CHAPTER 2

         In the darkness of his sleek dark blue limo, Magnus knew every single shade of the deep chestnut brown whisky in his crystal glass. He sipped it, holding his cell to his ear with his free hand, and let the scotch glide down his throat. The complex, sweet taste of the half-million dollars ‘Macallan Adami 1926’ was the only thing settling his nerves. After several days like today, Magnus needed more than just one glass.

“No, Tane. I’m not worried about this part,” Magnus said to Tanner Waylon, his soon-to-be business partner. “That’s not my problem.”

“‘Then tell me, ‘Magno’, what is the problem? What is bothering you so much? Dude, calm down. You don’t have to be so worried all the time.’”

          Magnus frowned as he sipped. He hated being called ‘Magno’. People used to call him that since he was a little boy. It sounded like the name of a superhero he was not but most of all, it was just annoying. His best friend Tanner was the only one who still had the courage to call him by that stupid nickname.

“The problem,” he answered after another long second, “is whether you are going to be able to pull together your funds or not. This is my problem right now. You know I can’t wait forever, Tane. We must move as quickly as possible.”

“‘Well, this is where you’re wrong, my man. You are the CEO. And this is why you can wait as long as you damn want to. You are the fucking boss, Mag,’” Tanner reminded him with a chuckle.

          Magnus laughed with him, a deep sound reverberating through his six-and-a-half-foot frame. He took up most of one side of the limo’s seats, lounging his Viking-like frame over the leather.

          He set his glass down to push his blonde hair from his face.

“Well, it might be so, Tane, but I have a board of directors to answer to... You know how those old men can be. Still living in the 30s or 40s. Still very much against the progress. Yes, I am the CEO, but for now, I am pretty much alone against those old boneheads.”

“‘Have I ever let you down, bro? Trust me, I’ll have the money on time,’” Tanner promised. “‘Just waiting on a few last-minute assets to pan out and after that, I’m good to go.’”

“Good, because I’d hate to see you miss out on this opportunity. We are going to make billions together, Tane, and leaving you behind just seems so wrong. So fucking wrong,” Magnus said sincerely. “You’re one of my oldest and closest friends. You need to be part of the winning team… my team.”

          Magnus settled back against his seat and thought of how Tanner and he had started out together, until his friend branched off on his own, taking a completely different path in life. But if you wanted a good business venture, nothing in New York could compete with ‘Alpha Architecture’, the firm built by Magnus’s father and now run by himself.

“‘Where are you now, Mag?’”

“In my limo.”

“‘Great! Do you want to meet up? Relax a little? Maybe hit a club or two, charm a few girls, have some drinks… party all night long… I think we both need some sweet distraction.’”

“It’s tempting, bro, but I just can’t. I’m on my way to ‘Fosse Theater’. It's part of the theaters district,” Magnus told Tanner and took another long sip of his half-million whisky, letting the taste settle on his tongue before he swallowed. “Last show before we start renovating the whole area. It’s a musical or something. I’m bored already.”

“‘Oh, wow, Mag… I've known you since college and I never knew you were into musicals. I would’ve set up a membership or something. I would’ve helped you expand your cultural horizons…’”

“You’re so funny, dude. I’m not into anything. But I was invited by the person running the project,” Magnus muttered, wondering if he had time for another drink before reaching the theater. “The PR team handling ‘Alpha Architecture’ advised me to make this sacrifice. The PR coordinator said that my presence there is good publicity for the company. It shows we sustain the artistic world from every aspect.”

“‘I see… But you know that in a musical actors sing, dance, and act, right?’” Tanner asked laughing.

“Ha, ha! You’re so fucking hilarious!” Magnus exclaimed.

“‘I’ll be waiting for a detailed report on what went on that stage… So, enjoy your educational evening. I'll call you on Monday morning... Magno!’”

          Tanner’s laughing voice was the last thing Magnus heard before ending the call, leaving Magnus to wallow in his misery for the evening. He threw the phone away with an annoyed gesture.

“Maybe I should join Tane in a club… Get my mind off work just for tonight…”

          A musical…

          For fuck’s sake!

          He always preferred a good action-packed movie to a play.

          Yes, not going seems such a good idea!

“If the organizing staff will notice my absence, I’ll let the PR team handle everything. This is why I pay them!”

          Nodding satisfied, Magnus took the cell phone to call Tanner back and set up a meeting point.  

