The Marriage Conspiracy

A private meeting reserved for special people only…

“Congratulations,” Devin Richard Crighton said gleefully rubbing his hands together.  “The project ‘Double J’ has been finally launched.  This asks for a celebration.  Where’s that champagne?”

“It’s not that I was getting cold feet but I’m glad it’s all over,” the practical lawyer, Sean Palmer commented handing Devin his glass of champagne. 

“Oh come on Sean! You have to admit that it was fun,” Devin rebuked playfully while sipping his drink. 

“I think I agree with Sean, Dev.  The battle between your son and you has been going on for quite a long time now,” put in the third accomplice, Doctor Nash Cooper. 

“Well, I was getting pretty desperate myself after the failure of ‘Project Barnes’.” 

“I know.  You could hardly wait for Rachel to turn twenty-five,” replied Sean with a benign smile. 

Ever since college, Devin has been the leader of their group of four, including the late Trevor Lloyd. 

“Yeah.  It was as if our ‘Emergency Plan’ was on cue.  I just knew that Trevor Lloyd-God bless his soul was a genius.  I feel so sorry he’s not among us today.  No doubt that he would have been pleased that our twenty-five years old wish has finally been fulfilled,” he sighed sadly and the others silently.  By toasting a glass of champagne in his name, they paid him a tribute and mourned the loss of their dear friend. 

“I just hope that everything turns out fine now,” said the ever-worried Sean. 

“Oh stop being so pessimist Sean.  Now that they’re finally married it is unlikely that anything untoward will happen.  As for the wedding ceremony, it can be performed later when the two have cooled off,” Devin assured him. 

“I wonder how they’ll react when they confront each other and finally discovered how badly they’ve been duped,” mused the doctor. 

“Oh, I don’t think it’ll get worse.  You should have seen Jake’s face when he thought I was going to sign the marriage certificate,” Devin scoffed. 

“We got lucky that he signed in your place at the last minute.”

“Nah,” quibbled Devin confidently.  “It was just the way to handle him.  If I had told him only once to sign, he would never have done it.  But on seeing me about to do it myself, he figured that there could have been no foul play.  Little did he know that it was the actual plan! Before I had time to think he’d snatched the pen from me and signed it.  Then, he stared at the paper with a haunted look as if he’d signed his death warrant instead!” chuckled Devin. 

“What if they want a divorce?” asked Sean. 

“Sean,” warned Devin.  “Shut up! We’ve still got time to deal with that problem.  The point here is that my dream has finally come true; Miss Rachel Lloyd has finally become Mrs. Jake Crighton and it was about time!”