Bound By Contract

Chapter Twelve

Christina's P.O.V.

"So, how'd it go?" Michael insists.

"Better than I thought it would," I respond.

I had woken up early, unable to sleep comfortably. I don't know why, but I'm never really able to rest in a bed that's not my own. I was in the bathroom in Michael's bedroom suite smoothing my blonde hair back into a ponytail the best I could without being able to find a brush anywhere in sight, when Michael came in insisting I call my parents. After many failed attempts at delaying the inevitable, I finally mustered up the courage to call them.

"So what did they say?"

"Well, they agreed not to say anything. But, they want to meet you. Formally."

Michael sighs. "I figured as much. I owe them no less. Have them come to dinner tonight."

I look at my reflection in the floor length mirror by the door. "I really have to get some clothes," I say.

Michael laughs as he opens the bedroom door and steps aside like a gentleman and waits for me to exit the bedroom first. "I'll take care of that."

I look at him confused. "So what now?"

He takes my hand in his and smiles warmly. "Breakfast."

It had never crossed my mind, not even for a second, that when I started working here that I would be a dinner guest at this stunning formal dining table. I know that this table is hardly used, as the family usually eats together at the more casual and homely table in the kitchen. This table is reserved for special occasions, although I haven't ever seen it in use.

My stomach is in knots as I approach the dining hall with Michael hand in hand. Judging by the way he's squeezing it I'd bet a fortune he is as nervous as I am. Joe and Katherine Jackson, are seated at the heads of the extra long polished table opposite each other. Weird that Michael's parents aren't sitting next to each other. It's as if they want to be as far away from each other as possible. Filling the ten seats in between were Prince, Paris, my parents, Janet, Randy, Jermaine.

Intimidating much?

We enter the room greeted with questioning stares. It seems like this news is not particularly plesant to them, as if Michael's plans to marry me are somehow negotiable, with the exception of my parents, of course, who although obviously surprised and serious, only want to see me happy. Maybe now I won't be considered as such a failure to my parents.

"Hello," Michael greets everyone cordially going down the row of chairs, stopping to give a kiss to his mother and siblings.

He approached my parents after noticeably skipping over his father, Joe. "Nice to meet you, sir," he says, extending a hand to each of my parents.

"We've already met. Yesterday at the party," my mother announces.

"Oh, right. But now we can introduce ourselves as what we really are, and what we soon will be," Michael says confidently while he pulls a chair out for me to sit, which by the look on my parents' face impressed them. And impressing them is not an easy thing to accomplish.

"Now that you've gotten to the point Michael, let's just get this over with," Joe interrupts. "What's all this about you getting married to this girl? What are you thinking boy?"

Katherine glares at her estranged husband. "Joseph!" she scolds softly, then turns to my shocked parents. I don't think they were expecting an outburst like that. Me either; I can feel my legs trembling underneath my pencil black skirt and I put my hands on them firmly to tame them. "I think we're all just a little surprised at the sudden announcement, Michael," Katherine continues, directing her attention towards my parents, then to Michael. "You never mentioned anything to me. That is so unlike you, son."