The Secret Society

Chapter 4

ELLA'S POV

Five days.

Five entire days.

That was how long I had spent reading the contract.

I had gone through the pages repeatedly, searching every paragraph, every clause and every footnote for something I had missed.

But I couldn't find anything.

Frustrated, I threw the contract onto the side of the bed.

"Of course they aren't going to include a clause explaining how to leave," I shouted. "Why would they? They don't want anyone to escape."

Evan came running into the bedroom.

"Have you found something?"

The colour drained from his face when he saw the contract lying open.

"No."

He looked almost as disappointed as I was.

"You actually hoped I wouldn't find a way out, didn't you?"

"Ella, that's not fair."

"Not fair?"

I could feel my temper rising.

"You brought us into this."

"I never wanted you to be unhappy. If you're unhappy, then I'm unhappy."

I stared at him.

"Well, this time last week you were telling me that we needed a break. Perhaps I should have taken you seriously."

Evan sighed.

"I explained that to you. I didn't mean that I wanted to lose you."

I took a deep breath.

I was furious with him.

Before I said something I would regret, I turned away.

"Just leave me alone for a while."

He nodded and quietly left the room.

I stared at the contract again.

There had to be something.

I just hadn't found it yet.

---

The Dreaded Evening

We arrived at the mansion later that evening.

The moment I stepped out of the car, goosebumps travelled across my arms.

Evan looked far too pleased to be here.

He noticed me watching him and immediately wiped the smile from his face.

I gave him a warning look.

He wisely said nothing.

We walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

Claire answered.

The moment she saw me, she pulled me into a warm embrace.

"I'm so glad you came back," she whispered quietly, ensuring Evan couldn't hear.

I looked at her.

For the first time that evening, I felt slightly less alone.

"Come in."

We followed her inside.

Evan immediately walked towards the table and placed our keys into the bowl.

I watched him carefully.

My patience was wearing extremely thin.

Then I looked across the room.

Henry was watching me.

Our eyes met.

I immediately looked down, suddenly very conscious of the blush spreading across my cheeks.

He probably still thought I was a complete disaster after I had practically knocked him over the previous week.

"This week, Lucy picks first," Claire announced.

I kept my eyes lowered.

I felt Evan step forward.

A horrible feeling settled in my stomach.

Evan was going to be paired with Lucy.

Lucy.

Beautiful, confident and seemingly perfect.

I felt sick at the thought.

Claire selected the next set of keys before finally turning towards me.

"Ella."

I looked up.

For a brief moment, I caught Henry's eye again.

He seemed to be holding his breath.

I wondered if he was hoping I wouldn't choose him.

A strange disappointment filled me.

I reached into the bowl.

Please don't let it be Caius.

My fingers closed around a set of keys.

I pulled them out.

Not a BMW.

Thank goodness.

"Peter," Claire announced.

I turned towards him properly for the first time.

Peter was attractive.

There was no denying it.

He had a pleasant smile and an easy confidence about him.

But he wasn't Henry.

And for some reason, that thought bothered me.

"Room Seven," Claire continued.

I looked at Claire.

She gave me an encouraging smile.

I nodded.

There was no escape.

Not tonight.

---

Room Seven

Peter opened the door and allowed me to enter first.

I cautiously looked around the room.

My nerves were worse than the previous week.

"It's daunting the first few times," Peter said gently. "It does become easier."

I looked at him.

"This is actually my first time."

He frowned.

"But Caius?"

I shook my head.

"Nothing happened between us."

I felt myself blush at having to say it aloud.

Peter laughed softly.

"That must be unusual."

Surprisingly, his laughter eased some of my nerves.

"How did you become involved in the society?" I asked.

His expression changed.

For a moment, he looked uncomfortable.

"I don't mean to be rude, Ella, but I'd rather not discuss it tonight."

I nodded.

"That's fine."

He stepped closer.

"We can just take things slowly."

That surprised me.

Perhaps I had expected another Caius.

Peter was different.

He reached for my hand.

I allowed him to take it.

He smiled reassuringly before leaning towards me.

Our lips met.

The kiss was gentle at first, tentative rather than demanding.

I closed my eyes.

It wasn't unpleasant.

It simply felt unfamiliar.

