Chapter 2
David
It’s Monday morning and I’m super nervous.
Today is the first day of my internship at my family’s company.
Contrary to the school’s guidelines, my father insisted that I do my internship here instead of spending time learning somewhere else.
Going elsewhere doesn’t make sense for me anyways—my path is clear; I want to join the company after I finish university.
My father is already talking about nothing else.
Our company is a family business that has grown massively over the last thirty years.
I am really impressed by what my family has built, I definitely want to continue this legacy and make my father proud.
I’ll probably never take over his position as president; my half-sister is destined for that.
She is seventeen years older than me and has been with the company for a few years now, running the business together with our father.
I hope to take her place when my father retires.
Luckily, I’m alone in the elevator. I straighten my shirt again and run my hand through my hair.
Why the hell I’m so tense is beyond me; everyone knows me here.
They may not recognize me in a suit and a dress shirt though; normally I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, sometimes even a tracksuit if I come over right after practice.
I’m the boss’s son, I don’t have to make a good impression on the employees, but I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of my father.
I want him to see that I can do this, that I can take responsibility, even if it’s just for my wardrobe and my appearance.
There’s a ping and the door slowly slides open.
"David. How nice to see you. Today is your big day. Are you excited?" My father’s personal assistant Tillmann greets me with a beaming smile. He hasn’t been with us long, having taken over from Mrs. Kaminski, who retired four months ago.
According to my father, he had countless interviews before he found Tillmann.
We were all surprised by his choice of a male candidate, and such a young one at that, with no real professional experience, but Till has passed his probationary period and my father hasn’t said a single bad thing about him so far.
Apparently, he’s got what it takes. "Your father is waiting for you in his office, your sister is there too. You can go through.”
My whole body tingles as I walk down the long hallway to the last office. Even from a distance, I can hear voices behind the heavy, dark wooden door. Are they arguing? The closer I get, the louder they get.
“You’re kidding me!" That was my sister. I freeze in front of the door.
“Pack your things and leave! I don’t want to see you here anymore!”
“You can’t just kick me out like this.”
"You’ll get paid for the three-month notice period, but I’m relieving you of your duties and I’m banning you from the building. This is my property, and that’s my right. Do you want to argue about this?”
“Fuck you!”
Suddenly, the door bursts open, and I jump aside just in time. My sister looks at me furiously, then storms past me without another word.
“Ah, hello David.” My father rubs his face with his palm; a gesture I very rarely see him make. “How long have you been standing there?”
“I just got here.” Lie. “What’s going on with Theresa?”
"Theresa doesn’t work here anymore. She’s welcome to tell you the reasons why herself.
Why don’t you ask her while she’s still here?
That way you can learn quickly what the worst thing you can do is when you’re in a position of power at this company.
I have a few more phone calls to make, then I’ll have time for you. "
Okay, that was cryptic. But I know my father, he won’t say another word about it. If I want any information as to why my half-sister has to leave, I’ll have to ask her myself.
I walk into her office as she’s throwing a few personal items into her large handbag.
“Hi.”
“Hello David, and goodbye. As I’m sure you heard, I’m no longer wanted here.” My sister is tough, and she doesn’t put up with bullshit, but I’ve never seen her so pissed off.
“What...” Shit, she’s scary when she’s like this. “Dad said you should tell me yourself what happened.”
“Oh, did he? Our father is a homophobic asshole, that’s what happened.
You want to know why I have to leave? That’s why I have to leave.
” She slams three photos down on the table, but from where I’m standing, I can’t see what’s in them.
"Yes, that’s a woman, yes, we’re kissing.
No, that’s obviously not accepted here in this company.
So, little brother, if you want to keep your chances of taking over here, never get caught with a cute boy.
" And with those words, she storms out of the office.
I stand there frozen. Does she know I like boys? Does she know I’m gay? Does she know what that means for me?