hi I'm Olivia Martinez I'm 28 living in San Francisco and working as a software engineer calling it my best life might be a bit of a stretch but hey I'm managing my apartment's got a view of the fog and I can afford the occasional overpriced avocado toast so there's that but trust me getting here wasn't exactly smooth sailing picture this I'm 8 years old rocking pigtails when my dad Michael that decides family life isn't his scene anymore he packs up and takes off with a woman young enough to be his daughter sweetie I'll always love
you but I need to find myself he said yeah sure Dad find yourself in someone else's arms fast forward four years and it's my mom's turn Sarah meets Mr Moneybags and suddenly craves a fresh start Olivia darling you'll understand when you're older this is for the best she said kissing me goodbye the best for who exactly thankfully Grandma Elena stepped in no questions asked Olivia my sweet girl we get through this together she'd say wrapping me in those warm cinnamon scented hugs that felt like home don't get me wrong I'm doing okay I've got a
great job at Tech Corp where I met my best friend do she was the one who finally convinced me to try therapy girl you've got more baggage than an airport carousal time to unpack that she said over our third glass of wine one night so there I was pouring my heart out to Dr Patterson every Tuesday Olivia how does your parents abandonment make you feel he'd ask how do you think it makes me feel doc like I just want America's Next Top abandonment Story Just when I thought I was getting a grip life through another
curveball Grandma Elena the only real parent I ever had passed away I was crushed drowning in grief and memories of cinnamon hugs then came the surprise she'd left me a fortune serious money the kind that would make even a Silicon Valley CEO do a double take and wouldn't you know it suddenly my phone was buzzing with calls from two people I never thought I hear from again Olivia sweethart it's your father I heard about Elena I think it's time we reconnected darling it's your mother I'm so sorry about your grandmother we should talk well well
well look who decided to crawl out of the woodwork I guess a fat inheritance check was enough to jog their memories about having a daughter buckle up folks things were about to get interesting so there I was standing outside a fancy restaurant questioning my sanity for agreeing to meet with Michael yeah I'm calling him Michael now dad is a title you earn and this guy cashed in his chips a long time ago Olivia oh sweetheart you look so grown up he said walking toward me with a woman who looked like a Desperate Housewives extra on
his arm and two many Michaels trailing behind hi Michael I replied my voice flatter than weak old soda this is Vanessa my wife he said beaming like he was introducing me to a shiny new car and these are the twins Bryson and Kyler I forced a smile nice to meet you all as we sat down I couldn't help but notice Vanessa's designer everything her purse probably cost more than my monthly rent so Olivia Michael started his voice dripping with fake sincerity I heard about Elena I'm so sorry she was a good woman yeah she was
the best I replied stabbing my salad like it had wronged me funny how you remember her now Michael had the decency to look uncomfortable I know I made mistakes sweetie but I'm here now we're family family I scoffed is that what you call it Vanessa chimed in her voice nauseatingly sweet Olivia your father's been through a lot too we should focus on healing I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood Michael cleared his throat leaning in so a Alena's estate has everything been settled smoothly and there it was the real reason for this little
family reunion it's been handled I said curtly the rest of lunch was a blur of awkward small talk and thinly veiled questions about my finances the next day it was Sarah's turn she picked a ritzy Country Club of course she did darling she exclaimed air kissing my cheeks this is Robert my husband Robert a silver Fox type in a tailored suit shook my hand pleasure to meet you Olivia Sarah's told me so much about you funny she hardly ever mention you to me I quit Sarah's smile faltered for a second well let's sit shall we
I've been dying to catch up for the next hour I was treated to a whirlwind tour of Sarah's Charities Galla and social connections it was like listening to a Kardashian podcast on 2x speed and then I said to The Duchess darling that tyara is simply to die for Sarah giggled taking a sip of her champagne fascinating I'm muttered blancing at the clock and wondering if I could fake a medical emergency to make my Escape Robert cleared his throat looking over at me you know Olivia times have been a bit tough lately some of my investments
didn't pan out as expected I raised an eyebrow oh Sarah jumped in with a too bright smile nothing serious of course just a little belt tightening but you know family is so important during Times Like These don't you think I excused myself shortly after my head spinning with thoughts of their not so sble hints back at work I spilled everything to zo over coffee they're totally after your money zo said her eyes wide with disbelief you need to watch your back you think I sighed what should I do zo's eyes gleamed with a mischievous light
I know a guy a private investigator he could dig up some dirt on your folks I hesitated then nodded do it for the next week my phone lit up with messages from Michael and Sarah family dinner let's go shopping we have so much to catch up on I was ignoring yet another text when I overheard a conversation in the break room that made my blood run cold yeah Martinez The Quiet One right word is her grandma left her Millions I froze my coffee MTH halfway to my lips how did they know about my inheritance and
