Dear Mr Abernathy,
It has come to my attention that an agreement has been made regarding marriage between you and myself. After overcoming the great shock of not having a say or even an inkling of knowledge regarding this endeavor and apparent subsequent proposition, I have taken it upon myself to write to you now.
Having looked over the contract I do not see a way of breaking the terms without great financial loss to us both. Since I do not know you beyond a vague meet and greet several months ago, I am going to assume that it was my mother’s stipulation that there would be so much financial loss incurred with backing out.
Now, the question is how amenable are you to making this arrangement agreeable to both parties. I assume you have a life outside of work that will be affected by my mother’s meddling as will mine. Please respond at your earliest convenience to set a date where we can meet to discuss details.
Ms Charles
Abi gave a quick nod after she reread the email and sent it. It was several days before she received a reply.
Ms Abigail Charles,
I apologize for taking so long to respond. Since receiving your letter I have had to first track down what agreement you were referring to because I was completely unaware of its existence before you wrote to me. Apparently you are not the only one who has a meddling mother.
Forgive me for being brief, I can cover the loss stated in the contract for termination if that is what you wish. I would not force you into any arrangement or situation to which you are not in full agreement.
With chagrin I must also confess that I believe my mother went to such great lengths to secure this contract in the first place because of something I said. I may have mentioned you in an argument I was having with my mother about marriage prospects, as an example of someone who would be a wonderful partner and wife. Apparently she took that to mean that she could get away with arranging our marriage.
As smart, beautiful, and strong as I remember you being, I am sure you wish to quickly put this past you. I will not be informing my mother and I hope you will do the same to avoid the drama both our mothers intend to provide if we do not follow through with this marriage.
If I am correct in my assumption, my mother was intending to hide this contractual agreement from me to marry until the day of the wedding, and spring it on me .
If you are able to meet next Wednesday at the fountain park in front of your building at 2, I will be happy to discuss what can be done regarding the stated agreement until monetary recompense can be provided.
Grayson Abernathy
Abi stared at the screen. She was inclined to write him back and schedule a different time, just to prove she could. This whole ordeal was embarrassing enough. But to find out that it was because he had said that she was an ideal wife? To his mother, in an argument. Was the admission supposed to come across as some sort of compliment?
Scrunching her eyes closed she tried to better recall meeting Mr Grayson Abernathy. He had been one of so many new faces that night at her mother’s gala. All she could remember was his solid warm handshake and his laugh. Not a single thing about what he looked like.
“Ms Charles.” Her assistant scurried into the room and quickly shut the door behind her. “Justin’s here.”
Abi groaned. Now was not the time to be dealing with her overly persistent ex. They had broken up several years ago but in the past month he had been stopping in three to four times a week to bug her.
“Joanna, simply tell him that I am too busy to see him.”
With a nod Joanna left, firmly shutting the door again. Abi returned to her letter staring.
When her mother had laid down the contract on her desk Abi had been stunned. She had read through it several times to find a way around it. However, her mother had planned on the resistance and made the thing irritatingly concrete.
And now to find out that she hadn’t even made it with Mr Abernathy himself. She was going to be the unwanted trophy wife she had studiously fought to avoid her whole life. Rage filled her at her mother’s betrayal.
At that moment, Justin popped his smarmy head in with a smirk.
“Hey baby. I assured Joanna that I wanted only a quick minute to say hello to my favorite girl.” His simpering cockiness grated on her shattered nerves.
“Get out.” She didn’t yell. She wanted to. But she didn’t.
It wasn’t surprising that he ignored her. “So Abs I was thinking we could go to dinner tonight. I brought you that slinky red dress you know I like. I figure you can change real quick and we can get going.” He dropped a black dress bag on her desk.
Abi shot a glare in his direction and picked up her phone. “Joanna, dial security and have Justin removed immediately.”
She turned back to her computer and pretended that Justin wasn’t there. His folded arm power stance did nothing to convince her.
“Abi. Baby. There’s no need for security.” He pushed her chair out from her desk and sat in front of her, leaning against her desk. “If you would just forget our little breakup scene we can get back to being the awesome, gorgeous couple that we are. Just get that pretty little dress on and I’ll forgive you for the scowl you gave me when I came in.”
“Little break up scene?” She pulled her chair even further away from him. “You brought the press to make a formal announcement that I was a horrible mistake and an even worse girlfriend. Then you proceeded to give exclusives to anyone who would listen about how unethical and horrible you thought I was.”
He gave a little pout. “Just blowing off steam, you know. I had too much pent up.”
She growled and left her office until security came.
As he was being removed Abi plunked back down at her desk and pulled up the internet, typing in Grayson Abernathy. Several pictures popped up and she found herself wondering for a second if she wouldn’t mind getting to know her future ex fiance a little better. He wasn’t difficult to look at by any means.
“Joanna.”
In popped Joanna’s bouncy blonde curls. “Yes, Ms Charles. I am so sorry I didn’t manage to stop Justin this time. He was in your office before I could get up from my desk.”
Abi waved her excuses away. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t call you in for that. Please clear next wednesday at 2 for a 90 minute block. I have a meeting with a Mr Abernathy.”
Instantly Joanna was all business, taking down the information and nodding. Abi didn’t see her leave as she clicked on Grayson’s picture to see what else she could learn about the man her mother had arranged to become her fiance.
