Duplicitous (F.C)

Environmentally Conscious

After shutting the door, A deep exhale escapes my lips as I get a moment to collect myself. My suitcase that sat next to the chair was no longer there, causing me to panic. As I look through the armoire I realized all of my belongings have been unpacked, which caused me to panic. "Sorry about, mum." Felix come through the door, surprisingly still in his causal button up and jeans. "Don't take it personally." He makes himself comfortable on the freshly made bed. "Someone unpack my suitcase?"

"Shit. I should have warned you that they do that here." My stomach drops, knowing that someone ravished through my belongings. "The maids all report back to mum by the way, so I hope you didn't pack anything scandalous." He jokes and I laugh along. "Just my old boxers." He lays back on the bed. "They're used to that, don't worry." He pulls himself back up. "Duncan will be thrilled." He stands from the bed as something catches his eye. "I hope you don't mind , I had them hang up an old school dinner jacket."

"We, er... we dress for dinner here, so I didn't want you to be caught short." A simple text would've sufficed. "Dress for dinner?" He looks to the floor as if he's embarrassed of his family's traditions. "Like black tie." Felix states as if it's not a problem. "I could've brought one." It's not as if I didn't have one during the ball a few days ago. "I had a spare, it'd be a waste. Do you have cuff links though?" I turn to him in disbelief. "Don't worry, we'll get it sorted." Silence fills the room."I'm sorry that everything is so old fashioned." I shrug. "It's fine." Felix walks towards the door. "See you at dinner, Ollie."

       Felix pardons himself to go get ready for the extravagant dinner; not hearing the lock click on his side of the door, I go to make sure he's aware. Passing the dressing room, the sound of water filling the tub echos through the hall. My brows furrow as I notice that the door isn't shut all the way, making me wonder if he had did it intentionally "Felix?" Calliope's voice echos through the wooden door. "Come in." A spike of adrenaline rushes through me as the brunette walks through the door in a silk gown. "Care for some company?" She takes down her silky brunette hair. "Environmentally conscious, are we?" Felix towers over her with just a towel hanging on his waist. "Very." She grins as Felix undoes the black belt of her robe. "Ladies first."

Calliope turns, allowing Felix to shed the rest of the robe. My heart rate fastens as I take in her appearance before she turns back to Felix, her toned body flushed against his. "Your turn." Her lustful gaze matches The boy towering over her. Making her way into the tub, the warmth from the water flushes her olive skin. "My pleasure." Callie chuckles, falling into his embrace once he's in the tub. "Do you think tonight will go well?" She looks up at Felix. "Mum adores you, my father... well, he appreciates the finer things from afar." Her body tenses against his.

"If they change their mind, will that change us?" Selfishly... I wanted it to, and maybe that's why I confessed to Elspeth. "Why are you worried, C?" He lathers her shoulders with soap to avoid giving her a clear answer . "They all adore you in their own ways" Calliope makes circles in the water, erasing her saddened reflection in the soapy water. "I think Ollie's going to fit in well." The conversation upset her enough to change the subject. "Pamela seemed smitten with him." Felix remains perplexed; most likely pondering on if he should circle the conversation back.

"Venetia will finally have someone else to play with." Calliope furrows her brows. "Meaning, I no longer have to share." Felix softly kisses the length of her neck. "I'm not keen on the idea of lending what's mine." She grins, collapsing underneath Felix's touch as he continues his trail of kisses. Almost as if he's marking her as his territory. "I'll forever be yours." She turns her body, both Felix and I taking in glistening features. "I believe we have some unfinished business to tend to." She was what I wanted but something I would never have, unless something changed

"Oliver, I figured I would hand deliver your cuff links." Elspeth's voice echos through my room. "Shit." I mutter to myself, quickly trying to make myself presentable. "Everything okay, Oliver?"She looks past me, curious as to why I wasn't in my tux after exiting the dressing room. "Went to use the loo, but Felix seems to be occupying it at the moment." She hums, buying my white lie. She'd be horrified to know about my peeping, but sickened to know what her son is doing in the next room over. "Lucky for you, we have more powder rooms than we have use for." She motions for me to follow her. "Rich people, have more than they know what to do with, yet shy from the ones that need it most." She shakes her head, knowing that she's part of the problem.

"Agreed." She haults in her tracks. "Is it? Do you believe us to be the problem?" My heart sinks, wondering if I had just said my words aloud. "You taking me in for the summer is anything but." One thing about Elspeth teetering on the edge of narcissism, she cared deeply about the way people perceive her. "Glad we're on the same page, Oliver." She grins before showing me to the bathroom that I didn't have use for. "I shall leave you to it." Bathrooms seem to be where most carry hidden things that they don't wish for others to '

Once I felt that the coast is clear, I begin to rummage through the storage in the bathroom. I'm upsettingly disappointed by the lack of originality that the Catton's and their staffing seem to share amongst each other. Opening the medicine cabinet, I seem to have hit the jackpot. It feels as if I just transported into the nearest pharmacy. "Holy fuck." I mutter as my eyes glaze over the prescription bottles. Taken in the wrong dosage, most of them would kill you within a matter of minutes. I genuinely wondered if they had all of these prescriptions because they could pay the doctor off, or if they truly at some point needed the medication. I guess we'll never know.

I make my way to the dining table, everyone is already sat which made me feel slightly embarrassed. "Come sit, Oliver." Pamela pats the seat beside her. "Erm..." I try to look for another empty seat, but everyone is already socializ ' ing and comfortable. "Okay." Forcing a smile onto my lips. Calliope and Felix share a chuckle as I try to settle in my set as comfortably as one could in my predicament. "Shall we start, Duncan?" Elspeth calls; it seems as if all the shots here in the estate seem to be made by her. Jamesfronts the funding, whilst Elspeth throws it like confetti. "You clean up rather richly." Pamela drunkenly sways in her seat. "Thanks."

Wanting to endulge in any conversation but this one, I turn to Venita who's vastly interested in the conversation across the table. "Seems as if something's caught your eye." Her gaze lingers on the couple; Felix's arm dangles over her delicate shoulder, Calliope laces her fingers with his as they interact with his parents. Calliopes gesture us more likely than not out of nervousness. Her lilac dress seems to brighten her darkened featured, no wonder Felix held onto her like a prized possession. "She's changed him." Venetia analyzes her brother as she sips the red liquid in her glass. "He still seems like a stand up guy; I mean, he brought me in whilst I had nowhere else to go."

"You're no different than the other's, Oliver." She pauses, her gaze finally meeting mine. "Other's" Her smile seems cryptic. "Not my secret to share, but I will admit, you're my favorite straggler amongst the rest of them." Venetia places a firm grip on my upper thigh. "And what secret are we not sharing with the table?' It's not a family affair without farleigh embarrassing someone. "Mind your manners, why don't you?" Venetia scolds her obnoxious cousin's outburst. "Not at the table." Elspeth clears her throat. "Everyone holds a secret." She glances at Calliope, which makes her shift underneath Felix. "Which will stay outside of these four walls tonight, agreed?' We nod, continuing with dinner.