Though the meeting room's polished flooring gleamed beneath the strong fluorescent lights, I felt anything from brilliant. As I pulled open the heavy glass door, my heart surged and the sound echoed menacingly throughout the large area. I was entering a battlefield—a corporate warzone—where I was supposed to be the commanding general. Rather, I felt like a soldier about to be thrown into the fight without armor.
"Eleanor, you are right here! We were simply talking about forthcoming initiatives. The voice of my father sliced through the mist of my fear, but it did not provide clarity; it simply served to heighten my concerns.
"Dad," I said, gathering all the power I could summon despite the puddle of anxiety building in my gut. "I have to bring up the money with Mom and you. We should go over what has been happening inside the business.
From her tablet, my mother looked up, her brow wrinkled as though she were real-time future planning for our family. Can this hold? In an hour we will meet with the investors.
"Wait?" I went back and again dumbfounded. "We cannot simply sweep this under the carpet. Lily's wedding expenses have you squandering business funds—"
The way my mother spoke grew stiff. "For our family, Eleanor, this is a big chance. The marriage of your sister to Daniel could improve our standing.
"Or it could sink us," I shot back, irritation boiling out. Do you even realize the amount you have spent? The figures do not line up. I recently learned that you mortgaged the assets of the company for a wedding grounded in lies!
The hall went quiet. My father's eyes strayed between my mother and myself, doubt carved on his face. We thought it was a wise investment.
"A sensible investment?" Shaking my head, I was incredulous. "Lily is married to a billionaire, but his wealth is not confirmed. Our future cannot be predicated on his hollow pledges!
Her eyes narrowed, and my mother leaned closer with a low, menacing voice. Eleanor, you are acting logically incorrectly. Your sister finds Daniel to be wonderful. Not less valuable than that is Besides, every resident in town thinks he is rich. That's all that counts.
No, it's not, I said in response. "Yes, it counts how we're seen; but, it also counts whether we can survive. You have risked all; next week I am expected to take over as CEO!
My mother yelled, her irritation boiling to the surface: "I was only trying to ensure your sister had a future. "You cannot appreciate the pressure we are under."
"Understand??" I grimaced slightly. You have blinded each other to reality! Years of training for this post, lessons from Grandpa, and this is how you honor his legacy. By means of gambling it away?
My father interrupted, his voice calm but strong. "E Eleanor, enough." Later we will talk about this. We should right now concentrate on the meeting. There is no turning back; your sister is getting married.
He turned away with that, discounting me without thinking twice. I felt hot, unrelenting rage. How could they be so carelessly irresponsible?
"Great," I said under my breath and rushed from the conference room. My heart thumping in my chest, my thoughts ran with the ramifications of what was happening. The shore was just out of grasp; I felt like I was drowning.
As I emerged into the busy office corridor, my phone rang in my pocket and I fished it out in search of a diversion. Lily was saying, "Can you meet me at the café?" I ought to speak.
I groaned, my annoyance rising once more. What could she possibly have to say that would not further aggravate my anxiety? But her letter had a certain urgency that tugged at my heartstring. Though I felt let down by our parents, I had to be there for her.
Just a few blocks away, the café was a little establishment with cozy booths and the aroma of freshly made coffee filling the air. The bell rang gently as I pushed through the door, and my eyes went straight to Lily seated at a corner table, her hands tensely wriggling the napkin in front of her.
"ELLIE!," She looked up, and for a split second I saw the small child I used to guard—the one who thought in fairy tales and happily-ever-afters.
I said, gliding into the booth across from her, "Hey, Lil." "What's going on?,"
Lily looked about the café, as though she expected someone to hear us. "I wanted to bring up Daniel."
I felt a flash of panic. What about him? Is he alright? Has anything happened?
She bit her lip, a flutter of uncertainty playing across her face. "I'm not sure Ellie. Simply said is... I get afraid. Everyone keeps telling how flawless he is, but I can't get rid of this impression that something is odd.
"What would you mean?" My heart thumping, I leaned in. "What's bothering you??"
"I found some papers in his things," she said, lowering her voice. "Bank statements that did not match each other. Although he informed me he was worth millions, the figures disagree.
My tummy knotted up like hell. Lily, you have to face him about this. Should he be lying—that is,
She interrupted, her voice increasing in panic: "I don't want to believe he is!" " Ellie, he treats me nicely. You adore him; I love him. But suppose it all is a front? Suppose all Mom and Dad have done is for nothing.
I stretched across the table, clutching her hands. Let me speak to you. You have to look for yourself. Should even a possibility exist that he has been lying to you—"
Pulling her hands away, she argued, "He's not like that!" "You know him not as I do. He is pleasant and has contacts! Perhaps we might flip this around. If we merely play our cards as they come.
"Play our cards right?," I asked as I went back and again dumbfounded. Lily, this is not a game. Future of our family is here. You cannot disregard the warning signals just because you wish things to go through.
The strain pulsed between us, a storm building in her eyes as she shed tears. "I simply missed Grandpa. He would have known just what to do. He always had faith in me!
The reference to our grandfather started to pull at me. "So do I, but we have to be sensible. For you what would he want? Regarding the company? Regarding our family?
Lily looked down, a flutter of doubt flickering over her features. "You're trying to assist, but what if I'm just overreacting? Should I simply be paranoid?
"Or what if you are right?" Desperate to clear her mist of denial, I pushed. "I can't stand the idea of you suffering, and right now you're running everything."
She gasped hard, then she knew. "What do you suppose I ought to do?"
"First, you have to speak with Daniel," I said strongly. "And second, on my end I will investigate this. I will stop him from coming to us. No matter what it takes, I won't allow our family to fail.
Sitting in that little café, I could feel our circumstances weighing down on us. People smiling, cars honking, life continuing—the world outside continued on—while we were imprisoned in our own web of doubt.
Lily grabbed for her phone and went over her texts. "I'll text Daniel and see if we might get together tonight."
"Good idea," I said, even though a knot of anxiety started in my gut. But go cautiously. Keep him from charming you into believing everything is fine.
She nodded, her will gently returning. "I'll be smart." I vowed.
Lily was still clearly anxious as I walked her home following our chat. I became suddenly uncomfortable as we got to the front door. My phone buzzed once more, another message from my mother just before I opened the door.
We should speak. Return home. These days.
My heart accelerated. Lily, I have to head out. Mom wants to see.
Her eyes wide with anxiety, she said, "Okay, but please be careful."
"I will," I said, even though I felt the weight of the confrontation pressing down on me.
My head racing with all that had happened, the drive home was a haze. As I ran back over the events in my thoughts, I hardly registered the roadways. The fact was that I had to get ready for the storm since I felt the ground underneath changing.
My folks' car was parked randomly in front when I drew into the driveway; the doors swung open as they emerged. Their stiff expressions let me feel the discomfort emanating from them.
"Eleanor!!" With his clipped voice, my father yelled out. "Enter inside. We find ourselves in a position.
As I trailed them into the house, my pulse accelerated and fear swelled in my gut. "What's going on??"
With arms crossed, my mother stood in the living room looking inscrutable. "We got a call from someone supposedly knowing Daniel."
Freeze. "What are you implying? W Who?
"A private investigator," my father said in a serious voice. "He has data that might turn around everything."
"What kind of material?," My heart was hammering, I pressed and felt the tension in the air thickening.
"About Daniel's past," my mother interrupted. Furthermore, it's not good.