Who is Julie McDuck?!

Where Are Her Parents?

2 months after Della's disappearance

(Julie's POV)

"Lassie, c'mon!" Uncle Scrooge called from downstairs. "I cannae be late ta work!"

"Coming!" I called as I ran the brush through my hair once more and checked my reflection in the mirror. I was still trying to develop my own hairstyle; I didn't wanna be a clone of Della, I wanted to be my own person!

Suddenly, I got an idea. I quickly pulled my short hair into a small ponytail, threw on my jacket and slid down the bannister.

"All ready!" I declared.

A small grin formed on my uncle's beak. "Trying a new look?"

I just shrugged with a smile. "Maybe. Just tryna look...unique."

Scrooge rubbed the top of my head. "Ack, you already look beautiful. Now, let's get going before Bradford gets angry."

________________________________________________________________________________

When we arrived at our destination, my eyes went wide. "Woah," I gasped.

The Money Bin looked even cooler up close.

Scrooge grabbed my hand and, after a short elevator ride, we came to a room where three vultures were sat at the other end of a long table.

The vulture in the middle met my eyes, and soon the other two were staring at me, too. I felt like I was being evaluated.

Uncle Scrooge finally noticed that I looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat, causing the vultures to turn their gaze to him.

"Would ye all stop starin' at the lass, please?"

"Our apologies, Mr. McDuck," one of the vultures (I'm guessing Bradford?) replied. "But could the young lady please stand out in the hall while we discuss important matters?"

I've never seen Uncle Scrooge turn this red before.

"Ye sayin' my great-niece is nae important?!"

The whole room fell silent, and I felt my face turn red, too, but not from anger. I quickly hid behind my uncle's legs.

"Mr. McDuck, we have no problem with you bringing your niece into work with you, but...she's too young to understand what we're talking about here."

"Nonsense! The lass is smart! She's read every book in the manor!"

"Sir, just because she's related to you doesn't mean she knows what a recession is..."

"A period of time when there is a decline in economic activity."

"Excuse me, young miss?" Bradford questioned.

"You asked what a recession was; I just told you," I said, peeking out from behind Uncle Scrooge.

Now every single person was looking at me with an awestruck look on their face. Minus my uncle, of course, who instead looked at his advisors with a superior smirk.

But Bradford was livid.

"Doesn't the girl have a parent that can look after her while we discuss this?! Kids these days are nothing but trouble!"

That hit a nerve as I came to the shocking realization that I'd never thought about...I'd never met my parents.

All I could remember from when I was a baby was shouting and fighting:

"Don't leave us! Don't leave her!"

"You don't understand!"

"You don't WANT her?!"

"You're nothing but trouble!"

Tears clouded my vision before I began sobbing and dropped to the floor on my knees.

I'd been doing so well for the past few months with Della's leaving, and now... I just couldn't.

No one understood.

Uncle Scrooge gingerly picked me up in his arms before giving Bradford a death glare.

"We're done here."