Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Ch 297: Conflicting schedules
Rika felt disappointed when her first appointment was canceled but was not too bumped about it. However, her second appointment center took little time to call her about the cancellation.

When her third one was called, Rika’s unease grew into a firm belief that someone was targeting her.

When Rika asked why this double booking had happened, the man on the other side sounded scared and a bit winded.

This was not a coincidence but a deliberate attack by someone who was a regular at these places.

Rika felt that Suzie somehow managed to get in Rika’s way. But how she managed it and even knew what Rika would do was beyond reasoning. After all, it was not like Suzie had called every high-class saloon and asked for an appointment, right?

“Don’t be crazy, Rika. Suzie might be crazy, but even she is not crazy enough to book too many places. She cannot afford all that negative press right now.”

And Rika was right!

Suzie had yet to book all the saloons she could afford; she had just booked the ones Rika had booked.

How did she know? It was simple—she had asked one of her friends to check Rika’s activity and see where her name appeared.

…

“Ha! So much for the mother’s claim that ‘Rika is family, and we need to protect her as well.’ If Rika were a family member, the mother would have hired better cybersecurity. It was too easy to get a record of her recent activities.”

Suzie looked at the list she had gotten from her friend when she offered to pay for his service.

It detailed all of Rika’s future appointments through the website.

Most of them were with saloons to get their nails and hair done. And all of these places were where Suzie liked to go.

Suzie was jealous to see Rika laying her eyes on these places.

“Tsk, that Rika needs to learn her place. She will taint these places with her presence! I need to do something about this before it is too late.”

Suzie bit her lip as she remembered what Mark had told her about the Union Conference.

He had wanted to ask Rika to go with him this year. But she already had a partner by the time he asked.

Mark sounded sorry and disappointed at the same time. But hearing him talk about taking Rika to a place where he had always taken Suzie had filled Suzie with burning hot jealousy.

She could not accept Mark’s changes. Instead, she wants to acknowledge that Mark suddenly considers Rika his sister and Suzie.

She felt threatened by Rika’s existence.

That was why she would ensure Rika needed help making it to the Union Conference.

Mark had finally agreed to take Suzie with him, and Suzie needed to make sure she was the most dazzling person in the room.

That was how the situation was for Suzie every time, and she would ensure it remained the same.

And for that to happen, Suzie needed to make a few essential calls and throw her name around.

When she called the Saloon for an appointment, Suzie cited the same time slot, service, and person in charge as Rika had. It would force the saloon to choose whom they wanted to serve.

Not that they had a choice but to let Suzie have this time slot.

Suzie was a V.I.P., and the service clause allowed her to have her preferred time slot. If these places refuse to comply, it could become grounds for legal procedures.

No one wanted to fight against the Goodwills, and Suzie’s name was enough to back down these places.

Once her goal was achieved, Suzie was in a far better mood than before. She was sure Rika would not show her face if she could not get it pampered.

And if Rika did show up like she was, she would become a laughingstock in the room.

“Well, that was easy. Now, I should ask Mark to drop me off at my appointments. I worked hard to get these time sloths, so I better use them.”

Suzie happily skipped toward Mark’s room and knocked at the door.

There was no response from the inside, but that did not stop Suzie from throwing the door open and walking inside.

“Mark, I need you to drop me off at my saloon appointments. I made them quickly, so I need to get there quickly.”

Suzie smiled at Mark, and she was all ready to go. But Mark looked busy with reports and his work.

The older alpha was so busy these days that he had no time for Suzie, but she would not take ‘no’ for an answer.

“Sorry, Suzie, but I cannot take you out today. Can you go with the driver? Or maybe ask your father to accompany you? It would help me out a lot.”

Mark asked as he continued to pour all his attention on the papers before him. There was just too much that he needed to complete before next week’s start.

But Suzie was not having it.

Her pout came first before her eyes widened, and tears began to sparkle in her eyes.

“B-But I want to go with you! You are my partner, and I value your opinion very much. Don’t you feel the same?”

Suzie asked, expecting Mark to give in and do as she said.

But instead, Mark just sighed and rubbed his temple.

“Suzie, this is not the time. You either go out with your father or go out alone. No matter what you say to me, I won’t indulge you this time.”

Mark was firm in his position, and Suzie realized there was no point in pursuing him any longer.

“Fine! I will go out alone, you jerk! But be ready to receive silent treatment from me for the unforeseen future. I won’t care about you even if you beg for forgiveness.”

Suzie slammed the door behind her, leaving Mark alone in his room.

She was pissed off and not ready to admit that Mark had more important things to do than to entertain her.

‘Tsk, Mark has changed, and I don’t like it. I will need to do something about him soon.’