the phone buzzed against my desk my mother's name flashing across the screen for the first time in three years I let it ring watching until the call ended then waited for the inevitable voicemail notification her voice crackled through the speaker strained and desperate in a way I'd never heard before Isabelle we need to talk it's about the family please call me back I'm Isabelle the daughter who was never good enough the one who couldn't measure up to perfect Makey my older brother who could do no wrong at least that's who I was until I walked away from it all 5 years ago everything okay Ryder poked his head into my office his usual confident smile fading as he noticed my expression you look like you've seen a ghost worse my mother called I turned my phone screen toward him first time since I left he stepped inside closing the door behind him what did she want family emergency apparently I played the voicemail again watching Ryder's face as he l listened funny how emergencies make people remember the children they wrote off my phone buzzed again this time a text from my father please call your mother it's important you going to call back Ryder leaned against my desk arms crossed I stared at the message thread with my mother years of unread holiday messages and guilt-laden texts filling the screen I should probably find out if someone's dying at least with trembling fingers I hit the call button she answered on the first ring Isabelle oh thank goodness her voice wavered we've been trying to reach you I noticed what's wrong it's complicated we're in trouble sweetheart the business the house everything Micky he she choked back a sob we need help of course my Golden Boy brother had finally screwed up badly enough that they needed the backup plan me what did he do he made some Investments bad ones use the business as collateral without telling your father we're going to lose everything I closed my eyes remembering the day I'd tried to warn them about mak's gambling they dismissed me as jealous bitter trying to tarnish their perfect son's reputation how much 3 million she paused we know you're doing well with your company the news articles the awards we followed everything now you have the words came out sharper than I intended funny I don't remember you being interested in My Success when I was starting out Isabelle please we your family family I laughed the sound harsh even to my own ears was I family when you told me I'd never amount to anything when you called me the useless daughter at Aunt Sarah's wedding when you chose Makey over me every single time silence stretched between us Ryder placed a supportive hand on my shoulder we were wrong she whispered I know that now but please we need you no mother you need my money there's a difference I took a deep breath I'll think about it that's all I can offer right now I hung up before she could respond dropping my head into my hands you okay Ryder asked quietly they're broke Mickey gambled away the family business I looked up at him $3 million worth of mistakes and they want me to clean it up are you going to I stood up walking to the window overlooking the city skyline 5 years ago I'd arrived here with nothing but determination and spite now I had everything they said I couldn't achieve success respect Independence you know what the worst part is I turned back to Ryder part of me wants to help just to prove I'm better than they were but another part wants to let them Crash and Burn he finished for me is that terrible after what they put you through I'd say it's human my phone buzzed again Makey this time I declined the call what are you going to do Ryder asked I thought about the scared little girl I used to be always trying to prove herself worthy of love that should have been unconditional about the woman I'd become strong enough to build something from nothing I'm going to show them exactly who their useless daughter turned out to be I smiled an idea forming but not by writing a check they we need to see what real success looks like and what it costs Ryder grinned now that sounds like the Isabel I know I picked up my phone typing a quick message to my mother I'll be home next week we'll talk then the response was immediate thank you sweetheart we knew we could count on you they had no idea what was coming Sometimes the best revenge isn't about making others suffer it's about showing them exactly what they missed out on the memory hit me as I packed my suitcase 16-year-old me standing in our family kitchen clutching my acceptance letter to business school full scholarship Makey had snatched the letter from my hands scanning it with narrowed eyes must be some mistake or they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel this year give it back I'd reached for the letter but he held it above his head using his height advantage against me like always miy stop teasing your sister mom had said but she was smiling she always smiled at his teasing I'm not teasing I'm being realistic he dropped the letter onto the counter business school please you can barely handle basic math remember when Dad tried to teach you about the family business I did remember I'd been 14 eager to learn but every mistake was met with size and headshakes meanwhile miy got private lessons in the office groom to take over someday my phone buzzed jolting me back to the present it was Daria tell me you're not seriously going back there she said when I answered I have to I zipped up my suitcase you didn't hear my mother's voice Daria they're desperate good let them be desperate remember your high school graduation I winced how could I forget while Makey got a new car for his graduation I got a lecture about being practical and considering community college instead of wasting time at business school this isn't about revenge I said though part of me knew that was a lie I was there remember I saw what they did to you the memory shifted to another scene my first business plan competition in college I'd invited my family reserved seats in the front row they never showed up miy had a golf tournament that day I found my old diary while packing I told Daria want to hear something funny the day before I left for college I overheard Mom and Dad talking about taking out a second mortgage to fund Micky's startup idea the one that failed in 3 months that's the one $200,000 down the drain I sat on my bed fingering the worn pages of the Diary meanwhile I was working two jobs to buy my own textbooks and now they want your money Daria's voice dripped with disdain please tell me you're not giving it to them no I stood up walking to my home office on the wall hung my first business license framed next to the newspaper article about my company's first major success I'm going to give them something better the truth what does that mean it means I'm going to show them exactly what their useless daughter built while they were busy enabling their perfect son a text from mecky lit up my phone hey sis heard your coming home we should talk before you see Mom and Dad is that him Daria asked when I went quiet yeah probably wants to convince me to bail them out before I find out exactly how bad things are I typed back a quick we'll see to make n remember when he told you your first business would fail