Chapter 4

Ryan's POV

The iPad hit my desk with quite a raging force, my grandfather towered over me, his expression clammed with anger and disappointment.

“Shit!” I muttered as I looked down and watched a video of me displayed on the screen.

My day had only begun but I had gotten into an accident on my way here and now I was about to get the worst scolding from my grandfather.

He began, “Congratulations, you're all over the news. Yet again, for a bad reason.” “What the hell am I going to do with you? Huh?” he stated, slowly, but in a frustrated tone.

“Grandpa, I can explain…”I said, standing to my feet as I tried to sound calm. But the truth was, fear brewed within me and I had no concrete explanations. I had nothing to justify my nonchalant actions at a club last night. Letting my guard down and getting caught by the paparazzi while drinking and going crazy.

“So?”

I couldn't speak. I could barely look at my grandfather's furious glare, his disappointed expression gave me every reason to feel bad.

I picked up the iPad. How fast did these journalists get my pictures rolling online in one night?

“I got drunk.” I managed to say it but the words felt so wrong. It didn't feel right and it didn't seem to convince my grandpa one bit. He pinched his forehead in exhaustion. I had given him lots of excuses to cover up my frivolous acts in the past and this was the worst of them all.

“I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen.”I glanced down at the video and I watched myself punch someone in it. Shit! Did I really do all this?

He looked up at me, his raging eyes silenced me from saying anymore words.

“And what do you think was supposed to happen? That my grandson and only heir of DeVille goes to a party or a fucking cheap club, you got drunk and you think you wouldn't be taken advantage of by the people who want to see my downfall?” He paused, clenching his fists as he paced about.

He stopped, then glared at me. “Do you think it's all about you? Do you? For once in your life think about this company, your inheritance, your future and stop being a selfish brat that's doing nothing but ruin my reputation.”

“I'm sorry. I'll change…I'll change for the better.” I tried to convince him but I knew that would be difficult to do.

“Oh yes, you will. And I'll make sure of it.”he said fiercely, giving me that look, that looked like he was about to do something I'd hate.

“This was a hard decision but...You’re fired Ryan.”

“What?” I exclaimed in shock, stepping out of my desk as I stood face to face with him. “Come on grandpa, you…you can't do that to me.”

“Of course I can. And I'm replacing you with the HR.” He paused. “Your office would suit him perfectly and likewise he deserves some kind of promotion already.”he added, in a tone that made my stomach upset.

I furrowed my brows, the HR was nowhere close to having my position as COO. He hasn't worked as hard as I did to get to this point. “The HR? Over your own grandson? You can't do this to me.”

But my Grandpa stood there, he didn't look like he was bluffing. It is what he wanted, to punish me.

“Grandpa look. I'll do anything to make this right. I'll get the videos out of the internet and I'll change for good. No more drinking or partying. Please, just give me another chance.”I pleaded with everything I got. Because I knew taking my inheritance away from me would be the start of my doom in this city.

“Anything?”he asked

I nodded, having a bit of relief that he was considering my plea, which was unlike him. “Anything grandpa, anything.” I said, going with the flow.

“I want you to settle down. Find a wife.”The words had left his mouth so casually, like it was a piece of cake.

“What? You are kidding right?

“You asked for a second chance. Here you go. Get a wife and build a family of your own. That's the only way you can get your position back and maybe prove to me that you can finally become CEO.”

“And you've got just two weeks to finalize this properly. And when I mean properly, you had better bring a lady fit to be a wife, or else… I'll disown you as my grandson. And I won't bat an eyelid as I do it.”

I watched him leave my office, a part of me wished he did turn back and announce that all this was a joke. But he was gone now and I remained dreaded by the sudden quest to find a wife in two weeks.

How was I supposed to do that?

I went back to my desk, irritated by the video that kept replaying itself on the iPad. I shut the gadget, gritting my teeth at the thought of settling down. I've never even imagined myself getting in a serious relationship, talk more of getting a fucking wife.

But getting a fucking wife was the only way to prove to my grandfather that I was a competent grandson. And no one, not even the fucking HR would come near my inheritance.

Operation get a wife, before two fucking weeks. I exhaled and thought about it. I couldn't do this alone. I picked up my cell phone and dialed a number.

“I know what you're going to say, and I'm not in the mood to talk about it.” I shut my best friend up before he could talk about leaving me at the club last night after the police came to stop the party. We were supposed to have each other's back but my man, Eric ran off while I barely got myself to my car and I slept in my vehicle until the morning.

“I'm sorry, man.”he said. I ignored his apology.

“I need your help.” I said.

“With what?”

“I need to find a wife.”