Page 74 of The Name Drop

I want to believe Ella’s words. I hope that’s the case.

“What’s that?” she asks, pointing to the envelopes with the Haneul Corporation logo on the front.

“Letters from Human Resources,” I say. “One for me, one for my dad.”

Ella’s eyes grow huge. She’s definitely thinking what I’m thinking.

“Well, open it. Might as well get it over with,” she says.

I tear open the seal. I’ve never been fired from a job before, and this is going to severely stain my perfect record. Well, this and the fact that I deceived an entire company this summer.

But before I can read the contents, the loud chime of the doorbell rings again.

“Did you forget something?” I ask as I open the door, expecting to see Sunny.

“I don’t think so,” my dad says as he walks past me and into the brownstone. He whistles aloud as he takes in the foyer. “I don’t know what I expected his homes to look like, but this is ten times more lavish and impressive.”

I can tell he’s trying to calculate costs in his head. I’ll tell him what I’ve learned from my Zillow search later.

“Are you all packed up ready to go take in the majesty that is the Metropolitan Museum of Art?”

For being as practical and cheap as my dad is, he loves a good museum. Especially one as huge and stocked as The Met.

“Jessica has a letter from Human Resources,” Ella confesses. That rat.

“What?” My dad turns to me in surprise. “What does it say?”

“There’s one for you too,” I say, handing over the envelope with his name on it. “I haven’t read mine yet.”

I look at Ella with her round curious eyes. I look at my dad with his squinted concerned ones. And then I look down at the letter.

Dear Miss Jessica Lee:

We are happy to inform you that you have received a full scholarship from Haneul Corporation for your education at the higher learning institution of your choice.

Please contact me at the Human Resources department for all the details.

Sincerely,

John Im

Human Resources Manager

I read the words one more time, my eyes quickly rescanning the page to make sure I’m understanding correctly.

I raise my head slowly. “A full scholarship,” I whisper. “Not just connections or a letter of recommendation. A full scholarship. To the university of my choosing.”

“An offer you can’t refuse,” Ella says.

I turn to my father, waiting for him to shake his head and say not to accept anything offered to me from Haneul Corp.

But he’s looking down, eyes skimming the other letter, the one addressed to him.

If they’re offering me a full scholarship, then maybe they’re offering my dad a raise, or a promotion, or some kind of award for the successful internship program this year. My heart leaps with hope.

“Dad? What does your letter say?” I can hardly contain my excitement. I feel like jumping up and down with him in celebration.

His eyes finally meet mine.

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