The Arrangement

1:Finding Out

"What!?' I screamed in horror, at what my mom had just said. "Mom, I can't just-"
"Yes you can, honey. Just think about what would happen if you didn't do this for us. Imagine your sister without her Gucci and your brother without all those cars of his."
"Wow mom, emotional blackmail? That's low even for you." I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. I'd seen it before, but only in the movies. Why me? I wasn't the only girl in the family. There was my sister Amethyst, she was available and just better than me in general. "Can't Ame do it?" Mom rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, "Your sister has been through the whole court's male offspring. She's created a reputation that no self-respecting person would like to be associated with."
"So that's what it is? My innocence. I should've just done the deed at 16 like everyone else. . .then maybe I wouldn't be forced into this," I said more to myself than her. "Does dad know about this?" I knew there was no way my father would agree to his little girl doing this. He'd protect me. She stayed silent for a moment, before she scoffed and said, "It was his idea, darling," without looking at me. A tear rolled down my cheek. I was disappointed in him. I was sure, in that moment, that I absolutely hated him. I walked out of my mother's office and found the quickest way out of the house, while avoiding my guests. . .oh did I mention that it was my 19th birthday and I was hosting a grand ball to celebrate. Yeah, she pulled me away from my party to drop this bomb on me. . .

With my Jimmy Choo strappy sandals in hand, I ran out of the library onto the deck outside. There were two men walking and talking by the fountain in our manicured back garden. I couldn't exactly tell who the other man was but the other, I knew, was my father. I stared for a moment, trying to figure out who the handsome stranger was. He had a hand in the pocket of his grey suit and a drink (whisky, if I'm not mistaken) in his other hand. Just when I thought that the day couldn't go worse, he turned and caught me looking at him with nothing but wonder and slight admiration. I felt heat rising up to my cheeks as he smiled at me as if we'd known each other for ages. Dad followed his gaze, after probably noticing that his attention had gone elsewhere. A big smile made its way onto his face. "Amelia, my darling girl! Won't you come here for a minute, please." I hesitated, then, like a darling, I walked over to them.

I stood by my father's side with my head down, trying to avoid the stranger's steady gaze. I could feel his eyes on me and hear the cocky grin his face when he said, "Hello there, Miss Weston." Now I was forced to look at him. "Good day, Mr. . ."
"Please, call me Adrian. Adrian Reed."
He held his hand out to me, so out of politeness, I placed small hand in his palm. He drew it up to his lips then planted a soft kiss on it, that left me wishing he could kiss other places on my body. "I'm glad you two get along. It would be a shame if you didn't," Dad said with a laugh. "A shame? Why?" I asked without thinking. "Well darling Adrian here, is your future husband. Did your mother not tell you?" I looked up at Adrian. That explained everything. He was the asshole that wanted my innocence. He'd used my family's situation to get me. He'd probably been stalking me over a few months. I'd never been so disgusted in my life. Even by the way he was looking at me, in that moment, told me that he was a dirty pervert who thought he could take advantage of people just because he had money and looked good. " Is everything alright, Miss Weston?"
"No, Idiot!" I shouted moving back a step. There was genuine shock and amusement in his eyes, instead of the anger I'd expected after realising what I'd just done. My father was the one who wore the angry expression. I was lost for words of apology so instead I started walking. I heard dad start babbling, apologizing for my 'behaviour'.

Amelia

Amethyst

André

Mom-Victora

Dad-Andrew

Adrian