Peter kissed me again, more confidently this time, and I allowed myself to relax.

His hands rested gently against my waist.

For the first time since arriving at the mansion, I stopped thinking about the contract.

I stopped thinking about Evan.

And, for a short while, I simply allowed myself to experience the moment.

The evening continued with a growing intimacy between us.

Peter was attentive and respectful, and although I felt nervous, I never felt pressured.

Eventually, we lay together quietly, both of us catching our breath.

He looked at me.

"You're amazing."

I didn't know how to respond.

What was I supposed to say?

Thank you. My fiancé brought me here because he thought this would save our relationship?

Instead, I simply smiled.

A short while later, we dressed in silence.

There was no awkward conversation afterwards.

When I was ready, I left the room.

---

I returned to the dining room and collected our keys before taking a seat.

My feelings were confusing.

I was embarrassed by how much I had enjoyed the evening.

Perhaps there was a side of me I had never allowed myself to discover.

I sat quietly for several minutes.

Then I heard footsteps approaching.

I looked up.

Henry.

He was standing beside the table with his hand resting inside the bowl of keys.

He smiled.

"Hello."

I was very glad I was sitting down.

His voice alone seemed to make my stomach flutter.

"Hello."

I hoped my smile looked normal.

I wasn't entirely convinced it did.

"Was tonight any better for you?" Henry asked.

I frowned."How did you know last week was difficult?"

He hesitated.

"You looked upset."

I lowered my eyes.

"It was... better."

"Good."

He smiled.

Then he glanced towards the chair beside me.

"Do you mind if I sit here and wait for Lucy? It looks like we're leaving at around the same time."

My cheeks immediately heated.

Henry noticed.

He chuckled softly and shook his head.

"You're very easy to embarrass."

"I know."

I smiled.

"It's a terrible habit."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Henry looked at me.

"So, Ella..."

He seemed about to ask something.

I decided to fill the silence.

"Do you only come once a week, like Ev and me?"

His expression changed slightly.

"Ev?"

"Yes."

I laughed.

"I sometimes call him Ev, sometimes Evan, and sometimes..."

I stopped myself.

There was no reason to tell Henry how many names I had for my fiancé depending on my mood.

Henry smiled.

"Once a week is more than enough."

There was something in the way he said it that made me wonder why.

The room suddenly felt different.

Quieter.

More intimate.

I looked at him.

He looked back.

Our eyes met.

And neither of us looked away.

I couldn't have said how long we sat there.

One minute.

Ten minutes.

Perhaps longer.

All I knew was that I didn't want the moment to end.

Henry's lips slowly curved into a smile.

A shiver travelled through me.

I hoped he hadn't noticed.

Then footsteps echoed down the hallway.

The spell was broken.

"Lucy," Henry murmured.

He immediately stood.

Lucy appeared in the doorway.

Henry walked towards her and pulled her into a warm embrace, kissing the top of her head.

I watched them.

And to my surprise, I felt something I didn't want to admit.

Jealousy.

I didn't want to be jealous of Lucy.

She hadn't done anything wrong.

But seeing Henry hold her made something twist inside me.

Then Evan's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Ready, Ella?"

I turned towards him.

"Not quite."

I stood.

"Give me a moment."

Evan smiled.

Henry looked at me once more.

Our eyes met.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

---

The Journey Home

The drive home was quiet.

Neither Evan nor I spoke.

When we arrived, I sat down on the sofa.

A few moments later, Evan sat beside me and gently took my hand.

"I hope tonight went better for you."

I looked at him.

"How dare you ask me that?"

He immediately withdrew his hand.

"Ella..."

"You brought me here, Evan."

My voice cracked.

"You made this decision for both of us."

He looked genuinely hurt.

"I know." he replied

I pulled my hand away.

"I don't want to argue tonight." i stated

Evan nodded.

"Okay."

I stood and walked towards the bedroom.

I didn't want to think about Peter.

I didn't want to think about the society.

I didn't even want to think about Evan.

But as I lay down, one memory kept returning.

Henry.

His eyes.

His smile.

The way we had looked at one another across that room.

I closed my eyes.

Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

I had known him for barely two weeks.

Yet somehow, that single moment had affected me more than I wanted to admit.

And the most frightening part was that I already knew one thing.

I wanted it to happen again.