CHAPTER 18 - ELLIE

I walk into the private dining room to see three of my best friends sitting in front of the four men we used to refer to as the Morton Brothers.

Bailey looks pale and tired. She has her hands clasped in her lap. She is definitely grinding her teeth. Her shoulders look tense. She must be very scared and nervous. She used to be a very sensitive young woman. I am sure not much has changed about that in the last ten years.

Ava also seems nervous. She is wringing her hands in her lap. She is a beautiful woman even now with the tattoos on her body. Her look reminds me of a delicate poisonous flower. I am sure she is still a force to be reconned with.

Rachel still looks like she could be mother hen. She used to listen to everyone's problems and always tried to give good advice without offering and opinion on the situation. I always thought that required great skill and restraint. I usually just uttered whatever came to my mind.

Ryan tells the girls that he has someone they need to see. At that moment the waiter closes the door behind me. The girls turn around and Rachel stands up. She looks absolutely tired and worn out. The day must have been too much for her. This morning was, after all, my funeral. Rachel looks like she is about to lose her balance. I step closer to her and she grasps onto me in a tight hug. I have never seen Rachel cry. She would become sad or emotional but I have never seen her cry.

Tears sting my eyes as Rachel starts to sob. Ava stands up and put her arms around the both of us. Bailey follows quickly.

Bailey suddenly takes a step back. She looks at me, her eyes wide and filled with fear.

"Ellie! Were you at your funeral this morning?" She looks at the clothes I am wearing. I didn't want to go to the funeral. I stayed in a private room in a high security complex where I knew I would be safe. I have been staying there for the last week. Today I wore a red dress that looks like it was made for me. I didn't often wear red because of my hair colour. Somehow the red of my hair just started looking orange to me whenever I wore a red dress. This red dress is a deep red. It somehow makes my hair look like liquid lava.

"No, I wasn't Bay. Why do you ask?" I hold my hand out to her and rub her shoulder gently.

"There was a woman in the back of the church. She was sitting in the top gallery and she was completely clothed in black. I couldn't see her face because she had a hat on with netting that draped over her eyes. I did, however, see her brightly painted red lips because she was smiling the broadest of smiles. It was odd for a funeral. I got distracted for a second and she was gone."

Bailey tells this with an uncertain and nervous voice. The moment she said there was a woman in the church Ryan pulled out his phone. I can hear him mumbling into it and then he turns to give Greyson a worried look. They do not speak.

"Okay, don't worry about it. Sit down. Let me explain." I turn to take the empty seat at the table. When everyone is seated the waiter knocks on the door and opens it slightly. Ryan nods at him and he enters the room. Ryan orders a variety of drinks. He always used to do this when we were out together. He could remember everyone's preferences and found it easier if one person spoke to the waiter. His aim was always to get rid of the waiter as quick as possible. After the waiter leave, I see the broad smile on Rachel's lips. Ryan remembered everyone's drink orders from ten years ago. Rachel is obviously impressed.

I look at Greyson who nods at me. I need to tell the girls what happened.

"A few days ago, I had an accidental encounter with Greyson. This was the first time I saw him in ten years. He was very surprised that I didn't go to study as we planned during high school. The encounter was upsetting to me and I went home that night and finished a bottle of gin."

Ava pulls a face that shows that she knows how sick I was the following day. She may also know then that I almost died.

"I passed out on the floor of my bedroom. I do not know why Greyson came searching for me but he found me there and took me to a private physician. I spent a day or two in a very private hospital. Greyson was the only person I saw while I was there. We got to talk a lot and we had a lot of time to talk about the past and how things ended between us. We also had a lot of time to talk about everything that happened after that."

I look at Greyson who looks at me encouragingly. He has been really supportive in all of this.

"It tuns out that Marcella did everything in her power to ruin my life." I look at each of the girls. They have expressions of sympathy and care. I appreciate that they do not feel sorry for me. I tell them about that last day of school. I tell them about the trip to Paris. I tell them that I met with Marcella there and how she manipulated the situation and forced me to be penniless in a foreign country. I tell them how I got back here too late to start my course at the university but then found that even if I made it back in time, I would not have been able to do my studies. All my courses have been cancelled. My apartment contract has been cancelled and I had nowhere to go.

I stop talking. My throat feels tight. I only had terrible choices to choose from after that.

Greyson looks at me and nods again. He sits forward and places his elbows on the table.

"After I took Ellie to the private hospital, we spent a lot of time discussing everything that happened. In the last few years, the four of us" he indicates to the brothers with his one hand, "have acquired an extraordinary team of private investigators. We realised that last day of school that our mother was willing to go through great lengths to keep the four of you away from us." He looks at Ellie and smiles lovingly at her. "Ellie, unfortunately was her first victim. We thought after breaking contact with all of you she would leave you alone and let you live your lives in peace. Unfortunately, she already set her plans in motion and it already had an effect on each of your lives. We promised her not to search for you to give her enough peace of mind to leave you alone. Today I wish we never made that promise. If we checked on the four of you, your lives would have been very different."

"That is when I convinced Ellie to let us bury her. Let my mother think she is dead. It would bring you three here and probably her too. Marcella has gone into hiding two years ago. Ryan confronted her and she lashed out at him. She promised that we will never be rid of her."

Ryan sits forward in his seat also.

"We know there is not much we could do to make up for the last ten years. We also know that apologising for our mother's vindictiveness does not make anything better. We do however hope that you will accept our promise that we would do whatever it takes to right any wrongs done onto you. We will also make sure that you are safe and protected at all times. We have placed detail on you from the moment we were able to make contact with you."

There is a slight knock on the door and the waiter appears with our drinks. He places the drinks in front of each of us and tells us that the food will be brought in shortly.

Rachel shakes her head gently "I don't think I can eat"

She sits with her hands folded over her stomach. This day has really been too much for her.

"The three of you are welcome to stay in my apartment for the time being." I tell the girls. They look tired. I think it is best if they go to rest.

"I will come by in the morning to discuss the best way forward with all of you." Adrien tells the girls, even though he specifically looks at Ava.

Rachel excuses herself. She bends down to hug me and tells me that she is glad that I am alive. Emotion well up in my chest. I had forgotten how close we were when we were young.

Bailey also excuses herself to go with Rachel. I suspect that Ava only joined not to be the last one left at the table. The three of them walk back to my apartment in silence.

"Make sure they are safe" Ryan tells Adrien before he gets up to leave.