𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 (𝟏𝟖+)

        Family get together are meant to be fun, educative, something you should look up to for years to come, it had the word family in it a semblance of warmth, care and normal, except for ours the Browns meetings were anything but normal . To us family meetings was just a cover, a facade to boast about your success, your wealth, to pity those who haven't had a semblance of recognition, victory in their life like me which was the main out of many reasons I hated our family get together ,even the word sounds fake .

       Father was at the head while mother at his right hand side , he had already ingrained it in our head since my early teens when the family business had skyrocketed further to desist from calling them dad and mom it sounded middle class, poor, lowly and the Browns were anything but Poor, a mere mention of that word could be seen as felony once uttered near the precious Browns name.

James sat at the opposite head his normal position as the first born of the family and the  heir to the various chains of hotels we wielded while Felix at his right , Bryan his left and I opposite mothers direction, the get together always started with a prayer it was  tradition, not because we so  believed in religions but because our great -great grandfather had started the business with only a prayer which has continue for generation and father rather be damned than break a Browns Tradition even if he doesn't believe in so called tradition.

After prayers it would normally take about 30 minutes top before the real reason springs up and their hands finds their way down our necks, figuratively , but this year father had cut down their minutes frame, immediately the food was served he talked about the hotel in Hawaii and how he would like to travel with mother for vacation which without a need to be told invites every one to talk about their achievement and reassurance  that when he leaves for his vacation the family's name wouldn't be tarnished "aside from my inability to be successful" a voice rings out in my head

James started with his boring story of how he got Brandon's logistics signature for a contract that will not only boost the hotels financial but social status and as if practised on cue my mother began showering him with praises and her not so rare smiles except for my father who only gave a quick head nod

Felix was an engineer and shared his latest project to the table during which at that time I caught myself dozing rather quickly until I got a "gentle " nudge from Bryan who looked to be smirking at my obvious boredom towards Felix job, it wasn't that I had no regard for my brothers job but I had little to no clue about what was particularly fascinating in their line of works, they both took on boring jobs except from Bryan who became an artist and travelled on wild tours which may or may not include getting drunks, and free sex under the pretense of artistic development.

Bryan's was next as he talked about his latest painting and how he was invited as a VIP to the bilhount gala to showcase his art , my parents eyes glistened with pride as they listened to my brothers success and future plans for the new year until the chatter stopped and I felt all eyes on me , I knew where this was going, I'd prepared for this back at my large apartment in New York but now that the time for me to cross the bridge had arrived I felt my nerves scattering all over the place.

I haven't found a job that screamed Bella,i haven't found the right one not yet tho,I'd taken many Career prospects immediately after I got out of college four years ago, director,jewelry owner even joined a band in my earlier years  but they all ended with the same felling that it wasn't my call,my family always dismissed it saying I was still young and time was still by my side except Father and James who'd always remind me during every call and meeting how much of a failure I was to the Browns name which although is painful to  be admitted out loud is the blatant true, being 25 with no job is a mere shame but being a Brown makes it look like the worst possible thing to happen, mere shame would even be a luxury.

Mother had either noticed the tense atmosphere that had begun to form or the eyes of disapproval father and James were sending my way as she tries and fails to soothe the tension by talking about her monthly hosted balls with the beuille members , "what have you been up to Isabella " father starts calmly which in our family translates to "Have you done anything worthy of recognition and praise " when I don't answer after a few seconds it gives father and the rest of the family the answers they were avoiding.

Father starts screaming in Taiwanese which he only does when he's very angry and in this case only when it comes to my business, while mother tries to calm him down words like "disgrace, shame " fly out of his mouth and I feel tears threatening to fall down but I feel a hand covering my clenched ones and see Bryan holding them giving me a semblance of comfort, after his session the table is strangely still and no words are been uttered but the unspoken ones are what hurts the mosts.

"I should not be surprised knowing with time and time that my daughter had not achieved anything "he says anger seeping Into his words more emphasized on " daughter " "which is why I'd taken a different approach this time around " this time his anger is unyielding but a strange sense of calmness awaken which terrifies a part of me ,

  "Since you've refused any arrangements to work as an employee in one of our hotels I've found someone who you would work for " he says "although it is strange for anyone from the Browns blood like to work as an employee under someone yours would be an exception " the words are pouring into me, his mouth moving but I hear a different voice in my head screaming at me "shame, failure " which takes up a higher pitch until my name is being uttered from fathers mouth.

I must have zoned out between the employee and whatever father had said because all I see is a smile gracing fathers mouth and disbelief and anger in both Felix and Bryan's face while James remains indifferent.

"I had to call out a few connections to make this favour" there was an underlying threat in his sentence " he has to ask for a favour the most embarrassing thing a Brown could for their most embarrassing failure "

"Your interview with TC software is scheduled next week don't disappoint me "  he all but concludes which brings me out of my self loathing thoughts he just said TC software the best Software designing company In the country, also headed by Caleb Russo the youngest CEO and 3 times Forbes winner "nice right " except for the whispers, rumours has it that although his business is known to be the most successful hes known for his brutality and attitude

He was rumoured to be the devil and Father had just signed a contract with him using me as a collateral