Ella nodded and quickly took a coat off a hook in the staff corridor. ‘I apologise in advance to whoever’s coat this is,’ she said, sliding her arms inside it and pulling the hood up.

‘I just need to slip these invoices on to Flynn’s desk for the taxi boat supplies, and I’ll be with you in two minutes. You make your way to the boat,’ Roman said and Ella nodded.

The second Ella stepped outside, the wind was pushing her harder and harder and attempting to lift her off her feet, but she held on firmly to her hood and fought against it with all of her might as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other and clung to the rail of the jetty. In the short walk to the boat, Ella worked every muscle in her legs as the rain stung her cheeks. The eerie sounds of the gusting winds were swirling around the cliffs. As she stepped on to the boat, the water was slapping against the sides. She stumbled towards the middle of the vessel, but then steadied herself as she got used to the boat’s rocking. Soaked to the skin, she made her way to the captain’s cubby-hole, a small private area at the back of the boat, in search of a towel, and began to dry her face. Roman would be on deck in a second and he’d get her home safe and sound in no time at all.

Thankfully, much to Ella’s relief, she heard the engine fire up and the boat began to move.

She quickly shut the cubby-hole door behind her and made her way up the centre of the boat towards Roman. But as Ella stared at the figure at the helm, her heart hammered against her ribcage as she recognised the man’s physique. ‘Alex,’ she muttered. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Ella’s voice was fraught, her knuckles were white as she gripped the seat hard.

Alex spun round and pulled down his hood. ‘Let’s take our own trip down memory lane, shall we Ella? We were so good together and we can be again.’ The menacing look on his face shook Ella to the core.

‘You are deluded. The only reason you’re back is to try and screw more money out of me. Everything was a game to you.’ With all of her strength Ella was mustering up for a fight. ‘And what the hell do you think you are doing? The police are already on their way, so you won’t be getting far.’

For a moment Alex’s face seemed to soften. ‘We just need to talk. You just need to listen to me.’

‘And stealing a boat is going to make me listen to you?’

‘I had no choice! I saw you running from me. That’s not kind of you, Ella.’