“Mother, those funds were for clean water projects in Africa, hospitals in Southeast Asia, land preservation in the Middle East, ocean cleaning expeditions… I could go on and on.Mypoint is, you don’t have the high ground here. Even if the Directors back you up, there is no forgiving that you chose—you actively chose—to redirect money donated to benefit those with less than us, and spent it on baubles and champagne.”
“It was for a good cause,” she said so casually that I snapped. Against my better judgement, my anger pushed through.
“Your social standing is not a good cause! And if you hadanyidea of how some people are forced to live, you would at least have the decency to be ashamed of yourself.”
My anger didn’t just stem from the way she had asked donors to deposit funds into her own bank account. It was the simplefact that she had bullied me and my sisters for years to uphold the Fischer image, all while doing that behind our backs.
“I have been running The Foundation since your grandmother died,” she spat back. “If I’m seen handing it over to you when I’m still perfectly capable of leadership, how will I look? What will that do to me?”
We kept her wrongdoings a secret from everyone but the board. They understood the need to uphold the image of the charity and the reputation of the Fischer family. As far as the world was concerned, Mum had taken me under her wing and spent years teaching me to run The Foundation.
But that was another issue altogether. She didn’t see The Foundation as a culmination of my grandmother’s life’s work. She was a world-famous actress who married the CEO of the most prominent conglomerate at the time, and The Fischer Foundation was just a bonus that was thrown in.
She didn’t respect that my grandmother had started and run The Foundation for over forty years before she passed. My grandmother was so deeply dedicated to its cause that she still asked about it even after her dementia took away most of her ability to speak.
Ten years had passed since her death, and it still stung deeply to talk of her like that with Mum. As Dad’s mother, Mum didn’t share the same kind of relationship with her as Dad and I. Which is one of a number of reasons why I fought so hard to take it from her.
“You’ve practically handed it to me already. I doubt your image will be a problem,” I replied dryly.
She folded her arms, looking down at me as best she could. “This was meant to be a part-time opportunity for you to gain business acumen. Not to steal the charity from me.”
We had had this conversation so many times I could practically follow the script, but I still let her get to me.
“You have no idea what you are doing,” she continued. “You can barely gather enough donations to cover the running costs of The Foundation.” Her face slipped into one of those sharp smiles she gave when she caught traction. “You would be nothing without me. You can’t even host The Foundation events without me. One bad word from me and all those hundreds of donors will disappear.”
“Aah.” I tilted my chin, giving her a look of mock surprise. “You mean a bad word about how my own mother embezzled funds from a global non-profit and I stepped in? Leaving a career I trained nine years for, all to do damage control for you?”
I took a quick breath, swallowing down the desire to let go and shout at her about how truly twisted her actions were. But I’d already done that at least twice within the past year, and it had made no difference. Every crack in my composure was another win for her.
“Please don’t act like you have the high ground here, mother. There are plenty of people who can replace you. I heard that Lily Collins is interested in the role. Maybe I should give her a call? I’m sure she and Bunny would do a fantastic job in your stead.”
Mum reeled back, her nostrils flaring. The colour drained from her already porcelain face as she realised what it would do to her if the two of them replaced her. Theodore Collins was one of the members who strongly opposed my leadership role but if I introduced his daughter and his new wife into the mix, I’m sure his vote could be swayed.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered.
“I most definitely would dare.” I straightened my back, meeting her eyes. “You’re the one who pushed me to this.” And she was why I had to give up my passion in medicine, working with real people in a tense environment that satisfied my soul. The Foundation kept me trapped behind a desk, attending meetings, giving presentations, hosting parties. And the only results I saw came in the form of reports or marketing videos of the difference The Foundation made to people globally.
I sighed deeply, my tone softening. “Mother, I am asking you nicely. Please don’t get in my way. You’ve taught us enough to know I’m not playing games. I’ve cleaned up your messes for years. Don’t make this harder for both of us.”
I couldn’t allow her to frustrate me further. The final vote for the new Head of The Fischer Foundation was in three weeks. I simply needed to hold on until then. After that, I could finally, truly relax.
“Anyway,” I cleared my throat. “We have a meeting to attend.” My threat should be enough to stem her loudest objections. Though she would still find a way to nitpick, shewouldn’t take any major risks with that hanging over her head. I hoped.
If there was one thing my mum loved, it was her position in society. Especially more than her children. It was why she began embezzling in the first place.
Her scowl deepened as I walked past her. Had we been alone, she would have shouted some grand statement to have the last word. Though she hadn’t acted in films for years, she still kept her dramatic flair. She may lose control around us at home, but God forbid anyone outside the family discover her true character.
I reached the large doors to the boardroom, taking a quick breath before stepping inside. I instantly met the gazes of the twelve people who would decide my future, the future of The Foundation, and the future of my family.
Dom
Isat at the table at Paulie’s watching everyone talking and laughing. We’d gathered to give Molly a fun send-off, and I was enjoying myself until I realised I was the odd one out.
It was rare, granted. I could be the centre of attention whenever I wanted. I sat on Molly’s right side, chatting away with her while Harry held her hand on her left as he talked to Ralph, a doctor friend. One of the many doctor friends around the table.
Molly was heading off to Norway for five weeks to attend her sister’s wedding. The pub night was supposed to be a celebration, but I couldn’t stop feeling like I was out of place.
Two nurses, two EMTs, three doctors and two medical technicians, as well as me. The lawyer. The only one who had never worked at their hospital. The interloper, the ‘third’ wheel who invited himself along because he wanted to spend time with his friend. Which wasn’t really true. I’d been friends with everyone here for years, but I was more aware of the difference today.
