The Agreement

Chapter 1

"Are you serious?" Victor Morgan asked the lawyer who read from a packet of papers.

"I'm afraid so, Mr. Morgan," The lawyer said without looking up from the papers. "In order for you to receive your inheritance, properties, and everything else, you have to agree to the terms."

"I'm not agreeing to anything without talking to my family," Victor sighed as he ran his hand over his face. "I have to discuss this with them."

"Very well," the lawyer nodded, "Call them, I'm waiting on one other person as well."

"Who?" Victor asked as he grabbed his phone off the table.

"The other person involved in this situation," the lawyer said nonchalantly.

"I need all of you here now," Victor sighed into his phone. "Thanks." He tossed his phone back down on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose. "They will be here in about five minutes."

The lawyer nodded and sure enough five minutes later, Victor Morgan's thirteen best friends walked into the house and rushed to his side. "What is going on?" one of them asked.

"You were right Owen," Victor sighed in frustration. "I thought when Father died it would be good news, but he has stipulations in his will."

"Which are?" The man with black rimmed glasses and grey eyes asked as he adjusted his tie.

"Oh good, you made it," The lawyer smiled as a woman was escorted into the room. She nodded politely and bypassed the group of men to shake the lawyer's hand.

"Lady Elizabeth, please have a seat," The lawyer motioned to the empty chair and she nodded.

"Thank you, Sir," She said politely and sat. "Have I missed anything? I am sorry for the delay, the plane had a late takeoff, I apologize."

He shook his head, "You have not missed anything My Lady. Mr. Morgan has requested his family be present for the reading, if that is okay with you?"

"It is," She nodded, "My Lady said if they were to arrive it was fine since they will possibly be involved in this situation."

"Just what the fuck is going on?" A man asked that had multiple earrings in his ears and multiple rings on his fingers.

"Language," Most of the men said at the same time.

"My father has requirements for me to receive my inheritance," Victor sighed and rolled his eyes, "I should have seen this coming." He cleared his throat and ran his hand down his face again. "I have to go through with an arranged marriage to receive my inheritance, keep the family property, and keep my title of Earl of Elmson. If I refuse I lose everything."

"And this lady is who you have to marry?" Someone else from the group of men asked. He spoke with a Greek accent and the lady thought she smelt the ocean slightly.

"I speak on behalf of My Lady," The woman shook her head, "I am her lady in waiting Elizabeth Mills. She could not be here so she sent me instead."

"And who is your lady Miss Mills?" The steel gray eyed man asked watching her closely. "Why could she not be here for this discussion?"

"My Lady is out of the country at the moment, Mr. Blackbourne," Elizabeth spoke calmly. "She is busy and could not leave at the sudden notification of Mr. Morgan's passing. I know all the details and she has already spoken to Mr. Lawson to give verbal agreement for me to speak on her behalf."

"Who is your lady?" Victor asked confused. "Who am I supposed to marry in this arranged marriage that I want nothing to do with but am being forced to?"

"Someone you already know apparently," Mr. Lawson, the lawyer said clearing his throat. "Someone from your childhood." He opened the paperwork again and began reading, "In order for my son Victor Morgan to keep his title of Earl of Elmson, receive all of his inheritance, and keep all of the family properties and castles then he will need to keep the family promise of marriage arranged upon the birth of Earl and Countess Graves of Hayela's daughter Esme Graves. If he refuses to marry Countess Esme Graves, he will be stripped of his title, lose all his inheritance and the property and castles will be given to the government and he will be kicked out of the country never to return, he will lose everything."

"Is this legal?" The man with red hair asked and the lawyer Mr. Lawson nodded.

The man that smelled like ocean asked, "Victor, who is this Countess Esme Graves?"