Page 26 of Until We Burn
I gulp, carefully setting down my knife and fork. “I didn’t do as well as I should’ve on an assignment for one of my electives.”
A dull thud snaps my attention to the end of the table. Bàba grips his wine glass tightly, his face dark with disappointment.
“Becoming CEO will demand you to shoulder everything all at once.” His voice is low and undercutting like the first growl of thunder before a storm. “Excelling in one area alone isn’t enough.”
“That’s what I said,” Gregory chimes in.
“As a journalist, we are lifelong students,” Bàba charges on. “You can’t fail in this vital pillar to our work.”
I feel naked all of a sudden. As if every one of my imperfections are on display for them to pry into and pick apart.
I nod. “I understand, bàba.”
“Do you think the others will respect us if they know we can’t measure up to them in every single aspect?”
“I will do better.I promise.”
“Good.” His glare doesn’t wither, yet he simply picks up his silverware and continues eating.
Shame razes all the pride I once felt. I look at Sophia, urging her to look back at me and the damage she left in her wake. But she avoids my gaze. Her shoulders are slumped now; her bravado vanished.
Uncle Frederik sighs. “Come now, Edward.” He pours more red wine into bàba’s cup. “Enough of that. We have a dinner to enjoy.”
Bàba stiffens at Uncle Frederik’s gesture. But he doesn’t mull on it. Instead, he smiles tersely at his brother. “Just thought you’d like to familiarize yourself with the Huang family values again.”
“Oh, believe me.” Uncle Frederik’s thumb traces the hilt of the knife lying flat on his plate. There’s a resentment on his face that’s clear as day. “I haven’t forgotten about them.”
I try to hold myself together throughout the night. Except every bite becomes too much to handle, only adding weight to the growing mountain of problems and worries I’m suffocating under: Regaining bàba’s respect and approval. Staying up to date with the joint project to secure my place at the top of the succession plan. Working with Kai on Mellonbaum’s midterm project to boost up my grade.
An ache throbs in my head.
Out of everything I can realistically deal with right now, the midterm project comes to mind. All I can do is work hard enough to get an A. If I’ll have to work with Kai? Fine. I’ll just have to make adjustments to keep my focus intact.
I have to.Especially when it comes to making bàba proud.
CHAPTER 13
DIANA
People scatterand part for me the second they hear my heels striking the gym floor.
Their whispers rise like chirping cicadas.
“Why is she here?”
“Do you think she wears those heels during a workout?”
The smell of deodorant, rubber, and metal smothers the muggy air. I wriggle the collar of my slouchy knit turtleneck, feeling flush under the heat clinging to my jeans and rising up my neck.
I know Kai will be here because sports reporters on the Howler are always fighting to interview the Griffins at the gym on Fridays. Their late practice time means they can work out here, and reporters can grab a quick interview with them without having to wake up at the crack of dawn.
My ponytail swishes behind my neck as I look for Kai among the horde of players getting in shape for the first game. I scratch at my brow.
Has he finished working out already?
Suddenly, a laugh breaks out from the weights area. Deep, warm, and utterly at ease. I dart around, my heart fluttering. Even with his back turned, I know it’s him. Kai sweeps a hand through his black hair,his biceps flexing with strong, defined muscle that clings to his sleeveless compression shirt.
I gulp. Why did I think it was a good idea to confront him at thegym?
