Make Believe (9 page)

  “Jessica, Simon’s gone and won’t be back for a while. I’m all ears so please tell me what’s happened.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him, making me feel safe.

I feel too exhausted to lie, so I tell him the truth but without saying any names.

“So did he hurt you anywhere else?” Elliott asks.

I nod, feeling the tears welling up again.

“Yes, he touched me down there.” I point to my crotch, sobbing.

“With what, Jessica?” The horror in his voice scares me.

“His hands, but before he could do anymore I managed to escape,” I sob.

“Yes, with thanks to Hudson.”

I feel the anger building within. No, how dare he be the hero. I want to scream, it’s because of fucking Hudson!

“I think we should call the police, Jess. Let them catch the asshole that’s done this.”

“No, no, I don’t want the police involved. Please, no,” I sob.

The thought of having to talk about it all again, this time with people prodding and poking me…I seriously don’t think I could take it.

“Hush, baby.  How about we just get you checked out by a doctor then?” He kisses my forehead.

“OK, maybe,” I whisper.

“I just want to have a shower. I need to feel clean, if that’s OK?” I want to wash any trace of that man off me.

I stand in the shower in this magnificent bathroom. As the jet of water caresses my body, I try and scrub it with the soap to wipe any trace of that man. But I can’t dispel him from my mind. I lean back against the tiles and sink to the floor. The tears stream down my cheeks and I feel so numb.  Elliott knocks on the door and asks if he can come in. I can’t answer him because of my sobbing. He pushes the door open and calmly comes in. He collects a towel as he walks over to the shower. He opens the door and switches off the shower. He bends down towards me, placing one hand under my legs and the other under my arms and sweeps me up into him, putting the towel around me as he does it. He’s soaked through but doesn’t seem to care. I sink into his arms weeping. He gently kisses my forehead and carries me into the bedroom.  “Hush, hush baby. I’m here, you’re safe now.”

The morning sunlight shines through the blinds in the bedroom. The room is flooded with it. I pull the duvet up towards my shoulders and turn on my side.  Oh my head hurts – was it the champagne or…the realization of what’s happened to me. Just for a split second everything seemed fine. 

Knock, Knock.

“Come in,” my voice is husky.

“Hey beautiful, how are you feeling today?” Elliott’s standing there with a tray of breakfast for me.

“Oh, you know, sore.” I manage to raise a smile.

“Here, eat before it gets cold.”

“You cooked this?” I ask enquiringly.

“Yes, of course I did - you see I’m not just all  beauty but brains too….No not really, Simon did.” He smiles his beautiful smile.

I take the first mouthful.

“I’ve booked you an appointment with my doctor for 10:00a.m. I’ve also cleared it with the studio. I told them you weren’t feeling well.”

All of a sudden I don’t feel very hungry. The thought of being examined makes my stomach churn.

“Come on, Jess, try and eat some more for me, baby. Please.”

“Where do I have to go and see the doctor?” I can’t keep the emotion out of my voice.

“It’s at her private practice. Don’t worry Jess, I’ll be there. I have no intention of letting you deal with this on your own.” He brushes the hair off my face around to my ear.

Damn, you have to pay to see a doctor over here. I don’t think my insurance will cover it as I’m not going to the police.

“How much do doctor’s appointments cost here?”

“Hey, you don’t have to worry about that, I’ve covered it. I don’t want you to have to worry about anything.”

“No Elliott, you don’t have to. I can pay my way,”  I plead. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone.

“Shh Jess, let me help you please, it’s the least I can do for you. If I hadn’t insisted on you coming to the drinks then none of this would have happened. I will never forgive myself for that. Thank God Hudson was there!”

There’s that fucking asshole’s name again.

“Elliott, please don’t feel guilty. It’s not your fault, honestly. You don’t have to pay.”

“It’s too late, I already have done so,” he smirks his cheeky smile.

We arrive at the doctor’s ten minutes early. It’s so private, he was right.  Her practice is at her house which is locked behind huge wrought iron gates. You have to be buzzed in, just like Elliott’s. Does anyone in LA live in a normal-sized house?

The good doctor is at the door before we have a chance to ring the bell.

“Good morning, I’m Doctor Leonard. Do come in.”

“Doctor Leonard, this is Jessica,” Elliott introduces us.

I smile and shake her hand.

“How’s everything going, Elliott? You still working out so much?”

“Not at the moment. I’m in the middle of a shoot.” He smirks.

“Don’t let that be an excuse Elliott. OK, you sit here. Jessica, would you like to follow me?”

I pause for a second; do I really want to do this on my own?  I feel the panic rising. You have to, I convince myself.  Elliott has been so amazing so far. Him seeing me naked is one thing but making him come in and watch me being examined is another.  I look at him.

Elliott stands next to me and looks into my eyes, “Jess, you’ll be fine. She knows everything, but if you want I can come in with you.”  He’s so sincere.

I smile. “Thank you, I think I’ll be OK.”   With that I follow Dr. Leonard into her room.

Elliott really had told her everything about the attack, even the bullshit accompanying it!

Dr. Leonard tries to convince me to go to the police. But I just can’t, it would be more hassle than I need right now.  I’m just trying to figure out how on earth I’m going to cope with seeing the bastard again.

I lay on her couch and she examines me. It’s so uncomfortable but she makes small talk to make the whole process better.

“Thank you, Jessica, I’ve seen everything I need to. You can get dressed now,” she smiles, handing me a paper towel.

Whilst I get changed she explains exactly what’s happened down there and how it’s all superficial and there’s no physical lasting damage. But it will take a couple of weeks for it to heal. When we come out of the room Elliott is waiting.

