Blair's vision tunneled. Her carefully constructed composure cracked down the middle like fractured glass. Cassandra's presence meant everything had just become exponentially worse. Her sister specialized in making Blair feel inadequate without even trying.
"Cassie." The nickname came out strangled. "I didn't know you'd be here."
"Father thought I should observe your... situation. Provide guidance where needed." Cassandra settled into the chair beside Johnathan's desk like she belonged there. Which she did. Which Blair never would. "I've been reviewing your performance records. Quite fascinating reading."
The patronizing tone made Blair's skin crawl. Cassandra had perfected the art of sounding supportive while delivering surgical strikes to Blair's confidence. Every word designed to remind Blair of the gap between them. The gap that seemed to widen every year despite Blair's desperate efforts to close it.
