The Society

by Michelle Brown

  "Oh my sweet Francis, what has gotten into you?" He asks, stroking my hair.

  "It seems a lot has been going on since we've been gone." I hear my mother say between my sobs. "That Freeman boy was proposing to her, and she was just about to say yes."

  "Is that true, my dear?" He asks, tipping my head up so I'll meet his eyes.

  Knowing I've disappointed them, all I can do is nod.

  "Well…we can't have that now, can we. The Society members wouldn't approve of my daughter marrying outside of the founding families." He tucks me back close to his chest. "Sophia, see to it we have a chat with Mr. Freeman, please."

  I can't see my mother, so I can only assume she's agreed to my father's request. Just as she always does.

  "Come on, Harlyn, let go of your father so we can get you cleaned up and head back to the ball." She reaches from my arm. "We spent a lot of money on these tickets, so might as well try and enjoy ourselves as a family."

  Once my makeup has been straightened and reapplied, the rest of the night goes as can be expected given Lance's botched proposal, Asher's traitorous actions, and my mom pinching my leg every time she thinks I'll break out into tears.

  Not seeing Asher anywhere is the trigger for what is most likely going to be many tiny bruises on my leg. It should be a blessing because I'm not sure I could stand the thought of watching him with Catarina, but even the smallest of glances would give me some peace of mind.

  After we've listened to the Mayor speak, and dessert served, I'm ready to leave. "Mother, Daddy, can we go now? I'm tired and don't feel so well."

  "Not until after our father-daughter dance."

  I'd rather not do any dancing, but he's right. The Society has specific requirements of how members should act at functions such as these. Our family needs to appear strong and uninfluenced by outside sources. "Ok, daddy."

  He rises, takes my hand, and we head out to the dance floor. There are a few other couples already dancing, but when we approach the music stops, and it changes to a slow waltz, my father always has them play. It feels good being part of that power.

  "Francis, you know why we wouldn't want you marrying that low life Freeman kid, right?" His tone is harsh.

  "Yes, daddy. I know. It's frowned upon to marry anyone who's not from the founding families." There's something else I want to ask him, but I'm afraid of his answer. "Daddy?"

  "Hmmm?"

  "What if the founding family member elected to work outside of what brought their family fortune, is it that ok?"

  "Well, I wouldn't say it's highly regarded, but I would expect it's acceptable." He stops our dancing, and I lift my eyes to his. "Why do you ask? Is there someone else who's shown interest in my darling daughter?"

  "No, well, not really. I'm mostly curious." After a few more spins around the dance floor, the song ends. "I'm exhausted, can we go now?"

  "Sure thing. I'll call the driver. You get your mother."

  On the ride home, our conversation revolves around my parents telling me about their travels and the sights they've seen. I'm a bit envious but also glad they allowed me to stay here and continue schooling. Even if they'd rather I not graduate.

  Once we're back home, I give them each a kiss on the cheek and head straight to my room, where I intend on stripping out of this dress and into the shower before settling in on the soft mattress.

  My plan, sleep through the rest of the weekend until Monday comes.

  I'm ecstatic it's the last week of school, but I'm not looking forward to sitting through a class where both Mr. Harrington and Catarina will be.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Francis Harlyn Aldridge

  The day I've dreaded is here. I'm slow moving but somehow manage to drag myself from the bed and get ready for school. It would be easy enough for my parents to let me stay home, but I'm a society kid, and it's ingrained in us to see things through.

  "Harlyn, Grace has made breakfast. Come and get it before it gets cold." Mother calls up from the base of the stairs.

  It's something I'm not used to hearing since she's hardly never here, but a nice sound, nonetheless. "Be right down, mother."

  With a final swipe of lip gloss, I leave my room and skip down the stairs two at a time. It's childish, but I'll try anything to keep from bursting into tears like I did most of yesterday. I'm not sure why seeing Asher with Catarina has had this kind of effect on me. Usually, my confidence snaps back right away.

  Could this be what love feels like? Am I actually in love with Winston Asher Harrington III?

  It's a question I'd tossed around in my mind all day yesterday. I'd typically seek out Nanny Grace for answers, but now that my mother is home, she's done her best job in helping me through with limited information.

  I had come clean about him being the reason I'd almost said yes to Lance but haven't told them he's my teacher yet. They know he's a founding family member, just not which one.

  My mom's advice doesn't ever stop fighting to get what I want. Her words are a double-edged sword, though. It's the exact thing she and my father are doing about my inheritance. Shrugging, I decide handling one problem at a time is the way to go.

  The first problem is finding out what my Asher had in mind when he brought Catarina to the dance.

  I swipe a piece of toast off the plate Grace put together for me and rush out the door.

  "Harlyn." My mother scolds.

  "Sorry, mom, gotta run. I'll see you after school."

  The gears of my car strain as I push it hard on my way to school. I was hoping I'd get there early and get a chance to chat with Asher before the first bell rings. But I don't make it in time. I'm late to every damn class, the last week of school shit that doesn't matter to anyone eating up my time.

