My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 59

The volume of his voice triggered something deep and dark inside me. The conference room started to blur.

Read it, Gianna! Read it, goddamn it!

His voice screamed in my head, overlapping with Raphael’s. I could almost feel the sting of the wooden ruler hovering over my knuckles, waiting for me to fail again.

“Look at the letters! Why are you so lazy? Just fucking read, it's not that hard!”

"I... I knew the answer," I whispered, but I wasn't in the office anymore. I was seven years old, sitting in a dark room, staring at letters that were dancing and mocking me.

"Knowing it doesn't matter if you can't say it!" Raphael stated.

I gasped, my whole body jerking back.

ZAP.

I felt the current go through my body from my fingertips until I was screaming.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands shaking so hard I had to grip the back of my chair to stay upright.

"Gianna?" his voice dropped.

It wasn't soft, but the screaming had stopped.

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I just stood there, trapped in a memory of a man telling me I was broken until I believed him.

The other employees were staring now, not at the table, but at me.

Raphael looked at the others, his jaw tight. "Everyone out," he ordered.

They didn't wait. They gathered their things and hurried out of the room, leaving me alone with the man who had just crushed what was left of my pride.

The fire in my chest died instantly. Cold fear rushed in to take its place.

I deflated. My shoulders dropped, and the grip I had on my laptop loosened. I looked down at my feet, feeling small and foolish. The reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I needed this. I needed to finish this internship for Jules, for my future, for everything.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "It won't happen again. I... I promise. When I'm put on the spot like that... the words just stop coming. I'll work on it. I'll practice more. Just... please don't call the school."

I hated how weak I sounded. I hated that I had to beg but I couldn't lose this. My life depended on this job.

I knew when to stand tall, and I knew when I had to swallow my pride to survive.

Raphael watched me. He didn't say anything for a long time. He just stood there, tall and powerful, holding my entire life in his hands.

"Go back to your desk, Gianna. And don't ever make me do your job for you again because if you do, then consider yourself fired..."

"Thank you," I said softly. I didn't wait for him to change his mind. I turned and hurried out of the room, my heart still heavy with the shame of it all.