You Don't Get It Back Once Give It Up

My sister was known by everyone as the serene, untouchable type. On the day of her background review, the investigators asked her to submit additional disclosures about her parents' associations. She turned them down flat. "My family has served in public office for three generations, and our record is spotless. Being asked to cooperate with this kind of investigation is an insult to my character. "If getting in means giving away all my family's privacy, then I'd rather not have the job." Everyone in the room thought she had real backbone and a clean family name. The investigators awkwardly closed their notebooks, ready to mark her as "Withdrawn by candidate." I was standing by the door when a line of floating text suddenly drifted above my head— [She's withdrawing?! LOL. That's the only general-management slot in this year's federal recruitment—permanent appointment on day one, relocation to the capital, subsidized housing, great schools for your kids, and a guaranteed track into a core policy division in three years! If she doesn't want it, I'm going for it!] My eyes locked on "permanent appointment" and "subsidized housing," and my fingers tightened around my backpack strap. I walked into the office. "Excuse me. If she withdraws, does the replacement rule mean it's my turn?" Chapter 1 The moment I asked the question, every head in the office turned toward me. For the first time that afternoon, my sister Celeste Whitmore's serene expression cracked. She turned slowly. "Maren, do you understand what you're saying?" Of course I did. My name was Maren Whitmore. I ranked second overall. If the first-place candidate formally withdrew, the published rules allowed the agency to move to the next qualified person. Director Bennett looked up from behind his desk. His gaze was steady behind his glasses. "You're Maren Whitmore?" "Yes." "Second-ranked candidate for the same position?" "Yes." He flipped through the file in front of him. "Procedurally, once the first-ranked candidate clearly withdraws and signs the confirmation, the hiring agency may begin a replacement review based on the existing ranking." My father, Graham Whitmore, stood up immediately. "Director Bennett, she's young. She doesn't understand what she's saying. Celeste is upset right now. She doesn't actually want to give this up." Celeste lowered her eyes. "Dad, don't make things difficult for them." She was always like this. Soft voice. Perfect posture. As if the entire world were pressuring her while she alone endured it with grace. Director Bennett looked at her with visible disapproval. "Ms. Whitmore, based on your written exam and interview scores, you met the standards for this appointment. I am going to confirm this one more time. "Are you refusing to provide the supplemental background materials, knowing that your refusal will be recorded as a voluntary withdrawal?" Celeste lifted her chin. "I understand. "My family has served in public life for three generations. We have nothing to hide. Being asked to open up our family relationships to this level of scrutiny is insulting. "I don't accept an investigation with no boundaries. "If getting a federal appointment requires me to surrender my dignity, I'd rather walk away." Aunt Lydia, who had come along with the family, immediately got misty-eyed. "Celeste has always had principles." Dad nodded too. "The Whitmore family doesn't need this government job that badly." Then the floating comments appeared again. [Doesn't need it? Her dad said at dinner last night that once Celeste got to the capital, the family would finally have real prestige.] [The review team warned her three times. Once she signs, that's it. Adults are responsible for what they say.] [Maren, don't back down. You're not stealing anything. She's performing indifference.] My heart was pounding. My hands were steady. Celeste suddenly looked at me. "Maren, do you really want it that badly?" She paused just long enough for everyone in the room to hear her next words. "You'd even take an opportunity your sister didn't want?" It was a small sentence. Not deep enough to draw blood, but still sharp enough to hurt. I had heard versions of it my whole life. The dresses Celeste no longer wanted could go to me. The piano lessons Celeste got bored with could be canceled. The family events Celeste disliked could become my responsibility. But this wasn't a hand-me-down dress. It wasn't a plate of leftovers. I had earned my ranking myself. I met her eyes. "You don't want it. That's your choice. "I do want it. That's mine." The office went silent. Dad's expression darkened. "Maren, don't make a spectacle of yourself." I almost laughed. "Dad, I asked what the rule was. How is that making a spectacle?" Celeste's eyes welled up. She picked up the pen and signed the withdrawal confirmation. She signed slowly, one letter at a time, as if she had been deeply wronged. When she finished, she set the pen down with exaggerated care. "I won't regret this." Director Bennett took the form. "All right. We will proceed according to policy." Then he looked at me. "Maren, today you only asked about eligibility. This does not mean you have been hired. "If the replacement process is formally opened, you will still have to complete the full background and suitability review." I nodded. "I'll cooperate." As we left the office, Celeste passed beside me. Her voice was barely louder than a sigh. "Maren, you've become very calculating." I stopped. "Celeste. "I've always been practical. "I just never used to get a turn." For one brief second, her expression broke completely. Chapter 2 The replacement notice hadn't even arrived yet, and the Whitmore family group chat was already holding my trial. Aunt Lydia sent a long voice message. "Maren was completely out of line today. Celeste had just been humiliated, and Maren immediately asked the investigators whether she could take the spot." Uncle Peter followed. "Two sisters fighting over one appointment? If people hear about this, the whole family will be embarrassed." Dad was furious. "She wasn't raised in this house. She has no manners." I stared at those words and laughed. After Mom died, I was raised by my maternal grandmother in an old apartment across town. The Whitmores remembered me on major holidays. I'd be invited over for dinner. At the end of the evening, Dad would pat my shoulder and say, "Be a good girl. Don't compete with your sister." I'd been the good girl for more than twenty years. The first time I reached for something, suddenly I had no manners. Celeste