My sisters exchange eyeroll-laden glances that only siblings can perfect.
"Please," Susanna scoffs."You've watched that video of him defending you a thousand times."
"How did you?—"
"You've viewed it so many times YouTube asked if you wanted to add it to a playlist called 'Obsessive Rewatch,'" Viktoria says matter-of-factly."They only do that after twenty-five views of the same content in a 48-hour period."
I groan, burying my face in a throw pillow."Fine.Maybe I have...feelings."
"Feelings," Susanna repeats."The woman who once drove to Portland and back in one night because Richard mentioned wanting authentic Voodoo Doughnuts has 'feelings.'"
"That was different.That was..."
"Pathetically trying to impress the wrong brother?"Viktoria suggests.
"Terrible taste in men?"Susanna offers.
"A phase I'd rather forget," I throw the pillow at Susanna, who dodges it easily.
"The point is," Viktoria continues, "you've never looked at anyone the way you look at Callum.Not even Richard.Especially not Richard."
The simple truth of this observation silences me.
She's right, and we all know it.
"So what do you say?"Susanna asks gently."Ready to be authentically, terrifyingly yourself?Professionally and personally?"
I take a deep breath, feeling something shift inside me—fear giving way to determination."I think...I think I am."
My sisters cheer, clinking their glasses against mine in celebration.
For the next hour, we outline the #TheRealKarina campaign—a series of posts that would tell my unvarnished story while highlighting broader issues of credential gatekeeping and class barriers in corporate America.
"It needs a personal element too," Viktoria insists."Something that shows your human side.Maybe reference the whole Kilted phenomenon from your perspective."
"Speaking of which," Susanna says, grinning, "have you seen the fan fiction yet?"
"The what?"I blink.
"Oh.My.God."She grabs her tablet."You haven't seen the best part of this whole saga!There are literally hundreds of stories about you and Callum online."
“God, this can't be real…”
"Oh, it's real," Viktoria confirms."Some of it is surprisingly well-written.Other parts are..."
"Hilariously wrong," Susanna finishes, scrolling through pages."Like this one called 'Highland Heat' where Callum apparently speaks exclusively in Scottish proverbs."
She clears her throat and adopts a terrible Scottish accent: "'Ye've bewitched me, lass, with yer marketing prowess.I cannae think of spreadsheets when ye're near!'"
I nearly spit out my wine."Please tell me you're making that up."
"I wish," Viktoria says, reaching for the tablet."This one has you speaking almost entirely in exclamation points.'Oh Callum!'"she reads in a breathless falsetto."'Your corporate strategy is so robust!Your quarterly projections make me swoon!'"
By now, I'm laughing so hard tears are streaming down my face."Stop!I can't breathe!"
"Wait until you see the one where you defeat Duncan MacTavish in a traditional Highland Games competition to win Callum's hand," Susanna gasps."Apparently you have hidden caber-tossing talents."
"Well, I am surprisingly strong," I manage between fits of giggles.
