Glitter: A Pierre Gasly Story

Chapter 20

*Trigger Warning*

This chapter contains mentions of previous mental, physical and sexual assault as well as eating disorders. Please proceed with caution if you find these topics upsetting. 

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ELLIE'S POV

You know how you think about what you'd do in an emergency? Would you run? Would you fight? 

I always knew it would be neither. I knew I would freeze.

In the years that I had been with Jackson, I had never once saved myself.

From the beginning he had all the power. He was older and more famous and just overall more. I hadn't minded at first. It was nice to feel like I was being taken care of, like someone was genuinely worried about me. But over time I came to see it for what it was. Control.

He controlled everything. What I ate. What I wore. Where I went. And when I started to fight back, to make decisions for myself, everything started to unravel. But instead of fighting harder, I just stopped. I let him take back control until he didn't want it anymore and he let me go.

And since then, I'd been wondering what I'd do if I saw him again. Would I yell? Would I run away? Would I stay calm and finally tell him what a piece of shit I thought he was?

Sadie had been careful to keep us separated at events. I had never really confided in her about our relationship, but I had the feeling she'd pieced together a lot. And in the wake of our breakup, she'd been meticulous in reviewing the guest list for every event I was invited to, ensuring that we'd never be in the same place.

But I knew my luck in life was short, and I had been preparing for this moment for the last year and a half.

I should have known that I'd freeze.

I was beyond shocked to see him in a nightclub on the other side of the world. I had been prepared to run into him at a bar in LA or a show in New York. Hell, I would have been less surprised if he'd been at a fashion show in Paris.

But standing in front of me in a night club in Portugal, I was not prepared for.

He looked good. Better than I thought he deserved. His blond hair was gelled, and his mossy green eyes gleamed as he stared me down.

"You don't look happy to see me, little E," Jackson tried again, in what I'm sure he thought was a charming tone, as he moved closer to me, touching my arm. Little E. God that old nickname made me feel sick to my stomach.

"What are you doing here Jackson?" I finally found my voice, pulling my arm away and slightly out of his reach. I was trying hard not to make a scene, but I didn't want him anywhere near me.

He chuckled and it made my skin crawl. "Dua Lipa is performing here this weekend," he explained. "I produced a couple tracks off her album and she invited me out for the show. It's the kickoff for her European tour."

"Right, of course," I nodded as I processed how truly unlucky I was. "Well, I hope you have a good time, but I'm going back to my friends."

I tried to move past him, but he grabbed my arm again and pushed me slightly against the bar. "You mean go back to your boyfriend, right? That race car driver."

In an instant, his entire personality had shifted, and I felt like I was suffocating, memories of when this was a regular thing engulfing me. "Jackson, please let go of me."

"Or what Ellie? We both know that you aren't going to do anything. Good little Ellie Scott would never make a scene or do anything to risk a scandal. There are way too many people around," he practically spat at me, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.