Richard paled visibly.
“I didn’t know Natalie was related to the former CEO.”
“That’s no excuse,” I said sharply. “Even if you didn’t know, your prejudice against our family is your own fault.”
“You mean if we were relatives, you would have treated us differently?” Mom asked quietly.
“Hey, don’t talk to Dad like that,” Brian snapped. “It’s your fault for not telling us from the start that your grandpa was the former CEO.”
“I don’t have any obligation to tell a stranger like you that,” I replied coolly.
“Besides, you were the one who started it and made fun of us, remember?”
Brian, unable to retort, narrowed his eyes in frustration.
“You insulted me knowing I was from a single-parent family. When I said I would close our account, you told us to go ahead. We just did as we were told.”
“But it’s just… it may be just that for you, but have you ever thought about the feelings of someone whose family has been insulted?”
Silence fell.
Morgan was trembling.
Richard was hanging his head, but Brian still seemed unconvinced, his face full of dissatisfaction.
“Getting all high and mighty just because people talk about you,” he muttered.
Grandpa Oliver’s voice cut through the room like ice.
“Even after giving you a chance to reflect, you’re still only thinking about yourselves.”
“It’s not my fault, it’s her.”
“Watch your words,” Grandpa Oliver warned. “If you continue, you’ll end up even more miserable.”
Brian, silenced by Oliver’s words, glared at me again.
Then, as if resigned, he burst out.
“No way. Who would think a single parent’s relative was the former CEO? You knew I was the future CEO and came to the family meeting just to mock us.”
“Brian, be quiet,” Oliver commanded, his gaze turning to Richard. “I understand wanting to leave the bank to your son, but now that I know his mindset, it’s impossible for him to continue as CEO.”
“That’s ridiculous over something like this,” Richard started to protest, but sat down again under Oliver’s glare.
“You still don’t understand that your attitude is the problem,” Oliver’s voice was deadly calm. “Though I’m retired, the board will decide. If you have something to say, say it to them. Remember, we recorded the previous conversation and this one. Don’t forget that the voice recorder will serve as evidence.”
I took out a voice recorder and pressed play.
The restaurant conversation filled the room, their contemptuous voices echoing off the walls.
“How dare you prepare something like that? It’s unfair,” Brian shouted.