My Parents Banned Me From Christmas For Years And Only Loved My Brother. At…

The Application

“Seline, do you have a minute?” Our HR director, Eloan Price, popped into my office one afternoon in mid-March.

“Of course, Eloan, what’s up?”

Eloan arrived, locking the door behind her, holding a folder in her hands and wearing a strange expression that ranged between amusement and concern.

“We’ve received over 300 applications for the senior project manager positions,” she said, seated next to me.

“The hiring team has narrowed it down to about 20 candidates for first-round interviews.”

“That’s wonderful,” I remarked, wondering why this needed to be done in person rather than via email.

“Are you finding quality candidates?”

“For the most part, yes,” she said.

“But there’s one application I thought you should see.”

She slid the folder onto my desk and toward me. My brother, Allaric Drayton, had a resume inside, which I quickly scanned.

I noted the inflated job titles and vague accomplishments he had listed. His current position was executive marketing strategist at a small local firm, where he was at best a mid-level marketing associate.

“Was you aware he was applying?” Eloan inquired carefully, as she was one of the few people at the company who understood anything about my family.

“No,” I said, still looking at the resume.

“I had no idea.”

“He was quite confident during the phone screening,” Eloan recounted with a chuckle.

“Actually, he was rather condescending to Saran in HR, assuming she was just a secretary and asking to speak to someone who actually makes decisions.”

I winced. That sounded just like Allaric.

“The position requires at least five years of project management experience and proficiency in three programming languages,” Eloan added.

“As you can see, his resume does not meet those requirements, but he requested that we consider him for a senior role rather than an entry-level position.”

I sat back in my chair, my mind racing. Allaric had no idea I was the CEO of Techishian Solutions.

I had always used my middle name, Victoria, in press releases and public appearances to maintain some privacy, and my brother had never expressed any interest in my career. But now, by pure coincidence, or perhaps because our company’s rapid growth had put us in the news, he had applied for a job at my company.

“What would you like to do?” Eloan inquired.

“Clearly, there is a conflict of interest here.”

A Test of Merit

I carefully considered my options. I could reject his application outright, which would be justified given his lack of qualifications.

I could recuse myself entirely from the process and let the hiring team make their decision without knowing about our relationship. Or I could use this opportunity to finally show my brother the truth about my life and success.

“I want you to treat his application like any other,” I ended up saying.

“If he doesn’t meet the basic qualifications, he shouldn’t proceed to an interview.”

Eloan paused.

“On paper, he’s not qualified,” she conceded.

“But he did mention some contacts with possible clients that the team believed may be useful. They advanced him to the next round despite his lack of technical qualifications.”

Connections. He was constantly promoted based on who he knew rather than what he could do.

“When is his interview scheduled?” I asked.

“Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.”

I made a decision.

“I will not be personally involved in the hiring process. That would be unethical.”

“But I would like to observe the interview. Could you please arrange for me to sit in anonymously? Please introduce myself solely as a senior board member.”

Eloan nodded.

“We can do it. The panel will not mention your name or title.”

After Eloan left, I sat staring at Allaric’s resume, emotions swirling inside me. Part of me felt guilty for what might appear to be a setup.

But another part—the part that had been rejected and dismissed for years—wanted Allaric to finally see me for who I truly was. Not just his overlooked sister, but a successful CEO who had built something meaningful through hard work and determination.

That night I barely slept. I rehearsed in my mind how I would behave during the interview.

Professional, detached, fair. I wouldn’t let our personal history influence my judgment, but I also wouldn’t pretend to be less than I was.

For once, Allaric would see me clearly, free of our parents’ distorted lens.

The Interview

The next day, I dressed with extra care in a tailored navy suit, my hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. I headed to the conference room where the interviews were being held, taking a seat at the far end of the table with the other observers.

I reviewed Allaric’s resume once more and prepared a few technical questions that would challenge him without being unfair. At precisely 2:00 p.m., Eloan and Allaric entered, and my breath caught in my throat.

I hadn’t seen my brother in person in over a year, and he appeared older and more polished in his fine suit. He carried himself with the confidence of someone who had never been told he wasn’t good enough.

