both nodded and took their places amongst the throng of people. The music began and they both started to dance the familiar steps. For almost the first half of the dance neither spoke until finally Olivier gave in, "Ella, come on, we have to talk about this."
She sighed as she moved away from him, "Do you always find a need to dissect things best left forgotten or is this just a special case?
"I just think it would be better to talk about this and clear it up before it becomes a big issue between us."
Ella could hardly suppress a harsh laugh, "Will talking about it make you feel better or do reckon it'll help me sleep at night?"
He smirked, eyeing the dark circles under her eyes, "Both, I should imagine."
She glared at him but was stopped from replying when the Colonel interrupted, "For heaven's sake Ella, look where you're going. Olivier look in front of you and not behind you okay?"
"Look Olivier, I'll speak plainly. We are each of a private disposition that would be horribly embarrassed if what happened last night became well known outside the circle of those involved. I think it's best that we leave it be."
He replied bitterly, "Yeah I suppose the population at large knowing that Ella can't hold more that two glasses of wine before she starts saying stuff she shouldn't would be pretty embarrassing."
Ella rolled her eyes in frustration, "So this is the thanks I get. I'm just trying to help."
Olivier sniggered, "Oh sorry I didn't realise you were trying to help. I suppose last night was all about trying to help too. Well Thank You."
Ella closed her eyes for a moment, "Olivier I'm sorry. I admit that I had too much too drink, otherwise I wouldn't have made that phone-call. I'm sorry I caused so much grief between you and Corrina.". She paused before adding, "Mind you, I think you had more too do with that than I did. I admit that I did a really stupid thing but c'mon Olivier? You were the sober one, you were the one in a serious relationship, you were the one that should have been thinking about the consequences of admitting you were attracted to me."
He flinched at her words but when he replied his voice carried a different tone. "I really don't know why I said those things. I suppose everything just got one top of me and I-, I mean things with Cora and I haven't been going right for a while and-"
"Hey", she cut him off gently. "It's not me you should be telling this too, it's Corrina. She's the one that got hurt. You need to talk to her."
He smiled sheepishly, "I would if she would listen and stop throwing things for a little bit."
Ella laughed a little, "Last night was pretty brutal, huh?"
He sighed, "You have no idea Ellie. My little sister was there last night, wasn't she?"
"Yup", Ella grinned and he groaned. "Actually she was the one that dared me."
He looked at her in surprise, "Georgia?"
"Well it was Em's idea.", she conceded.
"Figures."
Towards the end of the day the Colonel called a meeting of the cast and crew.
"Okay first of all I know you all got your filming schedules but I just want to make you aware of some alterations. Though the first week of filming was supposed to be all the "Meryton scenes" we've had too postpone this due to Mr Wicks not been available to film... Yes thank you Olivier." A few chuckles went around the room and Olivier glared at his cousin as he continued, "Take it that when we begin filming next week it'll be the scenes scheduled for the following week which is "The Meryton Assembly". There are some forecasts of snow in the near future and if it does snow we are going to try and slot in "The Wedding" scene, obviously because it'll be easier and cheaper to shoot with real snow, so if you can just all be aware of that please. As for today", He paused again for maximum effect, his voice become much harsher. " I never want to see such shoddy work from the lot of you again. Just because we're not filming doesn't mean that's excusable for you to all mumble you're half-learnt lines. The whole reason for rehearsals is too make your jobs a whole lot easier, so tomorrow if we could all be prepared please? Finally Ella and Olivier that dancing needs work. I don't know how your going to pull off dancing and lines at the same time so you had better take a recording of the music and go and practise together."
Ella couldn't miss the glare that Corrina sent her way at the Colonel's final order. At last, thought Ella, today was finally over and she could go home and escape Corrina's wrath. Saying goodbye to people and grabbing her stuff from her trailer, she headed home thankful to be out of that inferno for the evening and thanking her lucky stars that Olivier hadn't extended his invitation to her to stay at Heatherleigh.