“What did she say, Jess?” Elliott asks concerned.

“I’m fine; I have a cut and some bruising but nothing time can’t heal. I’ve been really lucky.” Talk about getting personal. “She’s given me some antibiotics to keep any infection away.” I raise my eyes to heaven.

“So there is no permanent damage then? That’s good,” he smiles.

I wonder if the sex question is flying around in his head. He hasn’t asked as I suspect he doesn’t want to seem like a callous asshole.

“What about future relationships?” he asks.

I smile to myself.

“What about them?” I’m playing with him now.

“Is it OK? Normal?”  He blushes.

I decide to put him out of his misery.

“Yes Elliott, everything is normal. I can have a normal relationship……, sex when I feel comfortable,” I smile, brushing his face.

For a player he’s very shy!

He pulls me towards him and places his arms around my waist. “I’m so sorry, Jessica, for this.  If I could get my hands on the bastard that did this to you, I would seriously hurt him!” He points to the marks on my neck.

If only he knew he could get his hands on him. That man he trusts with his life did this.

“I’ve had an idea for this weekend, Jessica. It’s a bit crazy but I have a beach house in the Hamptons. Why don’t we head up there? We’re not working. It would be a great way to get to know each other better and forget the last few days.”  He smiles resting his hand on my stomach.

His words float through my head.  I can’t believe how quickly the “us” thing is moving. It was only last week I thought he was a total asshole.

“It sounds amazing. Would it just be the two of us?” The thought of Hudson coming anywhere near me terrifies me.

“If that’s what you want. Yes, apart from Simon - he has to come.” His eyes sparkle.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Hey beautiful, is that a yes then?”

How can I resist? “OK, yes, thank you, it will be amazing.”

A huge smile appears across his face. “My pleasure, Miss Ing.”

Dr. Leonard reappears at her office door with my prescription.

“Look after yourself, Jessica, and please try and reconsider my advice,” she smiles at me. I know she means well.

She opens her front door and we head to the car.

Elliott’s on his phone straight away. “Yes Tara, the Hamptons this weekend...yes, charter the private plane…yes, just for three. No, I haven’t spoken to him...why?  Well, he’ll just have to change his plans, won’t he!  Good…as early as possible, it would be nice to have both days there. Thanks, bye”.

Elliott starts up the car.

“Is there a problem with the weekend?”

“No, beautiful. Hudson just had plans to use it, that’s all.”

“Oh, will he be cross about it?”

“It’s tough shit if he is. It’s my place; I don’t go there enough as it is and he’s always using it for yet another one of his conquests. I think he takes them there to impress them!” he smirks.

More like it imprisons them so that he can attack them at free will, I want to shout.

“Hey Jess, don’t let it worry you. I’ll deal with him.  Are you ready to go back to work?”

Chapter 7

We arrive at the private air strip.  Simon collects the bags from the trunk and we are greeted by the air stewardess.

I walk up the stairs to the plane. Oh my God, I have never seen anything like it.

It’s small but luxurious. There are four white leather seats facing each other with tables in front of them.  The whole interior is beige and cream with wood paneling on the walls. It is unbelievable.

“Jess, take a seat there for me, please,” Elliott smiles whilst he talks to the air stewardess. You can tell she’s in absolute awe of him. I’m half expecting her to ask for his autograph. But surely that would be unprofessional.  I take my seat and watch him in action. He is smooth, incredibly smooth. He has her eating out the palm of his hand.  She stands there all smiles, fluttering her eyelashes at him. What a bitch, it’s as if I’m not even here. You’d think she’d be a bit more subtle with her flirting when his girlfriend’s watching.

Elliott looks over and points at me.  I smile and wave back but she is having none of it - her smile soon disappears, and she glares daggers at me.

Elliott sits in the seat next to me and Simon sits in the chairs behind. He is certainly well trained.

“You OK, beautiful?”

“I’m good, thanks.” Elliott places his hand on top of mine and entwines his fingers in mine. The stewardess appears again with champagne for us. She smiles at Elliott when he takes his glass but just looks through me.

“She likes you, Elliott,” I whisper.

He laughs.

“I know I have this effect on women!” and he raises his eyebrow at me.

“Stop it, I’m not like her.” My feelings a little hurt.

“No, Jessica, you’re certainly not. I had to make the first move with you. These looks didn’t help me out at all,” he smirks.

“Huh, what do you mean?”  I really have no idea what he is talking about.

“You, on our first day. Normally I can’t stop the women from strutting over to me and shaking my hand or worse still, kissing me. But oh no, not you, you were hard pushed to even say hello to me.”

“Oh my God, how wrong you are. Me saying hello - I was summoned to your room the minute I arrived to be confronted by you and that asshole. You didn’t even look at me to acknowledge I even was there,” I defend.

“Oh Jessica, believe me I knew you were there. I noticed you from the moment you arrived, with your hair up and a white vest that accentuated your tits perfectly!”

I feel my mouth fall open. I can’t believe he said that out loud, or remembered in that case.

Elliott smiles his illustrious smile.

“So what was with the hostile greeting then, Elliott?”

“You see, Jess, when I see someone I’m attracted to I clam up. I’m a shy guy really.”

Is he joking? My mind wonders. This is the most confident man I know, he walks around naked on set half the time in front of numerous people. He has women stalking his every move and he’s shy? What the hell?

“Really, Elliott? Or is this all a plan to make me feel sorry for you so you can get your wicked way with me?” I tease with an enormous grin. 

“That’s better, Jess. It’s great to see you smile again,” and he tips my face down and kisses me gently on my nose.