Ryan
Ryan's phone wouldn't stop ringing.
He ignored the fifth call from Victoria and poured himself a drink. The expensive whiskey burned going down but didn't help the panic clawing at his chest.
Twenty-eight days left. Twenty-eight days to convince a waitress to marry him or lose everything.
His penthouse apartment stretched out around him, all glass and steel and emptiness. Fifty floors above Seattle, looking down at the city lights. Everything he'd worked for his entire life, and it could all disappear because his father decided to play matchmaker from his deathbed.
The phone rang again. Different number this time.
"What?" Ryan snapped.
"Well that's a pleasant greeting." Derek's voice oozed fake concern. "How are you holding up cousin? I heard about the will. Must be stressful."
Ryan's hand tightened on his glass. "How did you hear about the will?"
"People talk. Lawyers gossip. You know how it is." Derek laughed. "So is it true? You have to marry some random girl or I get everything?"
"The will is private Derek."
"Not anymore it's not. Half the board knows by tomorrow morning. They're already asking questions about your judgment. Marrying a stranger to keep your inheritance? Doesn't exactly scream stable leadership."
Ryan closed his eyes. Of course Derek was spreading this around. Making Ryan look desperate and foolish.
"Stay out of this."
"I'm just concerned about the company. If you're too distracted by personal drama to lead, maybe it's time for new management. I'd be happy to step in."
"You'll never run Brooks Technologies."
"We'll see. Twenty-eight days is a long time. Lots can happen." Derek hung up.
Ryan threw his phone across the room. It hit the couch and bounced onto the floor.
His office door opened. James walked in holding a tablet and looking worried.
"How bad?" Ryan asked.
"Bad sir. Derek's been calling board members all evening. He's suggesting you're having a breakdown. That forcing you to marry someone proves your father lost faith in your leadership."
"My father didn't lose faith. He's just manipulative."
"Either way, the board is nervous. Marcus Webb is using this as ammunition for his takeover attempt. He's been buying up shares all week. If he gets enough votes, he can force you out."
Ryan poured another drink. "What are my options?"
James hesitated. "Honestly? Marry the girl. It's your cleanest path forward. Once you're married and the inheritance is secure, the board will settle down. Marcus loses his angle. Derek goes back to whatever hole he crawled out of."
"You make it sound simple."
"It's a business transaction sir. You've done harder deals than this."
"Those deals didn't involve marrying someone."
"True. But the alternative is losing everything." James set the tablet down. "I pulled Grace Parker's background. Want to see?"
Ryan grabbed the tablet. Photos of Grace filled the screen. Working at the diner. Volunteering at some youth shelter. Walking home alone at night through bad neighborhoods.
She looked tired in every photo. Real. Nothing like the polished women Ryan usually dated.
"No criminal record except that dropped shoplifting charge," James said. "No debts beyond normal bills. Works two jobs, volunteers with foster kids, sends money to some organization that helps teens aging out of the system. She's clean Ryan."
"Or she's good at hiding things."
"Or she's exactly what she appears to be. A good person in a bad situation."
Ryan studied a photo of Grace laughing with kids at the shelter. She looked genuinely happy. Not like someone running a con.
Maybe his father was right about her. Maybe Ryan was the one who couldn't see past his own cynicism.
Or maybe she was just a really good actress.
His phone rang from across the room. Ryan walked over and picked it up. Victoria again.
He answered this time. "What do you want?"
"Ryan darling, we need to talk about this ridiculous will situation." Victoria's voice dripped sympathy. "I heard you have to marry some nobody or lose everything. It's awful."
"How did you hear about it?"
"Derek called me. He's worried about you."
Of course Derek called her. They'd been working together somehow, Ryan just knew it.
"I'm fine Victoria."
"You're not fine. You're being forced into a fake marriage with a waitress. Let me help you." Her voice dropped lower, trying to sound seductive. "We were good together Ryan. We could be again. Just tell the lawyers you're marrying me instead. Problem solved."
"The will specifies Grace Parker. No one else."
"Then fight it in court! You have the best lawyers in the country. There has to be a loophole."
"There isn't. I already checked."
"So you're really going to marry her? This random girl?" Victoria's voice turned sharp. "Do you have any idea how this makes you look? How it makes me look? Everyone thought we'd get back together."
"We're not getting back together Victoria. We were never right for each other."
"We were perfect for each other! Same social circle, same background, same goals. This waitress can't give you any of that."
"I don't want any of that. We're done. Stop calling."
Ryan hung up and immediately blocked her number.
James raised an eyebrow. "That was harsh."
"She'll survive." Ryan looked at his watch. 11pm. "Grace has three hours left to decide."
"You really think she'll say yes?"
"She'd be stupid not to. Five million dollars for one year? That's more money than she'll see in her entire life."
"Maybe she values her freedom more than money."
Ryan laughed bitterly. "Nobody values freedom more than money. Trust me."
