Page 83 of Until

Losing my mother and my brother at the same time impacted me in a way I never acknowledged before. Seeing my father's relationship with my brother took its toll as well. It’s suddenly clear to me why I spent my life pushing people away. I don’t want to feel the pain of losing anyone else I love.

As I go up the steps to the building, Sarah starts talking again.

"You know what your problem is? You don't realize that you’re all just puppets to me. You’re pawns, and I’m the queen. None of you will ever get what you want out of life unless you accept my help. Think about it. Carina is in that beautiful penthouse apartment of yours because of me. You were there because of me."

I spin around to face her. Since I was ahead of her, I am a couple of steps above where she is standing, giving me the appearance of being a giant in comparison to her. With my hands on my hips, I loom over her.

"You see, that right there is your problem. You genuinely believe that I was there because of you. I was there because of her. She is all that matters to me. Not this inheritance, not your tricks, and definitely none of your lies. Now, I am going to head into this building where I have a meeting. You are going to go off to whatever little hole it is you crawled out of and leave me and the woman I love alone.”

As I enter the office, I walk past Caitlin instead of sitting in the waiting area for them to call me. It's been five years, I know where to go. I know they’re waiting for me. I'm tired of this bullshit.

The trustees are in their fishbowl office, sitting around their wooden table as they always do. Behind me, Caitlin attempts to stop me.

"I'm sorry Mr. Stirling, but you shouldn’t go in there like that. Mr. Stirling? Mr. Stirling, I'm trying to talk to you. You can't go in there unannounced."

As I reach for the door handle, her voice goes up a couple of octaves. Her eyes widen, and she gives me this apologetic look as if she's expecting my face to melt off at any second because I didn't follow the rules. The men around the table stop talking as I enter. They look up just as Caitlin steps in through the door behind me.

"I'm so sorry, sirs. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen,” she says.

"It's okay, Caitlin. He'll be one of us soon enough anyway,” Harold says as he stands up from his seat. He motions to the chair to the empty chair next to his. "Come sit, Ryan. We might as well get this started."

I take my seat and look at each of the men seated around the large wooden table. They're looking at me expectantly. I know what they're thinking. They’re thinking I've had six months with this woman, why haven't I married her? They’re thinking they've been at the stupid meetings just like I have been for the last five years, so why haven't I just gotten married?

"Have you made any progress?” Harold asks.

I can't help but wonder if any of them are considering adding the same kind of clause for their children to their own wills.

"Yes, there's been progress," I say.

"Well, that's great news then," Harold says. "So when is the wedding? Your birthday is only in a few days."

“A week,” I say correcting him. “We haven't exactly talked about marriage just yet."

"Then off with his head!" Abe yells as he lifts his hand into the air.

"Now there, there, Abe," someone says. "Why don't you just go back to sleep? We’ll let you know what happened later."

Abe mumbles, "I just got confused for a second. He needs an arranged marriage and fast. I don't know why no one will take me up on that. It'll be so much fun," Abe says.

"I was afraid this would happen," Harold says. "Now, before everybody gets the wrong idea, assuming that you are going to lose the inheritance and not knowing where it's going to go and what is going to happen to your seat here, let me just say that I have every confidence that my friend ultimately did the right thing. We still don't know what's in the envelope. Since you are no closer to getting married, I suggest we take the preemptive route, and you wave your marriage requirement."

"What do you mean waive it? Are you saying for the last five years, I could've waved it and been done with this?" I ask.

"Yes and no. I was hopeful that it wouldn't come to this. Right now, I don't think we have much choice. Five years is a long time, and I thought you would find someone. I thought you would find the one. And maybe you have, but we’re running out of time. If you waive it, you can lose everything. Like I said, no one knows what's in that envelope. And while I knew your father to be a smart man, he seemed to lose that when it came to his sons."

"Like you said, it’s really only days before my birthday. While I love Carina, I'm not going to rush to get married. I want everything to start off right. She deserves to get the wedding that she wants, too, not some rushed event because I have a deadline. And that's even assuming she would say yes." So I waive my?—"

“No, I object,” Levi says. “We have been coming here once a month for five years. He has a week before his birthday. Anything can happen. We need to see this out. I suggest a vote.”

Levi looks around the table and then raises his hand.

“All for waiting the week for Ryan’s birthday, raise your hand.”

Abe and most of the others raise their hands.

“Then the group has spoken,” Harold says. “We’ll reconvene on your birthday, and whether you’re married or not, we’ll open the envelope then.

CHAPTER 34

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