Chapter 2 - The VIP Treatment
The heavy oak doors to the grand ballroom swung open, and the crowd began to filter inside, parting like the Red Sea to let General Vance and myself through first. We walked side by side, leaving my father, Evelyn, and Trevor stranded at the security checkpoint, deeply humiliated and watched closely by a dozen Secret Service agents.
Inside, the White House was a dazzling display of crystal chandeliers, gold-leafed moldings, and string quartets playing softly in the corner. For the ultra-wealthy, this was a networking event, a place to flaunt wealth and secure government contracts. For the military personnel in attendance, it was a solemn gathering to honor sacrifice. As we moved through the room, high-ranking officers, senators, and global diplomats stopped to shake my hand. Whispers rippled through the crowd. The story of what had happened at the gates had already begun to circulate.
I took a sip of sparkling water, enjoying the rare moment of peace, when I saw them approaching out of the corner of my eye. Arthur had somehow managed to drag his wife and stepson into the ballroom, though he looked entirely deflated. However, as he spotted me standing near the Joint Chiefs' table—the most exclusive real estate in the room—a desperate, calculating light reignited in his eyes. He slicked back his thinning hair and marched over, pulling Trevor by the elbow.
"Kate. Darling," Arthur said, his voice dripping with an artificial sweetness that made my stomach turn. He attempted a fatherly chuckle, glancing nervously at the generals chatting nearby. "Let’s put that little misunderstanding at the gate behind us. You know how stressful these events are. Why didn't you tell me you were a Major General? I would have thrown a parade! We are family, after all."
I didn't blink. "You formally disinherited me in writing, Arthur. You burned all my belongings on the front lawn of the estate. Family is a strong word."
Evelyn stepped forward, attempting a tight, botox-frozen smile. "Oh, Kate, that was a lifetime ago. Your father was just hurt. And look at you now! You’ve done quite well for yourself in... the government sector. In fact, this works out perfectly. Arthur is here to pitch the new Mercer Defense Tech drone fleet to the review board tonight. Since you clearly have some pull around here, we’d love for you to introduce him to the right people."
Trevor, wearing a tuxedo that cost more than an infantryman's yearly salary, smirked. "Yeah, sis. Help the family business out. Dad's been trying to get a meeting with the evaluation committee for months."
I stared at the three of them, marveling at the sheer, unadulterated audacity. After a lifetime of rejection, after calling me a failure and a guard dog, they still believed the world revolved around their checkbook. They believed that my twenty-six years of blood, sweat, deployment, and tactical command were merely a convenient stepping stone for their profit margins.
"You want an introduction to the evaluation committee," I repeated flatly, my voice devoid of any emotion.
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"Exactly!" Arthur beamed, misinterpreting my calm demeanor for compliance. "Just a small push, Kate. A word in the ear of whoever is in charge. It’s a multi-billion dollar contract. If we land this, I’ll even reinstate you in the will. We can put this all behind us."
I set my crystal glass down on the mahogany table with a soft, final clink. "There is no need for introductions, Arthur. You'll be speaking to the committee in twenty minutes in the West Briefing Room. I suggest you review your data carefully. The board is known for being merciless."
