Erika Rhys - Heir of the Hamptons

RONAN

New York City

W hy dont you just get married? my sister Cara said .

You cant be serious. I picked up my water glass and downed half of it, hoping that its icy contents would stimulate my brain into sparking a fresh idea. In the aftermath of my latest loan rejection from Bank of America, I needed a new plan to save my company, Kingsley Technologies, and I needed it fast. Either that, or Id be forced to lay off most of my employees, which was a betrayal I wasnt ready to contemplate .

Not that I expected Cara to solve my problems over lunch at Bar Six, a mellow West Village bistro that I hit up regularly for its savory croque-monsieur sandwiches. I adored my outspoken younger sister, but her art degree and career as an aspiring painter hadnt given her a lick of business sense. Still, she was the only one in my family who was always on my side, which was why I had just told her about my financial dilemma. Caras unwavering support gave me strength, which was exactly what I needed right now .

Cara flicked a strand of her long, straight blond hair away from her face and fixed me with her bright-blue gaze .

Your share of Grandfathers trust is around fifty million, she said. Isnt that enough to solve your problems ?

Its more than enough, I said. But theres no way to tap that money until Im thirty- five .

Think creatively, she said. Under the terms of the trust, we get unrestricted access to our money when we turn thirty-five or when our father dies or when we marrywhichever happens first .

Im two years away from thirty-five, our father is in perfect health, and marriage is out of the question, I said. When it comes to monogamy, Im my fathers son. You know that about me .

Youre nothing like our father, she said, dipping her fork into her arugula-and-parmesan salad. Hes a chronic liar and cheateryoure neither .

I know who I am, I said. Like our father, Im not a one-woman man. Unlike him, I dont make promises I cant keep .

You wouldnt have to, Cara said. Not if your marriage was purely a business arrangement .

I stared at her. What ?

She rolled her eyes. Come on, Ronan. I cant believe you havent thought of this yourself. Youve only dated half the women in New Yorkthere must be one of them who would be willing to take a big fat check to marry you .

It would never work, I said .

Why not ?

Lots of reasons .

Such as ?

Theres no point in even discussing it, I said .

Then consider this a theoretical discussion, Cara said. Im curious. Why are you so sure my idea couldnt work ?

Two words, I said. Job qualifications. No woman in her right mind would sign on to be my fake wife. Any woman crazy enough to take it on would lack the brains to carry off the amount of acting involved .

I get that your fake wife couldnt be just anyone, Cara said. Shed have to look convincing to Dad and Veronica. Shed have to be trustworthy and intelligent .

Convincing our father and stepmother would only be scene one of the farce youre proposing, I said. This imaginary fake wife would have to live with me for two years, pose as my wife in public, and not fall in love with me .

Cara screwed up her face at me. Ewww. I cant believe you just said that .

I shrugged. Women like methey always have .

It was no less than the truth. The genetic lottery had gifted me a handsome face and a muscular six-foot-two body, which I kept toned with regular workouts. And while no woman had ever tempted me to consider a long-term relationship, I had the short-term thing down. Be a nice guy, make the woman I was with feel beautiful, and attend to her pleasure as much as my own. I didnt do commitments, I didnt make promises, and three nights was my self-imposed limitalthough in practice, I rarely took it beyond one. Manhattan was filled with gorgeous single women, which made it the perfect playground for a guy like me .

Cara sighed. I love you, Ronanbut youre a pig .

I flashed her a grin. Maybe I ambut at least I know who I am. Not every man is cut out for marriage, and those of us who arent should be honest about it. Thats my philosophy .

Philosophy wont save your business .

Neither will a fake wife. Veronicas a bitch, but shes not stupid. Shed spot a fake in a minute, and when she did, shed convince Dad to block my access to the trust .

Can he still control your trust? Cara said. Even if you get married ?

I leaned back in my chair, looked at my sister, and a wave of affection for her swept through me. While her fake marriage idea was crazy, her desire to help meant everything to me. Life hadnt been easy for Cara, but she had the biggest heart of anyone I knew .

At twenty-seven, my little sister had grown into a beautiful woman with a strong resemblance to our mother, who had died when Cara was born. At least Id had our mother for the first six years of my life. All Cara got was her nameCarolineand a photo album .

Dads the primary trustee, I said. If he filed a lawsuit claiming that Id faked a marriage to gain access to the trust, the money would be frozen until the lawsuit was resolved. And if Id already put some of the trust money into Kingsley Tech, my company could be dragged into court as well .

To recoup the money? Cara asked .

Exactly.

I guess that makes sense, she said. And lawsuits can go on forever .

Now youre seeing the big picture, I said. Until we turn thirty-five, our father controls the trust. Neither of us can touch it or borrow against it without his approval, which, thanks to Veronica, well never get. Remember when I wanted to borrow against my share of the trust to start Kingsley Tech ?

How could I forget? Cara said. Veronica shut that down in a heartbeat .

Shes got Dad under her thumbin every area but one .

Dont remind me, Cara said with a shudder. Im almost certain hes screwing his new secretary, whos totally younger than I am. If Veronica wasnt such a bitch, I might actually feel bad for her .

Dont, I said. She married our father for his money and lifestyle. The estate in the Hamptons. The house in Aspen. The townhouse on Sutton Place .

Cara leveled me with a look. Truebut enough about Veronica. Aside from getting married, do you have any other ideas that could save you from laying off your employees ?