Lisa sat quietly in the back seat of the car, legs crossed, a folder balanced against her lap though she hadn't turned a page in minutes. The streetlights cast rhythmic gold flashes across her face as they drove. "This is the address Vivian sent," Talia said from beside her, tapping her phone. "The penthouse." Lisa said nothing. The car pulled up to the building, and Lisa raised a brow. It was quiet way more quiet than it was supposed to be,Dark, No valet, No laughter, No noise at all it looked so desolate. She grited her teeth still looking so calm. Then Talia frowned and tapped her screen again. Her expression stiffened. "Wait....she just sent a new message. They moved it." Lisa looked over slowly. "When?" Talia swallowed. "An hour ago." The pause that followed was so cold it felt like winter had seeped into the car. "Drive to the Richards Estate," Lisa told the driver. Her voice was calm and dangerously so. The ride was long and heavy talia thought to speak but couldn't she was as pissed because it all seemed like a setup to waste Lisa's time, or some sort of their dirty tricks, to punish her.
They arrived at the beautifully designed mansion, the lively chatter of extended family members could be heard , they seemed so happy like someone was cracking a joke but Lisa was far from pleased. They arrived late, though not by Lisa's doing, The estate was lit up, the staff were in motion,
Glasses were clinking inside. Talia stepped out with her, looking uneasy. "Do you want me to come in?" Lisa smoothed her coat. "Wait by the car." Talia nodded without protest.
Lisa walked into the house without slowing down. Her heels clicked sharply against marble. She didn't bother with small hellos to staff or glances at the familiar paintings. This house had no warmth for her not now, not ever, she wondered why they kept inviting her for these little gatherings even though she was their little show at some point they should get tired or so she thought. Walking majestically into the dining room all the chatter paused instantly and continued like nothing happened. The dining room was already full, they had started without her. She registered each face one by one. Vivian and Claire pretending not to see her. Daniel, as smug as ever. A few cousins she barely spoke to. And then her stomach turned. John, lounging in his seat, wine in hand, as though he belonged there. As though he hadn't left pieces of her in shadows years ago, like he had not pulled the crazy stunt he pulled at her house earlier at her place. Lisa kept walking. Making sure to ignore their presence. And then she saw her father, seated at the head of the table, lifting his glass.
"Well, well," he said. "Lisa joins us at last, Still allergic to punctuality, I see." Lisa said nothing, but managed to show a smile obviously fake. But then another voice,Calm,Cool, deep and very familiar. "I heard traffic's brutal this time of night."
She turned her head slightly, it was Michael Bardin.
He was seated casually toward the far end, half-hidden from her view until now, Of all the names that had been dropped in boardrooms, she hadn't expected to see his face across her family's dining table. The air in the room shifted a little bit her eyes looming with growing.
"Come seat her darling" her father said in a loud voice with finality in his tone while he patted the seat beside him.
Lisa took her seat with flawless poise. "Apologies," she said smoothly. "I assumed my family still respected calendars." No one responded, and dinner resumed as if her entrance hadn't cut through the air like a blade. Across her was her stepmother whom she had greeted but she completely ignored her. Seating down at the other end of the table was Michael who was starring lisa deep in the eye and then there was Claire with her husband and kids seating close to her mother, Lisa's step mother. Vivian on the other hand sat so close to Michael it felt invasive. There was Daniel the last child who chattered non-stop and john who sat really close to Lisa.They talked of investments, Politics, Luxury properties, Daniel cracked a joke about an old schoolmate who'd gone bankrupt. Lisa not interested in his jokes continues to cut down her steak Clarissa leaned into John, laughing too hard, too loud. Lisa sipped her wine defiantly secretly observing the environment, their boring and obscure conversations, Daniel had always been one to seek attention, he was the last child of the family who was already in charge of some of Dad's major company. While Claire her immediate younger sister... Step-sister was married to a rich conglomerate with two kids, her husband was a very quiet man Nicholas but extremely mischievous, he once tried to have his way with lisa, unfortunately for Lisa Claire walked in on lisa fighting off her husband and claimed that Lisa was trying to steal her husband. Lisa had been beaten so hard that day by the entire family especially her stepmother Veronica. Her dad had kicked her out that day even though it was rainy without even trying to listen to a word she said.
