“You aren’t going anywhere,” Hayes says, pointing at me while pressing his phone to his ear. He talks low and fast, walking to the door and leaning on it so I can’t leave. I glance at my own phone, wondering if it’s time to call the police. Though what the fuck are the cops gonna do? This is more like cybercrime type shit.
Hayes hangs up and throws his phone across the room, shattering it against the wood paneled walls.
“Wow,” I say, shaking my head in amazement. “You suck in a crisis. Worse than a ten-year-old boy. Even a kid won’t destroy his own toys in a temper tantrum. You realize you don’t have a phone now.”
“I’ll break anything I want!” Hayes shouts, kicking at the coffee table and slamming his shin right on the metal edge. I know it hurt, and Hayes glares at the table like he wants to blame it for what’s going on. Then he glares at me like it’s my fault. “Who are Mother and Father?” he growls, turning to face me as he spreads his shoulders and puffs out his chest. “Where are they?”
I shrug and shake my head. “Never met either of them.”
Hayes pauses like he’s trying to read me. Then he blinks and exhales hard. “All right. But someone invited you to join the Society. Someone inducted you into the circle. Someone gave you that ring. Who?”
I frown as I think back. It happened ten years ago, but I remember it well. Too bad what I remember can’t help us. “All done by private courier,” I say. “The induction was three women, all of us new members. We were asked to meet at a hotel, and when we got to the suite, it was all set up for us. Mother and Father weren’t there. We had instructions to play a recorded message.”
“What did the message say?” Hayes demands.
“It was kinda weird, quirky, vaguely cultish but not in a sinister way,” I say. “Stuff about character, values, how to conduct ourselves in the world. How the Society was a not a lifetime membership but a forever membership, whatever that meant. They also said that membership came with unimaginable benefits but also high expectations.”
Hayes rubs his stubble and nods. “That’s similar to how Ingram and I and a few others were inducted. There was a recording of Father’s voice—no Mother at the time.” He shakes his head. “We all thought the secrecy and mystery was kinda cool, and since we were never asked for money or membership dues or our first born child, it seemed safe enough. Just a variation on the classic fraternity stuff, we thought.”
Hayes almost smiles as he reminisces. I’m thinking back too, but without a smile.
“Unimaginable benefits,” I say softly, thinking about the other two women who’d been inducted with me. India and Janelle, if I remember right. We lost touch over the years, but I hear their names pop up in various circles. Exclusive circles. Circles that ooze money, drip power. Those women are millionaires too, just like I am. And at the top of their fields, just like I am. I glance over at Hayes, and I think about his buddy with the ring. These guys are wildly successful too, aren’t they? Is there anyone from the Society who isn’t wildly successful?
“Your buddy who was in here earlier,” I say. “Clearly he’s wealthy too. Who else do you know from the Society?”
Hayes frowns. “Ingram and James,” he says. Then he shakes his head. “That’s it, far as I can remember. Three of us men from my class. And I guess I know you now, so that’s four.”
“There’s two more women,” I say softly, blinking as I try to remember that long spiel about values and conduct that Mother and Father recited to us in that recording. “Rich, successful, powerful women. In fact all six of us are rich, successful, and powerful.”
Hayes twists his face into a quizzical frown. “So? What’s your point?”
“Probably nothing,” I say quickly. “Just wondering if it’s a coincidence or if all six of us had help along the way to wealth and power.”
Hayes stares like I’m crazy. Then his eyes go cold and he shakes his head. “I built my own fucking empire,” he growls.
“Nobody builds their own empire,” I say. “We all had help. We all had opportunities that not everyone had. We all had lucky breaks that helped us.”
Hayes takes a long breath like he’s trying not to lose his patience. “I still don’t see your point,” he grunts.
“Mother and Father said the Society would provide unimaginable benefits,” I say slowly. “But along with that comes high expectations.” I pause and blink. “On the phone calls we just got, Mother and Father said they disapprove. Which sounds like we aren’t meeting the Society’s expectations about something.”
Hayes rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. “Even if I ignore how laughable it is for either of us to be bound by some secret pledges we made when we were no more than kids, how the fuck would Mother and Father know where we are and what we’re doing?”
I glance at my phone and look up at him. “You know that we all have like a hundred apps that have permission to use the phone’s camera, location, and microphone, right? Information about everywhere we go, everything we say, and everything we do is being tracked and stored in databases across the cloud. Anyone with access to those databases would know exactly what we’re up to 24-7.”
Hayes stares at the broken remains of his phone. Then he glances at my phone and holds out his hand.
“Um, no,” I say, clutching my phone to my breast like it’s the source of my happiness. “I’m waiting for my accountants to call back. Then depending on what they say, I need to call the police. Or maybe the FBI.”
Hayes snorts. “The cops will be more confused than we are. And I certainly don’t want the FBI digging into every transaction I ever made. They’ll want to interrogate everyone I ever did business with, and rumors will start spreading that I’m in big legal trouble. The moment that happens, my reputation will be shattered. Nobody will touch me with a ten-foot pole. Nobody will lend me money for fear of landing on some FBI watchlist.” He shakes his head again. “I want to keep this quiet until we figure out what’s going on.”
