The Arrangement

CHAPTER 4

Johnathan was a bit upset and tired of his father's ultimatums. He was working extremely hard and going beyond the call of duty but his dad was adamant he needed to settle down, and discipline himself when it came to women. " Are you going to hold me, hostage?"Johnathan asked. "Johnathan, this is not up for discussion. How can I trust you with your inheritance if you refuse to settle down? You need a plan for your life so you can build your own family," Jacob Maxwell said sternly. Johnathan ran his hand through his hair weary of his father's demands. 

"Son, I don't know where I went wrong with you. Your brothers are happily married. You are thirty-four. When will you be ready? I am not trying to hurt you my boy but ground you. Your mother and I believe in values and principles. You need a wife so that you won't be careless with your inheritance. Once you have a family your priorities shift and you put what is important in perspective. I know someone's out there for you. Man up and pursue your destiny on every level," Jacob Maxwell instructed his son. 

"Okay Dad," Johnathan said frustrated knowing there was no way of getting his father to release his inheritance. His dad wanted him married and settled down. Johnathan was never in love and enjoyed his bachelor's life. There were no women in his life he saw as marriage material. He went back to his office to come up with a plan. "Who could I marry to get this inheritance?" he thought. "I would need a Christian woman who my parents would approve of. An unlikely match because opposites do attract," he thought. He sat at his desk for the longest in the dark coming to grips with his new reality. There was no way he could please his father if he didn't give in to his demands. 

A soft knock brought him out of his thoughts as Savannah Nottage approached. "Mr. Maxwell, I have the files you requested," she said. Jonathan had forgotten he informed the executive secretary, Mrs. Chapman to have one of the assistant secretaries research and gather several files for him. Johnathan straightened up his clothes and quickly turned on the lights. He found his dampening mood grew optimistic with her presence. Why would he feel good about seeing her?

"Come in," he said as he looked over a few documents on his desk. Savannah smiled cordially and placed the files on his desk oblivious to the fact that he was secretly watching her. Johnathan saw her in a different light. Savannah Nottage would make a great wife. She seemed kind and sensitive. Her modesty and shyness were appealing and he felt there were mysteries about her to discover. Yes, he wanted a unique woman who would challenge him and bring intrigue at the same time. Savannah Nottage is the one, he thought. But how would he convince her to marry him? Would she be willing to go through with the arrangement?