Perfect Mess

Ryder's POV

I smell like a man whose name I never asked and whose face I might never see again. Shoot!

I sat up on the bed and realized the man in question was no longer in the room. Why did I think for a second that he would still be in the room after how last night spun so far out of control?

Letting out a deep breath, I reached for my phone.

Ten voicemails. Seven from my father, who barely texts, and three from Ethan, my bodyguard.

My mind began to spiral. Had something happened?

I sat up on the bed and checked the time. It was still three minutes past ten in the morning.

The birthday and engagement dinner party wouldn't start till six in the evening, so why the hell would my father be calling this much?

There was more than enough time for me to lie to everyone and pretend everything was still going as planned.

A few seconds later, my phone started ringing. It was Ethan, but I didn't pick up on the first dial—only the second.

"Good morning—"

"Quit the formalities and tell me why you're heating up my phone?" I snapped, getting up from the bed but felt a sharp pain in my temples—results of the bottle of drinks I didn’t stop taking.

"I need to know where you are," Ethan responded over the phone.

"When did you become my father, Ethan?"

"Your father’s breathing down my neck, Ryder. He's losing it, and you know how it is with him. Please tell me where you are so I can come and pick you up."

"I'm already heading back," I lied. "So tell your boss to chill. I'll be home soon." I was about to end the call when I heard Ethan call out.

"I will advise you to follow the back door. You might not want to face your dad."

"Appreciate the warning," I muttered and ended the call.

I picked up the room phone and called room service for some painkillers, then headed straight to the bathroom. Maybe a cold shower would help with the headaches.

By the time I got out, the pills were already on my table, so I took them, and just as I dressed and was about to leave, I noticed the grey-eyed man from last night left his black leather jacket in my room.

He must have forgotten it while sneaking out, trying not to wake me. Silly.

I grabbed the jacket and headed off. I wasn’t sure why I took it. Maybe, deep down, I didn’t want to see last night as just a mistake.

Maybe I wanted something to hold on to. Something to remember him by.

I stepped out of the hotel, flagged down a taxi, and headed home.

The ride back home was quiet. The driver didn't play a single sound in the car; it was just the soft hum of the engine and the hangover pounding behind my eyes.

But my thoughts were louder than ever.

The man from last night!

I barely remembered his face. But it was impossible to forget how soothing his voice was.

Then his touch, his lips on my skin, the way he looked at me like he actually saw me, not the rich, spoiled brat everyone knows... It meant everything to me.

But he was gone now, and I had to accept that it was just a fling and nothing else.

For a second, I nurtured the thought of stopping this car and disappearing, but that too was a joke... My last name is Sterling, and vanishing isn't part of the privileges I get to enjoy.

The car halted at the gate of hell, also known as our family estate, and I paid the driver and started heading in.

The guards at the gate didn't say a word to me; they just opened the gate and motioned for me to walk in.

For them to be this silent, it meant my father must have yelled or punished them.

I walked into the house and was immediately confronted by my father. I didn't sneak in through the back. I was ready to face him.

"What are we going to call this, Ryder Sterling?" my father barked, standing just a few metres away from me. "What in God's name were you doing last night, and where the fuck were you?"

"Existing," I simply replied, tossing the jacket on a couch.

"What's that supposed to mean?" His brows furrowed. I knew he was mad, but I didn't care. "You're reckless and irresponsible. Don't you know what today is, Ryder?"

"Yeah, I think this is the day you sell me off to the highest bidder. I should say my birthday, but you've never cared about that," I snapped.

"Don't be dramatic, Ryder. You're no longer a kid." My father's jaw tightened as he walked up to me. "Lira is a beautiful girl who's taken over her—"

"I don't give a fuck, Father!" I yelled, my hands running through my hair in frustration. "I don't even know the sound of her laugh, Father. And you want me to share a bed with her for life?"

"We've talked about this, Ryder," my father boomed, but then started walking toward me. "You met her when you were ten, at your mother's funeral." His voice was calmer this time.

"Is this supposed to mean something to me?"

"It's not about what you want, son. This marriage—"

"Exactly. It's never about anything I want."

"It's funny how you think you're the one who's losing something here," my father scoffed. "You think I enjoy dragging your mess around behind the scenes? Do you know what people say about you? About us? Last week, you left a senator’s daughter crying in the VIP lounge, and today, only God knows what you've done that I might have to find out in the next few hours. Do you know what it takes to clean your filth off the front page—"

"Just admit it, Father, and quit bickering!" I cut him short, my nostrils flared.

"Admit what?"

"That you just wish it was me that died in that car accident and not your golden boy, Cade," I spat and walked out on him.

***

It was almost time for the engagement party, and I had started hearing the sound of tires screeching against the asphalt floor outside as they parked.

So I stood from my bed, had a quick shower, and dressed in the blue tux handpicked by my father.

Yes, he chose everything. The media, reporters, journalists, and all of my father's powerful friends, enemies, and allies—they would all be here, so he would be expecting his unfortunate son to show up and not ruin this for him.

Shortly, I heard a knock on my door, followed by the words, "Ryder, your father asked me—"

"I'll join you guys in a minute, Ethan," I responded, cutting my bodyguard short.

After a few minutes, I glanced at my reflection in my wall mirror, took a deep breath, and walked out of the room, heading to the hall for the party.

The room was bright, the chandelier casting lights on men and women in multi-dollar suits who I believed would only smile if they were in front of cameras or when telling carefully crafted lies.

Everything and everyone here boiled down to wealth and fake affection. My father was currently chatting with Mr. Arnold across the room. A man he loathed so much, he once prayed for his death.

I couldn't believe that in the next few weeks, if not days, I would finally be introduced to these people.

"Sir, I—"

"It's Ryder," I corrected the guard that walked up to me.

"Apologies, R-Ryder. Your guest is here," the guard said.

"Cool, I'll be there in a second," I replied, and the guard bowed and left.

The long-awaited moment... time to get the woman of my father's dreams. Hurray!

As I got to the entrance, I saw a red-haired woman walk out of her car with the prettiest smile and the prettiest eyes.

My father wasn't lying when he said she was beauti—

What the—

What was he doing here?

My eyes shot up in shock, and my throat ran dry.

Lira walked up to me with a smile on her face, and behind her was HIM.

"Nice to meet you, fiancé," Lira said with a smile on her face as I shook her hand.

I felt the blood drain from my face as Darian's eyes locked on mine.

"The pleasure is all mine," I replied, almost whispering.

"Where are my manners?" Lira chuckled. "This is my elder brother, Darian," Lira introduced us.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling. I've heard so much about you," Darian said, holding his hand up for a shake.

Of course, he would offer his hand for a shake. My body hesitated, but I played along. That was what a perfect fiancé would do, right?

"Nice... to meet you too," I muttered, already wondering what kind of situation I had just put myself into.