I do my best to control my breathing. I know the rational thing to do is call in the professionals. Hayes does have a point about reputation, about how it would look if the FBI starts investigating our business partners and contacts. But how else do we get our money and assets restored? We have to call in the big guns, right? Use brute force and awesome power? It’s the only way, right?
“Unless . . .” I mutter out loud as my mind goes back to that weird message, that voicing of disapproval, like Mother and Father were scolding their kids for doing something bad. Maybe trying to teach them a lesson.
I look up at Hayes, once again thinking of how the six of us are all rich, all powerful, all . . . single?
“Unless what?” Hayes says, looking at his gold Rolex and frowning like he’s late for supper.
I shake my head and bite my lip. “Unless this is a game,” I say softly. “Or a puzzle. A test. A lesson. Mother and Father trying to guide us, teach us something, help us grow up right.”
“You kidding me?” Hayes growls. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Well, think about it this way,” I say excitedly. “The organization is called the Society, right? And what’s the fundamental unit of society?”
Hayes shrugs. “One person. A man or a woman.”
I shake my head. “Actually, no. Society starts to form when people join together. And the smallest number of people that can join together is two, right? And what societal institution is the oldest way of uniting two people?”
Hayes sighs like he doesn’t like this game. “What?” he says.
“Marriage,” I whisper. “Marriage, Hayes. Look at what the six remaining members of the Society have in common: We’re all rich, powerful, and . . . single! And if the Society has been silently helping us become rich and powerful over the years, wouldn’t it make sense that they’re now turning their attention to what’s missing in all our lives?”
Hayes stares again like I’m crazy—and this time I don’t blame him. Still, I can’t he
lp but feel like I’m onto something, and when my phone suddenly beeps, I’m certain I’m onto something!
I stare at the message and then hold it up for Hayes to see. It’s a text from my accountant:
Good news. One of your smaller accounts just popped back online. Not sure what happened, but hopefully it’s a sign that it’s all just a technical glitch. We’re still working with the banks to figure out what happened. Will update you ASAP.
“Ohmygod, I was right!” I squeal, looking at the phone and wondering if Mother and Father are looking back at me and Hayes like proud parents. “It is a test! And we just got one question right! Here. Call your accountant. I bet one of your smaller accounts just came back too!”
Hayes is still staring like I’m a lunatic, but he takes my phone and makes the call. A moment later we’re staring at each other with a mixture of delight and disbelief. We still don’t know exactly what’s going on or what we have to do, but at least we know how to win points in the game.
And maybe even how to win all the points in the game.
5
HAYES
I point at her phone, and she nods and turns it off. Just to be safe, I take it from her and jam it between the leather cushions of the couch at the far end of the room. Then I walk back toward Hannah, trying not to be derailed by the sight of her torn panties on the coffee table.
But by the time I get close to her I’m totally fucking derailed, and all I can think about is that she’s wearing nothing under that black skirt. And before I can stop myself I’m thinking back to that red-hot moment where I ripped those panties off and almost made her mine. Fuck, I can still smell her pussy on my fingers, still taste her sweetness on my tongue, still feel the need to claim her deep and hard. I’d been distracted by Mother and Father and their fucking “disapproval,” but clearly my cock never took its attention off the prize.
“What do you think Mother and Father disapprove of?” I say, standing as close to her as I can without touching her. Each breath I take of her scent gets me harder, and I hope to heaven that this test isn’t about how long I can hold myself back from her.
“Well,” says Hannah, trying not to make eye contact. But I already see her cheeks glow from the blood rushing to her face. “All we know is that it involves the topic of marriage. So maybe we need to push on that front.”
I grin and do my best not to blurt out exactly what front I’d like to push on, and when I see her stifle an embarrassed laugh, I know she’s thinking along the same lines. “Or the topic of sex,” I say. “After all, that’s where things were headed. They weren’t headed to marriage, far as I remember.”
Hannah turns even redder, pulling her jacket tighter around her chest like she doesn’t want to be reminded that my face was in there not so long ago, my hands all the way up her skirt. “Well, maybe that’s what Mother and Father disapprove of,” she says.
“Sex before marriage?” I say. “That seems a bit tight-assed in this day and age, don’t you think?”
Hannah shrugs and looks away, and I frown when I see her expression.
“What? You disagree?” I say, almost in disbelief. “You aren’t a virgin, are you?”
“No,” she says, still not looking at me. “But I generally don’t have sex outside a relationship. Not casually, I mean. Not with a stranger. Never with a stranger.” Then she looks directly at me and swallows hard. “You?” she says softly.
I scratch my head and exhale hard, looking around the room and grinning like I can’t believe we just went from freaking out about empty bank accounts to having an awkward conversation about sex.
“Me what?” I ask, trying to stall as I avoid eye contact. “Am I a virgin? Or do I have sex with strangers?”
“All of the above,” she says softly, not coming any closer but not backing away either.
“Depends. Are you a stranger?” I whisper, side-stepping the questions with one of my own.
