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“I know what it’s like to put the company’s reputation in danger based on bad judgement. Don’t make my mistakes.” Aidan’s nostrils flare, as if his own words taste bad.
“When you put it like that.” Dad swallows, looks down at his desk, grabs a pen and scribbles something. He clears his throat. “People trust me to lead this company with the shrewd businesssense I’ve always had. We’ll rearrange the proportions.”
“Da-ad!” Fin whines while my heart starts pounding faster.
“I’ll retain twenty-seven percent. Fin, because of his experience, will have eighteen percent.”
“But, Da-ad, you promised me twenty!” Fin interrupts. He stands up from his seat and does a perfect imitation of a stroppy toddler.
“And Caitlin will have ten percent.” Dad clears his throat a second time and meets my eyes. “You’ll, of course, be in school most of the time, so I’ll make decisions on your behalf when you’re not here.”
“But that’s not fair!”
It’s not my voice, it’s Fin’s, although I want to scream the same words. I should have the same proportion as my brother. But I’m stunned into silence by it all. Maybe I would feel differently if I had no interest in the company, but surely Dad knows how invested I am in arts and design?
And where did this come from? It’s all out of the blue.
“It’s okay, Fin,” Dad soothes. “It’s only two percent less than the original plan.”
“But—”
“It’s decided.” Dad holds up his hand to stop further whining. “Wedohave another matter to discuss.”
“Oh, yeah.” The smug look on my brother’s face makes my stomach drop, yet again. Dad turns to Aidan.
“Now, Fin has come up with a very interesting project. He has some new designs. As a new owner, I would like him to take these designs through the whole process, from sketch to sales. I will mentor him through this journey.”
“Including the marketing part,” Fin interjects, puffing out hisslim chest.
Aidan’s back stiffens. I’ve heard Dad complain over how protective Aidan is of the marketing. Poor Aidan, he must be fuming on the inside.
“Yes, including the marketing,” Dad continues.
The silence is palpable. I break it with words that just spill out of my mouth, despite knowing it will come to nothing.
“And… what about my designs?”
If the quiet was palpable before, it’s deafening now. That’s until the clang of Dad’s letter opener hitting his mahogany desk. I hide my hands in the folds of my skirt.
“Caitlin, not this again.” Dad waves dismissively. “You think I have time to look at your doodles when I’m embarking on mentoring your brother? Your neediness is really not becoming.”
He dismisses me by turning to Aidan, who is staring blankly at my father. Then his gaze shifts to me and his eyes seem to widen. The corner of his mouth twitches. He sighs deeply and shakes his head. Then another big sigh.
“I’ll do it.”
“What do you mean?” Dad asks.
“As Caitlin is also a new owner, I’ll mentor her through her dood-her drawings at the same time as you mentor Junior.”
“It’s Fin,” my brother hisses while I gape at Aidan.
He just called my sketches ‘doodles’, even though he praised them yesterday. My cheeks heat at the uneasy shuffle of his feet. He extends his arm in front of him, rolling his hand from his wrist, as if he can’t find the words. “Um, under the same conditions, of course. From design to sale.”
Another silence, this time interrupted by a snicker. Fin covers his mouth to stop his giggle. I wish the ground would swallow me up. I don’t care if it’s hell that takes me. Anything is betterthan being someone’s charity case. Someone who doesn’t believe in me.
No one ever does.
“Oh, why, that’s very kind of you, Aidan. Let’s make it a competition, shall we?” Dad grins, glee smeared thick over his features. He’ll never get through the pearly gates looking like that. “And… one last thing. As these areuniqueandinnovativeideas, I want Fin to get the proceeds from his project. Uh, and Caitlin hers, of course.”
