Illegitimate Child

Chapter 1-Illegitimate Child

I hurriedly walked down the hallway to reach my father’s office when I heard from my department’s manager that my stepsister, Paula, was presenting a proposal to the supervisors. I knew that it was mine. When I came in today and sat in my cubicle, opening my computer, I noticed that my presentation was gone from my desktop. It was deleted. I checked my other folders and the recycle bin, but it was gone. There was no trace of it. I looked over at Janine in the other cubicle and asked if she had seen anyone coming to my desk.

“Paula said she had to retrieve a file your father asked her to bring,” Janine replied, and I was not surprised. Paula reasoned that it was not true. She bypassed my system. This was not the first time that Paula was able to trespass on my computer’s security and steal a file from me. I was preparing that proposal to present to the supervisors after getting approval from the manager. But it seems like she had known about this before. I went to ask the manager if Paula had presented her with a proposal.

“Yes, she did, three days ago. And it was brilliant so I approved it immediately since the development team really needed a solution immediately. So I scheduled her to present it to the supervisors today.” the manager answered, munching on her granola bar with her black-rimmed thick eyeglasses sitting on the bridge of her nose. I did not bother telling her the truth anymore since I knew that she would not care, as long as our department produces results, then no matter who did it, it was fine and all the same.

“She stole my proposal again, Dad. It was my idea, it was my work.” I complained to him when I entered his office. He is the head of our small company, but it is already a failing publishing company and we are struggling to save it.

“Do not accuse your sister. She will never do that, Claire. Every time your sister brings something good to the table you always claim that it was yours! Why are you always so greedy? You only think about yourself, you selfish brat!” And as always, as I have expected, he will never take my side, he will never believe me.

“Because it was mine, and I –” I was cut off when he looked at the opening door of his office and his favorite daughter stepped in with a huge sweet smile on her face, ignoring my existence as if she had done nothing wrong. His frown relaxed and his face softened to greet her daughter.

“Ah, there you are my brilliant daughter! How was the presentation?” Dad asked.

“Oh, it was fine, the supervisors liked it. They told me to connect with the development team to proceed with the implementation of it.” Paula replied and looked at me, saying, “You’re here, Claire.” she smiled, like a sweet innocent angel.

A pretentious devil on the inside.

“You stole my proposal,” I uttered blankly.

“How many times have you accused me of stealing your presentations? This is not the first time, Claire, and I am not just going to let you accuse me again this time. Do you have a proof that I stole it? Why are you always like this? You are my big sister and you should be proud of me as well, like Dad, but w-why?” and there you go again, your pitiful cries that had always fooled our father. 

Dad looked at me with his glaring eyes, as if I just hurt his lovely daughter in front of him. It has always been like this ever since we were kids; I was the bully, and she was the victim.

But only God knows that I had never done anything to her.

I grew up being hated by the family for I was just an illegitimate child, a daughter of my father from a different woman before he married Paula’s mom whom he truly loved. My mom died when I was three and I was taken home then by my father where I met his wife and Paula who was 1 year old at that time. She hated me, my stepmom, and I could not do anything about it, I was living under their roof, and eating the food they buy. So… I had to swallow everything.

“Get out, and I do not want to hear anything from you about this again. Just be grateful that your sister is actually a good help in the company. Unlike you who had done nothing else but complain! You’re like your stupid mother, ignorant and useless.” he spat, slamming the folder in his hand against the mahogany table.

His words struck a pain in my heart. He has no right to talk about my mother like that, to disrespect her. She is long gone and should be in peace, not be disrespected by him. 

I clenched my fist and held my tongue, I did not want to argue with him anymore, for I knew I would never win. So with a heavy heart, I left the office and walked out of the building to visit my favorite coffee shop nearby.

“A cappuccino for Miss Claire!” the barista announced and I stood up to take my coffee and went back to my seat near a window that gave me a view of the busy street.

I opened my iPad and logged in to my bank account, checking how much money I had saved, and if it would be enough already to leave the house. I am tired of living with Daddy and his family, they may be providing me a roof over me and food on my table but the cost I am paying is too much. I cannot bear to risk every ounce of my mental and emotional well-being with that family. I am grateful to my Dad for taking me in when I was a kid but I just cannot bear it anymore.

It is time to leave the house and live on my own and on my own terms.

However, it seems that the numbers in my savings account do not agree with me.

I sighed.