The house was exactly as it had always been during holiday gatherings, meticulously decorated, filled with the aroma of my mother’s traditional Easter ham, and buzzing with conversations that inevitably centered around Rebecca’s latest accomplishments.
I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, reminding myself that after today, nothing would be the same.
My mother opened the door, greeting Uncle Jack warmly before giving me a perfunctory hug. “Leonard, you’re finally here,” she said, her tone suggesting I was late, although I had arrived precisely at the time specified in her invitation. “Everyone else is already in the living room.”
As I entered, I immediately spotted Rebecca holding court near the fireplace, surrounded by admiring relatives. She was dressed immaculately in a designer outfit that probably cost more than my monthly rent, or at least the monthly rent I used to pay before Next Level Digital took off.
She was gesturing animatedly, clearly in the middle of a story about herself.
“So then the investor’s representative called me personally to say that they were especially interested in my division,” she was saying as I approached. “Apparently, my innovative approach to client acquisition is exactly what attracted their attention in the first place.”
Our cousin Megan looked impressed. “That’s amazing, Rebecca. So you’ll be working directly with this mysterious billionaire?”
Rebecca laughed confidently. “Well, once the deal goes through, I expect I’ll be one of his key executives. Between us…” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I think they’re planning to clean house at the upper levels, but they’ve made it clear that I’m considered essential personnel.”
I suppressed a smile at the irony. If she only knew.
My father noticed me and waved me over. “Leonard, come listen to Rebecca’s exciting news. Her company is being acquired by a major technology investor.” His tone suggested I might learn something from her example.
“Congratulations,” I said, managing to keep my voice neutral. “That sounds like a significant development.”
Rebecca barely acknowledged my presence. “It’s transformative,” she corrected. “This isn’t just an acquisition. It’s a strategic partnership that recognizes Market Forge’s industry leadership.”
The statement was so divorced from reality that I might have laughed if the situation weren’t so painful.
Throughout the pre-dinner mingling, the pattern continued. Rebecca dominated every conversation with exaggerated tales of her business acumen and the fantastic future that awaited her post-acquisition. My parents beamed with pride, occasionally interjecting to emphasize a particularly impressive detail or remind other relatives of Rebecca’s past triumphs.
When anyone asked about my work, which was rare, my father would quickly answer before I could. “Leonard’s still doing his computer things,” he’d say dismissively. “Small-scale web design, right, son? Nothing like the corporate world Rebecca navigates.”
By the time we sat down for dinner, my resolve had hardened. I had planned to wait until after the holiday to reveal my role in the Market Forge acquisition, but Rebecca’s fabrications and my parents’ dismissive attitude made me reconsider.
Uncle Jack caught my eye across the table and raised an eyebrow questioningly. I gave him a slight nod.
As the main course was served, Rebecca launched into yet another self-congratulatory monologue.
“The acquisition is really a testament to how I’ve positioned Market Forge in the marketplace,” she declared. “Our potential buyer specifically cited my department’s performance as a key factor in their interest.”
My mother passed the mashed potatoes to my father. “We always knew you were executive material, Rebecca. Remember when you were just ten and organized that charity drive? You’ve always had leadership qualities.”
“Unlike some people who prefer to work alone,” my father added with a pointed glance in my direction. “Team leadership is where the real achievements happen.”
I took a sip of water, considering my next move carefully.
Before I could speak, my aunt turned to me. “What about you, Leonard? Any exciting developments in your website business?”
The hesitation before website business made it clear she didn’t consider it a real career.
“Actually, yes,” I began, but Rebecca interrupted.