Corrina watched unimpressed as Olivier paced up and down the room.
"Corrina we have to talk?", he said hurriedly.
She shrugged, though struggling to keep the edge out of her voice, "Go on, I'm listening."
He rubbed his hands together nervously, "I know that I hurt you. I know that I shouldn't have said those things, I don't even know why I did... Look I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I love you. I don't want to be with anyone else."
Corrina interrupted him, shaking her head, "No. You, you don't get it, do you? This isn't like you had an affair or something where you can come away and say "I'm sorry. I realised that I'm in love with you now." All you did was admit to Ella that you were attracted to her, granted you didn't know I was listening but... I can't stop you thinking about her Olivier. I can't stop you finding her attractive and if I can't do that how can I trust you? How can I trust that you're not thinking of her when you're with me, that you don't wish I were her."
"Corrina I love you, it was a mistake."
"No. Stop saying that you love me like you think it will make everything better again. When you said you were attracted to her you hinted that you would be willing to take the relationship further. How can I trust you knowing that? That you would willingly go behind by back?"
"It's not like that..."
"Look Olivier, I've known you all your life. We played together as children. And I know you're a playboy. And I was stupid enough to think I could change you. I mean none of your steady girlfriends could change you, Em couldn't. Why should I be any different? Obviously we both want different things. I want to get married, settle down, start a family maybe. You on the other hand are just like Richard, fast cars, big houses, and the whole showbiz lifestyle. I'm in love with you but I don't think, well right now at least, that we're right for each other."
"Corrina it's not like that. I love you. You've said you still love me. Why can't we make a go of it?"
"I just don't think I can trust you anymore."
Chapter 15: First Aid
Posted on Wednesday, 7 February 2001
The tension was thick in the private sitting room in the Heatherleigh mansion. The only sounds that could be heard were the odd rustling of newspapers and Georgia's incessant playing of Chopsticks on the piano in the corner. By the fifth time around Olivier had had enough, "For heaven's sake Georgia would you stop that."
Georgia jumped at the tone in his voice and immediately stopped playing. Olivier returned his attention to the script in his hands, from which he was trying to learn off his lines. However he had been reading the same page for the past thirty minutes, he just couldn't seem to concentrate. His mind was in turmoil. He kept reliving the events of the past twenty-four hours over and over in his mind, from Ella's phone call to the confrontation with Corrina this evening. It was like a bad dream that he couldn't wake up from. The past day played over and over in his head in a series of slide shots, first Ella's flirtatious giggles that could bring any man to his knees, then that haunted look on Corrina's face that he hated when she had come home last evening.
Olivier knew that he needed to patch things up with Corrina. Right now the Ella situation was inconsequential. Ever since their last confrontation, Corrina had confined herself to her room, obviously in an effort to avoid embarrassing and awkward moments between them. Even though she had been definite that they should end the relationship Olivier knew she was undecided. From the tone of her voice when she spoke he got the impression that it would be possible to talk her around, to get her to give him another chance. The thought of being without her was unfathomable to him. For over a year they had been dating and before that Olivier couldn't remember a time from his first acquaintance with Corrina that she hadn't been glued to his hip. Perhaps he hadn't always loved her but over time feelings of fondness had grown into love. His flirtations with Ella were nothing, he knew. It was Corrina that provided the stability and balance in his life.
Sprawled across her bed Ella couldn't help but relive the past couple of day's events. They wouldn't seem to go away. Though she knew it wasn't her fault, she couldn't squash the guilty feeling that was rising up inside her and threatening to overcome her. Add to that the fact that she had finally admitted to herself that her crush on Oliver was back in full force though she wasn't really sure it had ever gone away. On more than one occasion that evening she had picked up the phone, on the pretence of arranging a possible time to rehearse, and begun to dial his number, stopping herself by the time she got to the fourth digit. She tossed and turned a couple of times, trying to fall asleep. It was hopeless and finally on hearing Jenna's key in the lock she relinquished and got up and headed for the kitchen.