For a moment, I was that little girl again, watching from the sidelines as my parents lavished attention on their golden child. But then I remembered where I was—in the company I had built from nothing.

Sitting in a position of leadership I had earned through years of hard work, I straightened my shoulders, ready for whatever came next. The Techishian Solutions headquarters, located on the top three floors of a gleaming skyscraper in downtown Seattle, had a conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views of Puget Sound.

The walls were adorned with modern art, and I could tell from Allaric’s expression when he walked in that the room had served its purpose. Eloan presented the interview panel: Seren from HR, Lucian the technical director, and Thalia the current senior project manager.

She then motioned to the spectator area where I sat with two other executives.

“We also have members of our leadership team observing today,” Eloan said calmly.

“They’ll be sitting in on several interviews to ensure consistency in our hiring process.”

Allaric hardly looked at us, his gaze fixed on the panel. He smiled confidently as he took his seat, fixing his tie in a move I recognized from childhood—a habit he did when he wanted to impress someone.

“Thank you for the opportunity,” he told them.

“I’ve been following Techishian’s growth and I’m excited about the possibility of bringing my expertise to your team.”

Allaric had no idea what Techishian did beyond the most broad definition of tech solutions. If he had done any study on the company, he would have discovered my connection to it right away.

Lucian began with a customary inquiry.

“Can you tell us about your experience managing complex technical projects?”

Allaric launched into a well-rehearsed response about a marketing campaign he had led at his current company.

“I coordinated between multiple departments, managed a substantial budget, and delivered results that exceeded expectations,” he concluded, leaning back slightly as if expecting applause.

“And what project management methods did you use?” Lucian pressed.

Allaric held his breath.

“I believe in a flexible approach that adapts to the specific needs of each project,” he answered evasively.

“I don’t like to be constrained by rigid methodologies.”

Thalia jumped in.

“Could you show us how you would set up a kanban board for a software development project?”

Allaric’s confidence was noticeably shaken.

“Well, I would delegate that to the technical team members,” he responded.

“My strength is in the big picture strategy, not the day-to-day technical details.”

The interview continued in this manner, with Allaric seeking to evade technical questions while emphasizing his strategic vision and interpersonal abilities. When pressed on his technical understanding, he grew dismissive.

“Let’s be honest,” he remarked with a little condescending grin.

“People like me aren’t hired for coding skills. We are recruited because we understand how to lead, motivate, and connect with the right individuals.”

“I have relationships at significant corporations who may be valuable customers for Techishian.”

Seren, who had remained quiet, piped up.

“Our senior project managers are expected to have both technical expertise and leadership abilities. They need a thorough understanding of our products in order to effectively manage their development.”

Allaric waved his hand dismissively.

“That is what technical assistants are for. In my experience, the most successful projects are led by people who understand both business and technology.”

“No offense, but self-made folks without suitable backgrounds frequently overlook the big picture because they are overly focused on technical details.”

Everyone in the room, including myself, was aware that Techishian had been developed from the ground up by self-made individuals. Eloan’s brow furrowed slightly in response to his remark.

“Tell us about a time when you faced a significant challenge on a project and how you overcame it,” Lucian inquired, maintaining a professional tone despite the anxiety in the room.

Allaric began telling a story about saving a marketing campaign when a vendor failed to deliver.

“I worked through the weekend, making hundreds of calls to find a replacement vendor at the last minute,” he claimed.

“My boss was amazed that I managed to save the campaign single-handedly.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from reacting. I knew the story.

It had happened at his previous job, but Allaric had not saved the campaign. His assistant had worked the weekend while Allaric took credit for her efforts.

I knew this because the assistant had later applied for a position at Techishian and shared the true story during her interview. As the technical inquiries persisted, Allaric became increasingly uncomfortable, checking his watch numerous times and appearing agitated.

“I think we’re getting too caught up in the technical weeds,” he added.

“As I have stated, my value is in my strategic vision and connections. I’m being considered for numerous senior roles at other firms, so I’d love if we could focus on how my unique skills can help Techishian.”