Chapter 4 - The Flying Services
When blocking numbers and issuing police trespass warnings failed to bring me to heel, Eleanor activated the extended family network.
In psychological terms, they are called "flying monkeys"—relatives who act as agents for a narcissistic matriarch, doing her bidding under the guise of family harmony.
On Wednesday afternoon, my boss at the accounting firm knocked on my glass office door.
"Myra, do you have a moment?" Mr. Henderson asked, stepping inside with a slightly uncomfortable expression. "There’s a woman in the lobby claiming to be your aunt. She’s making quite a scene with the receptionist, insisting that you’re suffering a mental breakdown and refusing to fulfill family legal obligations."
I felt a surge of cold fury, but I forced my demeanor to remain impeccably professional. "I am so sorry, Mr. Henderson. It’s a personal family matter regarding an attempted financial extortion. I’ll handle it immediately."
I walked down to the main lobby. Aunt Evelyn was standing near the glass doors, her voice raised as she berated the young front-desk clerk.
"She has an obligation to her family!" Evelyn was shouting. "Her cousin's debut is in three weeks, and she’s holding back funds out of pure spite!"
"Aunt Evelyn," I said, my voice ringing clearly across the polished marble lobby.
Evelyn spun around, her eyes widening. "Myra! Finally! What is wrong with you? Your mother is sick with worry! She had to deal with the police at your house! Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was for her?"
I walked straight up to her, stopping just two feet away. "You walked into my workplace, harassed my colleagues, and lied to my employer. If you do not turn around and leave this building right now, I will not call the police—I will call our firm’s managing partner and file a formal civil restraining order against you and my mother before the end of the business day."
Evelyn blinked, stunned by the cold, unyielding precision in my eyes. The niece who used to nod meekly at family dinners was nowhere to be found.
"You've become heartless," Evelyn whispered, her voice shaking with venom. "All because we missed one silly little kid's party? Children don't even remember their eighth birthdays, Myra!"
"Lily remembers," I replied softly. "She remembers that her grandmother gave her a promise and then abandoned her for a photo shoot. And now she’s going to remember that her mother doesn't let toxic people treat her like trash. Leave. Now."
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Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but the presence of two security guards stepping out of the elevator made her think twice. She grabbed her purse, glared at me with pure hatred, and stormed out through the revolving doors.
When I returned to my desk, my hands were entirely steady. The fear that used to paralyze me whenever I displeased my family had completely burned away.