  Sitting in math class, we have the same substitute teacher once again. Finding it hard to concentrate, I see a couple of uniformed officers pass by the window in the door. A horrid chill scurries up my back, and my first thought is Asher.

  I leap from my desk and burst out through the door, shocked when I find Lance directing the officers to Asher's classroom. "Lance, what's going on?" I ask, chasing after them. When I get too close, one of the officers holds me back while another leads Asher from the room. There are no cuffs, which is a good sign, but they must have something on him.

  I gasp at what's happening. "Please don't tell me this is some kind of revenge for me not agreeing to marry you."

  Shaking his head, he turns and laughs. "Harlyn. Now that I see the real you, I'm glad you didn't. This is about Catarina. She went missing the night of the ball. The three of us were the last ones to see her, and since you're here, Officer Johnson, please bring Miss Aldridge along with us. She should be questioned, as well."

  My eyes flit to Asher, and he creases his brows. "Leave her out of this." His pleas go unanswered, and I know at that moment this is Lance's doing. I'm sure of it, and I'm not letting him get away with it. "I need to get my bag," I tell him.

  "Officer Johnson, can you please get Miss Aldridge's bag from Math class?"

  "Yessir." He lets go of my arm and heads into the classroom.

  In my dreamlike state of freedom, I rush past Lance and surround Asher in my arms. Not missing a beat, he wraps his own around my back and pulls me in tight. The entire hall erupts with gasps and murmurs from the other students who've gathered. One of the jocks even shouting out, "Get you some of that, Mr. Harrington."

  The gasps turn to laughter and whistles that get quickly shut down.

  "That's enough," Lance says, pulling us apart, but not before I place a kiss on Asher's lips. My actions earn more excitement from the surrounding crowd, but also Lance's tightened grip on my arm. "Let's go."

  Chapter Eighteen

  Winston Asher Harrington

  Current day…

  "Can you tell us the last time you saw Miss Mills?" Lance asks.

  It's a question if answered honestly could put my job at risk. I consider telling them the last time I saw her was
in class, but that's not the truth. Against the recommendation of my lawyer not to say anything until he got here, I answer, "You should know Lance; you were there." This throws him off, and he looks to the other officer. "Remember, at the charity ball? After Harlyn went one way and I another, I'd say that left only you alone with Catarina." I slide the picture back across the table. "Maybe you did this. I turn my attention to the other detective and find his glare pinned on Lance. "Have you checked the video footage at the city hall?"

  "Don't say another word." My family's long-time lawyer instructs as he strolls through the door. Dressed in an expensive Italian suit and his presence is like a slap in the face to both detectives. "This impromptu interrogation stops now. Any further questions you may have can be arranged through me." He turns a hard stare on the older man. "Detective Winslow, I thought you would've known better. Mr. Harrington, get up; you're free to go."

  I want to rush out of here like the whole department is on fire, but I'm not sure what Lance is capable of. With his face beginning to shade red, any quick movement may send him into a frenzy and leave me with a gunshot wound. Instead, I exit the room at a snail's pace.

  As my lawyer and I exit the building, I place a hand on his arm, stopping our descent down the police station steps. "I want to see Harlyn."

  "In due time, Winston. She's back home with her parents. They've provided a solid alibi for her, and she's out of the woods, but for now, I'd recommend you keep your distance. I suspect they're going to find one of their own was the culprit here. As for his motivation, I'm sure that will be determined in due time. Let's get you home and out of the public eye until all this blows over.

  Epilogue

  Three months later…our wedding day.

  Standing at the altar, my hands shake from nerves at the anticipation of seeing her walk down the aisle. It's not the best timing as she's starting to show, but we both wanted to get married before the baby came. When she found out the doctor had told us there's always that one percent chance of getting pregnant while on birth control.

  Both her parents and The Society had reacted better than I'd expected. Created between founding families, I suspect they're happy this baby will carry on both the Aldridge and Harrington names.

  Harlyn, of course, was overly excited that both hers and Quinn babies would turn out to be around the same age. And they already have play dates planned and double the baby showers.

  As for Lance. It's a sad story. He was found guilty of Catarina's rape and murder, with the help of his friend Danny. His motives were clear; he was using her to separate Harlyn and me from being together because if I was out of the picture, he could win her back, marry her and then collect the inheritance once she'd had an "accident."

  When his plan went south, he decided to kill Catarina and blame her death on me. The one thing he overlooked; she was a society kid. While it ultimately didn't save her life, she had learned one golden rule—always have a backup plan. In this case, it was a recording device on a broach clipped to her skirt.

  With each thrust, he was incriminating himself over and over. It sickened my stomach to hear, and I refused to let Harlyn anywhere near the recording. She's allowed the last memory of Lance as him proposing to her, but I'll not let her know what he did to that girl. It could've been her.

  I'm thankful it wasn't because as I see her turn the corner in the white gown she had specially tailored to fit her curves in all the right ways, I know I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else.

  Once we read our vows, rings are placed appropriately on shaky fingers, and then the final words are said. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

  The moment I've been waiting for all day. We are sealing our love with a kiss in front of all our family and friends.

  "Please allow me to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington." The preacher says.

