Marriage of Convenience

PROLOUGE

For as long as Elena Gilbert could remember what she had most wanted to be since she had been a little girl was to be a mother. She would play with her stuffed dolls when she was a child and sing lullaby's, when she got older she would play pretend teacher and housewife, and by the time she was in high school and captain of the cheerleading squad she had already had the baby names picked out for her five children that she planned to have.

All that Elena Gilbert wanted in life was to be a mother, but like always it seemed that the universe had other plans for her and things never seemed to work out for her. She entered high school with grand hopes that she would meet the love of her life and get married after graduation, but high school went by without any kiss and not even a sweaty hand shake.

"You're not ugly, Elena," her best friends Caroline Forbes and Bonnie told her. "A lot of guys think you're cute. You just need to slow down a little, we're juniors. No one wants to settle down at sixteen. You will find your prince charming, just maybe not in high school."

Still Elena craved for her so called prince, she watched as Bonnie and Caroline had new boyfriends and if they were buying new underwear, while Elena stood at the sidelines pretending to be happy for them while secretly feeling heartbroken.

She graduated with honors at the top of her class and as valedictorian. Her many friends signed her yearbooks and Matt Donovan her longtime crush gave her a kiss on the cheek. Elena got a full ride to Whitmore college on a cheerleading scholarship, but she turned it down.

"Why?" Miranda Gilbert had cried out. "Why would you turn down a scholarship for Whitmore? That's where your father went. You know college is expensive, Elena why would you throw away an opportunity like this?"

"I just don't want to go to college, Mama." Elena told her wishing that she could curl herself in a small ball and avoid the question all together. She didn't know how she could tell her mother that she had no desire to go to college. She didn't want to be stuck in a classroom for four more years being taught things that she didn't care about. She didn't want to be a theater major like Caroline or a doctor like Bonnie.

She just wanted to find a husband, get married, have a nice, happy house, and have a baby. Her only interest seems to be blogging, photography, and cheerleading.

Her father, Grayson had been less than understanding, "Dammit, Elena," he had murmured. "Don't you have any ambition in life? Just what are you going to do, we won't be able to support you forever."

"I know, Daddy," Elena squeaked. "I'm sorry that you're upset, but college won't make me happy, and I can't stand being unhappy."

"There are more important things in life than to be happy, Elena," Grayson said with gritted teeth. "And eventually you must understand that. I pray that you don't find out too late."

Four Years Later-Present Time

Twenty-Two-year-old Elena Gilbert stared at the clock. 8:02 AM time was going by so slowly and like usual, mornings were often slow in Salvatore Attorney Office. Elena had, had a few odd jobs since her high school graduation mainly fast food worker, working in shops, and being a waitress. She had finally landed the job of receptionist thanks to Caroline Forbes.

The bubbly blond had told Elena that her ex-boyfriend Stefan Salvatore and his brother Damon needed a new receptionist for their law firm. Thanks to Caroline Stefan had hired her on the spot and hardly even bothered with an interview.

Caroline had successfully graduated as a theater major and now successfully worked running the small children's theater downtown and she loved every minute of it. Bonnie was now at Yale medical school and Elena's heart ached for her friend. She missed her, but she knew that Bonnie was happy and following her dream and that was all that mattered.

Elena was grateful she really was, but she was kind of bored to be honest. Working in a law firm was boring, but the money was decent and she could afford her tiny, little apartment. Besides her bosses were nice, well Stefan was nice. Damon, however was another story.

Elena's lip curled when she thought of the older Salvatore. Damon Salvatore wasn't exactly mean to her exactly, but he was kind of hot and cold with her. She had been working at the law firm for exactly six months and he never called her by her name. He only called her, "Brunette" or "hey" and he either ignored her or made disturbing, flirty comments. But as far as bosses went he wasn't that bad.

Heck, Elena would rather be ignored than deal with an arrogant boss. Besides Damon wasn't even there half of the time. He was always out on "lunch dates" with important "clients." As if Elena was an idiot who didn't see the handful of women that always left his office barely dressed and in tight clothes.

Rumors were that the Salvatore brothers were wealthy and that they had a lot of family money. Apparently, their father, Giuseppe had been a celebrity lawyer or a business man or something like that.

Though even if they were they didn't act like it. Even though both Salvatore brothers wore nice suits and had been educated at Harvard Law School other than that they didn't scream rich. They both drove classic cars and Elena had seen them in jeans and black shirts.

Elena sighed again neither Stefan nor Damon were in yet and the phone hadn't rung once all morning. They had informed Elena that they had a breakfast meeting with their mother, Lily Salvatore, CEO of Salvatore Wedding Emporium which specialize in wedding dresses; and that they wouldn't be back until lunch.

Her phone beeped. It was a text from her mother. Lovely. She had been getting those from her mother lately all of them pertaining to the question-what do you want to do with your life?

Miranda: Hi, Sweetie! Hope you have a good day at work today. Daddy and I want to talk to you. Can you come over for dinner on Sunday? Kisses, mom.

Elena sighed. She had canceled six times already. She knew that her mom wouldn't let it go and that she would find her at her job if necessary.

She wrote back:

Elena: Sunday is perfect mom. I'll bring dessert.

Elena leaned back in her chair and noticed it was only Monday. She was already dreading Sunday.

-End of Prologue-

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