Owned By My Step Brother

Chapter 22 - The New Library Assistant

Alice’s Point Of View

‘What job?” I asked in shock, my eyes widening.

“I…I don't know if you will like it, I'm not looking down on you, I promise,” she stammered anxiously, her eyes looking everywhere but at me.

I stared at her in shock, my brain trying to process the words she had just said.

She was apologizing for helping me find a job, something even my mother had not bothered to do.

“Please, Mrs Charles, I need any type of job right now, I promise, I would appreciate anything you give me,” I said honestly, my eyes looking at her expectantly.

“Y…you can work as a library assistant with me,” she said nervously, her voice low.

Her eyes studied me intently, looking for a reaction from me.

I was silent for a long time, not because I was irritated but because I was genuinely shocked.

I had never imagined that she would offer me a job at the library.

I was absolutely delighted, but before I could speak, she muttered an apology.

“I…I am sorry, Alice, this is all I can offer,” she whispered softly, her face red with embarrassment.

“No, Ma’am, please don’t apologize, I am really grateful for this job, I was just shocked,” I tried to explain, taking her hand in mine.

“So, is that a yes?” she asked shyly, looking into my eyes.

As if she were begging me to take the job rather than offering me my first breath of fresh air in a long while.

“Of course, Ma’am, of course,” I said happily, hugging her tightly.

Her eyes lit up, hugging me back and placing a small peck on my cheek.

“Eat something,” she said almost immediately, handing me the packed lunchbox I had become used to eating out of.

“But I don't know what to do as a library assistant, and this library belongs to the city council. Are you sure it is okay?” I asked quietly, my eyes dimmed with worry.

I hadn't eaten yet, and I couldn't eat until I was sure everything was going to be fine.

“Don’t worry, Alice, they don’t pay that much attention. Look at how rundown this place is,” she said boldly, motioning to the library wall that was holding on to its last bricks.

“And besides, I’m here to teach you everything you need to know about the job,” she added.

“Are you sure?” I asked again, my brows still furrowed.

“Of course, Alice, unless you don’t want to work with me,” she said, pouting, her lips curled up in a smirk.

“So it's 8 tomorrow morning?” I asked to confirm, without answering her question.

“7:30 actually,” she corrected with a chuckle, citing that we had to clean and set up before 8 am.

We ate and laughed, and I felt an ease that I had never felt before.

Our connection felt so natural, unlike the one I had tried to force with my mom, and for the first time, I felt at home.

“It’s getting late now, you need to hurry home,” she said anxiously, making me leave even before she locked up.

“See you tomorrow,” I said in a loud voice, over my shoulder.

“Of course, dear,” she responded immediately, her voice sounding more distant as I walked away.

I walked home with a smile on my lips and a hearty hum in my throat.

For the first time, I felt like rebuilding my life was actually possible.

“MOM!” I said happily, seeing her sit beside our garden.

I wanted to share the good news with her, tell her I finally found a job, but her next words caught me off guard.

“You are late again,” My mom said angrily, glaring at me.

I looked into her cold eyes, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

As usual, she didn’t care about what truly mattered to me; she just didn’t want my actions to affect her negatively.

My pain was quickly replaced with something else, cold indifference.

“Just let me know when I can move out so you can have your peace,” I said coldly, walking straight to my room.

I had come back in such a happy mood, and she had tried to ruin it, but I wasn't going to let her, not this time.

As I took off my clothes to shower, the crumbled note that was in my pocket fell to the ground.

I had totally forgotten about it since the morning.

“Drink it while it's hot, see you tonight,” I read out loud, as if trying to remind myself of the words again.

But Reynold’s was nowhere to be found, and somehow, that stung more than I had expected.

“Have you had dinner?” a familiar voice asked calmly, making me gasp.

He was here, just like he had promised. It filled me with so much excitement, but I managed to keep a straight face.

“Yes,” I responded coldly, my insides squealing with joy that surprised me even more.

His presence, his voice, the knowledge of how close he was to me, made something inside me churn.

“I brought food,” he said firmly, ignoring my response.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out, and then he spoke.

“You have lost a lot of weight recently; you need to eat more,” he said calmly, his eyes softening.

For a split second, I could feel something different, something close to care, maybe concern.

But I brushed it off, I remembered how he had treated me in the past.

Reynolds Smith wasn’t capable of love or care, at least not for a girl like me.

He dropped the box of takeout on my small reading table and finally looked up at me.

His eyes widened, his pupils dilated, his mouth wide open, frozen in the spot.

Only then did I remember what I was doing before he walked in and realize the reason he acted like that.

I was completely naked, standing in front of him, and too shocked to even try covering up.

It took him a few minutes to compose himself, but when he did, his clothes were already coming off.

“Let’s shower together, darling,” he whispered softly, planting a kiss on my forehead.

The next day was the start of something new, but tonight I belonged to Reynolds in every way that mattered.