The penthouse felt too quiet. Too empty. Ryan walked to the window and stared out at the city.
Somewhere down there, Grace was making her decision. Weighing her options. Probably talking to that friend Sophie who'd threatened to call the police.
What if she said no?
The thought made Ryan's stomach drop. If Grace refused, everything fell apart. Derek got the company. Marcus won his takeover. Ryan lost his father's legacy and proved he wasn't worthy of it.
All because he couldn't convince one waitress to take five million dollars.
His phone buzzed. Text from his father's nurse: Your father is asking for you. Says it's important.
Ryan grabbed his keys. "I'm going to the hospital."
"At 11pm?"
"My father wants to see me."
Twenty minutes later Ryan walked into the hospital room. Charles was awake, looking worse than this morning. The machines around his bed beeped steadily, measuring a life that was slipping away.
"You came," Charles said weakly.
"You called." Ryan sat in the chair next to the bed. "What's so important?"
"Did you talk to Grace?"
"I gave her an ultimatum. She has until midnight to decide."
"An ultimatum." His father sighed. "Ryan, this isn't a business deal."
"Yes it is. That's exactly what it is. You made it a business deal when you put it in your will."
"I'm trying to give you a chance at happiness."
"By forcing me to marry a stranger? That's not happiness Dad. That's manipulation."
Charles reached out and grabbed Ryan's hand. His grip was weak. "Promise me something. If she says yes, actually try. Don't just go through the motions. Give her a real chance."
"Why? What's so special about her?"
"She sees people Ryan. Really sees them. She saw me as just a man who liked oatmeal and conversation. Not a billionaire, not a means to an end. Just me." Tears filled his father's eyes. "When's the last time someone saw you like that? Just Ryan, not the CEO or the Brooks heir?"
Ryan couldn't answer because the truth hurt too much. No one saw him as just Ryan. Not even Victoria, who he'd dated for two years.
"If Grace says yes, I'll fulfill the contract," Ryan said. "That's all I can promise."
"That's a start." Charles closed his eyes. "You should go. It's almost midnight."
Ryan stood to leave but his father's voice stopped him.
"I love you son. Everything I did, I did because I love you. Even if you hate me for it."
"I don't hate you Dad. I just don't understand you."
Ryan left before the emotion in his chest could break free.
In the parking garage, his phone showed 11:58pm. Two minutes until Grace's deadline.
She wasn't going to call. Ryan knew it suddenly, completely. She was going to refuse and everything would fall apart.
The phone rang.
Unknown number. Ryan's heart stopped.
He answered. "Hello?"
"It's Grace." Her voice sounded small and scared. "I have questions."
Ryan's entire body relaxed. She called. She was still considering it.
"I'm listening," he said carefully.
"If I agree, I want my own bedroom. You don't get to control where I go or what I do. And when the year ends, we never speak again. Ever."
"Done. Anything else?"
"I want it in writing. All of it. The money, the terms, everything. I'm not trusting a verbal promise."
"My lawyer will draw up a contract tomorrow."
Silence on the other end. Ryan held his breath.
"Okay," Grace whispered. "I'll do it."
Relief and dread hit Ryan at the same time. "You're sure?"
"No. But I'm doing it anyway."
"We're getting married in one week."
"One week?!" Grace's voice went high. "That's insane!"
"The thirty-day clock is already running. We need to move fast. Can you do it or not?"
Another pause. Then: "Fine. One week. But I'm bringing Sophie as my witness."
"Bring whoever you want. I'll have James send you details tomorrow."
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"Your father. Is he really dying?"
The question caught him off guard. "Yeah. He's really dying."
"I'm sorry." Grace sounded like she meant it. "He's a good man."
"He's a manipulative old man who's destroying both our lives."
"Maybe. But he's still good." Grace took a shaky breath. "I'll see you next week."
She hung up.
Ryan sat in his car staring at his phone. In seven days he'd be married to a woman he didn't know, didn't trust, and definitely didn't love.
But he'd save his father's company. Keep Derek from destroying everything. Prove he was worthy of the Brooks name.
Seven days.
His phone rang again. James.
"She said yes," Ryan told him.
"Congratulations sir. I'll start the wedding arrangements."
"Make it small. Just witnesses. No press."
"Understood. There is one problem though."
Ryan's stomach dropped. "What problem?"
"Derek just filed a legal challenge to the will. He's claiming your father wasn't mentally competent when he made the changes. If he wins, the marriage clause becomes void and he inherits everything regardless of what you do."
The world tilted.
"How long do we have?" Ryan asked.
"The hearing is in six days. One day before your wedding."
"Can we win?"
"I don't know sir. Derek has three psychiatrists who'll testify your father was delusional from the cancer. We have one who says he was fine."
Ryan closed his eyes and tried not to scream.
Seven days until the wedding. Six days until Derek could destroy everything.
And somewhere in Seattle, Grace Parker had no idea what she'd just agreed to.