The Secret Society

Chapter 2

ELLA'S POV

I looked up at Claire in complete shock.

"Caius just treated me as though I were nothing more than an object," I cried.

Claire sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"He was certainly not the ideal first choice for you. Caius owns this house, and, unfortunately, he does as he pleases."

I stared at her.

That was incredibly reassuring. NOT

"Come on," Claire said gently, helping me to my feet. "Let's get you something to drink while you wait for Evan."

The moment she mentioned Evan, an awful thought entered my mind.

I suddenly felt physically sick.

Evan.

My Evan.

He was somewhere inside this enormous house with another woman.

The thought of them together made my stomach twist.

"No!" I suddenly cried.

Claire jumped slightly.

"Okay... perhaps a hot drink would be better?"

I realised she had completely misunderstood my outburst.

"Thank you. A cup of tea would be lovely."

That was all I could manage without making myself look even more foolish.

Claire didn't discuss the society any further over the next hour.

I sat quietly, holding my cup of tea and waiting for Evan.

Eventually, the door opened.

Evan walked into the room with his tie loosened around his neck, his shirt slightly open and his jacket undone.

Everything I had experienced that evening came flooding back.

"Hey," Evan said with a smile.

He looked far too pleased with himself.

"Are you ready to go?"

I smiled politely, placed my cup on the table and stood as gracefully as I could.

There was no reason for Claire to witness what was about to happen.

"Yes, Evan. I'm ready."

I headed towards the door, thanking Claire for speaking to me.

"See you soon," Claire called.

There was something about the way she said it that made it sound less like a farewell and more like a reminder.

A reminder that I would be back.

If I had anything to do with it, she would never see me again.

I stepped outside.

Unfortunately, I didn't get very far.

I walked straight into someone.

The impact sent both of us stumbling backwards.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.

I quickly got back to my feet and reached out to help the man I had collided with.

It was Henry.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it," he said.

His voice was calm, and when I finally looked up at him, I immediately regretted it.

He smiled.

"Are you all right?"

I nodded quickly, avoiding eye contact.

There was no need for him to witness me turning into a complete disaster.

Before I could say anything else, Evan appeared behind me.

He reached for my hand and gave Henry a polite nod.

Henry returned the gesture.

Then Evan led me towards the car.

Neither of us said much during the journey home.

The silence was uncomfortable.

There was an obvious tension between us, and neither of us seemed willing to address it.

When we finally arrived home, Evan reached for my hand as we walked towards the front door.

I immediately pulled mine away.

He looked at me but said nothing.

We entered the house.

Evan placed the keys on the side table and followed me into the living room.

I turned around.

"What exactly was that?" I demanded.

Evan looked genuinely confused.

"I thought you would have enjoyed it."

I stared at him.

"You thought I would enjoy being put into a situation I knew absolutely nothing about?"

His expression changed.

"What happened?"

I folded my arms.

"Caius happened."

Evan's face immediately became serious.

"What did he do?"

"He treated me as though I had no choice."

Evan's eyes widened.

"He did what?"

"Did you show your partner the same level of respect?" I asked sarcastically.

Evan immediately looked uncomfortable.

"Ella, I'm sorry. I genuinely thought you would be comfortable with everything."

I laughed.

Not because anything was funny.

Because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You honestly thought I would be comfortable with this?"

Evan moved towards the sofa where I was sitting.

He knelt beside me and reached for my hand.

I pulled it away.

"Evan, if you call me 'love' right now, I honestly don't know what I might do."

He immediately stopped.

"Okay."

I took a deep breath.

"So, let me understand this. We can't leave this society?"

Evan slowly nodded.

My stomach tightened.

"And what gave you the right to make that decision for me?"

"You said you would try anything."

I stared at him.

"I said I would try anything to save our relationship. I did not agree to being trapped in something I knew nothing about."

Evan looked down.

"I didn't think it would be like this."

"You didn't think?"

I could barely believe him.

"I didn't agree to being with another man. I didn't agree to you being with another woman. And I certainly didn't agree to having no say in what happens to me."

My voice echoed around the room.

Evan sighed.

"Ella..."

"Do you want to see the contract?"

I looked at him.

"Do I want to see the contract?"

I gave a disbelieving laugh.

"Yes, Evan. Of course I want to see the contract."

He disappeared upstairs.

A few minutes later, he returned carrying what could only be described as a small novel.

My eyes widened.

"That is the contract?"

"Yes."

He handed it to me.

I sat upright and placed the enormous document across my knees.

Taking a deep breath, I opened it.

I had absolutely no idea what Evan had signed us up for.

---

CONDITIONS AND RULES

FACTS

A secret society exists.

According to the document, a significant percentage of the world's population is involved in some form of the society.

Membership is divided between men and women, with the organisation claiming that only a small proportion of male members are involved.

The document then made its purpose very clear.

This was a secret society centred around relationships, intimacy and personal freedom between consenting adult members.

The final sentence caught my attention.

You are either IN or OUT.

I swallowed.

That was reassuring.

Not.

