In Love With My Bully Step-brother

Chapter 4 | This cannot be real

Ashleigh’s POV

The rest of the school day went relatively smoothly. I found all my classes easily and managed to not bump into any other jocks or mean girls. And after the bell went signaling the end of the day, I waited to be the last out of the classroom.

I tried finding my locker but as soon as I walked out the class, I sighted that guy again. He was standing with his friends, all of them laughing over something. A girl hung on his arm, twirling her locks and batting her eyes at the boys.

Just as I saw his head turning in my direction, I fled the scene. I would have to find that locker another time.

Without a phone, I didn’t have any means of contacting the driver. So, I just waited outside the school grounds for him to arrive.

He was on time, appearing in a Mercedes SUV that had my name on a sign against the window.

I felt freedom for the first time as I got into the backseat. The driver welcomed me to the great city of L.A and I gave him a warm smile in return. I certainly didn’t agree with him yet but I enjoyed the spirit.

The car ride was quiet and I kept my eyes on the road the entire time. Taking in the evening sun and beautiful streets.

The scene gradually changed as we entered an even more exotic part of the city. Here, the houses were extremely huge with massive lawns and wrought iron fences. The distance between each houses was just enough that you didn’t have to know who your neighbors were.

The car turned up the entryway of one of the houses and I nearly died at the sight of the house. The gates opened up automatically right before we got there and I watched in awe as we drove up to the large, Khaki-colored building.

There was a fountain in the centre which we drove around before stopping in front of wide marble steps that led up to a porch.

A maid dressed in a custom powder blue dress and white shoes stood in front of the oak entrance doors. She was smiling at me as I got down from the car.

“Miss Williams,” she greeted, reaching out to take my bag from me.

I politely declined the offer and she nodded as though she understood why. She led me into the house, through the foyer with its plush carpet and electric fireplace and up the winding staircase to the second floor.

I took in the lush interior of the house with awe. Everything was so incredible. From the wall decor to the furnishings, it was all beautiful.

We turned down a hallway and passed a couple of doors before stopping in front of the last one at the end of the hall. The maid went in ahead of me.

“This is your room,” the maid announced. “Your mother has instructed that you put on something nice for dinner. Which will be ready in twenty minutes.”

Put on something nice, because I was going to meet her fiancé and his obviously well-bred family. I thanked the maid and she left, allowing me to take in my new room.

It was at least three times the size of my old bedroom in Phoenix. There was a Queen-sized bed in the middle with mushroom-colored sheets to match the bedroom walls. There was an empty dressing table with mirror against one wall and a study table against another.

All the bags and boxes I travelled with had been arranged inside a walk-in closet. I stepped into it and admired the rows of shelves and dressers it had. They were all empty of course except for one which had a single dress hung.

Put on something nice, I remembered my mother’s words and took down the dress. It was a simple off-shoulder with floral patterns and a slit that stopped mid-thigh.

There was a door at the opposite end of the closet leading into the bathroom which had a jacuzzi and touchless automatic toilet. There was also a shower cubicle which looked less complicated than everything else. I decided I would be using that instead.

From one of my carry-ons, I pulled out my shower kit. I wasn’t sure of staying yet so, I didn’t do any unpacking. I would just have my bath, go to dinner and meet my mother’s fiancé out of courtesy. I needed to thank him for all the assistance so far.

It was when I stepped out of the bathroom I noticed the floor-to-ceiling mirror on one of the walls. I put on my dress in front of it and admired how it fitted my figure perfectly. Even though it showed a little more boobs than I was comfortable with, I liked it very much.

I left my hair in the doughnut I had it packed in since, just adding a hair clip to make it look nicer. I followed the staircase to the foyer where I thankfully ran into a different maid who led me to the dining room. This house was really confusing.

There was laughter coming from inside as I pushed open the door. Inside the big room was a long oval table with six chairs arranged around it. Three people sat on it. One of them was a girl who didn’t look interested in anything but the phone she his beneath the table.

The other two, seated away from the girl were my mother who was laughing really hard. And a man I recognized too well from how many times he had appeared in the media.

I couldn’t believe this! Reginald Blackstone, the hot, well-known CEO of various multinational conglomerates, politician and philanthropist was my mother’s fiancée? Shut the front door!

“Good eve…evening,” I stuttered.

Susie, my mother, was the first to look at me and I saw immediately that she appreciated that I’d worn the dress. Reginald stood up and I took it as my cue to approach.

“You must be Ashleigh,” he said, stretching out his hands toward me.

His voice was really deep and reminded me so much of the guy from school. I shook him out of my thoughts immediately and took Reginald’s hands in mine. But he pulled me closer, squishing me in a side-hug.

Reginald was so much taller in real life and even more fine looking. Well done Susie.

“Please, have a seat,” Reginald pointed and I took the chair directly beside my mother.

I didn’t want to be this close to her but I was even more afraid of being close to Reginald. I was still so star-struck. No wonder my mother had only ever referred to him as “fiancée.”

“So, your mother tells me she dropped you off at your school in the morning,” Reginald said as soon as I was seated. “I would have preferred you skip this week and rest…”

My mother started to protest and Reginald put up his hand, chuckling lightly.

“Yes, yes, she doesn’t want you missing any school work. So, how was your first day?”

“Um, fine, good,” I said and then drank some water because my throat had suddenly gone dry.

Reginald started to ask another question but the two maids I had met brought in dinner, halting any conversation. I was grateful for the interruption but it was only temporary. Reginald started talking again as soon as we had begun eating.

I stuttered my way through most of the questions he asked and beside me I could tell that my mother was embarrassed by my utter lack of coherence. She sipped wine every time I opened my mouth.

Eventually, Reginald stopped with the questions and introduced his daughter to me.

“…And the girl rudely ignoring everyone else while she taps away at her phone is my first daughter, Willow.”

“I’m your only daughter dad,” she responded, finally looking up from the phone to give me a pointed look.

Since she sat opposite me, I saw her face clearly for the first time. She was really pretty with straight black hair that fell past her shoulders and dark, green eyes. A piercing in her septum completed her look of mystery.

“Well, I’m about to disown you if you don’t eat any of the food I work hard to provide for you,” Reginald joked.

Willow rolled her eyes, her dark lips splitting in the middle as she smiled.

We continued eating in silence for about five more minutes before the door came open. Thinking that perhaps the maids had come with more food, I looked up…and froze immediately.

“Oh, wonderful! It’s so nice of you to finally join us son,” Reginald said.

My fork clattered to the floor and every single eye in the room turned to me —including the very captivating ones I had seen earlier at school.

Kane Taylor, The handsome bully who had crushed my phone and my dignity —twice was standing in front of me. And Reginald Blackstone had just called him son.

“He’s your son?” I asked with a gulp.

Reginald laughed, “Oh, yes! Kane, meet Ashleigh, Susie’s daughter and soon enough, your step-sister.”

“Really?” Kane asked, that same mischievous glint in his eyes. “What a pleasure.”