The Futile Effort

Part 3

EVA POV

"Ben, are you all right?" I walked to him and trying to touch his nose, but he stepped back. He zipped his pants, adjusted shirt and blazer.

"I better go. I don't want anyone to see me like this." He said quickly to me and disappeared in the dark alley.

"What were you thinking?!" Julia snapped at me. "You're unbelievable! Of all the nights you had to screw him today?! Were you waiting for Jess to found you two?"

"I didn't think, ok?!"I said harshly, trying to process what had just happened. "I didn't think Ben will come, and when he did, I lost my mind! You don't know what is like to be in love with someone."

Julia held her breath and slapped me. For the first time in my entire life.

"Jess should do that, instead of me. But she's more civilized that you ever be... I don't know why she's so patient with you... You're bitch to her." Julia said and left me.

After a while I composed myself, and tried to sneaked out to the house. The servants were giving me odd looks, because of my ruined dress and make-up. Unfortunately my mother spotted me, with Julia by her side.

"You're here, finally. I was worrying about you." She said and looked at me, gasping. "Oh my god! What happened to you? Jess did this?" She asked, getting angry. "I will tell her a few words from me!"

"Don't. Better don't." Julia said sharply, stopping my mother's rant. "It wasn't Jess. She'll not behave like this. It was Ben. And your precious older daughter is whore. You just could let me married Jess. It will be easier for everyone. Especially for Jess. She didn't deserve such a humiliation."

I hold my breath and glared angrily at Julia. How could she just told everything to mom?

My mother looked at me with disbelieving, but not founding other answer in me, she cried. Julia patted her back, holding her own emotions.

"Mom, I'm really sorry. It's just this marriage isn't..."

"It's real. You were the one who turned for help to Hunters. You were the one who agreed on this contract. I hoped that you started taking it seriously. But I was wrong. I'm ashamed of you. You disrespected Jess in a worst possible way. I don't know how I'll look into her eyes again after this."

She shook her head and left me with fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.

After a while a maid came to me.

"Jess wanted me to take you to your room. She said that tomorrow morning at ten she'll be waiting for you, miss, at the main entrance."

"What for?" I asked mindlessly.

The maid felt uneasy.

"Your honeymoon, I believe, miss."

"Oh..." It was all I could say.

We went through the long corridor and a maid pointed door at the left.

"It's your room, miss."

"What about others? Where is Jess' room?" I asked, before I stopped myself.

"On the right side." She pointed the closed door. "But Jess insisted to not interrupt her, miss." She said quickly.

"Why do you call her by the name? Isn't it disrespectful?" The maid blushed.

"It's Jess wish. She don't like calling her miss or madame."

I nodded and dismissed girl. When she vanished I stood on the corridor and went to Jess' door. I wanted to knock, but held my hand away, and turned to my room. It was too much for one evening. I will talk to her tomorrow.