Bzzz, bzzz…

It was already morning when a sudden buzzing resounded in one of the University dorm rooms. The place was small and tidy but the air was stale as if no one opened the window inside for days. The noise came from the phone that vibrated on a nightstand, annoying the only resident of that flat. 

“Mhmm…” 

A young man, sleeping on the bed next to it, woke up in an instant but instead of standing up, he instinctively reached out with his arm and lazily turned off what sounded like an alarm. He went back to sleep right after, covering his face with one of the pillows to block the sunlight from the windows. 

His name was Ryan Morgan and he was twenty-three years old student of a fifth-year in University. Despite his handsome features, he was currently single from reasons even he couldn't explain. His cute dimples and clear blue eyes could get the girls' attention but his weird uncontrollable actions were enough to push them away. 

Laying down, he thought he can return to his dreamland when the phone vibrated once again, making him realize it was someone calling him instead. 

Ryan had no choice but to sit up and take the call, knowing only a few people would call him on this number. 

His mother was one.

He fixed his messy brown hair by putting its long strands behind his ears and accepted the call, seeing it was her.

“Hi Mom…” he said weakly, his voice having morning hoarseness to it.

Ryan didn't know what to expect but out of instinct, he pulled the phone away at safe distance from his ear before his mom could even speak. It turned out to be a life-saving move. 

"How long do you plan to sleep! It's past noon already!" His mom's shout hit him like a hurricane and even with the distance, his ears itched from irritation. 

He wanted to respond but his mom shot words like bullets from a machine-gun, not giving him time to speak.

"I don't have time for your excuses! Check the email I sent you!"

"Now...?" Ryan replied after a soundless yawn, knowing exactly what answer he would get. 

"Yes! Now!" His mother shouted back, living to his expectations. 

"Okay, okay, I am doing it now. Give me a second," Ryan calmed her down and put her on speaker as he quickly switched to his mailbox on the phone. 

He knew his ears would hate him for that later but he had no other choice. Ryan spotted his mom's email as it was the most recent one he got and opened it with a tap. To his surprise, it was empty aside from three files attached to it. 

Each had a different female name as the title of the attachment: Emma, Jennie, and Lisa. 

He tapped on one of them and was shocked to see a picture of a beautiful girl with a whole big description of herself. With just one look he knew her measurements, what and where she studied or what she liked. Everything he would want to know about her was there. 

Before he questioned, he glanced at the other two and saw similar profiles. What they all had in common was how pretty all three were and finished the best schools in the country.

"What are those…?" Ryan asked surprised, not really getting why she was showing them to him.

"Did you check the files already? Perfect! Tell mommy which one you choose." His mom got excited. 

"Huh? Choose what?" Ryan asked confused only to open his mouth wide and pretend to be shocked. "Don't tell me you joined mafia and I am helping you choose our next target?"

His mother didn't share his sense of humor and immediately scolded.

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"Idiot, of course not! Just pick the one you like!" 

"Okay, tell me, is it kidnapping or a simple mobbing? I can't blindly pick like that," Ryan continued to troll her, finding it fun. 

She didn't take it well and immediately warned, "If you continue to spurt nonsense, I will drive over to your dorm and beat your ass! We are not kidnapping the girls! Those are your girlfriend candidates!" 

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Ryan momentarily burst out laughing from his mother's joke to the point he would spill and choke on water if he was drinking any. 

"Girlfriend candidates?" He asked to confirm if he had hearing problems or not. It was the last thing he would expect his mother to say. 

He thought she will shout again but his mother called out to him in her fake sweet voice instead, "Yes, exactly. Your mother took care of everything as she knows you are struggling to find a girlfriend. You are welcome." 

All warning controls in his brain lit up, immediately realizing that something was wrong. 

His mom was never sweet to him before. 

"I can sense your scheme from a mile away. What are you planning? Who are those girls and why are you suddenly telling me to find a girlfriend?" Ryan questioned seriously before sending a warning. "If you don't tell me, I will hang up the call."

"Wait! Don't!" his mom called out anxiously. "I was going to tell you anyway after your pick. Why are you so impatient?" 

"Tell me what's going on? I am not going to pick anything until you spill the beans." Ryan placed a condition, giving his mom no choice. 

His mom had no choice but to give up and say the truth. "Alright. The truth is your grandma called yesterday. She said she will come back to our hometown next week on Valentine's Day. She wanted to meet all her grandsons and their second halves."

"The rich grandma who left ten years ago?" Ryan recalled the face of his grandma. "Let me guess. You told her that I have a girlfriend. Am I right?"

He knew his mother's well enough to know it was the truth. She also instantly admitted, "Of course I did! Karen already said both her boys have wives! How could I say you don't even have a girlfriend after your grandma brought it up? I would rather jump off the building than admit Karen is better!" 

"Anyway, that's not all. There is a reason why she is coming back. She wants to pass on the ownership of her company to one of her grandsons and the meeting next week will determine who gets it," his mom explained, hitting him with the explosive news.

"Wait, what…? Really? But isn't her company about make-up and fashion? I don't think any of us would know how to lead it well," Ryan asked surprised. 

He studied Business and Management at University so he somehow knew how to manage a company but the fashion world was special. Being self-aware of his skills, Ryan knew the company wouldn't do well in his or his two cousins' hands. 

They led their own companies but in completely different markets. One had a car dealership and another was into real estate. They weren't made for the fashion world. 

"That's why your grandma wants to see your wives instead! She plans on choosing her successor from your lovers!" His mom finally revealed the main goal of her grandma.

Hearing it, Ryan could only shrug. "Well, too bad. I don't even have a girlfriend. Seems like I am out of the race," he muttered indifferently. 

His mom didn't seem like an easy person to reject as she immediately added, "This is why I came to help you! We can't let my ugly sister win! I already found you, three perfect candidates, you just need to pick one. It shouldn't be that hard, right?"

Ryan was happy that his mother wanted to help him but he already found the catch.

"Won't I need to be with that girl for the rest of my life afterward? Do you expect me to make such a decision in just a week? It's not possible mom." Ryan would rather pass on this opportunity than be with someone he doesn’t love.

Seeing that didn’t work, his mom changed her tactic, playing on his feelings instead. 

"So you are giving up and letting Karen win? Is that how you repay me for all the years I raised you? Can't you just try to meet any of the girls I gave you? They are really nice. Maybe you will fall in love at first sight? You shouldn't say no before you try to meet at least one of them. Please Ryan, do this for mom." 

"Sigh… You and your competition with Auntie…” Ryan let go of the air in his lungs, collapsing on the bed. He couldn’t reject his mom when she was begging him like that. “Fine, I will at least give it a try. You won't stop nagging me if I don't. Just know that If I don’t like any of them, we are done with this."

His mother seemed to be satisfied with it as she quickly exclaimed, "Great! Pick one and we can meet her tomorrow! I am waiting for your phone-call then! If you win, we are going to be rich!" 

"Is that so?" Ryan already had a headache, regretting he agreed to it. 

"Of course! Your grandma's brand is one of the best in the world! You wouldn't understand even if I told you so just know you have to do your best to win. Call me when you have your choice!" His mom explained further and hang up on him right after, not giving him a chance to ask more. 

"Damn… I always knew she is rich but she is on another level…” Ryan cursed, scared of what he actually signed up for. 

He barely remembered his grandma’s face as it has been a long time she was gone. She left ten years ago with her small wealth and now she is coming back out of nowhere, planning to give her world-class company away. That wasn’t a turn of events anyone in his family could imagine. 

“I guess this week is going to be interesting.”