if they knew who else did as I walked back to my desk my pH pinked again another message from Sarah Darling we simply must discuss the Family Estate it's what alino would have wanted I clenched my fists a cold anger settling in my gut these vultures thought they could swoop in and take what was mine they had another thing coming it was time to find out what skeletons were hiding in their designer closets Jake the private investigator zo had recommended didn't waste any time within a week he dropped a bomshell that made my head spin
your dad's business it's a house of cards Jake said sliding a file across my kitchen table he's in deep with some nasty lone sharks we're talking break your kneecaps kind of guys I flipped through the pages my stomach twisting and my mom Jake grimaced her husband Robert has been cooking the books at his company they're one audit away from Total bankruptcy it was like a punch to the gut I knew they were after my my money but this level of desperation was staggering there's more Jake continued someone's been poking around your work Emil accessing files
about your inheritance I felt the blood drain from my face what how Jake Shrugged inside job maybe any co-workers acting suspicious my mind raised recalling the breakroom gossip and the sudden interest from people who'd never given me the time of gay before it all started to make sense I've got an idea I set a plan for me in my mind mind can you set up a meeting with a financial adviser a fake one Jake grinned now you're thinking I know just the guy the next day I invited both Michael and Sarah to separate meetings with
my financial adviser to discuss my inheritance they both jumped at the chant like sharks smelling blood when they arrived at the office the looks on their faces were Priceless Michael turned pale while Sarah's Botox forehead actually managed to Wrinkle in Surprise what's going on here Michael demanded I smiled sweetly oh I just thought we could all chat about my inheritance together isn't that what family does for the next hour I laid out everything Jake had uncovered Michael's failing business Sarah and Robert's embezzlement and the hacking of my working now with each Revelation they grew more
desperate turning on each other like rabid dogs you told me you needed the money for the boys college fund Sarah shrieked at Michael oh please like you're any better Michael shot back trying to frame your own daughter for corporate Espionage Michael shot back and my jaw dropped Sarah at least have the decency to look ashamed it wasn't supposed to go that far we just needed access to your files she stammered I stood up shaking with rage get out both of you and don't ever contact me again as they left Tails between their legs I caught
a glimpse of Jake in the corner giving me a thumbs up the entire confrontation had been recorded the Fallout was Swift and brutal my cooworker Tim from accounting confessed to being bribed by Sarah for information about my finances a few days later Michael showed up at my apartment with the twins trying to guilt me into helping him think of your brothers Olivia they need you he pleaded I slammed the door in his face they needed a father who stuck around not a dead beat chasing money Sarah's attempt to frame me for Corp Espionage was the
last straw I needed a plan and I needed it fast we've got them by the balls zo said as we poured over the evidence in my living room now we just need to squeeze I nodded cold determination settling over me let's end this once and for all I wish I could say I felt bad about what I was about to do but after everything they put me through this was Justice pure and simple first up Robert's embezzlement I made an anonymous tip to the SEC and they swarmed his office faster than you can say insider
trading Sarah Darling I'm afraid there's been a terrible mistake I overheard Robert chatting into his phone outside the SEC building the only mistake was thinking they could mess with me and get away with it as for Michael well let's just say his lone shark buddies got an interesting update on his whereabouts last I heard he was spotted boarding a bus to Mexico looking over his shoulder every 5 seconds but the piece the res s that recorded confession I handed it over to my company's legal team and suddenly all those whispers about corporate Espionage dried up
real quick Olivia we ow you one apology my boss said looking sheepish and ah a substantial raise if you're interested I smiled that my mind was already elsewhere it was time for a change actually I said I think I'm ready for a new challenge so it was all in when I pitch her my idea our own tech company girl you're speaking my language we used part of my inheritance to set up shop but that wasn't all grandma elen's house I turned it into a shelter for kids who'd been abandoned or abused it felt right like
she was still helping people even after she was gone this place is going to change lives zo said as we stood outside the newly renovated shelter I nodded feeling a lump in my throat it already has standing by the window of my new office overlooking the San Francisco skyline I felt a weight lift off my shoulders the past was behind me the future was mine for the taking the story's over but I've got a question for you if you were in my shoes would you have exposed your parents schemes or given them another chance family
is complicated right drop your thoughts in the comments