joined the chat. "Please don't blame Maren. "She's always felt insecure. I understand why a permanent federal position feels so important to her. "We simply have different ideas about dignity." The relatives flooded the chat immediately. "Celeste is so generous." "That is real class." "Maren should learn from her sister." I locked my phone. I didn't want to read any more. To someone with family influence, this job might have been a nice addition. To someone like me, with no connections of my own, it was a ladder. That evening, Celeste asked me to meet her. She sat beside a cafe window in a white blouse and pearl earrings, looking as polished as a magazine spread. As soon as I sat down, she pushed a coffee toward me. "My treat." I didn't touch it. She didn't look embarrassed. "Maren, I'm not angry about what happened this morning. "I understand that you want to move up." I looked at her. "Thank you." She sighed softly. "But have you thought about why people aren't fighting over that position? "It sounds prestigious because it's a federal management-track appointment, but the first few years can be brutal. "Are you used to that kind of life? Can you handle it? "I didn't refuse because I look down on the job. "I refused because I don't think you should sacrifice yourself just to say you got in." I asked, "Then why were you researching the program until one in the morning?" Her face changed slightly. "You looked through my computer?" "No. "You synced your search history to the family tablet." She went quiet for two seconds. Then she smiled. "I was being careful before making a decision." The floating comments appeared. [Careful? She was just searching whether a voluntary withdrawal can be reversed.] [She already regrets it. She's trying to make you hand the spot back on your own.] [So calm on the outside. Completely panicking inside.] Celeste continued. "Maren, the more you expect from this, the worse it will feel if the agency rejects you. "If the replacement doesn't go through, you'll be more embarrassed than you were today." I pushed the coffee back toward her. "Celeste, I'm not afraid of failing. "I'm afraid of wanting something and pretending I don't." Her smile disappeared. I stood and left. I had just reached the cafe door when my phone rang. Unknown number. I answered. "Is this Maren Whitmore? This is the review team at the federal recruitment office. Please come in tomorrow at nine to submit your replacement-candidate materials." I turned back. Celeste was staring at me. All the calm had vanished from her eyes. Chapter 3 The next morning, I arrived at the federal recruitment building half an hour early. The wind outside was bitter. I held my document folder against my chest. My palms were damp. Director Bennett was already waiting in a conference room. A younger man sat beside him in a dark overcoat, his expression unreadable. Director Bennett introduced him. "Nolan Mercer. He works in the division this position reports to. He's here to collect your materials." Nolan looked at me and nodded once. "Maren Whitmore?" "Yes." No small talk. He went straight to the questions. "You completed a local-government internship in college?" "Two months at a district administrative office. Mostly resident interview logs, case tracking, and service records." Nolan skimmed my resume. "Can you write briefs?" "Some." "Can you work late?" I hesitated. "If the job requires it, yes." He looked up. "Don't give me a polished answer. "This isn't a desk job where you drink coffee and leave at five. Early on, you'll be sent into field rotations. Emergencies happen." I said, "I know. "I'm not here because I think it will be easy." Director Bennett glanced at me. "I like your attitude. "But the review still has to be completed in full. Family background, education, conduct record, employment history—everything must be disclosed accurately." I handed over each document. No hiding. No sob story. Ordinary university. Ordinary family. Decent grades. A lot of internships and part-time work. Nothing glamorous. But every step was mine. Nolan reached the final page and paused. "How far behind the top score were you?" Director Bennett answered for me. "Two-tenths of a point." Nolan gave a short nod. "That's a small gap." Four words. Something in my chest loosened. The comments appeared immediately. [Nolan Mercer's maximum praise length: four words.] [When he says "that's a small gap," he means you're strong.] [The division has already moved on from Celeste. Their only concern now is whether the replacement candidate is dependable.] After the materials were submitted, Director Bennett told me to wait for further notice. "Keep your phone on. "And don't discuss the details of the background review online." I nodded. When I stepped outside, I saw Celeste waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She wore a light gray coat and perfect makeup, as if she'd been waiting for me on purpose. "You submitted everything?" "Yes." Her eyes dropped to my empty folder. "They were friendly to you, weren't they?" "Short-staffed teams are always like that." "Maren, don't let a few polite sentences make you overconfident." I looked at her. "Did you come here just to say that?" She smiled. "I'm worried you'll regret this later." I said nothing. She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Do you know what I did this morning? "I called Director Bennett." My heart skipped. Celeste watched me carefully. "I told him I signed yesterday while emotionally overwhelmed. "I told him I'm willing to provide the additional materials now. "Guess what he said." The comments flew by. [Director Bennett: We'll follow policy.] [She really called the review team and accused them of rushing her? The nerve.] [She got shut down and now she's here to make Maren nervous.] [Don't panic. Anxiety is the only weapon she has left.] I asked calmly, "What did he say?" Celeste's expression stiffened. A second later, she smiled again. "He said they would review it. "Don't celebrate too soon, Maren. "Some things eventually return to the person they belonged to." I tightened my grip on the folder. "Then let the rules decide." Her eyes went cold. "The rules? "You really think the rules are going to protect you?" She turned and walked away. I stayed on the steps while the wind stung my face. My phone buzzed. A message from Director Bennett. "Following a report, one item in your background review has been found not to meet the requirements. "Ms. Whitmore, please report to the review office tomorrow at 9:30 a.m." I stared at the screen. My stomach slowly sank.