Is it love? Ryan Carter - His side of the story!

Chapter 5 - Connoisseur

Author note: Hey guys I'm sorry for taking long. So many things happening around here. But here is one more chapter.

I hope you like it! ;P

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It's new year eve. I spent my Christmas miserably. The whole world seems to stop during these days! After the disaster last Sunday I decided to go back home and pushed away Rory Turner from my mind. The whole thing that happened just showed me how I was right about separating business from my private life. I got back to my senses and put my life on track again. It's time to focus on Carter Corp goals for the next year. So I decided to use this free time to drown some ideas to discuss with Mark and Colin. While taking some notes I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I picked up and saw Jenny's name. "Hello, Little sister. I presume you reminded that you have a family!"
"Hey, Ry! Stop playing the poor guy! You should have come." She said sounding annoyed.
"No, I didn't. Some have to work to pay for this whole trip." I said mockingly and add. "You know I can't tolerate your friends!"
"Ok Ry, whatever. I'm just calling to wish you a happy new year! I'm going to a party and probably I'll not be able to talk to you later."
"Thanks, Jenny. To you too. Take care of yourself. Enjoy your holiday. Love you!"
"Love you too big bro! Laters."
She hangs up before I could say anything. Smiling at the idea of Jenny rushing to hang up on me, to avoid a lecture about drinking, and behaving amused me. Before closing my notebook to go enjoy the day I called Mark.
"Mr. Carter. May I help you?" Mark, as usual, answered his phone immediately.
"Hold on a sec, I'll call for someone else," I said calling to Colin on the second line.
"Carter, what's your problem? It's new year eve. You just got to be kidding me."
Colin's bad mood and grumbling never change. In the beginning, this kind of behavior would piss me off and he probably would be fired, though now we're really close, closer than he likes to admit. He and Mark are the few ones that I trust.
"I'll join you on a conference. Just a sec." I listened him sighing while I joined the line with Mark.
"Mark, Colin are you listening to me?"
"Yes, Carter," Colin said Snorting, making me smirk.
"Yes, Mr. Carter. Hello Colin!" Mark couldn't help being a gentleman.
"Ok great! I promise to be brief!"
"Just spill the beans, Carter." Colin said in his usual bad mood, as everything in the world looks like a bunch of bullshit. I know it's just a facade, he likes to make everyone believes that he doesn't care, that he's way to cool to bother himself with mundane things, but he actually is a humanitarian, just like me. That's why he's so close to me. He's the main key to my accomplishments in terms of charity. "Gentlemen I'm sorry to bother you today, I just need to share you some ideas, and I need to start working right on Tuesday."
"Ok, I'm listening!" Colin said sounding interested.
"Mark, just to brief you, Colin has been digging into some business and before we have all information we need to take a huge step, I decided to organize a fundraising late January! As you may know, my former assistant resigns right after Christmas, so that's why I need you."
"That's fine Carter. What exactly you need?" Mark answered right away. He's always up for challenges, he never disappoints.
"First from now on you're in charge to help me find a new assistant, Cassidy had failed on that miserably. Ask that blond all smiles secretary to help you. Before you send me the resumes you should interview then! Back to the ball, Schedule a meeting with Claire, she used to help Lorraine organizing our gatherings. Just make sure inviting all our sponsors ASAP. I've already requested Claire to book our usual Gallery. She'll provide you all information you may need. Elaborate a presentation with Catering suggestions and seven courses menu. Don't forget the wine and scotch. We should talk about it on next Friday!" I finished talking and listened to a rustle of paper being written, satisfied with Marks dispatch.
Colin was snorting on the other side of the line, clearly pissed with me for making him listen to all of this. He hates those kinds of things. "Just try to pretend that you bother." I said jokingly.
"I don't care about It Carter. you know what you're doing." He said dryly and add. "I'm just wondering what the hell I have to know all about it. There's no point I'm in this conversation."
"Of course there's. I need you to help Mark"
"What?" they both said in unison.
"As you two may know Carter Corp. is on a mission to provide water in Africa. We're having some issues. Lorraine was dealing with some things and while Mark is working on raising more money and finding me a new assistant I need you to talk with them. Mark probably has the list of contacts we have over there. Use your ways to persuade them. If you know what I'm talking about."
"Ok but that can wait till Tuesday!" He answered cutting me.
"Definitely! I already took to much time of you. Happy new year to you both. Enjoy your Holiday!" I said ready to finish the call.
"For you to Carter. Colin!" Mark said and hang up.
"You should be more careful of what you say to Mark," Colin said lecturing me before I hang up.
"I trust Mark..." I answer him puzzled.
"That's not the point Ryan. And you know that! He doesn't need to know that. 'I'm digging in some business?' than 'doing what I need to persuade them if I know what you mean.' Are you out of your fucking mind? It's really risky. I'm worried about him." Colin said sounding sympathetic.
"It's not like you. There is something I need to know?" I asked suspiciously.
"No. Nothing that you have to worry now. It's everything under control." Colin reassured me while I listened to some commotion close to him.
"Go, enjoy your Holiday Colin. I see you're not alone. I'm happy for you though!" I said smiling.
"Thanks, she's quite special. Happy new year to you too Carter. Later." He said hanging up.