A Legacy of Secrets(45)

‘Is this director Ella?’ he asked as she walked over to him.

‘No, this is Ella.’

And it was a bit of a fist to the gut, that all the clothes and the make-up had been the part she had played for him, and just confirmed that Santo didn’t know her at all.

‘The ship is all organised.’ Marianna came over and spoke in Italian with Santo as Ella half listened, translating easily. Yes, Marianna was a far more efficient PA. She had achieved in a few hours what Ella had been struggling with for days. ‘So everyone will be in place for 5:00 a.m. and it sails at 3:00 p.m. the following day.’

‘Eccellente.’ He glanced over to Ella. ‘We have to be finished by then.’

‘We will be.’

Santo nodded and turned back to Marianna, telling her to organise a party that final night for the crew. That was the one part of the job Ella had loved doing. Santo knew how to throw a good party and Ella had enjoyed organising them. She mentioned a couple of contacts she had to Marianna.

‘I can run through things this evening,’ Ella offered. ‘I’m sorry, I really haven’t been much help handing over.’

‘No need,’ Marianna said. ‘I have my own contacts. Anyway, I’ll speak with Santo if I need to know anything. I prefer to find out things firsthand.’ She went to head off and then changed her mind. ‘Actually, I need his spare car keys, his diary, that sort of thing....’

Ella was terribly aware of Santo’s smirk as she went in her bag and handed over a few items.

‘You forgot the sunglasses,’ Santo said.

‘So I did,’ Ella responded tartly, her cheeks burning as she handed them over.

‘Headache tablets,’ he prompted.

‘No need,’ Marianna chimed in. ‘I have some on me.’

Ella’s bag was soon considerably emptier as she handed over a shirt and a couple of ties too.

‘I think that’s everything,’ Ella said.

‘Sure?’ Santo checked, enjoying her discomfort.

‘I’m sure Marianna is prepared for every eventuality.’ Ella smiled sweetly and then turned her attention back to what was important, what would remain.

Work.

Except she wanted to share it with him.

To start with, Ella was incredibly nervous. It seemed wrong to be giving directions to someone as skilled as Taylor, but overriding her nerves was the rising thrill that Taylor seemed to completely understand her.

‘You’re not happy as such,’ Ella said, trying not to be too rude about Rafaele’s interpretation. ‘It’s more that you’re carefree. Yes, you know he’s leaving tomorrow, but for now you have no idea what’s to come.’ She looked through the viewfinder, watched Taylor walking along the beach with her lover who would soon go missing, watched the shot of her life before it changed for ever, and any nerves Ella had died then, because she could do this.

All those endless nights of her childhood spent locked in her room making movies with her mind reaped the rewards today as finally a scene came to life, and there were actually tears in her eyes as Ella watched it unfold.

And Santo watched her grow before his eyes too.

‘Vince, from now on you’re not going to be watching her.’ Ella got back to the heart of the script. Rafaele had interpreted it that Vince came upon Taylor crying, but over and over Ella had read it and pictured it differently. Now she brought it to life. ‘You need to be here first, thinking about your friend, then you see Taylor arrive. Remember that till this point you’ve never really liked her. You’ve always thought that she was using him, but watching her cry, you see for the first time how much she loves him—it is that that moves you.’

‘Right.’ The sulking Vince actually smiled because, till now, Rafaele had made his character look nothing other than a man taking advantage of a vulnerable woman.

‘That’s why you go over,’ Ella said to Vince. ‘You realise that she knows how you feel, that you both miss him. And, Taylor...’ Ella said. ‘When he turns around, you’re defensive. You’re used to him making sarcastic comments. He’s already accused you of crocodile tears, but it is his empathy that is going to have you two heading off to the beach.’

‘Got it.’

‘And we’re not going to do the full-on crying scene yet...’ Santo watched as Taylor breathed out in relief. The past few days had been draining at best. ‘Just a few tears. What I want to get is your expression when Vince joins you.’