Will…You Marry Me: Double Jeopardy

A/N: This is a second installation to the Will…You marry me story that I’ve done it doesn’t follow the same characters but the premise is the same.

Chapter 1: Coming of Age

“Mom, have you completely lost it? I’m –what? Engaged to be married to an eighteen year old who hasn’t even graduated from college?” I asked indignantly. This must all be a horrible nightmare. I have been sucked into a parallel universe where things such as arranged marriages existed. Wills of dead grandfather’s asking their only granddaughter to get married to a complete stranger because they promised each other during the times of war to be “brothers.” It’s like a scene from dramatic war movies.

“This is all a bad joke, right? You’re just mad that I’m working at a fashion magazine instead of being a hardcore journalist,” I said.

“Victoria, this is not a joke. This is the reason why I was adamant that you find a boyfriend and get married as soon as possible but no, you wanted to pursue your career and settle down later. I told you so many times,” she explained.

“No! That’s just ritual nagging from a mother to her daughter to settle down. How was I supposed to know that if I didn’t find a boyfriend four years after my eighteenth birthday I am going to be engaged to a stranger my grandfather and his friend picked,” I replied, straining to keep my voice down. The other people in the restaurant started giving us strange looks and even the waiter approached us several times to see ‘what’s the problem’.

“But I didn’t have the heart to tell you. I was sure that you would have already found a boyfriend by the time you are twenty-two. When I heard of this foolish sabbatical you’ve taken on dating I was horrified. I remember telling you to find a man.”

“How did this even happen? Why didn’t Grumpy even tell me?” I asked, my head was spinning from all this. Grumpy, a nickname I had given my beloved grandfather who passed away a year ago, never mentioned anything about a will wherein if his female heir is still single by the time she’s twenty-two she will be betrothed to the eldest uncommitted male heir of the Chaste family. It just so happens that the only uncommitted eldest male heir is only eighteen.

“Remember when you’re Grumpy used to tell you that he had a prince charming waiting for his little princess. That no matter what there will always be someone to take care of you. That’s his way of telling you, honey,” she gently placed her hand over mine which started shaking a few minutes before.

“I was seven. I didn’t know prince charming is going to be someone younger. Mom, he’s just a child. What if I do marry him and he turns out to be a bum? Is he even going to agree to this ridiculous thing? Why do I have to go through with this?”

“I already explained that you didn’t have to go through this if you didn’t want to.”

“But? There’s always a but…but if I don’t go ahead and marry this boy after three years we are going to lose the land where Nana, Vivian and Grumpy are buried since Grumpy promised that if we break the agreement off they should still get something as valuable from us since we can no longer be blood relations.”

“I’m not telling you to marry him. Just meet him and see. I know that this is asking too much but your grandparents and your sister’s graves are there,” she began tearing with the thought of my sister. Vivian, my twin sister died before she was even one from Pompe disease if she had lived she would be the one getting married. “You’ll meet him now and we can make arrangements later.’

“Arrangements?” I asked distractedly as a good looking man standing over six feet tall entered the restaurant. He reminded me of those models you see in GQ. They have impeccable complexions and just the right amount of sex appeal to turn women within a five meter radius to jelly. Fortunately, I am in a dating sabbatical so an attractive looking guy like him can only distract me for a second. I turn my attention back to my mother, “I’m not marrying him. I can’t. He’s a child. I think it’s considered rape if I marry him.”

“It’s more of pedophilia,” came a rich voice from behind me. It sent chills up my spine and not only because it sounded sexy but it’s creepy to have people eavesdropping on your conversation. I frown and turn my head to see Mr. GQ standing beside me with a grin plastered on his face. A really nice looking dimpled grin. Focus. “Excuse me, but it’s considered rude to eavesdrop on people’s conversation.”

“You’re not eavesdropping at all,” came my mother’s reply. I was surprised, how can she even say that to a stranger unless? He isn’t a stranger. “Victoria, this is Xavier Morgan Chaste. He’s William’s grandson.”

Oh my god! In my mind, my jaw must have dropped to the floor or drool dripped from the side of my lips from shock. Didn’t she say he’s an eighteen year old? How can he? He doesn’t look like an awkward teenager at all. Where’s the acne infested face? The gawky body? The statement t-shirts?

“I’m Victoria Madden,” I heard myself say and my hand automatically reached out for a handshake. What is my body doing? “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” he replied. He took the seat beside me and shook hands with my mother. “It’s really nice to meet you. I finally meet the person behind the name. Thomas’ often visited and told us about her lovely granddaughter.”

I blushed, I never blush. “So you know about the agreement?”

“Yes, my grandfather mentioned it to me on my eighteenth birthday. He explained everything.”

“Then you also think it’s ridiculous. We can’t get married within three years. We’re too young. You’re too young.”

He furrowed his brow, “Actually I have no problem with the arrangement. I respect their decision and I’m fine with it as long as you want to go ahead with it.” He replied calmly.

“What?” I blurted out. “How can you be okay with it? Do you understand? You will be MARRIED to me. Forever.” Is the whole world insane? Have they all lost their mind? This child is telling me he wants to marry me.

“Victoria, calm down,” my mother slipped her hand into mine. “It’s not set yet. If you do find someone else in the three years before you’re supposed to marry then you can call the whole thing off.”

“That’s not the point,” I replied pulling my hand away. “I can’t believe that you and Grumpy could put me in this kind of situation. It’s not fair. You know that I can’t just let them take the land. You know that I’ll marry before that happens.” My eyes started to well up, I felt betrayed. The people I love the most were trapping me into an unhappy marriage. “I’m just going out for some fresh air. Excuse me.”

I walked out of the restaurant and stayed at the alley beside it. I lit a cigarette to calm my nerves. Damn. I said I was quitting too. What the hell happened in there? Nothing went like I expected. It was okay with him to marry me. Is he even thinking straight?

“Can I borrow a light?” came a familiar voice from behind.

I jumped back startled by the voice. “Christ’s sake! Don’t sneak up on people.” I turn and find Xavier standing there with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. I pull out the lighter in my purse and hand it to him. He flips it open and lights up his cigarette taking a deep breath. I watch him blow the smoke out into the dark alley.

“Are you always this jumpy or do I have that special effect on you?” he asked.

I replied with an icy glare, I don’t appreciate being made fun of. “You’re really not concerned that you have to marry me, a complete stranger?”

“It’s not a big deal; many marriages are built on less.”

“Are you trying to appear cool or are one liner’s your thing?” I replied bitterly. His nonchalance about the whole debacle is pissing me off, not even the slightest hint of anger or discomfort.

“Look,” he spun me around to face him. At five feet seven inches tall I wasn’t going to let him man handle me. I glared at him until he dropped his hands. “You don’t have to marry me immediately. Look for a boyfriend in two years but if you still haven’t met someone a year before you’re twenty-fifth birthday we have to get engaged then you have to marry me.”

“Don’t you care about what will happen?” I ask.

“I do that’s why I’ waiting,” he replied. He threw his cigarette to the floor and was about to walk away when he spun around and completely caught me off guard by grabbing me into a sweet but not so innocent kiss.

It was a moment of weakness. I temporarily forgot that he’s only eighteen and that I am twenty-two and that I really didn’t want to get married to him or anybody in his family. For a minute, my body melted right into his six foot frame which nestled me snugly from the cold night air. Only for a minute. I didn’t even notice until he pulled away that I was clutching the side of his jacket to steady myself.

“See, it isn’t so bad to be married to me.”

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A/n: Like it? Hate it? Should I still go on? Please read and review. And add actual comments and suggestions so I can make it better. Thanks!