She shrugs. Then she shakes her head and gives me a look that almost makes me melt. “Doesn’t feel like it,” she says.
“Good,” I whisper, taking a step closer. I want to kiss her, but it’s no longer that simple. Not with Mother and Father’s approval on the line.
I almost laugh at how ridiculous it sounds to be thinking of being judged by some all-knowing parental figureheads. It feels vaguely religious, even though the Society never had a hint of religion in its rules, far as I remember. But Hannah is right: There was something about benefits and expectations, about character and conduct, about the difference between right and wrong.
And in some way I have conducted myself by the rules, haven’t I? I’m a tough motherfucker in a negotiation, but every one of my business deals creates value for both parties. I’ve never screwed someone over, never stolen, cheated, or even lied to win a deal or crush a competitor. Sure, I’ve found it useful to cultivate a reputation of being a cut-throat killer in the business world; but anyone who’s actually dealt with me knows I’m a man of honor. I’ve also maintained a reputation for being the player everyone expects a billionaire stud like me to be. Truth is, a lot of my former “lovers” never stepped foot into my bedroom.
I look into Hannah’s eyes as my mind sweeps over the memories of my charmed life. All the deals that seemed to drop into my lap out of the sky. The way opportunities would come my way as if I had a Midas Touch, a connection to the gods. The way coincidences would lead me to a major deal or investment like I was following a trail of magical clues. Huh. Maybe Hannah’s onto something about Mother and Father and the Society working behind the scenes to benefit us in unimaginable ways. If they can wipe out bank accounts in a second, surely they’ve got their fingers in all kinds of things, pulling all sorts of levers of power and influence.
Suddenly something shifts in my head, and it’s like I’m seeing patterns in my past, coincidences and occurrences that seemed random at the time but part of a plan in hindsight. Hell, there were times when I’d get random pop-up ads online that led me to make deals that people thought were insane at the time but ended up catapulting me to the next level.
And so is this a setup to catapult us to the next level, I wonder as I look into Hannah’s eyes. And if so, why would Mother and Father stop us right before we got together? Why wipe both of us out financially and put us in this position? What do they want us to do? What do they want us to choose? What do they want us to learn?
“What almost happened between us earlier,” I say softly. “Did you think it was going to be a one-time thing?”
Hannah looks up at me but doesn’t answer. I know why she’s hesitating, and so I confess first.
“I didn’t,” I say gently. “I’d already decided it was forever, Hannah. I decided you were mine, and that I was gonna keep you forever. Forever, Hannah.” I almost choke on the words, shaken by how vulnerable I suddenly feel, like I just gave up my power, gave it to her. Suddenly all that shit about money and assets feels trivial, and my heart pounds harder than it has all day as I wait for Hannah’s reply.
It’s like her reply means the world to me, like it’s all I have in the world, all I want, all I need. And in that moment, as I stand there exposed and vulnerable like a teenager professing his love, I understand why Mother and Father set up the game this way, to take away the wealth and power so we could understand real wealth, understand real power, understand real love.
And understand that real love is priceless.
And so I don’t wait for a reply. I just cup her pretty face in my big hands, lean in, and kiss her with all the sincerity I have. She gasps and shudders, looking up at me in disbelief.
“We just lost the game,” she whispers.
“No,” I say. “We just won.”
And as I lean in for another kiss, her face lights up and I know she understands. She understands that Mother and Father wanted to present a choice by suggesting that if we go ahead with this, we’ll lose all our wealth.
They wanted to see if we’d do it anyway.
If
we’d trade all the riches of our past for a chance at the untold joy of our future.
And the answer is yes.
Always yes.
Forever yes.
6
HANNAH
I say yes in my mind because my lips are too damned busy right now. The kiss is so powerful I almost swoon, and as Hayes pulls me into his hard body, it occurs to me that this kiss feels deeply profound, like we’re both making a choice.
A choice to give ourselves to each other no matter what the consequences.
Somehow I know Mother and Father set it up to make it seem like they disapprove of what we were about to do. They wanted to see if we’d do it anyway. If we’d realize we might lose everything we worked for but say fuck it and go ahead anyway. They wanted t see if we didn’t even have to think about the price, because we knew in our hearts we’d pay any price for our forever.
“I knew this was forever too, Hayes,” I mumble as he breaks from the kiss and runs his hands down along my curves, around my back, down past my ass and slowly up my skirt from behind. “I don’t know how I knew, but I did.”
“I love you, Hannah,” Hayes whispers into my hair as he carefully pulls my skirt up over my bottom and cups my rear globes in his big hands. “I already feel like we’re bonded, like we’ve travelled to hell and back together, lost it all to find each other.”
“Like a fairytale,” I say, my eyelids fluttering as he massages my ass and grinds his erection against my naked crotch from the front. “Um, a very adult fairytale, that is.”
Hayes laughs. “Maybe Mother and Father are actually Fairy Godmother and Godfather,” he says through a sloppy grin as I feel him get bigger and harder against my mound.
“I’ve heard of Fairy Godmothers,” I say. “Not sure about Fairy Godfathers, though.”
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