Chapter 6 - The Ultimatum
Caleb stared at me as if I were speaking a foreign language. The color had completely drained from his face, leaving him looking sickly and hollow.
"A job?" Caleb repeated, his voice cracking with disbelief. "Elena, I run a tech startup. I'm an entrepreneur. I don't work corporate nine-to-fives like some drone."
"You don't run a startup, Caleb," I said, pulling the financial audit report from my folder and sliding it across the polished table toward him. "You run a money pit. According to these statements, your company hasn't produced a single viable product or generated a dollar of revenue in two years. Every single cent of operating capital—your office lease, your server costs, your salary, your luxury car lease—has been funneled directly from my corporate subsidiaries."
Caleb’s eyes widened as he glanced down at the papers. He didn't pick them up; he just stared at the bold red figures at the bottom of the page.
"That's... that's impossible," he muttered, shaking his head. "Mom, tell her. She's my sister. She's obligated to support the family."
"I am not obligated to fund a parasite," I said sharply. "And neither is this company. As of yesterday evening, every single line of credit, corporate subsidy, and personal allowance I've provided you has been permanently revoked."
Bianca let out a shrill, hysterical shriek, slamming her designer bag onto the table. "This is insane! We have a wedding in four months! We have a guest list of three hundred people! The caterers, the florists, the dress designers—they're all booked! You can't do this to us!"
"Watch me," I replied, standing up from my chair. "Furthermore, the venue contract for your wedding here at Obsidian Point has been terminated with zero possibility of reinstatement. You'll need to find another venue. Preferably one that fits your actual budget."
My mother rushed forward, grabbing my arm with trembling fingers. "Elena, please! Please, for my sake. Don't do this to your brother. If you cut him off, he'll lose everything. Fix this right now, or so help me god, you are no longer welcome in our home."
I looked down at my mother’s hand on my arm. For the first time in my life, her threat didn't land with the crushing weight of guilt. It felt empty. Hollow.
I gently peeled her fingers off my sleeve.
"Mother," I said softly, looking directly into her eyes. "You haven't welcomed me into your home in years unless Caleb needed a check signed or Bianca needed a favor. Consider this mutual."
May you like
I turned toward the glass door. Two security guards stepped aside, holding the door open for me.
"If any of you attempt to contact me, my management team, or enter private property at Obsidian Point again," I added over my shoulder, "I won't just cut off Caleb's allowance. I'll file civil lawsuits for corporate embezzlement and property trespassing. Have a lovely afternoon."
