Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Underestimated

WILLOW

Way to put me in the spotlight.

Finished

For a second, I just stood there, breathing, letting her words settle into my skin like tiny cuts.

The way she spoke reminded me of Marcus when I had done something that didn’t satisfy him. I had that familiar instinct to apologize and make myself smaller, so I would be easier to swallow.

However, I couldn’t do that now.

I cleared my throat and looked at all of them.

It wouldn’t hurt to introduce myself, right? That was what normal people did. That was what my father would have told me to do.

“Good day, everyone,” I said kindly. I tried to smile, hoping they would see

through me–not through my clothes and appearance, but through to the person I actually was. “My name is Willow Florence. I am twenty–six years old.”

I saw a few raised brows at the mention of my age.

“I am a nurse by profession,” I continued, gripping my hands together so they wouldn’t shake. “And I recently began teaching at a nursing school.”

“Which school?” someone asked from the table.

“North Waters,” I answered.

There was a brief pause. Then they turned to each other.

“North Waters?” one of them murmured.

“An unknown school,” another said, not bothering to lower his voice.

I pursed my lips, swallowing down the familiar urge to apologize.

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Chapter 1) Thateverlowied

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“I am new to this business scene, as most of you can tell,” I said, forcing myself to continue. “But I work with dedication. I am willing to learn. For that to happen, I would need your help with this.”

I meant it sincerely. I wasn’t pretending to be something I wasn’t. I wasn’t here to claim I knew everything. I just wanted to make my father proud.

For a moment, I thought that my honesty would soften them. However, they laughed again in a polite yet condescending manner.

“Goodness, Rocco,” one of the men said with a chuckle, shaking his head. “You brought someone so inexperienced.”

Another leaned back in his chair. “If I were Mr. William, I would have given the company to you instead of anyone else.”

He tilted his head toward Rocco. “Doesn’t it make you feel bad? You stayed by his side all this time, but he gave it to his unknown daughter.”

The words were wrapped in humor, but they weren’t joking.

Rocco cleared his throat.

“Please, everyone,” he said calmly. “This is still the late Sir William’s daughter.”

I could feel heat crawling up my neck, embarrassment mixing with a little bit of

anger.

“Well,” another man said, leaning forward, fingers steepled together, “are you married?”

The question hit me sideways.

“What?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Do you have a good background?” he continued. “A stable home life matters in leadership”

I opened my mouth.

12:31 pm

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Finished

Chapter 13 Underestimated

“I’m-

Rocco glanced at me. He had probably overheard my conversations with my father, where I talked about Marcus. I remembered selling him really well, but he turned out to be a major asshole.

“I’m currently getting a divorce,” I said honestly.

The room reacted instantly.

“Oh goodness,” someone said.

“So young,” another murmured.

“What a waste,” a woman added, shaking her head.

The murmurs grew louder, overlapping.

“That’s not a good look.”

“Divorced at twenty–six?”

“She must have done something.”

“You must have done something to your husband.”

The words piled on top of each other, each one heavier than the last.

Goodness, was it really like this in the corporate world?

Why the heck did it feel like I was being pelted with literal stones?

Each comment left an impact that would definitely leave a bruise. Maybe that was better, actually. At least, bruises would heal. Their words would stay with me for a long, long time.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance before I could stop myself. The sound echoed louder than I expected in the quiet that followed.

“I don’t see how that is relevant here,” I said firmly. “My divorce has nothing to do with my work.”

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12:32 pm

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Chapter 1 “Underdimaled

Roshed

A few of them looked mildly surprised. Maybe they expected me to apologize or

cry.

“I would appreciate it if you respect me,” I added.

The room went still for a heartbeat.

Then the woman who asked me to introduce myself stood, silent all throughout the past ordeal. The smirk on her face still hadn’t left until now.

She moved slowly, heels clicking against the floor as she walked toward me. Each step felt intentional, like she wanted everyone to watch.

She stopped right in front of me. Close enough that I could see the fine lines around her eyes.

She looked me up and down.

“How could we take you seriously like this?” she asked.

Her gaze lingered on my clothes before she smirked.

“We might have respected the late William Florence,” she continued, “but you-‘

She paused, letting the insult settle underneath my bones.

“You are someone he picked up but didn’t get to teach.”

“Fiorane is the cream of the crop, the highest of the highs. It is not your personal playground.”

“So, young lady,” she said, leaning in just slightly so I could be the only one to hear what she was saying, “better run away before you trip and fall from a great height.”

Her lips curved faintly.

“It will hurt less that way.”

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