Chapter 3

"That's your own problem."

I hung up on him.

Then.

My brother called again, fast and frantic, like his life depended on it.

I didn't pick up.

Furious, he called Mom and Dad to tattle.

"Jeanette won't be my assistant."

"We had a meeting set with Mr. Matthews to go over the project details."

"And she just took off on her own."

"She even lost my car keys."

When Mom and Dad heard about it.

Both of them flew into a rage.

"Your sister is completely out of line!"

"That girl can't tell what matters and what doesn't."

"Craig, you go meet Mr. Matthews first."

"We'll deal with your sister."

"Okay, Mom, Dad."

After Craig hung up, the corner of his mouth curved up on its own.

He thought for a moment.

Then he opened his messages and typed one out.

"Sis, Mom and Dad are angry."

"You're done for!"

"Just wait for your scolding."

When Craig's message came through.

I was already sitting across from Winston.

"Miss Delgado, what would you like me to do?"

"My parents are so desperate to let him prove himself to those shareholders."

"So I'm going to make sure they don't get their way."

Winston asked, "Then what should we do with the project?"

"Scrap it. Right now!"

"Understood."

I got up and left the restaurant. On the way home.

Mom called.

"Where are you?"

"On my way home."

"Making you your brother's assistant was your father's and my decision, and you should honor the bet you lost."

"Your project proposal wasn't as good as your brother's."

"That's an undeniable fact!"

I smiled faintly and asked, "Mom, is it really a fact?"

"What do you mean?"

"You mean this wasn't your decision?"

"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about us?"

"A month ago, your father and I told the two of you, you and your brother."

"That we'd be absolutely fair and impartial."

"That we'd never take anyone's side..."

Before Mom could finish.

I cut her off. "Ask yourselves honestly."

"Have you really been fair?"

Mom answered without a second's hesitation.

"Of course!"

"There's no point in this."

I hung up on her.

By the time I got home.

Mom was sitting on the couch, her face dark.

Dad was back too.

The moment I stepped through the door.

Dad let out a cold snort, his face hard and cold. "Jeanette Delgado, come here and kneel down!"