There was a slight pause before his voice came back through. “You will be taking on major responsibilities. Responsibilities that you are completely unprepared for whether you like it or not. Your mother has left this company to you, and by default, us. We are here to help you so please don’t act like a petulant child. This isn’t something you can say no to without harming the empire your mother built for you; you have employees and their livelihoods to worry about now.”

I tightened my grip on the phone, a tsunami-sized wave of emotion crashing over me. What a tangled mess I’ve found myself in. “Fine,” I said, firming my voice. “I will be on the call this weekend.”

“Good. I will send you the information you need to attend. And, Fallon?”

My heart stilled. “Yes?”

“Don’t do anything reckless or stupid. I know how you young people are. This is my personal number, feel free to reach out with anything you may need. See you this weekend.” The line went dead.

Kelly leaned forward after watching intently the entire time. “Who was that?”

I sighed and sank into my chair. “Montgomery Group. I’m set to start my transition early. It’s like they knew the perfect time to call me when I get sucked into some drama. Oh, also, I have to hit up my advisor because I am now a business major.”

“Welcome to the world of the wealthy, babe.” A strange look played on her face while she stared blankly at her plate. Whatever was on her mind, it seemed bothersome.

“I guess,” I said, trying to fake a chuckle.

Her head turned to look at the clock and she dropped her fork, standing up with urgency. “I just decided that we are going to that party. Come on, let’s get you dressed.”

“Uh, no. Did you not just hear about my phone call?”

She grabbed my arm and dragged me into my room, opening the closet to throw absolutely everything out of it in search of the outfit she wanted me to wear. One that would get me the most attention.

She held up a couple of things. “Oh yes. Put these on.”

A strapless taupe-colored tulle dress was shoved at me with white bowtie-backed heels. I held up the little dress and wondered what that would even cover on my body. I cringed. “Are you sure I should wear this...thing?”

“Duh,” she moved to leave my room to dress herself. “It’s the afterparty of course.”

I shimmied into the dress and stood in front of the mirror. Fidgeting too much, I adjusted the hem of the dress about fifty times. Wearing dresses like this was foreign to me–too flashy and form-fitting. It was like I was an imposter pretending to be some other person I wasn’t–a fish out of water.