The Agreement

Vivienne didn't get very far inside before Oliver addressed her again. "Miss Westing, you have visitors in the tea room." She stopped instantly and turned to face him. "Who is here?" Vivienne asked trying her best to hide the venom in her voice. How were there already guests here when she was the first to leave the service? Did they fly? "It is the leaders of The Council." Vivienne's heart stopped. What on Earth would they want? The Council was a secret society that her uncle had belonged to. She knew virtually nothing about it as her uncle had never dared to speak to her about what they did or what it was about. All she knew is that he had monthly engagements with them that he was required to attend and that often she would see members visit the estate when she had lived there.

She nodded and turned to head towards the room where the men were waiting. The inside of the estate was even more luxurious and beautiful than the outside. In the entryway was a large marble staircase with a red rug that lead to the front doors. Behind the staircase was a wall of windows to take in the forest behind the home. The stairway split into two at the windows and wrapped around to the rest of the floors. Normally the estate glowed golden from the beautiful sun coming through the windows but today it was gloomy and dark. Fitting, she thought for the type of day that it was. Her heels clicked on the marble floors until she came to a large wooden door.

Vivienne opened the doors to find three men seated a small round table with a hot pot of tea. Oliver silently had followed Vivienne and closed the doors behind her once she entered the room. A maid was standing in the room ready to heed any needs from the visitors or Vivienne. "Gentleman." Vivienne addressed them and took a seat at the table. They were older, all in their fifties and sixties, dressed in black and navy suits. The man directly across from her at the table had on a black suit and glasses. He looked at her intently and her eyes immediately found his and stayed there. He had a cup of tea steaming in front of him that his large hands delicately had wrapped around. The maid came to the table as Vivienne sat down and poured her a cup of tea before returning to stand by the door.

"Miss Westing let me be the first to offer my condolences." The man's voice was smooth and even. Although there was no expression on his face she felt like if it weren't for the indecency of it he probably would be grinning. Something about him made her skin crawl in the way that it also made the hairs on her neck stand up. He didn't seem trustworthy and although her uncle never uttered a word to her about The Council and certainly not the leader of it, she had seen him before and had always felt like something was amiss.

"Thank you, Lionel, that's very kind of you to say." Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly at the man and she felt her patience come loose. "You know what's funny is I don't remember seeing you at the service." Vivienne wasn't hiding the anger slowly rising in her but she was still being polite in every way that she could find possible. The grin she feared appeared on Lionel's face and it made her become more uncomfortable. "There were many people there, it's not surprising." Lionel replied but Vivienne knew he had never been there. He wasn't the kind of man you didn't notice when you walked in a room. Lionel had blonde hair that was turning ashy due to age. He had strong features and a square jaw with an athletic frame. He was quite handsome even for his age but Vivienne knew that even the devil and his demons appeared beautiful. "Oh perhaps you're right." Vivienne replied with a false smile before taking a silent sip of the tea that had been poured for her.

"Miss Westing we have some important things to discuss regarding your uncle and his place at The Council." Lionel wasted no time. His time was precious and he wouldn't allow anyone to take up more of it than was necessary. Vivienne blankly stared at the man. "Well it must be very important for you to come to speak to me about it before my uncle is even put in the ground." Her distaste for this moment was evident in her voice. How dare he or anyone choose today of all days to come to her with such nonsense. Lionel gave a solemn expression. "Yes, I understand this is an inconvenient time for us all however this matter is… pressing." "And what matter is that?" Vivienne asked.

Lionel nodded to one of the other two men. The man opened a briefcase that had been sat next to his chair and pulled a stack of documents out. He handed them to Vivienne along with a fountain pen. Vivienne moved her eyes from the man and back to Lionel without taking a look at the documents. She kept her hands neatly folded in her lap. She was going to force him to read every last page of this massive document to her and waste his time as punishment for having the audacity to even be here right now. Lionel cleared his throat. It was obvious that this wasn't going to be done the easy way. Vivienne raised her eyebrows as if to challenge him to speak first because she certainly wasn't. She leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other while keeping her hands folded in her lap.

"Your uncle, Marcus, was a profound and very important member of The Council." Vivienne let out a small laugh at this. "So important that you couldn't even attend his funeral and choose today to come to his home with 'business' matters." Lionel only grinned back at her. He would do his best to stay polite but she was making it difficult. Grief, he reminded himself. That must be the reason for her attitude today. Lionel continued without skipping a beat as if he she had never spoken at all. "Your family has been involved with The Council for many years. Even your great grandfather was a member. As the last living Westing and new owner of your uncle's company, it is only fitting and expected that you also become a member."

