The CEO's Heiress

The Contract

I hung up the phone with Tomas who had successfully secured Knox Castle for our wedding and reception venues. It had taken some wiggling and a massive deposit but it had been worth it. They were edger now to have the Yearling-Edgington wedding on the books. It had taken three days to secure it, and I could finally breath a sigh of relief. Cassius wasn't as mad about my little invitation to all media but he was mad that I had gone to my family estate without him or someone to back me up. I promised to make it up to him, but he hadn't been home in two days. Business, or so I hoped since he hadn't really told me anything but he would be away for a few days. We were now a week and a half from the wedding and everything felt like it was in hyperdrive. Letting out a deep breath I looked around the big, empty estate and felt a loneliness in my heart. Maybe that would ease once I stuck to my end of the bargain, which we still had yet to finalize with our lawyers. Penny, my main lawyer, had contacted me yesterday with some important points to discuss, and amendments, but Cassius had yet to sign and neither had I. We had a few details to discuss. Such as my job in my own company and the period in which we would wait for an heir. I had told him I was fertile, which from what I knew I was, but i had also been under intense stress, and that wasn't good on a woman's body. There was also the fact my mother had a hostile womb which was why I was her only child. I had a appointment with my OB after the wedding, but being alone put all of these things in my mind.

"Elena!" I heard Cassius call for me and I rose from my place in the sun room. He could have been coming from anywhere, but it was a safe bet he was in the main room of the house. Putting down my mug I started for the front of the house quickly letting my heels clack softly against the marble floors. "Elena!" He called again and I was much closer now.

"I am here." I said as I rounded the corner of the main living space and found two men dressed in fancy all black suits and Penny waiting with him. My stride slowed and my face fell into a frown. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, it's just time for us to sign the contract. Please sit." He gestured for the couch and I looked at my feet.

"Right the contract." I walked around the coffee table and sat, he followed sitting at my right while his lawyers took up the chairs on either side and Penny sat at my left. She pulled out a envelope and the final copy of the contract.

"This is the final draft of the contract between the two of you. Outside of the legal binding marriage license you will sign on your wedding day this breaks down the obligations of either party and to what extent. For legal purposes we will go through every section carefully and sign them with our notary present." She nodded to the older, gray haired gentle at her left. "And Mr. Morhouser is here to represent Mr. Yearling." She nodded to the gentlemen in his mid forties with dark eyes turned on me. His expression cold and lifeless.

"Okay." I said to break the awkward silance took a deep breath and nodded for her to begin.

"This first section is brief. It explains what this contract is for and whom it was for." She handed me a pen, I reviewed it quickly before signing my name. Cassius followed before Penny turned the page to the next section. "This section has to do with the prenups you both have decided to sign. As the prenup states if you do not stay married for ten years neither of you are obligated to give the other anything baring no children are involved." We agreed and signed. "This section has to do with Ms. Edgington. It states that if Ms. Elena Edgington does not fall pregnant with in two years of this marriage Mr. Yearling will terminate the marriage with no questions asked. Should Ms. Edgington fall pregnant she will spend the first years of the child's life as a stay at home mother and while pregnant be subjected to a driver for all travel, servants to wait on her, not work the duration of her pregnancy, and have armed guards around her at all times if Mr. Yearling is not around to do this himself. When she has said child, regardless if it is male or female that child will be made heir to the Yearling estate and businesses, so he or she will have the best education and be the heir of the Edgington group as well until or if Mr. Yearling and Ms. Edgington have a second child. It also states that Ms. Edgington will not worry about the impact the child has on her body and will not force herself to 'adhere to the standards of beauty in mothers' because Mr. Yearling wants what is best for the child or children. If you agree, please sign."

"I...um..." I looked over at Cassius who was raising a brow at my hesitation. Of course I wanted to make him happy, but not work? I was an heiress. That wasn't an option. However when I marry him, that would give me rights to let him be in my place as my husband. With a working knowledge of how business is run it wouldn't be to much of a issue. "Fine." I said reluctantly and signed on the line. He followed, looking pleased with himself.

"This section..." Penny want on going over three more sections before we signed the final and most important paper which said that this contract was legal and binding. I zoned out after the baby part. He couldn't really be serious bout a personal driver and army of servants. I was not a doll. I wouldn't break because I was pregnant, however I had signed it, which meant I was obligated to obey.

"We will have a copy mailed to you Ms. Edgington. Have a wonderful day and congratulations." The notary said before following the two lawyers out of the houses leaving us alone with our thoughts. I swallowed and inched away from Cassius.

"I am going to grab something to eat. I assume you have business to attend." I said after the silence became far to uncomfortable.

"I concluded my business this morning. I am free if you want to go out to eat. It would probably look good for the media to see us acting like a normal couple." Cassius replied, standing with me while he fixed his suit sleeves.

"Acting right." I didn't mean for it to sound like it had, but it had been hard to maintain the stock, carefree attitude I had when first meeting him.

"What else would it be?" Cassius asked, and I forced a smile.

"Let me go put on something suitable for Mr. Yearlings fiancee." It came out a snap but before he could respond I was already up the stairs. Bea turned stunned as I slammed the door and headed for the closet.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" She asked coming in after me while I scanned the racks of clothing.

"Fine." I snapped back grabbing something red and silky. 'Positively irresistible in silk' that had been his words the night of the engagement party. Bea followed me back into the room helping me into the dress and fixing my hair.

"You look stunning, but what is the purpose of this?" She asked while I slid into my shoes.

"He just made me sign a contract with a dozen of ridiculous clauses. So before it goes into effect by marriage, I am going to make him sweat and get some attention." I stood up, grabbed my lipstick for reapplication after dinner, and looked over my shoulder at her. "Don't wait up Bea, it's going to be a long night."