The Boss I Shouldn't Want, Now my Stepbrother

Bridgette's POV.

"I'm getting married, Bridgette." My mother's sharp voice pierced the air as she walked into the room, her lips in a tight smile. The glass of scotch I’d been holding for a while slipped from my fingers as waves of shock spasmed through my body.

That's impossible.

“You don't mean it.” I chuckled, staring at the mess beneath my feet, the amber liquid slowly slipping away. “You can't tell me you're getting married.”

Her tone softened. “I really am, Bridgette.”

The brutal truth was like ice water splashed hard on my face. I shook my head, my eyes twitching as I refused to accept her words. “You're not getting married.”

“Bridgette!”

I pushed myself off the couch, almost cutting my feet on the broken shards of glass on the marble tiles. “I thought we already settled this.” I yelled harshly. “You promised me you were never doing this again. You made me believe you.”

"Why do you have to be so selfish, Bridgette?” Her raspy voice made my throat tighten. “Haven't I suffered enough to get my own happy ending?” She choked, her eyes brimming with tears as she took a step towards me.

I wasn't buying it.

Those tears weren't going to make me change my mind.

She was willing to stab me in the back for her own happiness.

She was willing to take a step to move on when I was still buried in my misery.

Tears pricked the corner of my eyes as I pushed her hands away. “A happy ending? You want a happy ending when I can't get those memories off my mind?”

I raked my hands through my hair, frustration sinking deep into my bones. “You've forgotten everything? All I….all I had to endure?”

"No.” She said firmly. “ I haven't forgotten, Bridgette. It still claws at my mind every time I think about it, darling," she approached me again, but I stretched my palm, my whole body trembling from rage. “Don't you dare touch me.”

"I—I love him, Bridgette," She mumbled. “Let me be with him. Please.”

"You can't be with him.”

"I was only married once, Bridgette. Do I have to suffer for my whole life because of the past? I made a mistake, I know, but I did fight for you. I did.”

I laughed again.

This time, it wasn't humorous.

“You fought for me? You were the cause of everything. You brought him into our home!”

"He made my life miserable too.” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she pointed at her chest. “He punched me, tortured m—”

"I was only a child.” I cut in. “But you couldn't stop him from doing it. Do you know how hard it was to live with myself? And now you think you deserve a second chance?”

"That's it, Bridgette!” My mother snapped. “I've had enough of your tantrums. I didn't come to live for you, I am your mother. You have no right to dictate my life!”

My eyes widened with horror. “Are you really doing this?”

“I have learned from my mistakes, honey.” Her tone softened as she reached for me. “I’ve seen love with the right person. Let me be happy.”

"Happy?" I spat. The familiar word was like a poison to my very being. "You think you can just chase happiness after what that monster did to me? To us?”

My mother's face tightened as she avoided my gaze.

She already made her decision.

She was going to get married.

"I can’t believe this! You're going to make the past repeat itself. You promised to protect me.”

“That's what I'm trying to do.” She said desperately, holding onto my palm like the guilt was driving her insane.

“Aren't you worried that history might repeat itself?”

She shook her head. “I can’t let fear control my life anymore. I deserve to be happy, Bridgette. We both do.” She reached out and caressed my cheeks. “This is our chance to let go. I want you to heal, why won't you heal?!”

"Because it still hurts!" I snapped, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Because every time I think about it, It feels like I'm back there again. Trapped. Broken. Helpless. I don't want that to happen anymore.”

“It won't.” She said firmly, wiping my tears softly. Her lips trembled, and for a moment, she looked as though she might cry again. But instead, she pressed her forehead against mine. "I know it hurts," she whispered. "I know it feels like you’ll never get past it. But we can’t keep living in the shadow of what he did. We deserve more than that. You deserve more than that."

I pulled my hands away, stepping back as my chest heaved. "You don’t understand," I spat. "You don’t know what it’s like to carry this... this thing inside you every day. To feel it consuming your whole being while you try to act like it isn't.”

"Then tell me! Tell me what you’re carrying, Bridgette. Help me understand."

But I couldn’t.

The words were stuck in my throat, tangled with the memories I couldn’t bear to face. Instead, I turned away, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could merge the broken pieces of me together.

"You’ll hate me if I go through with this.” My mother said after a long while. I couldn't bear to look at her, but she still continued. "I know you will. But Bridgette, I can’t keep punishing myself for what he did. And I can’t let you keep punishing yourself either."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

For a moment, I thought about the way things used to be—before him, before everything fell apart. But those days felt like a lifetime ago, and the girl I was then didn’t exist anymore.

"I need time." I said finally. "I can’t promise I’ll ever be okay with this, but I need time to figure out how to live with this.”

"Take all the time you need, Bridgette. Just promise me you’ll try." I could tell she was crying by how soft her voice was, but I didn't respond to her last statement. Instead, I walked away, leaving her standing there with tears in her eyes and hope in her voice.

