Chapter 5 Tools
1185 Words
Daniel lost it. "Blaire, shut your mouth!" He swung his hand and slapped me hard across the face.
The force knocked my head sideways. My cheek burned, and my ears rang with a high-pitched whine.
But my face didn't hurt half as much as my chest.
That slap shattered the last thread of connection between us. It destroyed every fantasy I'd clung to for twenty years about what family meant.
How many times had he hit me growing up? Summer cried, and I got slapped. Summer fell down, and I got screamed at. Summer wanted something, and I had to give it up. I thought that if I was good enough and worked hard enough, Daniel and Ashley would eventually see me. Would love me the way they loved her.
But nothing I did would ever change the truth. I was a tool to them. That was all I'd ever be.
Tools didn't get to have feelings.
Tools weren't supposed to complain when they hurt.
Daniel glared at me with pure disgust. "What the hell are you talking about? Apologize to Summer right now!"
Apologize? My fingers curled into fists automatically. My nails dug into my palms, and the sharp pain cleared my head.
Ashley frowned, her voice dripping with impatience. "Blaire, we're just asking you to step aside for Summer. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of this? Besides, Summer has way more business sense than you do, and she's already agreed to take over the company and look after you. Can't you do this one small thing for her? Why do you have to be so selfish?"
A bitter laugh rose in my chest. 'Just step aside for her?' I thought. 'Give up my fiancé, hand over my wedding, surrender the company I spent five years building from nothing, sacrifice every ounce of effort and blood I poured into my work—and they call that step aside? They think I'm the selfish one?'
I pressed my hand against my burning cheek and stared at her, this woman I'd called Mom for twenty-five years.
Her expression was so matter-of-fact, like I'd been born for the sole purpose of being Summer's stepping stone.
My mind flashed back to five years ago, the day I graduated from college. I'd rushed home with my honor student certificate, wanting to surprise them. I pushed open the door and found Ashley brushing Summer's hair, her eyes soft and tender. "You're so beautiful, Summer. You'll marry well someday, I just know it."
I stood in the doorway for a long time, but neither of them noticed me.
Later, I shoved that certificate into the back of my drawer and never pulled it out again.
Back then, I thought I just wasn't good enough. I told myself that if I worked harder, maybe someday they'd look at me with that same warmth.
So I worked. For five years, I worked.
I took a company on the brink of bankruptcy and turned it into an industry leader. I pulled all-nighters until I developed an ulcer, collapsed at my desk from exhaustion, and dragged myself back to meetings the next morning. I thought if I just pushed hard enough, they'd finally see me. I thought they'd be proud to have me as their daughter.
But they never saw me at all. They only saw the path I could pave for Summer.
My eyes stung. I blinked hard, refusing to let the tears fall.
I couldn't cry in front of Summer. She'd loved watching me cry since we were kids. The more miserable I was, the happier it made her.
Sure enough, Summer hooked her arm through Daniel's and practically glowed with smugness. "Don't worry, Blaire. As long as you help me out with work, I'll give you a hundred thousand dollars a year for spending money."
A hundred thousand dollars.
I lowered my gaze and took in her outfit. That limited-edition dress she wore cost thirty-eight thousand. Her shoes cost twenty-two thousand. And that bag on her shoulder cost a hundred and sixty thousand.
A hundred thousand dollars wouldn't even cover one of her bags.
But that was the price tag they'd put on my life's work.
Apparently, this was all I was worth to this family. A hundred thousand dollars.
My heart felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed it in their fist. The pain made it hard to breathe. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.
And then I wanted to laugh.
They had no idea the collaboration project Jones Group was desperately chasing right now belonged to my private company.
They had no idea I wasn't that little girl anymore, the one who waited around for scraps of their attention.
I'd actually planned to give them the project. It was mine, my baby, but I wanted it to carry the family name. I wanted Daniel and Ashley to see that even their "tool" had a real heart.
But now? Now I wanted them to know exactly what it felt like to push away the only person who ever gave a damn about them.
I lifted my head and looked them both in the eye. "Fine. I'll be there for Summer's wedding, just like you want."
I turned and walked away.
The second I turned my back, the tears finally came.
I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, biting back any sound. I couldn't turn around. I couldn't let them see me cry. I didn't deserve to cry in front of them. A tool didn't get to have tears.
But God, it hurt.
Twenty years of hurt, twenty years of trying to please them, twenty years of desperately wanting to be a good daughter. It all shattered in that moment. Since I was five years old, and now it was gone.
The question burned through me. 'Did they ever stop to think I'm their daughter too? Did it ever cross their minds that I can hurt just as badly as Summer can?'
I walked out of the house fast, almost like I was running away.
Behind me, I heard Ambrose call out. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but I didn't turn around. I didn't want to hear it. Was it regret? Reluctance to let me go? Either way, I didn't care anymore.
When I got home, I sat alone in the dark with my arms wrapped around my knees. That's when I finally let myself cry.
My phone wouldn't stop ringing. Ambrose kept calling, one call after another.
I stared at his name flashing on the screen, and my chest felt heavy and tight. I had loved this man. I really had. I thought we'd build a life together, thought I'd finally get some warmth from someone.
But what did he do? He slept with Summer on my desk. In my office.
I closed my eyes. I couldn't let myself think about it anymore.
The ringing stopped, and a text came through.
Ambrose: Blaire, just give me some time, okay? I won't let you down.
- Writer
