Charles was counting money that he was placing into five envelopes. Each envelope was marked with the name of one of his guests tonight. And regardless of their gender, they would all get the same amount of money. He was sure the three women and two men he had invited tonight would find his offer very reasonable. Especially since if they were successful in the mission he was giving them, he would give them the same amount of money when they returned to New York.<br/><br/>He looked up when Ben entered. He nodded his head to his grandson.<br/><br/>"That I did. Take a seat, my boy."<br/><br/>He waited for Ben to take a seat in front on his desk and told him.<br/><br/>"Ben, as you know, I'm not getting any younger. It is time for me to seriously consider what will happen to all the vast things I have accumulated in my life. Of course, your father will inherit all the businesses. He already runs the day to day operations as it is now."<br/><br/>While Charles served on the board of his businesses, his son had taken over the businesses years ago. He leaned back in his chair.<br/><br/>"Although there is the matter of my personal wealth. With your father inheriting the businesses, I feel my personal wealth and belongings should be divided between you and your sister, Lauren. Although..."<br/><br/>He trailed off a moment. Ideally he would divide things fifty fifty between his grandchildren, but the problem was Ben had been disappointing him for the last few years. His son had given both children trust funds, that they could access when they turned twenty one. Lauren had been responsible with her fund. Ben, however, had spent almost all of it in the last four years.<br/><br/>"In four years you almost spent all the money your parents set up for you in that trust fund. If you had spent it on businesses ventures and failed, that would be one thing. But no, you blew it on women and parties. I will not have you doing the same thing to everything I have worked for."<br/><br/>How Charles wished that Ben had his own work ethic. Did the apple fall that far from the tree? Ben's father had never acted like that, nor had Lauren.<br/><br/>"Honestly, I'm ashamed of it and very tempted to leave everything to Lauren."<br/><br/>He gave Ben a moment to react before he continued.<br/><br/>"But you are my namesake and I don't want to leave you out on the streets. Which will happen to you before long. You'd already be there if I hadn't let you move in after your father kicked you out. So, instead, I'm going to let you get a chance to get in the will. As you know, I have invited a group of people to go on an adventure. You can join them. Make sure they don't screw me out of what is mine. I don't want a repeat of Constantinople."<br/><br/>Thinking of that made the older man angry. He had sent a group of people to search for an ancient treasure from the Byzantine Empire. The group had found it but had kept it for themselves. Charles didn't like when people screwed him over.<br/><br/>"If you go with them, help them find what I want and make sure the proof is brought back to me, then I will divide everything equally between you and Lauren in the will. If not...Well, that's your choice, grandson. However, Lauren will get everything. Which I'm sure she will like, especially once she starts having children of her own with Oliver."<br/><br/>Charles would accept it if Ben did not go. However, he would not be happy with it either. It was time his grandson grew up. Be a man and make his own way in the world. Going on this adventure would help prove himself to Charles. Charles dismissed Ben and went to finish up his paperwork. Albert told him three of his guests had already arrived. Soon, the other two would be here. He was sure.<br/><br/>----------------------------<br/><br/>Jordan Wilder was shocked that she was here, in New York City. The farthest before this trip she had ever traveled was to the Columbus, the state capital of Ohio. Which was only about two hours from where she was from. New York was a place she thought she'd never be. She couldn't believe she was here and that Mister Vanderbilt had paid for her trip.<br/><br/>Jordan had thought her brother was joking when he told her she had return a call from Charles Vanderbilt, III. A very rich and successful New York businessman. Apparently he had been in Ohio on business and had read an article she had written in the newspaper about the Inca Empire. The Toledo Museum had gotten some ancient pieces of the culture as part of a traveling exhibit and she had wrote an article about it. Her brother, Harrison, the owner of the paper, had a normal reporter for that job. But Greg's wife had just had a baby and Harrison gave him some time off. So, Jordan had wrote the article instead. Apparently Mister Vanderbilt had liked it very much. He wanted to give her a special assignment.<br/><br/>It was exciting for Jordan. She normally had to write the advice column for her brother's paper. To be here, in one of the grandest cities of the world, was amazing. And the fact that this very important man had taken notice of her was even more incredible. She was going to be taken seriously as a real journalist. This could be the start of more great things. Maybe she wouldn't just have to give housewives advice anymore.<br/><br/>Jordan had the taxi drop her off that the Vanderbilt mansion and was greeted by Albert, the butler.<br/><br/>"Hello, I'm Jordan Wilder."<br/><br/>She told Albert, who gave her a smile. He might an old man but he had a good memory. Mister Vanderbilt had told him all the names of the people he was supposed to be having here tonight. Once everyone arrived, then Mister Vanderbilt would join them.<br/><br/>"Yes, of course. Welcome, please follow me."<br/><br/>Albert said, leading her to the parlor room that he had directed the three guests that had arrived before Jordan to go to to wait. He then excused himself to wait for the final guest. Jordan took a seat and said to the three.<br/><br/>"Hello, I'm Jordan. It's nice to meet you."<br/><br/>Although she had no idea why she or any of them had been invited here. Mister Vanderbilt was a little mysterious about the dinner.