Chapter 2 The proposal
Lorna barely tasted the rest of dinner.
Conversation continued around her as though nothing had happened — Andrew discussing overseas investments, Elise explaining a new research project — but Lorna heard almost none of it.
All she could think about was the conversation waiting upstairs.
Her father’s office.
The place where negotiations happened.
Where deals were made.
Where people usually lost.
By the time dessert was cleared, her chest felt tight with dread.
Her father stood.
“Lorna.”
That was all he said.
He didn’t need to say more.
She followed him upstairs.
The hallway leading to his office was lined with awards, framed magazine covers, photographs of him shaking hands with powerful people.
Presidents.
CEOs.
Investors.
Proof of everything he had built.
And everything she had never lived up to.
His office door closed behind them with a quiet click.
He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.
“Sit.”
She didn’t.
“I already told you this won’t work.”
He sighed lightly, as though she were being unnecessarily dramatic.
“You haven’t even heard the details.”
“I don’t need details to know this is a bad idea.”
He leaned against the desk.
“You’re wrong.”
“Companies like Virelli vet employees thoroughly. Background checks. References. Internal reviews. If they discover I’m connected to Calloway Industries—”
“They won’t.”
“Yes they will.”
“They’ll see a freelancer trying to establish a more stable career.”
"The moment they see my name they will know who I am"
"Nonsense HR won't even notice"
She shook her head.
“You’re underestimating them.”
“No,” he said calmly. “I’m evaluating them.”
She crossed her arms.
“You’re asking me to deceive people who haven’t done anything to me.”
“I’m asking you to gather information.”
“That’s the same thing.”
He studied her.
“You’ve always been more emotional than your siblings.”
Her chest tightened.
“This isn’t about emotion. It’s about reality.”
“And the reality is that Virelli Dynamics is expanding faster than projected market logic allows.”
“So?”
“So they know something we don’t.”
“And your solution is to send me in?”
“You’re intelligent.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“You’re capable.”
“That’s not the problem either.”
He waited.
“The problem,” she said, “is that you’re using me.”
The words hung between them.
Her father didn’t react immediately.
Finally he said, “I’m giving you an opportunity.”
“To do your dirty work.”
“To prove yourself.”
Her laugh was short and bitter.
“You don’t trust me to run a department, but you trust me to infiltrate a rival corporation.”
“Those are different skill sets.”
“So I’m the expendable one.”
“You’re the adaptable one.”
“That’s not better.”
He walked around the desk and sat down.
“Let’s address your main objection,” he said calmly. “You believe it won’t work.”
“Yes.”
“Then make it work.”
Her hands tightened.
“That’s not how getting hired works.”
“You’ve always said you wanted to prove you’re capable.”
“This isn’t proving anything.”
“It proves initiative.”
“It proves I’m willing to betray people.”
“It proves loyalty.”
“To you.”
“To this family.”
She stared at him.
“You’re not even pretending this is optional.”
He met her gaze evenly.
“It’s not.”
Her chest tightened again.
“What if I refuse?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said quietly, “I stop funding your apartment.”
The words landed like a stone.
She looked away.
Of course.
Control.
That was always his strongest tool.
“You’d really do that,” she said softly.
“Yes.”
Not angry.
Not apologetic.
Just certain.
“You’re capable of standing on your own,” he added. “Consider this motivation.”
Lorna felt something twist painfully in her chest.
“You really think this will work.”
“I know it will.”
“You’re that confident?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His eyes held hers.
“Because you’ll make it work.”
The certainty in his voice sent a chill down her spine.
Because suddenly she realized something.
Her father wasn’t asking her to try.
He was expecting success.
And if she failed—
She had a feeling the consequences wouldn’t just be financial.
She left his office in a trance and made her way downstairs, her Mum gave her a sympathetic smile, her brother raised an eyebrow at her.
Her sister was the one that surprised her the most, she looked at her and asked "Are you ok?"
Lorna just nodded.
She needed space.
Time to think and process it all.
She grabbed her bag and keys and wished them goodnight.
The drive back to her apartment was a blur.
Lorna was going over everything her father had said.
The way he just expects her to do whatever he wants.
Going against all her morals and on top of that if she was found out, she didn't dare to think about the consequences.
She often used to wish she had grown up in a family that didnt have money or status and image to live up to.
To feel genuine love and encourangement and not judgement all the time.
To have freedom to say what you think instead of having to say what you thought they wanted you to say.
But she couldn't live a life of what ifs she had to find a way to bide her time and leave for good somehow.
Get away from his control over her once and for all.
