Chapter 2

2

The next morning, I told Mr. Caldwell, "Dad, I've admired you for a long time, and I'm really interested in Caldwell Enterprises." "Could I visit the company?"

He just frowned, like he hadn’t even heard me, and left for work.

I wasn’t worried. If Caldwell Enterprises was going down in three years, there must be issues right now. If I could earn his trust, with my abilities, I could save the company.

For days, I was the perfect daughter, reading finance books, sharing what I learned with Mr. Caldwell.

And with my mom, I gave it my all. Getting her milk in the morning, learning her favorite recipes. I guess, because I never had family, I was desperate to be loved. Even when they didn't really respond to me, I didn't lose hope.

But then Tiffany showed up with a recording, and it destroyed my little dream.

It had Mr. Caldwell’s voice, sounding cold: "I feel like we adopted a viper. I'm not even dead, and she’s thinking about running Caldwell Enterprises. She just goes on and on about Warren Buffet. I don't even understand half of those finance books, and she's acting like she knows everything.”

"Let’s look at terminating her adoption in a few years. We just adopted her to look good to the public.”

Then there was static, and then Mrs. Caldwell’s voice, talking to Tiffany.

"Sweetie, your sister's so gloomy, while you're like a little ray of sunshine. I wish we adopted you. When she makes me food, I have the maid toss it, I'm scared she’s going to poison me.”

After the recording, Tiffany looked at me, all smug. "Lana, your parents don't like you. Last time, they loved me. They were working to earn tuition, even when they were broke. You’re just not very likable.”

So that's why Tiffany had been so calm lately. She had been sucking up to my folks.

I could see she was wearing fancy new clothes. Earl was just a butcher, so there was no way he could pay for that.

She was getting money from Mrs. Caldwell.

I quietly hit record on my phone, playing it cool. “You like my parents so much? We could trade.”

Tiffany screeched, "That old bag? She's got such a sour face. I’d never be her daughter. And her husband? He thinks he's a big deal with his ‘big money,’ but last time, he was sucking up to Earl all the time."

Tiffany went on a rant, insulting everyone. Once she was done, I waved my phone around, showing her it was recording. I sent it to Mrs. Caldwell, as Tiffany watched in horror.

Tiffany tried to grab my phone, but her phone suddenly buzzed. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. She glared at me, but hung up.

She can hang up her phone, but she couldn’t stop me from calling Mrs. Caldwell.

“Hi, Mom,” I said. “Tiffany’s here with me. I’ll put her on.”

I shoved the phone at her, with Tiffany looking pale. Mrs. Caldwell’s voice was as cold as a judge’s verdict: "Tiffany, I thought you were just making jokes at the foster home, so I let it go. I even felt sorry for you with that butcher, so I bought you clothes and treats.”

“But you’re just a mean kid. Don't contact me again.”

She hung up. Tiffany started frantically texting Mrs. Caldwell, her face turning green as she stared at her screen. She was blocked.

When I got home, Mrs. Caldwell was there, and she had a bowl of hot soup for me. Mr. Caldwell was reading on the couch, looking at me like he actually cared.

After I finished my soup, he said, “Lana, you can visit my company next weekend. You always wanted to, right? When you graduate, I’ll get you a job, a manager position or something, whatever you want."

I looked up from my bowl, and gave him a real smile for the first time.

“Oh, no need Dad, I’m busy this weekend.”

Whether they go bankrupt or not? Not my problem.