within a month I laughed right before he asked to borrow $5,000 for his foolproof investment scheme did he ever pay that back what do you think my doorbell rang Ryder right on time for our pre-trip strategy session Daria I have to go Ryder's here just be careful okay don't let them pull you back into their games I open the door to find Ryder holding two coffee cups in a folder found something interesting he said handing me one of the coffees did some digging into your family's business finances how bad is it he spread documents across my dining table worse than they telling you Micky didn't just make bad Investments he embezzled used company funds for personal expenses took out loans using business assets as collateral without board approval criminal charges not yet but it's heading that way if someone doesn't intervene I picked up one of the documents a loan application with a forged signature my father's signature they really think I'm going to swoop in and fix this don't they rder nodded question is what are you actually going to do I looked at my packed suitcase then at the wall of achievements they'd never acknowledged I'm going to make them face every mistake every dismissal every time they chose him over me I squared my shoulders and then I'm going to walk away and let them live with the consequences of their choices that's my girl Ryder grinned need backup always I picked up my suitcase time to show them who their useless daughter really is the familiar streets of my hometown felt smaller now each turn bringing back memories I'd tried to forget I pulled into the coffee shop where I'd worked during high school now transformed into a Sleek Cafe a perfect place for my first meeting with mecky he was already there occupying the corner table like he owned it same confident posture same expensive watch but his eyes held a desperation I'd never seen before little sister he stood to hug me I stepped back letun skip the pretense miy what do you want his smile faltered as we sat down can I just want to see my sister after 3 years of Silence try again a waitress approached I ordered black coffee Micky asked for some complicated specialty drink that wasn't even on the menu then acted surprised when they couldn't make it they things are complicated he finally said settling for regular coffee mom probably told you about the business she told me you made some bad Investments Ryder told me the truth his face darkened at Ryder's name your business partner should keep his nose out of Family Matters Family Matters I laughed like when you forged dad's signature on those loans coffee forgotten Micky leaned forward listen I can explain everything I had a plan the Investments were solid but the market save it I pulled out my phone showing him the documentation Ryder had gathered Casino receipts luxury car leases that was your solid investment plan I was networking building relationships with clients you wouldn't understand you've always been so small-minded about these things small-minded I felt my voice Rising I built a multi-million dollar company from nothing while you were gambling away our parents retirement an elderly couple at the next table looked over I lowered my voice how much did you really lose Micky he wouldn't meet my eyes 4. 2 million Jesus Christ I sat back stunned does dad know not everything look I can fix this I just need some Capital to to what double down hit the tables again I have connections he insisted one good deal could turn everything around but I need your help just a small loan say half a million I'll pay you back double within 6 months the same confident smile he'd always used to get his way it probably still worked on our parents no his smile vanished what I said no I'm not giving you money come on Isabelle we're family you can't just family I stood up my chair scraping against the floor where was family when I needed help with college when I was working 60-hour weeks to start my business when I invited you all to my company's launch party and you didn't show because you had a golf game that's not fair I was networking building relationships I grabbed my purse here's what's going to happen tomorrow you're going to tell Mom and Dad everything every loan every forged signature every penny you stole or I will he grabbed my arm as I turned to leave you wouldn't dare I yanked free try me I'm not that scared little girl anymore Micky you can't bully me into submission you think you're so much better than me now he stood towering over me like he used to with your fancy company and your business partner I made one mistake one mistake you destroyed our family's Legacy the business dad spent 30 years building gone because you couldn't admit you had a problem people were definitely staring now Micky's face had turned red you know what his voice was low dangerous maybe if Mom and Dad had given you the business instead of me none of this would have happened is that what you want to hear that you were right all along what I want I said quietly is for you to face what you've done no more manipulation no more lies my phone buzzed a text from Ryder all set for tomorrow's meeting with your parents documents ready tomorrow at noon I told Mickey dad's office either you tell them or I will he called after me as I walked away but I didn't turn back outside I leaned against my car hands shaking as I dialed writer's number how' It Go he asked 4. 2 million Ryder he lost $4.
2 million Jesus that's more than we thought he wanted me to loan him half a million more said he could double it in 6 months Ryder was quiet for a moment you okay I watched through the window as Mickey ordered another coffee his hand shaking as he reached for his wallet yeah I said for the first time in my life I think I am dad's office still smelled like leather and coffee but the usual bustle of employees was gone empty desks stretched across the floor personal items already cleared out my heels clicked against the hardwood as I made my way to the conference room Isabelle mom rushed to hug me I kept my arms at my sides oh sweetheart thank you for coming dad stood by the window looking older than I remembered he turned managing a weak smile you look well success does that I set my briefcase on the table where's maky running late mom said quickly traffic you know how it is no I checked my watch he's not coming is he the silence answered my question I pulled out my laptop and the documents writer had prepared well then I guess I'll start start what dad asked finally taking a seat Isabelle if this is about the loan this isn't about Al loone I connected my laptop to the projector this is about the truth the first slide appeared a breakdown of the company's finances over the past 3 years red numbers dominated the screen what is this mom's voice trembled this is what your perfect son did to the family business I clicked through the slides unauthorized loans forged signatures Casino debts paid with company funds Dad's face went pale that's not possible Micky wouldn't here's his signature on a loan for 800,000 click here's your forged signature on another for 1. 2 million click and here's the casino's record of his losses over the past 18 months mom started crying dad just stared at the screen the total damage I continued is $4.
