Chapter 3: What Vanessa Was Hiding
The next morning, I called Meridian.
I expected congratulations.
Instead, I got confusion.
"Claire," Daniel said over the phone, "we need to discuss something before your onboarding.""
My stomach dropped.
"What happened?""
There was a pause.
"Your employment file was accessed by someone outside the company.""
I sat down.
"Someone accessed my file?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
"We're investigating.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
I thought about Vanessa.
The torn letter.
The message.
Ask your sister.
"I think I know who.""
After the call, I drove to my parents' house.
Vanessa answered the door.
She froze when she saw me.
"What do you want?""
I held up the paper fragment.
"I want the truth.""
Her expression changed.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Someone wrote this.""
She looked down.
For half a second, fear crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
"Claire—"
"Why did you have access to my offer?""
Silence.
That was enough.
I walked inside.
Mom was sitting in the kitchen.
Dad stood when he saw my face.
"What happened?""
I placed the paper on the table.
"Vanessa knew about my offer before I told her.""
Dad looked at Vanessa.
"Is that true?""
She crossed her arms.
"So what if I did?""
My mother whispered:
"Vanessa.""
"No. I'm tired.""
She looked at me.
"I'm tired of pretending Claire is some genius who magically earned everything.""
"Nobody said that.""
"Everyone acts like she deserves everything.""
I stared at her.
"You tried to ruin my career.""
Her eyes flashed.
"I didn't ruin anything.""
"You tried.""
She looked away.
That was the closest thing to an apology she had ever given.
Then Dad asked the question none of us wanted to hear.
"How did you access her offer?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A screenshot appeared.
My employment information.
My salary.
My start date.
And below it:
"Your sister wasn't the only person angry about your success.""
I looked up.
Everyone was watching me.
"Someone else knew.""
The room became silent.
Vanessa's face changed.
Because she knew exactly who it was.
"Vanessa," I said slowly.
"Who sent this?""
She didn't answer.
Dad stepped closer.
"Vanessa.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't think it would go this far.""
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?""
She looked at me.
And whispered:
"I wasn't trying to destroy your job.""
"Then what were you trying to do?""
She swallowed.
"I was trying to prove something.""
"To who?""
She looked toward the hallway.
Toward the room where Mom kept old family photographs.
Then she said a name.
May you like
A name I never expected.
"Mom.""