“No, I can’t miss this. I’m the CEO… I must set an example!” he said, shaking his head. “Fuck! I need a stiff drink before I do this shit…”

          Magnus reached for the bottle and stopped.

          No, he was better than that!

          But then again…

          Tossing his cell on the seat, Magnus grabbed the bottle and filled his glass to the rim. Then, he closed his eyes, working on disappearing, mentally, at least, from the limo. But when shrill ringing echoed around him, Magnus groaned at his failure. His irritation only got worse when he saw who was calling.

“Hey, Dad. How are you? How is Mom? What’s with the call? What’s going on?” Magnus asked, hoping he sounded in a good mood.

“‘So many questions, my boy… Why does something have to be going on? Can’t a father call to check in on his beloved son?’” his father asked lightly. “‘We are fine, as always. But I said to myself I haven’t spoken to you in a while, so…’”

“Dad, it’s been two days… You just talked to me the other day,” Magnus replied, seriously considering adding more whisky to his glass. “Is there something on your mind or as always, did Mom make you call me? Maybe threatening you with something?”

          Harald Karlsen sighed on the other end.

“‘You know that your mother doesn’t need to twist my arm to make me do things. All she has to do is smile at me and I’m completely lost… She is still the most gorgeous and wise woman I’ve ever seen…’”

“Dad… I love you and Mom, but why are you calling me?” Magnus asked, trying to mask the exasperation in his voice. 

“‘Oh, yes… Well, your mother worries that you’ll be too busy to make the cruise this weekend. You know how important these events are to her, and we finally would like to meet the woman you’re going to marry… Your mother and I believe it’s time, Magnus. We hope that this one is going to be better than the last one you introduced to us. Or at least, more tolerable.’”

“What?”

          Choking on his scotch, Magnus struggled to get air, coughing, and hacking loud enough for his driver to lower the partition and ask quietly if he was alright.

“I’m fine, Yanis… I’m perfectly fine, thank you,” Magnus told him with a grin.

          Yanis frowned but put the partition back up.

“‘Magnus? Son? Are you still there? I can’t hear you.’”

“Yes, Dad, I’m still here. It’s the whisky… Just went down the wrong pipe,” he muttered and continued clearing his throat.

“‘You should be more careful with your alcohol, son. Maybe you should not be drinking while running around town in that limo of yours. I know you’re not driving it, but you are now the CEO of ‘Alpha Architecture’. You need to keep a whistle-clean image,’” Harald replied, and Magnus rolled his eyes.

“Dad, my public image is spotless. You know that.”

“‘I know, son. Nonetheless, you need to be extra careful.’”

“I always am.”

“‘Okay. Now… Back to what I was saying… Are you going to bring your fiancée? It’s high-time I met the woman who stole my son’s heart. She’s marrying the company as much as she’s marrying you, you know,’” his father pointed out in an extremely serious tone. “‘I have to make sure she’s a good fit for us all.’”

          Magnus nodded and set his glass down.

“Don’t trouble yourself with this matter, Dad. She is absolutely perfect. There’s no doubt about it.”

“‘Really? Good, son, very good! Your mother will be so thrilled to know.’”

“So, maybe there’s no need to take her on this cruise…”

“‘I must go now. Your Mom needs me. Remember, the cruise leaves at sunset on Friday night. Don’t be late, Magnus. And don’t forget to bring your fiancée.’”

          He promised he’d be there on time and then, heard his father hang up his cellphone.

“Shit!” he muttered, running a hand down his face. “Fuck!”

          For a while, they’d let the whole finding a wife issue go, and Magnus enjoyed two years of being with who he wanted when he wanted, desperate to live life to the fullest his money could buy.

          Having his heart yanked out, stomped on, and set on fire once was enough.

          Magnus had trust issues, to begin with, but after that damn woman almost destroyed him, mind and soul, he barely trusted anyone but himself. Not even his parents, in some instances. And he loved them.

          Yes, their intentions were good, but he was not interested. A string of women using him for one thing or another was the norm. Now, he used women like they used him and dumped them just as fast.

          He sighed, glaring out the window.

          A fiancée.  

          Magnus had completely forgotten the lie he’d told nearly a year ago about finding a new woman to get his mother off his back, and now they wanted to meet this imaginary woman.

          What the hell was he going to do?

          He needed a fake fiancée as soon as possible.

          Where could he find one?

          Was there a place, a site, an app where he can find the right woman to take home to meet his loving but sometimes, overwhelming parents, pay for her services, and then go on their separate ways?