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“I know, but not because you hate each other. And not because you had a fight or anything negative between you two. It’s because of your father and that stupid will.”

“Yes, but?—”

“But what, Ryan? You’re going to let go of the one woman I’ve seen make you happy because she was at your brother’s house? Talk to her. Find out the truth first before you start acting like a dick.”

I pull into my building’s underground garage and park as I think about what Daniel said.

“You’re right. I need to talk to her and find out the truth before deciding anything. I need to talk to Alex, too. It’s been way too long.”

“Go do that. I’ll schedule our tee time for another day.”

FIVE YEARS AGO

"Listen, boys,” Harold said. “I don't know if your father told you anything about this before he passed, but he didn't say a word to me. We could do this the formal way where I read out everything to you with a lawyer present, but I thought it would be better if we talked about this privately."

“I don't understand. Alex and I are his only heirs, his only family. It should be pretty straightforward,” I said.

"It is simple," Harold said. He took a stapled booklet and a padded envelope and pushed them across the table toward Alex and me. Alex grabbed the envelope, which had writing across the front:

DO NOT OPEN UNTIL—

•Ryan’s birthday five years after my passing;

•Ryan’s wedding;

•Any unforeseen circumstance.

“I see, as usual, it’s all about you,” Alex said as he smirked.

I pulled the booklet of stapled sheets of paper closer to me. On the top it said Last Will and Testament. I looked up at Harold, and he nodded. I pushed it back across the table towards Harold.

“I don’t want this. Why can't you just tell us?” I said.

"You know we don't care for this kind of drama," Alex said.

"But apparently, your father did." Harold pulled the will over to him and flipped through a few pages before opening the will to one specific page. He pointed to a section. "The will is full of generic language that amounts to nothing. The true part of the will is right here in these few lines." Harold tapped on the paper, making a knocking sound that echoed in the room. "He left everything to you, Ryan. Everything."

"What do you mean everything?" I asked.

"Everything. The house, the bank accounts, investments, the business. Everything. It's all yours. With one caveat. You have until your birthday in five years to get married."

“I don’t think I heard you right. I have five years to get married? Or what? And what about Alex?"

"That's just ridiculous," Alex said. "I can't believe he's trying to control us from the grave." He sighed deeply. “Actually, I shouldn’t be surprised at all.”

"In all fairness, Alex, it doesn't seem like he's trying to control you. There is also a line in here, in case it wasn’t clear enough, where he states that you get nothing."

"When did he make this will?" Alex asked.

"I wondered the same thing," Harold said. "I know the two of you have not always gotten along. And he has not been the best father to you.” Harold paused and gave a sympathetic look at Alex, who shrugged. “But it looks as though he made this will five years ago. So all of this came well after you joined the company. It was created after you convinced him to join me and the Fairfield job. I feel as though this is some kind of retribution for that. Not that your father didn't love being a billionaire, but maybe his relationship with you and your being the reason the company became so successful soured him.” Harold shook his head. “I’m just guessing. I really don't know. While he and I were close friends, we never saw eye to eye when it came to how he treated his sons."

"This is bullshit,” Alex said. “I spent years building this company, making it and him wealthier than he could ever imagine, and what do I get from it?"

“Nothing,” Harold said. “According to this, you are to be removed from the organization, stripped of any benefits you’ve received, and effectively terminated as of his date of death.”

Alex angrily pushed his seat back from the table and walked to the window. He folded his arms over his chest and glared at the view.

"What if I add him to the company myself?" I asked. "Or give him the house or cash? Maybe shares of the company. I can divide everything fairly, the way it should be. If everything belongs to me I should be able to do what I want with it, right?”

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