Chapter 4: My Little Secret

JEFFREY

I felt him move away from me, he had a proud smirk on his face. I look away in embarrassment realizing that I had only proved his point.

“Dinner is ready, Jeffrey. Come down when you’re done.”

I waited for the door to close behind him, before running to ensure it was locked. I leaned against the door to calm myself down. i was hard, just being naked in the same room as Ronald made me hard.

I didn’t want him to notice. But why does my body react like that around him? I’ve never liked a guy before, so what was it about him?

I hated it.

Ronald was already at the dinning when I got there.

“I thought you wouldn’t come down, Jeffrey.” He said as he served himself. “I was about to start without you.”

I rolled my eyes, why does he call my name like that? “You didn’t have to wait.”

The spread in front of me made me realize how hungry I was. The scent was so tempting I couldn’t help but wonder how good it would taste.

I filled my plate and had just begun eating when my phone started buzzing on the table, nonstop.

It was an old female friend. We hadn’t seen each other in years, and I had messaged her earlier that I was in her area, in case she wanted to meet up. I guessed she was just seeing it now.

Ronald made a face to me, probably wondering why I wouldn’t check my phone. I muted it instead, I’d reach back to her when he wasn’t so close to monitor me.

**********

I searched for Ronald in almost every room only to find him outside, reading a book by the pool. I didn’t even glance at the book to see what he was reading.

“I’m going out for a bit,” I called out to him. “I’d be back before midnight.”

He raised his head slowly. “Midnight? We have a meeting tomorrow.”

“I know. I wouldn’t miss it.” I said, already turning to leave.

I grabbed one of the cars and made my way to the location I and Zera agreed to meet.

We hugged immediately we met. We were best friends in college. There were obvious feelings then but we never dated, nor did we do anything about it.

But I liked her, and tonight she could help me prove that I was not into men.

“How have you been Jeff?! You look good!” she screamed, squealing and jumping around in excitement.

I laughed and pulled her into another warm hug, and we walked into the cafe together.

Zera had a lot to talk about, about her last relationship, some messy breakups, and gossip about girls we used to know. It was nostalgic. For a while, everything felt the same.

Except I wasn’t the same. I no longer felt the same excitement I used to feel.

Her touches were insignificant to my skin, my name of her lips were just mere words. They didn’t feel as seductive as when Ronald called it.

Or when he looked down at me with those intimidating eyes boring into mine. Or when he stood too close, breathing steadily, waiting to see if I’d break first... Oh and his…

“Jeffrey… Jeff!” Zera called waving her hand in front of me. “Where the hell did your mind wander off to man?”

Oh shit. Why was I thinking about him? When I was with Zera, someone I liked.

“Sorry,” I chuckled, rubbing my hair. “I was just remembering old times. It feel like such a long time ago.”

She smiled. “Yeah. Come on, let’s get something to eat and drink!”

**********

It was really late, but it wasn’t midnight yet. I had to drop Zera off before driving back to Ronald’s mansion.

Ronald was sitting in the lounge when I walked him. The room was really dark, except for the small white light around where he sat.

He had a cup of coffee beside him and was reading a book. He didn’t strike me as the reading type.

“I’m back.” I announced quietly. I don’t think he would actually care if didn’t make it back.

“It’s almost midnight.” He responded, his voice sounded cold and the dark room only made it more eerie.

“I guess I’m on time then.”

He sighed, closed his book and stood up. “We came here for a business meeting. If you have other things to do you can get it done after…

Or you come here on your own terms.” He said before walking up the stairs and disappearing into the dark lobby.

“What a dad.” I muttered. I didn’t think that would bother him as long as I’m showing up. Did he wait for me to come back?

I sighed and headed upstairs.

Once I was settled in my room, I pulled out my laptop to work on the next chapters of my book. That was my little secret… my double life.

By day, I was Jeffrey. By night, I was Raven Black. A bestselling author with millions of readers worldwide. No one knew who I really was, and I preferred it that way.

I set my alarm for the next morning, Ronald had made it clear that we were to leave early.

“Just two chapters.” I promised myself, “Two chapters and I’d go to bed.”

**********

RONALD

My alarm rang softly beside my bed. It wasn’t loud as I wasn’t a light sleeper. I turned over and shut it off.

I did a quick run on the treadmill to get my energy up for the day, before freshening up to get ready for my day.

The office was at least an hour from here and I would very much love to beat the city’s traffic.

I picked up my phone and dialed for my driver. “Get the car ready. I’d be out in 30.”

An odd thing about being filthy wealthy is having a closet full of identical clothing. Anyway I picked out a dark blue suit.

‘Jeffrey should be ready by now.’ I thought to myself as I approached his door. There was hardly a sound coming from it.

“Jeffrey.” I knocked once, lightly. No response.

I turned the handle slowly, it wasn’t locked.

What I saw next made the veins in my forehead tighten.