“It’s good that you’re finally thinking for yourself.”
Astra bit back a sigh. “Seriously? You’re going to start that bullshit again?”
“It’s not bullshit, Astra,” Sylvie said, suddenly serious. “You’ve always done exactly what our parents have expected you to do. You never rebelled, even when you were a teenager.”
“It wasn’t because of their expectations,” Astra said, her voice flat. This was an old argument and one she was fucking tired of having. “This is all what I wanted. I wanted to work in the firm. To become a partner. And maybe even take over one day. I love working there. I wake up every day fulfilled in my work and my life. The only thing I want and don’t have is a husband and children. I don’t understand why you won’t believe me when I tell you all of this over and over. I’m not lying. I’m not bitter. I don’t understand why you’re so angry at our parents or why you hate the firm so much, but I don’t share those feelings and it’s wrong for you to try to shove them down my throat.”
Sylvie blinked. It was the first time that Astra had spoken to her like that. “I’m not shoving it down your throat.”
“It sure feels like it every time we have this argument.”
“It’s not an argument!” her sister exclaimed.
“Then why do you hate the firm, Sylvie?”
“I don’t!”
Astra threw her hands up in the air. “You could have fooled me. You talk about it like you can’t stand the place.”
Her younger sister fell silent. “I like it. It’s just…”
When her sister didn’t continue, Astra prompted her, “Just what?”
“You, Devorah, and Sirena can handle it all. You don’t need me.”
What? That was not at all what she thought she would hear.
“Sylvie, why would you think that?” she asked. “Haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said to Mom and Dad for the last six months? I’ve been begging them to hire someone to come in and take some of my duties. So have Sirena and Devorah. We’re working fifty and sixty-hour weeks right now and it’s killing us. We need you more than you could possibly understand!”
“But what if I’m not any good at it?”
Astra narrowed her eyes. “Have you always been good at everything you’ve tried to do?”
“No, but I usually stop doing it if I’m not.”
“Wow, that’s a mature way to go through life.”
Sylvie rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay, so I work at it until I get better.”
“Then, that’s what you should do at the firm.”
Sylvie was silent for a moment. “What about my gym?”
“You have a manager already. Hire an assistant manager and a couple of employees and be done with it.” Astra smiled. “And you could give the security firm employees a discount to train here.”
“They train at the firm.”
“Strength training, yeah, but they need defense training. They can get that here.”
“They spar at the firm, too,” Sylvie argued.
“Sparring and learning are two different things. Think about it.”
“Fine, I’ll think about it.”
Astra got to her feet and Sylvie followed.
“Now, let’s go shower and get ready for work,” Astra said.
