My scalp prickled.
“How significant?”
“Approximately forty million dollars.”
And suddenly everything changed.
The empty seats.
The lie.
The story that I failed.
Mom asking about documents.
Dad saying nothing.
They were not merely indifferent to my graduation.
They needed me not to have graduated.
“But telling people I failed doesn’t change reality.”
“No.”
“So why lie?”
Nathaniel’s expression darkened.
“That is the question.”
I left his office with copies of everything.
I did not confront my parents.
Not yet.
Instead, I called Ingrid.
“Did you know about my grandmother?”
A pause.
“Not when we recruited you.”
“When did you find out?”
“After you signed.”
“You’re sure?”
“Completely.”
“Would you swear to that?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
She hesitated.
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m discovering my family history is substantially stranger than expected.”
“Welcome to corporations and families,” Ingrid said.
“The difference is corporations admit they’re trying to control you.”
