13. Ryan

CHAPTER 13

Ryan

" T hey're ready for you now, Mr. Stirling," Caitlin, the receptionist, says.

As usual, once a month, I go through this exact thing. Nothing changes—not even how Caitlin, the receptionist, answers the phone when the trustees are ready for me.

It's all the same, just a mirror image of it—a time loop where nothing new or interesting happens.

This time, though, it'll be different because of Carina.

I tried to skip this meeting just a week ago, but there's no escaping the trustees—not when marriage is on their minds.

She leads me down a familiar hall, the same hall I have been walking down every month for the past five years since my father died and left me everything.

The room is a glass box with two floor-to-ceiling walls of glass looking down at the city below. The other two walls face the building's interior. As I walk past, I try to get a glimpse of the view, but as usual, no luck. The trustees mean business. I was only there for one reason, and that had nothing to do with my seeing a great view.

"Hello, Ryan, come in," Harold Weinberger says. "Glad you could make it this time."

In the center of the room is a large round wooden table with twelve chairs. One for each of the knights of the Round Table. Yes, this group thinks they are that important.

One chair remains empty since my father's passing. That's the real issue here. They want to fill the empty chair, and without his will being finalized by either my turning forty or getting married, that's not happening. I pull Dad's old chair out and sit down.

Each of the men is dressed similarly in grey suits that match their hair. I don't know much about them individually, and I don't care to find out. I think of them as interchangeable, even though Harold is my contact when it comes to holding my inheritance in trust.

Harold is a good guy, and he definitely means well, but he's also still one of them and the executor of my father's will.

"We would like to start this meeting by reminding you that your fortieth birthday is now in six months. You do understand that time is not on your side?" Harold says.

"Yes, I am well aware of when my birthday is," I say.

"Well, then you are also aware that you lose your inheritance if you're not married before your 40th birthday. Every month for the last five years, we've been asking you for an update, and you haven't even found anyone suitable to start dating, let alone marry," Levi Patterson says.

"All because of his standards," Abe Silverstone scoffs.

"Is that what you're calling it?" I ask, annoyed. "Last I checked, it is up to me to decide who I will be marrying and not any of you."

"Well, as we've told you plenty of times before, if you need assistance, we can arrange something for you," Abe says. "You can ask anyone; we've been quite successful with our matchups."

I sigh. "Not this again. I'm not having an arranged marriage. If I ever get married, it's going to be for love. I won't marry just to keep my inheritance."

"Oh, to be young and naive," Levi says. "Let me tell you, there is nothing quite as lasting as money. Women will come and go, but as long as you take care of it, money will last forever."

I sit back, looking at each of them with disgust, annoyed to have to go through this meeting yet again. Every month, it's the same. They are some of the wealthiest men in the world, and that makes me one as well. But that was never my ambition.

"Well, let's get this meeting moving forward then. What's your update, Ryan?" Harold asks. "I know you held another of your balls last week."

Abe snickers. "Only one ball? I usually like holding them both at once."

Levi throws a wadded-up piece of paper at him.

"Such a perv, Abe," Levi says. "Why can't you act your age?"

I clear my throat in an effort to get all of their attention.

"As you know, I have the monthly Carnival Masquerade Ball. So far there's been a few women I was initially interested in, but I never progressed those relationships."

"I still don't understand the purpose of your masquerade," Abe says. "You are a handsome man, Ryan. As a matter of fact, you look a lot like your father. You're almost the spitting image of him with your athletic build and light brown hair. Oh, the stories Harold and I could tell of your father's adventures. He had his choice of women."

"They were practically throwing themselves at him," Harold chimes in. "Remember that one, the gymnast? She definitely threw herself at him. I suggest you get the word out that you're looking for a bride, and you'll find someone in no time."

"And how will I know that she loves me for me? That's the whole point of the masquerade. People won't know who I am."

"Yes, but you won't know who they are either," Levi says.

"Then I'll get to know them, and they'll get to know me. That's part of the fun."

"That's so tiring," Abe says. "I appreciate your blind optimism when it comes to love, but you're running out of time."

"No, I'm not. I met her, my spark. My soulmate."

"You did?" Abe says. "Then why didn't you say anything earlier?"

I shrug. "I guess I caught up in the time loop."

"So, have you proposed yet?" Harold asks. "We'll need to run a background check on her, draw up a prenup, and schedule a time for the final reading of your father's will."

"There's no proposal yet. We just met. We're just getting to know each other."

"Then how do you know she's not just a grifter out for your money?" Abe asks.

"Well, she doesn't even know who I am. She didn't recognize me or my name. She thinks I'm a plumber."

"You didn't tell her the truth?" Abe says.

"There's plenty of time for that. We're just getting to know each other right now," I say. "You see, I told you everything will work out."

"We'll see," Harold says. "You're still running out of time and starting a relationship off with a lie. That's never good. But as long as you're protected with a prenup, I suppose it doesn't matter what happens. We've gone long enough with only eleven around this table. It'll be good to get back up to our full ranks." He leans forward and buzzes Caitlin. "Run a background and alias check for a miss…"

"Carina Calderon," I say.

I push back my chair and stand, done with the conversation. It angers me that I have to go through this every month. It's just like my father to continue to control me even after his death.

As I'm walking out, I see Caitlin at her desk.

"Have you started the background search yet?" I ask.

"Yes, sir, I have, but they usually take a couple of weeks to get all the information."

"Any chance you have her address?" I ask.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

She quickly jots down an address on a Post-It note and hands it to me.

"Thank you."

It's been too long since I saw Carina. It's time for me to surprise her.