A Legacy of Secrets

chapter TWELVE

SANTO WAS RIGHT.

Sort of.

Ella lay on her bed and rather than denying his words, rather than defending herself to herself, instead she saw the hurt in his eyes, the absolute offence taken by Santo, and she didn’t blame him a bit.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to trust him, more that Ella simply didn’t know how to, had found it far safer to hide behind her career and excuses rather than take a chance with a relationship.

It didn’t feel such a safe place now. It felt empty, and worse, it felt selfish. Ella knew that she hadn’t been there for Santo, hadn’t shared in the tough times with him, and because of that, she might have blown their slim chance.

Why the hell had she had to go and fall in love with Santo though? Of all the billions of people on the globe, how had someone with major trust issues ended up with a man as wickedly bad as Santo? Ella even gave a wry smile to the heavens at the cruel lesson they had sent her, but then jumped when her phone rang. Now she wasn’t Santo’s PA, it was unusually quiet, but she jolted again when she heard who it was.

‘Mum?’ It was the first time her mother had rung her since she had started off on her travels. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Everything is fine,’ Gabriella said. ‘Well, the same,’ she corrected. ‘But I waited till your father was asleep so that I could speak to you.’

‘Has something happened?’

‘I miss you,’ Gabriella said. ‘It seems strange to know that you are there. What have you been doing?’

And Ella told her—not about the promotion, more the news her mother would be stunned to hear.

‘You ate dinner with Teresa Corretti? Ella, you must be careful.’ She sounded terrified. ‘Do not tell your aunts.’

‘Mum, she’s a lovely lady and I don’t think their name is all bad now. All the locals are watching the filming and seem really excited—’

‘What did you eat?’ Gabriella interrupted and it was actually a nice conversation. She told her about the food, and yes, her mother asked about the furniture. ‘She gave me some olive oil to send you.’

‘She gave you that for me?’

‘She said you would miss it.’

‘I do.’

There was a very long silence and then Gabriella revealed the real reason she had rung.

‘Ella, I am so sorry.’

‘Mum...’ She was about to tell her to stop, but wasn’t that what she scorned her mother for, for not talking about things, for just closing off?

‘I should never have asked you to cover up for him, but I was scared. If we told the police, what would happen afterwards? You were right to get away and you are right to not want to speak with him. I will never ask you to again.’

‘Thank you.’

How she’d needed to hear her mother say sorry and they spoke some more, cried some more. As Ella hung up on her mother, she knew that there was someone she had to say sorry to herself.

Properly though.

Except he was at dinner, and it really would be poor form to disturb, so Ella texted instead, asked if she could speak with him, that it didn’t matter what time.

Ella wasn’t surprised when he didn’t answer.

She’d hurt him, offended him, and she knew that Santo was incredibly proud.