Chapter Four Scarlett #2
I let out an agitated breath, finally taking a seat beside my dad.
Neither of them says anything and I look at the presentation board, sighing when I realize how easily I’ve managed to get worked up and steered us off course.
I had a plan, goddammit. A good one, too.
And here I am about to start crying because they clearly don’t get me at all.
I drop my eyes to the table. “I had this whole thing planned,” I say quietly.
“I was going to show you a presentation I put together on how much I deserve to be taken seriously. To have a real role in the company. But the truth is, I’m so tired.
All the time. I’m distracted at school because all I can think about is the collection I’ve been working on and how badly I want to see it come to life for Voss.
But neither of you care. Maybe you never have. ”
Silence washes over all of us.
I don’t know what I thought would happen, but this wasn’t it. This . . . silence. Sitting in silence with my parents isn’t usually uncomfortable. Most of the time we’re all doing our own thing until someone speaks and we’re talking over one another and getting on each other’s nerves.
Silence like this isn’t anything I’m used to, and I hate it.
I hate that it feels like I’ve done something wrong just by sticking up for myself.
How my parents think everything is rooted in money or power when all I want is to be recognized.
I want to be thought of when my parents are considering new lines or need help brainstorming designs. I want to be seen by them.
Eventually, my dad leans back in his chair and speaks. “We thought that would be the case.”
I blink at them. “What are you talking about?”
“The reason you don’t have a job within Voss isn’t because we don’t recognize your talent or your hard work. There’s a particular way things are done when family are to be employed, and you’re not there yet. There’s still a lot you need to do,” he explains.
I fold my arms on the table, eyebrows furrowed as I pin them both with a look. “What more could I possibly need to do?”
My mom glances at my dad before looking to me.
“A list of things actually.” I just stare at her, needing more information, anything to make this make sense.
“We had considered over the last couple of years if you might be ready, but we didn’t feel you were quite there yet.
But you coming here today, showing us how badly you want this . . . Maybe you are ready.”
“For what?”
My dad smiles. “What you need to do.”
I shiver, leaning back in my seat. “You’re starting to freak me out.”
Dad stands, turning to the desk behind him and pulling out a key from his pocket. He unlocks a drawer somewhere under the desk and the sound of rustling paper fills the quiet room. I watch him for a couple more seconds before he pulls out a purple plastic folder with some papers inside.
“What is that?” I ask, my patience thinning.
“A list of things you need to complete before you’re allowed to be employed by Voss,” he says simply, and my eyes bug out of my head. He slides back into his seat, carefully opening the folder and handing me the list.
“This is a joke,” I whisper, scanning over the list, my eyes getting wider the further down I read. There are only six bullet points, but some of them are straight up insane. “This has to be a joke.”
“It’s not a joke,” my mom says, reaching out to hold my dad’s hand. “Look, it’s simple. You complete this list of six very manageable tasks, and your dad and I can find a job for you as a designer at Voss.”
I don’t even try to hide my laugh, and a loud, awkward one slips out of me. “You want me to get married? Mom, are you serious?” She nods. She actually nods at me. My own mother. “Dad, are you serious?”
He grimaces, scrunching his face up. “A little less about that one actually.”
I shake my head violently. “There’s no fucking way you want to wait until I get married before I can do something I’m clearly qualified to do.”
My mom laughs softly, and the second the sound slips out of her, my dad joins in on her laughter. The weight on my chest eases a little as my mom says, “We wanted to make sure you were paying attention. We don’t actually want you to get married, Scarlett.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me for a second.” They laugh even harder, and I even let my own soft chuckle past my lips. “But I am paying attention. I always am. This is just . . . a lot.”
I watch my dad’s gaze flicker between the list and my eyes like he’s not sure what I’m going to say.
And honestly, I have no idea. I was not expecting this.
I thought I’d complain a little more, probably shed a few tears, and my parents would promise me a real internship next summer.
But instead, I’m staring at a list of things that feel like a lot harder work than anything I’m used to.
“But the rest of this is serious?” I ask cautiously.
Dad nods. “Very.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “How do you know I’m not just going to jump ship? I could call it quits right now and never look back. I could get a job somewhere else.”
“If you really wanted to do that, you would’ve done it already,” he says, and I hate how right he is.
This family might drive me crazy, but they’re everything to me.
Designing for anyone other than Voss would be a crime.
“Scarlett, this is what you need. You might not see it right now, but you need some sort of direction. Some goals to tick off before you settle into working. The design jobs aren’t just going to parties and sketching pretty dresses. ”
I flinch. “I’m not sixteen anymore. I’m not . . . lost. I know what I want.”
“You’re right,” my mom says. “You do know what you want. You just don’t know how to get it. This is your ticket. Your chance to prove to us this means something real to you.”
I pick up the list, running my fingers over the printed words. “I can’t believe I’m really doing this.”
My dad laughs heartily. “I know it’s a little unconventional, but it’s tradition. It’s important that you do this on your own. You can’t ask us or your brothers for help. You have to be the one to do whatever it takes to complete it.”
I meet his eyes. “So, this is a test?”
“A fun one!” Mom exclaims.
My dad nods. “You’re an A-plus student, tesoro, this is going to be nothing compared to most of the work you’ll be doing when you’re working with us.”
It might be nothing right now, but it’ll mean everything.
I finally slide the list back into the wallet and put it in my bag.
My mom lets out a happy sound that she thinks I don’t hear, and we all get up from our seats.
They trap me in a tight hug, swaying me from side to side, the same way they did when I was a kid.
It’s awkward and a little uncomfortable, but I know better than to pull away too soon.
“We love you,” Mom whispers against my temple.
“So much,” Dad adds.
“I love you guys too,” I say, my voice muffled from how squished I am. “But you’re insane.”
They hug me impossibly tighter before letting me go. I open the door, and my brothers are sitting on the floor, sharing the bag of fries Leo had earlier. When they spot me, they scramble to their feet, trying to look casual, and I laugh.
“What happened to not eavesdropping?”
They all ignore me, and Junior bumps his foot into mine. “They gave you a list?”
“Yep,” I say, flashing them all a smile. None of them look surprised, which is weird. “Did you guys know about this?”
They nod.
“Kind of,” Leo says. “We thought you’d argue your way out of it.”
“We had to do something similar when we were your age,” Arthur explains. “It’s kind of a rite of passage. But we didn’t think they’d do it to you because you’re . . .”
I tilt my head to the side. “Not an idiot?”
“Basically.”
I groan, sliding down the wall and they do the same. Knowing I’m not the only one who had to do this puts me at ease a little, but it doesn’t take from the fact that this is ridiculous.
“How the hell am I going to pass this?” I moan aloud, mostly asking the universe for some answers.
“You’ll figure it out, sis,” Junior says. “You always do.”
When I walked into this house, I was sure I’d have to do a little more hustling to get my parents to notice me, but this list that they’ve put together proves that they see me.
They want what’s best for me, I’ve always known that.
Sure, it’s a little annoying that I even have to do this considering how much I’ve already done, but it’s just another step.
One last hurdle before I finally get what I’ve always wanted.
The List
Design five separate pieces for the winter line
Interview a distant family member and learn about their history
Attend the Voss Couture gala and deliver a speech
Make homemade cannoli with Nonna’s recipe
Get married
Have your name on the front page of a newspaper