Another Stipulation

Terran

Bob cleared his throat. “It isn’t just the inheritance you stand to lose. He owned a majority share in your company. If you don’t meet his requirements, he has demanded the company be dissolved, with stockholders getting their investments back.”

My mouth fell open. “It’s my company!”

Bob shook his head. “Your father was a silent partner. He put up the capital and still owned a majority of the company. I mistakenly believed his shares reverted to you on his death. They have not. You will lose the company and your inheritance if you do not marry within the next six months or be close to marrying by then.”

“Bullshit,” I argued. “I built that company. His investment wasn’t even a fraction of what the company is worth now.” 

“Which will make some shareholders very happy when they get a fat check. Their investment will have proven to be a worthy one.”

I shook my head. “He can’t do this. It’s my company.”

Bob slid a piece of paper across his desk. “I’m sorry. Legally he can, and he has.”

I took the paper and read the fine print that had been added to the will. The man was insisting I get married. How could he want me to be miserable the rest of my life? My dad wasn’t the vindictive type, but I felt as if he was laughing at me from beyond the grave. He was exacting some kind of revenge for something I wasn’t aware had happened.

I dropped the document on the desk. “Bob, I didn’t want this to get ugly, but I have lawyers as well. I can challenge this. I accepted the fact I wouldn’t inherit, but this is crossing a line.”

“You can, but you will lose. You’ll also be losing money you can’t afford to do without, not if you want to keep up your lifestyle.” 

My playboy ways had always been a point of contention with my father and Bob. They were old school. My father was convinced I was spoiled and reckless.

“My lifestyle is my business,” I said. “I’m not doing anything illegal or all that immoral. I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor. I’m not exactly throwing money off a building. I’ve made plenty of investments.” 

Bob raised his eyebrows. “Your investments? If you’re referring to the cars and yacht, those are luxuries that began to lose value the second you signed your name on the paper. It was those investments that led your father to this decision. He wanted to see you spending more time making memories with a family than cavorting with women.”

“I’m not cavorting,” I said, feeling like a little boy being scolded.

He shrugged one shoulder. “You have the choice here. Lose it all to keep up your playboy ways or gain a great deal and gain the love of a good woman by giving up the partying.”

I felt as if I had been hit by a ton of bricks. None of it made sense. I had been trying to decide if I could live without my dad’s inheritance while supporting myself with the small fortune I had made with my company. I had wasted a lot of time and energy thinking about that decision, assuming I had the choice. I didn’t. If I lost the company, I was screwed. Everything I had would be gone. I was willing to sacrifice a little, but losing everything I had ever known? That wasn’t something I could allow.

“I’m not sure this is legal,” I said again, trying to wrap my head around it all.

Bob shrugged. “It is. You can trust me or waste money on a team of lawyers. That’s your choice, but if you fail to meet the terms, I will move to enforce the will. The company will be dissolved. You’ll be paid out for your shares, but that’s it.”

“It’s my company!” I protested.

Bob looked sad as he shook his head. “I’m sorry to have been dragged in the middle of this, but legally, the company was your father’s. He let you run it and be the man at the top, but underneath all the paperwork, it was his. You had to know that.”

Deep down, I did know that. It had been mine for so long, I had assumed it was mine in every way. I felt like a fool. I had let myself fall into this false sense of security when in truth, I was living in a bubble. That bubble was about to be popped.

“Anything else, Bob?” I asked with an edge to my voice, wanting to get out of the office before he told me any more bad news.

He shook his head. “No. I’m really sorry I had to drop this on you. I know it’s tough, but your father truly only had your best interest at heart. He wanted you to be happy and have a full life.”

I scoffed. “So, he takes everything away? That seems counterproductive.”

“He isn’t taking away anything. He wanted you to find that same joy and happiness he found with your mother. It’s the same way I felt about my own Helen. I would give everything I had for one more day with her. That kind of love is something more valuable than any yacht or fancy condo. Your father wanted you to know the joy of having your own children. No matter what you are feeling right now, you truly were his everything. He loved you a great deal.”

I shook my head, not interested in his anecdotal evidence. “Shouldn’t a man fall in love with the right woman when he’s ready? This ridiculous clause forces me to marry a woman I don’t love. How is that helping anyone?”

Bob smiled. “Your father knew you wouldn’t marry just any woman. He knew how stubborn you were and had high hopes the woman you chose would be the one for you. His goal is to change your way of thinking. He wanted you to look beyond the pretty surface and start thinking of the future.”

I nodded my head. “No one can demand I fall in love, not even if it makes me rich. Even I know that.”

“No, they can’t, but you can try to find a woman that makes you happy instead of flitting from one to the next. You don’t realize this now, but you are truly missing out on one of the best things life has to offer—the love of a good woman.”

“And if I don’t, I’m forced to be poor the rest of my life,” I snapped. “Poor or miserable are not the best options to choose from.” 

Bob chuckled. “Life is what you make it.”

“Anything else?” I growled.

“No. I went over every page of his rather extensive, detailed will. There are no more surprises.”

“Thank God.”

I stood up and headed for the door. I needed some fresh air and fast. I stepped outside and sucked in breaths of warm air as I mulled over everything I had been told. At that point, I didn’t feel like I had a choice in the matter. The decision had already been made for me. My dad was running my life from his grave. I had always known he was a powerful man, but the current situation was ridiculous.