𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 4 | Compliance

                                       LEVAI

Standing outside the airport with my sister, we both exchanged goodbyes with our mother. It wasn't an exactly heartfelt or sentimental goodbye but the intentions were still there.

"What's Miriam like?" My sister asks with some hesitation. She wanted to tear into her as she did with everyone.

"Opinionated." She raises her eyebrows wanting more, so I tell her the story of coming back from UCL on the train to find her half-awake heaving her bags up the stairs.

"How chivalrous of you. I hope you know you don't fool anyone with that act Lie." I clicked my tongue careful not to bite back in public.

Sandrine tended to be a little more eager to fight when newcomers stepped into our lives, the recent prey being our sister Lizbet's fiancé.

"As a doctor, you're really going to have to learn to be better at reading people San. After all, a psychiatrist needs to be able to see past their biases right?"

She rolled her eyes in silent response. At that moment we completely contrasted each other exteriorly but both our demeanours shared a familial connection. Our only differences being her height as well as her palely skin as a result of the British weather in contrast to my tanned appearance.

"Don't fuck the help." She looked forward and walked with the same elegance as my mother despite her tongue not demonstrating anything tasteful.

A flashing image crossed of Miriam and the brief words we interchanged. When my mother came back, she soon hurried off, meeting my stepmother at a restaurant nearby.

"University?" She asked me once the door shut and the silence followed.

"Just finished my masters. I'll be working on my PhD in biochemical engineering this spring." She seemed mildly impressed but clearly other things were on her mind.

I asked her the same question to which she responded,

"Not in the cards. I'm not really in the need of a degree in this line of work." I left the couch to lean over the opposite side of the countertop to face her.

She seemed to slightly squirm as I came closer, a sight I appreciated to behold.

"You see yourself doing this forever then?" I inquired, thinking that this was more of a road to gaining work experience.

"I'm 21 so forever seems like a long time to decide on." She rested her head on her palm to steady herself.

"But yes. I enjoy the feeling of not being grounded." Settling seemed to be a foreign concept to her, something I mentally noted.

My interest was piqued.

"Why biochemical engineering?"

"Taking over my father's line of work, why not just book a bunch of hotels all over the country?"

She was taken aback and scoffed at my comment.

"Do I seem to like the type to be able to afford a home like this?" She replied, looking at me with a mocking expression.

"Not everyone has daddy's fortune to lie back on."

I swallowed that one in, feeling the gnawing of my teeth until I could no longer hold back.

She seemed to want to take back the comment, pleading to replace in her brown eyes. Not a great first impression to make on the first day of the job.

"Whatever I have, believe me, Miriam I have earned." That seemed to quiet her, and the atmosphere became heavy.

                                           ***