Obsessed With My Father’s Boss

The Wicked Stepmother

Rhea’s POV

The sunlight hitting my face was the first thing I felt. I groaned softly, rubbing my eyes as I slowly opened them.

For a moment, everything felt hazy, as if my mind were still floating somewhere between sleep and reality. I blinked, squinting at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.

This… wasn’t my room.

Confusion crept in as I pushed myself up slightly and looked around the large, elegant bedroom.

Then I realized something was else.

I was only wearing my underwear.

My heart skipped violently in my chest, and I felt like I was suffocating.

Memories from the previous night rushed back all at once: music, drinks, dancing, laughter… Rowan.

My stomach twisted as panic began to rise.

Just then the bathroom door opened.

I froze.

Rowan stepped out, a white towel hanging loosely around his waist, droplets of water sliding down his chest.

My eyes widened before I could stop myself.

My gaze traveled up his broad chest, lingering for half a second too long before I quickly looked away.

“You’re finally awake,” he said casually.

I nodded slowly, my throat suddenly dry.

The question slipped out before I could stop it.

“Did we…?”

Rowan paused for a moment, then I saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. He clearly understood what I meant.

He shook his head.

“Don’t worry,” he said calmly as he began dressing. “When I do, you won’t have to ask.”

My face burned instantly, heat rushing to my cheeks.

Oh my God.

“The housekeeper changed your clothes,” he added casually. “You threw up on them.”

I groaned softly and covered my face with both hands.

This was worse than I thought.

“I got you something new to wear,” he continued. “Your father already knows you stayed over.”

That made me freeze again.

Great. Just great.

A few minutes later Rowan walked back into the room, now fully dressed. As he picked up his phone, he said, “My driver will take you to school.”

Then he walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused and glanced back at me.

“And Rhea… stay away from alcohol.”

Then he left.

The door closed behind him.

I buried my face in my hands and groaned.

“How embarrassing…”

———————

———————

Well after that embarrassing moment, I tried my best to stay out of sight of Rowan. One afternoon, I came out of class very tired but then I spotted a familiar car idling at the curb.

I assumed it was Rowan.

The car even honked as I hesitated to approach, I swallowed hard in shame and headed towards the car. The car door even opened.

The moment I sat down, I realized something was wrong.

The person seated close to me wasn’t Rowan; it was his almighty stepmother. The hell!

Rowan’s stepmother looked at me the way someone looks at a mess they’re about to clean up.

“Don’t be dramatic,” she said coolly. “Just paying my daughter-in-law a little visit.”

Even with the freezing air conditioning in the car, I felt hot all over.

“You seem like a smart girl,” she continued. “So I’ll be direct. Name your price.”

I turned to look at her sharply, my mouth opening slightly.

But she continued speaking before I could respond.

“You’re ordinary. There’s no shame in that, it’s just the truth.” Her gaze swept over me like I was dirt. “Rowan is a grown man with a pattern you don’t know yet. You’re young. You don’t want this heartbreak.”

Still, I said nothing.

She opened her purse and pulled out a check. Then she placed it on the seat between us.

Ten million dollars.

The numbers were written in clean, confident ink.

I almost chuckled at her guts.

“Your father gets promoted to general manager,” she added calmly. “You get a job after graduation. Everyone walks away with something.”

I stared at the check for a moment.

Then I picked it up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shoulders relax almost imperceptibly. But the next second, I calmly tore the check into pieces.

Her expression froze.

Then again.

I placed the pieces neatly back on the seat between us.

“I’ve been holding back because of Rowan,” I said quietly. “But not anymore.”

I leaned slightly closer.

“If you want me gone, you should try harder.” Then I reached for the door, and then turned back to her still frozen face. “Who knows One billion might do the trick.”

I stepped out and closed the door with annoyance, I feared the door would fall off.

Even through the glass, I could feel the frustration radiating from inside the car.

I smiled faintly at the pavement and walked away.

Unfortunately, the drama did not end there.

Soon strange messages started appearing on my phone.

Threats, warnings, insults, nothing much Just vague enough to make someone nervous.

I read them, set my phone aside, and went back to my readings.

The rest of the week blurred together—dress fittings, fabric swatches, and Lyra showing up with very strong opinions about table flowers.

I barely saw Rowan.

Assistants kept calling about centerpieces. Someone emailed me a seating chart.

I approved things I barely looked at and let Lyra handle the rest.

Soon the long-awaited wedding arrived, and the nervousness that had been choking the whole week settled a bit.

I stood in front of the mirror, wearing the most stunning gown I had ever seen. It was a simple wedding Yes! But we don’t do basic, in Lyra’s words.

The makeup artist had done their job, and my stylist too. Lyra came in constantly to check up on me, and my dad too, they made me relax a bit.

As I stood alone in my dressing room, looking at the mirror one more time before heading to the door.

“You can do this,” I said, as I slowly walked towards the door but as I reached the door, I felt someone at the door.

“Lyra,” I called, my voice wavering as I tried opening the door.

I was met with silence and then the sound of a turning key at the door lock.

My stomach dropped. I was locked in!!