The Rival's Daughter

The Calloway house was always too quiet at dinner.

Not the comfortable kind of quiet that came with family familiarity, but the controlled kind — the kind where every movement felt observed and every word felt measured.

Lorna Calloway sat halfway down the long dining table, staring at the reflection of the chandelier in the polished wood while her brother explained market projections in Singapore.

She dreaded this monthly get together and tried to get out of it so many times.

Andrew spoke confidently, his voice smooth and certain in the way of someone who had always known exactly where he belonged.

“…and once the infrastructure contracts finalize, we’ll dominate the southeast sector,” he finished.

Their father nodded approvingly.

“Good. Very good.”

Lorna took a sip of water and kept her eyes down.

Across the table, her sister Elise was already scrolling through something on her tablet, probably another research article or grant proposal.

Elise was brilliant — everyone said so.

She was the daughter who would change the world.

Andrew was the son who would inherit it.

And Lorna?

Lorna was the one who didn’t quite fit into the picture.

“What about you?” their father asked suddenly.

Her fork paused halfway to her mouth.

“What about me?” she said.

“You’ve been quiet.”

That was because she’d learned years ago that speaking usually made things worse.

“I’m listening,” she replied.

Her father leaned back slightly in his chair.

“You’ve been freelancing for nearly two years now.”

The word freelancing landed in the air like something faintly embarrassing.

“I consult,” she corrected calmly. “Brand strategy. Marketing development.”

Andrew smirked faintly.

“For small businesses,” he added.

“Yes,” she said, meeting his gaze briefly. “Small businesses need help too.”

Her father set down his wine glass.

“You’re capable of more than designing logos for boutique coffee shops.”

“I don’t just design logos.”

“You’re wasting potential.”

The sentence was delivered without anger, but it still felt like a slap.

Lorna forced a smile.

“I didn’t realize we were reviewing my career tonight.”

Her mother shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

“James,” she said quietly.

But her father was already continuing.

“There’s a company you should know about,” he said.

Lorna didn’t respond.

“There’s a company gaining ground very quickly. Virelli Dynamics.”

Andrew scoffed lightly.

“Media hype.”

“Profitable hype,” their father corrected.

Lorna had heard of them, of course. Everyone in business circles had. They were expanding rapidly, pioneering advanced infrastructure technology and energy systems.

Investors loved them.

Markets watched them.

And lately, they had been outperforming Calloway Industries in several sectors.

“They’re growing too fast,” her father continued.

“Isn’t that what companies are supposed to do?” Lorna asked.

“They’re doing it too efficiently.”

Elise looked up from her tablet.

“You think they’re cheating?”

“I think,” their father said slowly, “they’re hiding something.”

Lorna frowned.

“That’s a pretty big assumption.”

“It’s an educated one.”

He folded his hands on the table.

“I want someone inside that company.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow.

“A corporate infiltration?”

“Observation,” their father corrected.

Lorna’s stomach lurched.

“Legal observation?” she asked carefully.

Her father’s eyes moved to her.

“Yes.”

There was something about the way he said it that made her uneasy.

“Why are you telling us this?” Andrew asked.

Their father didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked directly at Lorna.

And suddenly she understood.

Her chest tightened.

“No,” she said immediately.

Andrew blinked.

“What?”

“No,” she repeated.

Her father’s expression didn’t change.

“I haven’t even explained yet.”

“You don’t have to.”

Silence settled around the table.

“You want me to apply there,” she said quietly.

Her father didn’t deny it.

Elise looked between them in confusion.

“Wait—”

“You want me to get hired,” Lorna continued, her voice tightening, “so I can spy on them.”

“It’s not spying.”

“It absolutely is.”

Her father leaned forward slightly.

“You’re underestimated.”

Her jaw tightened.

“That’s not a compliment.”

“It’s an advantage.”

Andrew was watching now with open curiosity, as if this had suddenly become interesting entertainment.

“You’re the only one in this family who could enter that company without raising alarms,” her father said calmly.

“Because I’m the least important.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you meant.”

Her mother finally spoke again.

“James, maybe this isn’t the time—”

“It’s exactly the time,” he said.

Lorna pushed her plate away.

“This won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because companies like Virelli don’t just hire random people who walk in off the street.”

“You’re not random.”

“I’m not qualified for whatever you think this is.”

“You have marketing analytics experience.”

“That’s not the same as corporate intelligence gathering.”

“Then learn.”

Her pulse was starting to race.

“You can’t seriously think I’m capable of infiltrating a rival company.”

Her father’s gaze hardened slightly.

“It’s up to you to make it work.”

The words hit like cold water.

“That’s not how reality works.”

“It is in business.”

Lorna stared at him.

“You’re asking me to lie to people. To manipulate them.”

“I’m asking you to contribute to the family.”

There it was.

The family.

The word he used whenever he wanted obedience.

“I didn’t realize I was the expendable one,” she said quietly.

Andrew shifted slightly in his chair.

Her father’s voice remained calm.

“You’re the only one positioned for this.”

“Positioned,” she repeated. “Or disposable?”

The silence that followed was thick.

Her father looked at her for a long moment.

Then he placed his napkin beside his plate.

“We’ll discuss this properly,” he said.

His voice was calm again.

Controlled.

“After dinner.”

“In my office.”

Lorna felt her stomach drop.

Because when her father said something would be discussed in his office—

It wasn’t a discussion.

It was a decision.

And she had a sinking feeling she already knew how it would end.