Ella smirked as she watched Jenna float in through the hall. "I'm assuming the date went well then?"
Jenna blushed, "It was nice."
Ella laughed to herself at Jenna's description but didn't bother to tease her and instead jumped straight to the point. "Did he kiss you?"
Jenna looked up surprised as if she wasn't prepared for Ella's inevitable question, "Ella!"
"What? Did he?...Ooh he did, didn't he? You're blushing."
Jenna didn't reply and Ella continued, "When Em first said that you and Chess would be perfect for each other I thought it was just another of her crazy matchmaking schemes that makes no sense. Now, however, I think I'm beginning to see her point."
Jenna laughed, "El, it was just dinner, nothing more."
"Dinner that will lead to something else."
" How was today? I'm guessing from your appearance it was pretty rough.", Jenna asked pointedly referring to the baggy tracksuit bottoms, old string top and the ruffled hair that made it look like Ella had already had a nights sleep, never mind the fact that it was only ten-thirty.
Ella groaned, "I don't want to talk about it.... Ugh I can't believe I was so stupid. I mean, whatever my feelings are toward either of them, I never meant to break them up."
Jenna smiled and replied flatly, "You didn't."
"What? I thought Georgia said - "
"That it was all off? Yeah it was. But Chess said that they've decided to give it another shot. They've set a date for the wedding."
The surprise or rather shock on Ella's face was evident and Jenna continued. "The 20th of March next year. Corrina wants a big wedding and Olivier reckons it'll give them time to work out their problems."
Ella nodded and somewhat half-heartedly replied, "Good for them. Listen I kind of tired, I've had a long day. I'm going to go to bed okay?"
With that Ella walked out leaving her sister staring after her in confusion.
Without knowing exactly what she was doing Ella stormed into her room and in a fit of something not unlike anger punched in the Heatherleigh number. What exactly she was going to say to him she wasn't sure. Her mind was in confusion.
She knew the moment the voice on the other end said hello that it was Corrina. Her voice caused reality to come rushing back to Ella and suddenly stuck for something to say she heard herself ask "Hiya Corrina Is Olivier there?".
"Yes", was the only reply she received.
"Well could I speak to him please?"
"It depends."
Ella rolled her eyes, "On what?"
On how many drinks you've had tonight and what you're going to tell him."
Ella couldn't resist the indignant remark that sprang to her lips, "Oh grow up Corrina. Last night was just a dare. You know that, you were there."
Corrina sneered, "I'm sure that's all it was for you."
"It was a joke. I'm sorry. God, how many times do I have to apologise?"
Corrina commented sarcastically, "If it was just a joke then you'll be pleased to know we're getting married."
"So I heard. Congratulations. March 20th right?"
"Yes but don't hold out for an invitation."
"Oh dear my hearts broken. Listen, would you just put Olivier on."
For a few seconds all Ella could hear was Corrina's even breathing and then a click, signalling she had been transferred to another phone.
Olivier picked up, "Hello."
"Hi, it's Ella."
"Oh...right...hi."
Ella smiled at his poorly hidden awkwardness.
"Don't worry I'm not going to proposition you again."
Olivier laughed nervously, "I wasn't worried. How are you?"
"Gnawed a little by your girlfriend but other than that I'm still in one piece."
"Sorry about that. She not exactly Little Miss Nice this evening."
"Jeez, you don't say! Anyway I'm a bit worried about these dance scenes and I was wondering if we could arrange some time to rehearse."
"Yeah sure, that would be great. You're free tomorrow morning right? Richard doesn't need you at rehearsals?"
"Nope I'm all yours." Ella felt herself blush and the unintentional double entendre and imagined he was probably doing the same.
"I'll see you on set about eight then? We can use one of the empty rehearsal rooms."
"Okay, that's great then. I'll see you tomorrow. Give my love to Georgia."
"I will. Goodnight."
© 2000, 2001 Copyright held by the author.