"And what exactly is 'The Council'?" Vivienne asked with slight sarcasm in her question. "The Council is a society of influential and important people in the world that help make changes and discuss important matters. It is a very large honor to be offered a seat at the table as only a handful of people are even asked to join us." Vivienne started, "That is the least detailed description I think I've ever heard." She was already bored with the conversation and beating around the bush about what the intent of The Council was or was not was only making her more upset. Lionel smiled. "I know that it seems secretive because it is. I can only tell you that your uncle was very happy to be a part of it as were the rest of the head of the Westing household. Your uncle made a lot of positive changes to the world through his influence and matters with The Council. Our hope is that you will continue his work and do a lot of good for the country and for the world."

Lionel gestured towards the stack of papers in front of her. "This is a non-disclosure agreement and a contract for your membership to The Council. I know it seems excessive however considering the sensitive topics that we're a part of, it is necessary to ensure that the matters of The Council are kept private." Vivienne placed her hand on the document and moved to the edge of her seat as if she were preparing to leave. "Well thank you very much, I will look this over and let you know what I think." "With all due respect Miss Westing, we need you to look this over now and make a decision." Lionel commanded. Vivienne stared at Lionel. What on Earth was so important that she needed to sign this today? As if reading her mind, Lionel said "We need to continue important work and we cannot do that unless we know where you stand on The Council and whether or not you'll be signing." "I never sign a document I haven't read or reflected on, Mr. Brooks." Lionel let the smirk fall upon his lips again. He gestured with his hand wide. "Take your time. We will wait."

Vivienne stared at him in disbelief and her heart beat loudly in her chest. "My uncle hasn't even been dead a week." She tore her eyes from Lionel and began to flip through the pages of the document. A lot of it was legalities and what the consequences would be should she ever speak to anyone and so forth. Much of it was hazy and not well explained about what such consequences would be other than they would be 'dire and decided by Council leadership'. "I'm sure that's normal." Thought Vivienne to herself. After skimming much of the document she looked up at Lionel. "I would like to speak with Oliver before making a decision on this." Vivienne stood from the table and Lionel nodded with the smirk still on his face.

Vivienne exited the room and found Oliver in the hallway, instructing other maids on what to do when guests began to arrive which would be soon. "Oliver." "Miss Westing." "I need your help." "How can I be of service?" Oliver asked, turning all his attention to Vivienne. "The Council." She stared at his eyes intently. "Do you know of it?" Oliver nodded his head. "I do. Your uncle was in it for as long as I've known him. He always regarded it to be a very large honor and accomplishment of his. If I recall all the heads of the Westing family have been members." Vivienne nodded thoughtfully and swallowed hard. "They want me to be a member. They came here with all this legal document bullshit and are saying they won't leave until they know my answer." She continued, "My uncle regarded you as a close confidant. He trusted you with everything. I hope I can do the same." "It would be my honor, Miss Westing." "What do you think I should do?" Oliver thought for a moment before responding in a hushed tone. "I think you would serve The Council well.. but it is a large responsibility and once you are in there is no way out."

Marcus had always had the look of stress when it came to dealings with The Council. She didn't know what kind of work it involved but she knew it was heady and deep. There were times when it would consume him after a visit from the leaders to the estate. Oliver had said she would be good though and it seemed as though he was encouraging her to join. The way Oliver presented things was always without personal feelings attached. He would give the facts and let the person hearing them decide. This was an instant where she was asking him to not do that and tell her personally how he felt. It made him uncomfortable to offer his opinion but she had asked it and as the new lady of the estate, he planned to serve her as best he could.

"Do you think I should do it, Oliver?" She asked and in this moment she seemed more like a frightened child than a 32 year old woman who was now having to shoulder many things. It scared her to think that if she chose to join she could never leave. It also scared her that there were so many documents pertaining to what would happen to her if she ever spoke about it to anyone. It had her more curious but curiosity killed the cat, she reminded herself but didn't satisfaction bring it back?

"I think if you believe you're ready for the work they would have you do and another responsibility to look after, then I think it is a wise decision. The Council is elite. It opens many doors you wouldn't expect but also requires you to open doors for them." He explained, lowering his chin to look at her. She read through the lines of what he was saying and nodded thoughtfully as she chewed the inside of her cheek. After a few moments of looking into Oliver's eyes, she turned on her heels and quickly walked back to the tea room.