My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 103

Gianna

━⊰ ❦ ⊱━

I didn’t remember walking back to my desk.

One second I was standing in front of him, holding that stupid folder like it meant something, and the next I was sitting in my chair, staring at my screen while the words blurred together.

I yanked my bag open harder than I needed to and started shoving things inside. Charger. Notebook. Pens. My fingers moved fast, messy, like if I stopped for even a second, something in my chest would crack open and spill everywhere.

God, I hated him.

I hated his voice. I hated the way he looked at me like I was something he could take apart piece by piece. I hated the way he stood too close like space belonged to him.

Arrogant, controlling, egoistic asshole.

Psychopath.

Sick, power-hungry freak.

My jaw clenched as I shoved my laptop into my bag.

Who the hell does he think he is?

You hesitate once and suddenly you don’t deserve to get paid?

I let out a quiet, sharp breath through my nose, blinking fast. I zipped my bag shut, a little too loud.

“Wow.”

The voice came from behind me.

Slowly, I turned. Three people stood near the aisle between desks. Two women and a guy. All dressed perfectly. All watching me like I was some kind of show.

The girl in the middle crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly, “That was… painful to watch.”

My stomach dropped but I said nothing.

The guy let out a small laugh under his breath. “Honestly, I don’t even get it.”

“Get what?” the other girl added, “It’s not that hard.”

Their eyes moved over me, judging like I was already below them.

“Everyone else managed to present just fine,” she continued. “But somehow you… struggle with basic sentences?”

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. I could feel it starting. That slow, creeping feeling under my skin.

“You’re lucky,” the guy said casually, leaning against a desk. “Most people would’ve been out after that first mess in his office.”

The first girl smiled faintly, “But I guess it helps when you’re… connected.”

“I mean,” the other girl went on, shrugging lightly, “it’s obvious, right? He wouldn’t keep giving chances like that to anyone else. Must be nice.”

Something twisted hard in my chest.

“I’m not—” I started, but my voice came out wrong. I cleared my throat, forcing it again. “I’m not getting special treatment.”

They all looked at each other. That look. That silent understanding between them.

The guy raised his brows slightly, “Sure.”

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