  The guests are on their feet, clapping and whistling at our unity, right up until the moment a gunshot rings out. At lightning speed, I grip Harlyn's arm and drag her behind some cheap wedding prop. Everyone else screams and takes off running, everyone except Mr. Aldridge. He lies motionless on the ground with dark red flowing aimlessly down his forehead.

  More from the founding families coming next summer…

  About TL Mayhew

  TL Mayhew is a Contemporary and Dark Romance writer from Nebraska. Her love for reading started back in elementary school when her favorite books, all seemed to have one theme... a horse as the leading character. It's fair to say that since then her reading tastes have changed and now, instead of a horse it's a hot alpha.

  It wasn't until she married and had two kids, that TL put any thought in to writing. And even then it was close to a year before any words were put on paper. Amazingly those words were the direct result of a question "Do you want to give it a try?" from an Author TL idolizes. If it weren't for that question she may never have realized her love for writing. and wouldn't have her first work releasing in January 2018.

  https://tlmayhew.com/

  Books by TL Mayhew

  Midwest Sins Duet

  Belong

  Wicked Lady T

  Chapter One

  I'm a dirty old man. Been this way my entire life. Dirty, that is; not old. But age is just a state of mind. Mentally, I feel twenty-one rather than forty-five.

  Maybe that's why I like my girls young. Don't worry, they're always legal. Except for that one time, but she wore make-up that made her look like she was twenty-five and she was more experienced than some of the older women I've been with. A million bucks later and I was able to get out of the jail time that I would have faced. Part of me still thinks her father put her up to it just for the money.

  There isn't one person in Silvercrest who doesn't know who I am and how much I'm worth. I own the top holdings company in the world. When people see me, they see moneybags.

  I lean my head back against the cushioned seat I'm sitting on and grab a hold of the tiny pair of hips that are gyrating back and forth on my lap. She's doing an okay job, but it could be better. I move her hips in a more circular motion, showing her how I like it.

  "Oh yeah, baby, just like that. Now, ride my cock!" I command with a spank against her ass.

  I came in for a late dinner. When this hostess flashed me a seductive look through her lush lashes, I instructed her to return when I was finished eating. Now that the restaurant is closed, I'm getting my dessert.

  She places her hands on the cushion on either side of my head and uses it as leverage. I see a look of pleasure in her stare, but it’s not from sexual gratification. She’s excited because she's fucking Carver Brooks. Now, she's going to be able to tell all of her little girlfriends that she got a piece of my cock.

  Well, let me tell you something, sweetheart. I’m a playboy. It's not hard getting a piece of my cock, it’s hard getting a piece of my heart. But no one in this town seems to want that.

  Fuck. I inhale deeply. Now I'm irritated.

  I pick the girl up off of my lap and move her next to me in the booth.

  “This isn’t working,” I declared.

  I stand and zip up my pants. Looking down at the dejected girl, I grab her chin in my hand and turn her face up to mine.

  "Come back to me when you've reached the big leagues. You've got a lot of practicing to do until then."

  It was harsh, I know that. But when someone chooses to have meaningless sex with me, they’re embarking on a business deal. They get their fifteen minutes of fame, and I get my dick wet. If I don’t get mine, they don’t get theirs.

  I walk around the table and toward the front of the restaurant without looking back at the girl. She will be alright, but she certainly won’t be in a hurry to tell anyone about our failed encounter anymore.

  Checking my watch, I see it's almost midnight. I don't feel like going home and jerking off, but I really don't feel like making any booty calls either. I can have any girl in this town, but I don’t want on
e of them. I'm bored with them all.

  Besides, none of them can ever live up to Josephine Dove. Josephine Johnson now, as she was married off to that vile cocksucker Nathaniel.

  Don’t think about him.

  I’m already fired up because of that silly girl inside the restaurant. I don’t need to let any more bullshit into my head right now.

  “Hey T,” I say to my driver as he winds down the passenger side window of the limo. “I’m going to walk home tonight.”

  My building isn’t far from here and it's a nice night for a walk. Maybe it will help me clear my head.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight, sir.”

  I watch the tail lights of the car as it pulls out into the road and drives away. It reminds me of that fateful day, six years ago, that my little dove left.

  I step into my apartment and place my keys and wallet down on the table in the hallway, the same as I do every time I get home. Walking into my study, I grab a highball glass and pour three fingers of Balvenie 50-year-old scotch into it.

  As I settle into the chair in front of my unlit fireplace, the scent of my little dove wafts into my nostrils. Her natural smell mixed with the light floral perfume she wears is incredibly intoxicating. I think about the time we just spent together.

  Sex with Josephine is always extraordinary, but when we take risks like we just did the thrill of the forbidden adds a little bite to it. We’ve never had sex in her married bed before and I can promise you that it won’t be the last time either.

  Take that Nathaniel.

  Memories of the way she moved her hips, driving her pussy deeper onto my cock has me ready and geared up to go again. I rub myself over my pants as I down the rest of my drink in one gulp. Surrendering to my thoughts, I head into the bathroom to rub one off to more memories of my sweet Josephine when the sound of Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton sings from my phone.