4
The following content is exclusive to SVI
Aunt Karen saw this message and asked me: “What are you and Rachel chatting about?
“What does she mean her proposal wasn’t considered? What does her work have to do with you?”
Before I could answer, Rachel’s video call came through urgently.
Aunt Karen quickly answered.
Rachel’s sobs came through: “Sis, I spent a whole month on that proposal. I was so confident about it. How could you guys make a decision without even looking at mine? My boss is already posting the layoff list in the group chat. What am I going to do?”
Aunt Karen’s face changed dramatically.
She moved closer to the phone and asked Rachel: “Rachel, what do you mean? You got
laid off?”
Rachel let out a surprised yelp and quickly hung up the video call.
Aunt Karen tried calling her back with my phone, but she didn’t answer.
The whole family was in an uproar.
Aunt Sarah asked quietly: “Karen, didn’t you say Rachel was a key employee at her company? How could such an important person get laid off?”
Aunt Karen’s face cycled through shades of green and white as she turned to look at me:
“Brynn, you explain. What’s really going on?”
I shrugged: “I’m not getting involved in your family business. Ask your daughter yourself.”
Aunt Karen glared at me, then used her own phone to call Rachel.
Rachel answered.
電郵 Thu Dec 20NOE
Rachel answered.
“You little brat, why did you hang up just now? Tell me! Did you really get laid off?
Rachel’s voice was calmer than before:
“No, you misunderstood. There’s no way I’d get laid off”
silently rolled my eyes.
Even at this point, Rachel was still trying to save face.
She continued: “Our company is collaborating with Brynn’s company. They really value my proposal – why else would they be working overtime on Christmas to review it? My proposal is amazing. It’ll definitely get me promoted. You can ask Brynn about it – she’s a high–level executive with a third of the decision–making power. Her word is as good as gold.”
As soon as she said this, all the relatives turned to look at me with changed expressions.
Aunt Karen’s face changed abruptly. Her lips trembling, she asked me: “The files you were sending earlier were they Rachel’s?”
18:56 Thu, Dec 26 ( 61