"Speaking of....." Donald cut into her thoughts. "I heard you were unable to come to an agreement with Mr bardin here seems like he's truly as tough as they say" he questioned, the entire room went silent as if waiting for her to falter "Well if I must say she truly is one tough nut to crack, she kept me on my toes and I'm duly impressed" Michael responded with a smirk as if he knew she was about to be humiliated " well no matter what we have to make the merger so Michael we're going to agree on your terms....." Lisa turned sharply towards her father " what????" She questioned almost instantly "is that why you invited him here?" She questioned rhetorically " without even looking at his terms..... this is..."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh please cut the crap and be respectful have you forgotten it's father you're speaking to..... You dimwit" Claire cuts in rudely, clearly taunting her "ohh come on Claire you did not have to correct her that way, I'm sorry you had to see that Mr. Bardin lisa tends to go crazy on us all especially since her mom died..... that's one of the reasons we love her" Vivian spoke coyly, looking sweetly at Michael "I demand silence" Donald erupted his voice resounding "I have made my decision." He said looking into Lisa's eyes "but dad..." Veronica quickly interrupts "Mr. Michael I'm sorry you had to witness Lisa's disrespectful behavior," turning towards lisa she continued "lisa I think you should calm down and be more respectful.... haven't we talked about all these already." She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. They never spoke about anything this was just an attempt to humiliate and infuriate her, at the same time it seemed like they were all interested in Michael. lisa kept her composure and continued to focus on her meal, waiting for the next set of humiliation.
Then Donald cleared his throat once again not giving time for any response. "Now that we're all here and the merger is settled , let's get to the most important announcement" He folded his hands then began to speak "You and John will be getting married by the end of this month." Lisa blinked slowly. "Excuse me?"
Veronica jumped in. "We thought it was time, You're both mature now...we've had time to… reflect." Lisa glanced around. "Is this a joke?". Michael's eyebrows creased but kept calm and continued eating it wasn't his business but he wondered why he had to be invited for this family drama, he understood the merger but they could have waited for him to leave before discussing their daughter's marriage.
Her father's smile thinned. "You're a Richards. You've spent years acting like your mother, defiant, sentimental, wasteful...This is your chance to make it right." Lisa set down her fork, this had clearly gotten to her "Do you want me to marry a rapist????" The words fell like knives into crystal. "He violated my staff, He lied, And you all let him he's a serial cheater, a rapist, a scum bag that's who you want me to marry?????? Someone who consecutively abused me even In public????" She questioned like she was threatening everyone in the room. Daniel chuckled under his breath. "Still playing the victim." Without warning Donald swung his hand and struck her harshly across her face, the sound echoing forced everyone to stop eating and focus on what was going on even the maids stopped in their tracks wherever they were including those who were about to enter the dining hall. " Have we not discussed this you ungrateful coward John is a changed man whether he kills you or cheats in you..... You'll marry him. It's not like it changes anything your shameless mother cheated consecutively before she died...." Lisa's lips parted ,cold fury, no breath behind it her face red
But before she could react, Michael Bardin spoke. "Are you all hearing yourselves?" he asked softly. All heads turned, his voice was so powerful even when he spoke softly "I came here for business," Michael said, "But this is an ambush. A theater of cruelty dressed up as family dinner." Claire scoffed. "This doesn't concern you." Michael looked straight at her father. "You're trying to sell your daughter like a liability, If this is how you treat your own blood, I'd hate to see your balance sheets." Lisa stood quietly. "This was a waste of time," she said. Her father spoke again, louder. "Sit down, Lisa." But she had already begun walking toward the door. Michael stood too, tossing his napkin to the table. "You should be ashamed," he told the room. No one stopped them. Lisa didn't say another word, She didn't look back. The heavy wooden doors closed behind her with a soft, final thud. Outside, Talia straightened when she saw her. Lisa didn't speak, but Talia opened the car door quickly. As the car pulled away, Lisa looked out the window. Her reflection stared back calm, untouched, unreadable. But beneath it, something had cracked. And something else was rising.