---

MAIN RULES OF THE SECRET SOCIETY

1. Members must never discuss the secret society with anyone outside the organisation.

2. Members are entitled to the benefits and protection provided by the society.

3. Those outside the society have no access to its privileges.

4. Members are not to judge one another based on their personal choices.

5. Members of the society come first.

6. Before signing the contract, every person must understand that they are choosing to be either IN or OUT.

7. The primary purpose of the society is intimacy between consenting adult members. Once a person agrees to participate, they are expected to honour the arrangements made for that evening.

8. Once keys have been selected, the selection cannot be changed.

9. The partner with whom a person joins the society must remain their partner outside the society. Affairs between members are strictly forbidden.

10. Visitors are not permitted unless they have agreed to join the society and signed the required contract.

11. Attendance is mandatory once a week. Members may miss up to sixteen sessions, subject to the society's rules.

12. Any activity that could result in serious injury or death is strictly prohibited.

13. Once a person signs the agreement, they become a member. Membership cannot simply be cancelled or withdrawn.

14. There must be no disloyalty towards the society.

The final paragraph was particularly unsettling.

The society claimed that it took no pleasure in punishing disloyal members.

However, it made one thing very clear.

Breaking the rules could have serious consequences.

I stared at the page.

"This cannot be real."

Evan said nothing.

I turned several pages.

There were still nearly two hundred pages remaining.

I groaned.

"You expect me to read all of this?"

"I think you should."

"Wonderful."

I continued reading.

---

WHAT IS THE SECRET SOCIETY?

According to the document, the society existed to:

1. Allow members to explore their personal desires.

2. Provide opportunities for members to fulfil their relationship and intimacy needs.

3. Monitor members discreetly to ensure the rules were followed.

4. Provide protection and assistance to members whenever necessary.

One sentence caught my attention.

The society described itself as a powerful organisation that would protect its members from anyone who attempted to harm them.

Then came the words that made my blood run cold.

"Extreme consequences may be considered when necessary."

I closed the document.

I sat there silently for what felt like at least thirty minutes.

Why would Evan agree to this?

Why would he agree to this on my behalf?

And why hadn't he told me?

I couldn't understand any of it.

There were nearly two hundred pages left, but I had already read enough to know that we were in serious trouble.

Evan moved towards me.

"There is no getting out of it, Ella."

I looked up slowly.

"You really shouldn't say that right now."

I threw the contract onto the floor and stood.

"You have any idea what you've done?"

Evan looked genuinely sorry now.

"Ella, I didn't think it through."

"Clearly."

I stormed towards the bedroom.

"And you're sleeping on the sofa tonight."

I slammed the bedroom door behind me.

For several minutes, I simply sat on the bed.

My mind was racing.

How bad was this?

How often did we have to attend?

How many different people would I have to meet?

How many women would Evan be with?

What exactly had he signed us up for?

And then, completely against my better judgement, another thought entered my mind.

Henry.

I immediately shook my head.

Why was I thinking about him?

I remembered the woman standing beside him.

Lucy.

They had looked perfect together.

Perhaps that was what disturbed me most.

If two people who appeared to have everything could still feel the need to become involved in something like this, what chance did ordinary relationships have?

A knock sounded at the door.

"Ella?" Evan called.

"I told you not to call me that."

There was silence.

"I didn't think it through. I'm really sorry."

His voice didn't sound particularly convincing.

I opened the door slightly.

"How often?"

"What do you mean?"

"How often do we have to go?"

He hesitated.

"At least once a week."

I stared at him.

Once a week.

At least.

My stomach dropped.

"I cannot believe this."

"Ella, we have to talk."

"Oh, now you want to talk?"

I opened the door wider.

"Now that the contract has been signed and I apparently have no say in the matter?"

Evan looked down.

"I know I handled this badly."

"That's an understatement."

He took a step towards me.

"Please."

I shook my head.

"Just leave me alone for tonight."

He hesitated before finally walking away.

I closed the door.

I knew I couldn't stay trapped in this situation forever.

I had to find a way out.

But Claire's words came rushing back to me.

Fatal.

Someone had apparently died because of this society.

How many?

One?

Ten?

A hundred?

The thought terrified me.

I wasn't going to risk my life because Evan had made a decision without properly explaining it to me.

There had to be something in that contract.

A loophole.

A clause.

Something.

I just had to find it.

I looked at the enormous document lying outside the bedroom.

There was no way I was going to sleep until I understood exactly what I had become involved in.

I opened the bedroom door.

"Evan."

He appeared almost immediately.

"Yes?"

"Go and get me that contract."

He stared at me.

"I thought you threw it away."

"I want to read every single page."

He nodded.

"Okay."

"And Evan?"

He stopped.

"Do not leave anything out."

He nodded again before picking up the contract.

I watched him disappear down the hallway.

There had to be something I was missing.

There had to be a way out.

Because I refused to believe that signing a piece of paper meant I had surrendered control over my own life.

I was going to find that clause.

No matter how long it took.

And when I did...

Evan White was going to have some very serious explaining to do.