And for the first time in years, I let myself wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was a way to move forward without being consumed by the past.

Bridgette's POV.

The cold wind caressed my face as I stepped out, hugging my blazer around my frail body.

My eyes brimmed with unshed tears as I watched a couple walk over with their daughter. Her face was brimming with smiles, but me? I rarely smiled when I was her age.

Before I knew what was happening, the familiar sound of my phone ringing snapped me out of my reverie and dragged me back to reality. Staring at the lit-up screen of my phone, an exasperated sigh escaped my lips at the familiar name glaring back at me.

I swiped up, and the frantic voice of my assistant filled the line almost immediately. "Hello Miss Bridgette, are you there?"

"Yes, Jennie. What's the matter? It's past work hours.” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair as I sensed the urgency in her tone.

"The CEO is in the office. His assistant seemed to have dropped a message to inform us about his presence, but—”

"But? Stop acting like you're in a heist." I retorted, my patience obviously wearing thin.

"We didn't get the notice.” She sighed. “Now, he's threatening to suspend our whole department for negligence of work.” While she continued, I flagged down a cab immediately, another frustrated groan flowing out my lips.

"He won't dare do that.” I slammed the door if the cab shut. I mouthed the location to the driver and focused back on Jennie. “ Is he there with you?"

"Ye—yes, he is.”

"Good, now put the phone on speaker." I leaned back in the seat and waited patiently for her to respond.

"I have, Miss Bridgette.”

"Hello there, Mr. Rhysand.” I made my voice firm. “As my assistant might have already told you, whatever message was sent to each department didn't get to us.” I leaned forward and urged the driver to step on the damn accelerator.

"Are you trying to make an excuse for your act of negligence, Bridgette?" The bastard asked, getting on my already thin nerves.

"As the CEO, I'm sure you're intelligent, Mr. Rhysand. We didn't receive any message, and if you need someone to blame, it should be your secretary.” I pointed out, staring at the familiar high walls of the company.

"Are you indirectly calling me stupid?"

I shrugged at his ridiculous question.

"You heard what I said, Mr. Rhysand. And I'm sure everyone heard as well. I didn't call you stupid.” The car pulled up in front of the company and I hurried in, skipping the identification process since the security already recognized me..

"You have no excuse for your negligence Bridgette. Your team will still be suspended.”

"Mr Rhysand.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, stepping into the elevator. “Look, I'm not trying to make you an excuse. Ask your secretary to check her end. If she did send the message to my team, I'll take responsibility.” I punched in the bottom to my office floor and waited patiently.

He paused in his response, probably staring at his secretary with those evil brown eyes of his. A slight whimper settled in my ears, and just as I was about to blurt out another word, the elevator door opened.

I stepped into my office and hung up the call. "I believe we can talk better this way,"

"Miss Bridgette!" Jennie called dramatically, heaving a sigh of relief as soon as she noticed my presence.

"You didn't have the mail sent to our department.” I fixed my gaze on the cause of my nemesis tonight, taking slow strides towards her.

"I—I, I did," She argued, lowering her eyes to avoid contact with mine.

"Your actions are already a clear indication that you did not.” I spat, turning to stare at him— Rhysand Warner, the CEO of the company I worked for, and the man I hate the most.

"I believe the situation is clear now, Mr Rhys. The fault isn't ours and as much as you might want to project this on us, I know that with your abilities, and sense of leadership, you know the person to hold at hand.” My lips curled into a smirk at the pissed off expression on his face.

"I'll make sure she's punished for that. “ He sat upright and crossed his long legs. “And how about the task assigned to you? I'm sure there's no excuse for this one, right?” If he thought he had me pressed in a tight corner, he was wrong.

"Not at all, Mr. Rhys. My team and I are named the best team in the company for a reason. We already have everything in place.” I nodded at Jennie. “Bring them out.”

I stepped sideways as Jennie brought out the documents from my desk. The men behind him lowered their heads to hide their laughs, while I just stared with a hint of mockery as Jennie handed the documents to him.

"And is this what the arrangement is?" He asked, flipping the pages of the document annoyingly, looking and searching for the fault he'd never find in them.

"Have them back.” He handed the documents back to me. “The business partners are going to arrive any time soon, so I want you all to do your best. A single mistake and I'll make sure you pay for it in ways you can't imagine.” He warned as I made my way towards Jennie.

"Where are the rest, and why are you the only one here?" I asked.

"I made a call to everyone, but I got here first because I live in the company's street. Plus, I was the first person she called.” She explained, seething angrily at Rhysand's secretary.

"It's fine, we'll handle it." I muttered before plopping onto a seat, exhaustion washing over me.

The turmoil of emotions that coursed through me was crazy, and I could only hold back my emotions—most especially the one that involved slamming this man's head to the wall, I badly resent him.