An Arangement (DeadRoseGarden and Josu_T)

[Josu_T]

With the noise of a soft bell the elevator doors opened and Chris Doyle stepped in. He quickly turned and hit the button for one of the upper floors. Normally he would not care that he was taking the long trip up, but this time it just meant a long time to think. He was going to see his father who had something to talk about. Chris had no idea what and it made him nervous. Usually his father was quite open about everything. It wasn't usual for there to be secrets between father and son. Chris just hoped it wasn't anything bad related to business. He had recently taken over as head of a minor company attached to his father's corperation and he had free reign to do as he pleased. He fully intended to use his Ivy League business degree to turn that company into a big power. Of course the family's connections were great, but only Chris could decide how to use them. If that was being taken from him he wouldn't know what to do.

The doors opened on the proper floor after what had seemed like an eternity. He slowly walked past the secretary and through the hallway of office doors. He reached another large room and a secretary at the far end simply nodded. Chris passed her and went through a door into a large office that was lavishly furnished. His father was sitting at the desk typing. When he heard Chris he stopped and looked up. With a silent indication to sit and a neutral expression Chris knew it was something serious.

He sat across from the man who he was only really getting to know now that he was older. His father had always been busy when Chris was young, but now that he showed promise and skill for making business decisions things had changed. There was a long pause before the older man turned and opened a briefcase and carefully pulled out a very old document. It looked like it was at least a hundred years old, though it had clearly been taken care of. It seemed important. Finally Mr. Doyle spoke up. "This is one of the contract from one of the first major deals my great grandfather made. It is one of the main reasons our family has been wealthy for generations. Everything that followed this shaped the business empire that my father inherited and that I inherited after him and that you will inherit when it is time. But this contract is not complete. There are two major clauses of importance. I want you to read through it and tell me what you think they might be."

Chris picked up the papers and carefully read through the old legal jargon. He wasn't able to figure out what would be of importance in the present day. He looked at his father and shrugged. The older man smiled and pointed carefully to a paragraph that stated that the two families involved in the contract would become one through marriage. Chris was confused. "What does it mean?"

"That hasn't happened yet. Neither family has been able to provide a daughter. Until now. She has just turned nineteen and is old enough to take up her end of the bargain. Just as you will have to do your part. You will marry her and then the contract will be completely fulfilled."

Chris was stunned. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't get married. At least not yet. He was having too much fun being single. Apart from working all he did was have fun. He would go to parties and pick up different girls all the time. With his 6'3", broad shouldered frame, blue eyes, light brown hair, and gently tanned skin, he had no problem getting girls. Plus it didn't hurt that he had millions of dollars and everything that went with that. If he was married he would be expected to give up all that stuff and settle down. He could not do that. He was about to protest when his father pointed at the final clause. It stated that if the families failed to meet every point of the contract then the banks would gain everything that came out of the deal. Because it was such an old deal and it could be said that much that they had came from it, they could lose a lot. Christ then thought of something. "But what if the banks have forgotten about this? Surely they aren't keeping track."

His father sighed and shook his head. "I was hoping the same thing, but there was a call from a lawyer just the other day. Apparently you need to be married to her within one year, by the time she turns twenty, or the bank will consider the contract failed and they will take what they deem came from the deal. I have no doubt that they will try to take as much as they possibly can." Chris stared out the window feeling unsure of what to do. It seemed he was stuck.

 

[DeadRoseGarden]

It would be a week later that Angela would find herself, without any explanation, being pulled from Julliard and throw onto a plane only to be picked up by the family driver and brought to a home she had never seen in her life. A party! For her! She was certain that was what was going on and just when she thought her family had forgotten her 19th birthday! Granted it was a week late but it was something.

Angela sadly was unaware why her parents had avoided celebrating her 19th birthday. They were about to give away their only child to a man who had been notorious for sleeping around. Angela was helped from the car by the driver, waiting in perfect posture for him to open the door and offer the hand to help her out. Still dressed in her leotard and tights the petite dancer stepped up to the front of the location she believed was to be a party the Mary Jane styled two inch heels clacking happily as she went to the door the driver ringing the bell.

Standing in the black leotard her chestnut spine length hair twisted in a tight bun atop her head with glitter sparkling in the front from a prop they had been using. Her smooth caramel colored skin, short stature of only 5’, and olive green eyes spoke of the nature of her mother, a Hispanic woman, but the man who married the Hispanic woman was represented in her posture. She looked like a rich girl and that was what she was. She was a good girl though, never chasing after men and in truth having only dated a few times in her life. Little did she know this was far from a party as she was being brought to meet her future husband, a man who did as he pleased when he pleased.

 

[Josu_T]

Over the week following his meeting with his father Chris was extremely distracted. He couldn't think about anything except the change that was about to happen in his life. He didn't fight it because he knew they couldn't win any argument with the bank. The legal situation was clear and a legal battle would take too long and cost too much money. It was simply easier for Chris to marry the girl and appease the bank. Apparently the banks were hoping that the two families would be unwilling to force their children into marriage. Chris was making the decision because it was in his own interest for his future. The fact that he had never met his bride-to-be was an annoyance, but he didn't really have an option if he wanted to be successful. He didn't know why the other family was going through with it. Part of him wished that there was some kind of loophole where if the other family didn't agree then his family would not be punished, but he had a feeling it wouldn't work that way.

When he found out that his future wife was going to be arriving at his parents' home he was surprised but intrigued. He made sure he was there when his father told him to be there. Normally he'd be out on a date, but to secure his future he was willing to give up one night of fun. He just hoped he would be able to get back to his regular lifestyle without much of a delay. When he arrived at his parents' home he was greeted by his mother. He joined her in a small sitting room and they started to talk about the situation. She wanted to make sure he was sure about his decision. He shrugged. It was fine with him. It wasn't as if it would change much. He wouldn't let it. When he said that his mother was really upset. She started to explain to him that he couldn't be a jerk to his wife. He couldn't ignore her and he couldn't be unfaithful. If he was going to actually marry the girl he would need to commit to her. It was what was right and if he didn't she said she would get his father to cut him off.

Chris was stunned. He hadn't thought she would feel that strongly. It seemed he had three options. He could simply say no and live his life his way. If he did that he would be ruined financially. His business career would be over before it started. He could marry the girl and simply live his life as if he wasn't married, like he wanted. But if he did that he would be ruined financially and his business career would be over before it even started. Or he could get married and be comitted to a girl he didn't even know. He had no choice. He had to take the option that was least objectional.

After a while he met his father again. It was then that he learned who his wife would be. He couldn't remember meeting Angela before, but he was sure they had been at the same place on a few occasions. He couldn't picture her in his mind and he hoped she would at least be attractive. If he was going to be with only one woman she needed to look good. He was getting more and more nervous. Angela's parents arrived half an hour before she was due to get there. Chris was introduced to them and it was clear that her parents felt the same way his parents did. He could see that her father didn't want to go through with it, but had to for the sake of his business. It was an awkward first meeting, but it couldn't be expected to be anything different.

When Angela arrived at the house everyone heard the doorbell ringing. He was sent into another room to wait. His parents went into a room next to the one he was in. Her parents were in yet another room. The butler answered the door. He would direct Angela to her parents who would explain everything before she actually met Chris. His parents would not meet her until after she had met him. He sat in the room and waited. She was meeting her parents far enough away that he would not be able to hear her reaction at all. He had no idea what was going on. At that point part of him was actually hoping she would refuse and leave. He might not have a business or money, but he would be able to do whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted. Plus, they might actually be able to secure some assets and at least stay moderately wealthy.