My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 29

"Exactly," Maddie added, smiling at me. "You said you wanted real-world experience. You won't find anything more 'real' than the systems Raphael builds. It’s the best place for you to prove how smart you really are."

Silvio nodded, "Go for it. Show him you're better than the guys he already has."

I looked around the table. They were all ganging up on me, but they thought they were being helpful. They thought they were giving me a golden ticket.

I looked at Raphael. He hadn't said a word. He was just sitting there. He looked like he wanted this even less than I did. He didn't want the "stripper" in his shiny glass office, messing up his perfect systems.

"I don't need a head start," I said, "I want to apply like everyone else. I want a fair fight."

"Well, Raphael?" Salvatore asked, like he was done listening to my excuses, "What do you say? Give the girl her fair fight. Put her through the ringer. If she’s as smart as she says, she’ll be an asset. If not, you fire her. Simple."

Raphael took a slow, deep breath. He set his coffee cup down and adjusted his cuffs. He looked at his father for a long second, then his dark eyes slid over to me.

"Fine," Raphael said. He looked at me with so much coldness I felt it in my bones, "If you're so set on merit, then show up at my main office downtown on Monday morning. Eight o'clock sharp."

He leaned in just a little, his eyes locking onto mine.

"But don't expect me to be nice," he warned, "You’ll go through the technical interview just like a stranger off the street. I don't hire people who can't handle the pressure, and I definitely don't hire people I can't trust. If you fail, you're gone. And you'll never mention my name to another employer again."

I looked straight at Raphael, and for a second, I forgot to be afraid. All I felt was a hot, sharp need to stay as far away from him as possible.

"No," I said, "I’m not interested."

Raphael raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes tracking the way my chest was heaving.

"Excuse me?" Salvatore asked.

I looked at my mom, and my heart broke into a million pieces. Why was she so stuck on the idea of buying a future for me? It felt like she was trying to hand me a life I hadn't earned, instead of letting me stand on my own two feet.

"Mom, I really don't think—"

"One interview," Salvatore interrupted, as he looked at Raphael, "On Monday. You put her through the same test as everyone else. If she fails, she fails. But you will give her the seat at the table."

Raphael’s eyes stayed locked on mine. He looked like he was watching a bug he was about to squash.

He stood up, towering over the table, "Come ready to work on Monday. I won't be easy on you just because my father is watching. If you can't keep up, I’ll fire you before lunch."

I stared back at him, my jaw tight. I was terrified of what he would find out, but I couldn't let him see me blink, "I’ll see you Monday, Raphael."