CHAPTER FOUR

RHETT’S POV

When I decided to change teams in a bid to disappoint my father and the pride he was starting to have from my success story in my previous team, I didn't think I would meet her again.

My Little Birdie. Her grey eyes are still as intriguing as always.

I call her that because just like a bird, her presence seems to snap me out of my agony, and maybe I was jealous of how lucky she is to live life the way she desires. 

Ginger hair?

Father hates me already for refusing to dye my hair black. I hate that he won’t stop trying to control me. That is why owning her feels good. Knowing I have something I can control, and break too. 

“You promised to give the contract to me, Father!” My jaw is clenched as my blazing eyes remain on the man who sits in his big chair.

We are standing in his home office. Greyson stands outside the closed door but I can swear that he is happy this project is going to him. He must have said or done something when he spoke with Father earlier.

“You are not ready to…” He repeats the same thing he has been saying all year.

Fuck this old lying bastard! 

“How would you know if you never give me a chance to prove myself?” I roar but he doesn't seem fazed.

As much as I love Hockey, it isn't something I intend to do in more years to come. Most days my bones hurt like they might give up on me ahd I might end up needing help to walk. All I want from him is one or two projects to build my portfolio so it is easier for me to navigate the business world when I retire next year. 

His lip twitches.

“Not this one, Son. This project is huge. Let your brother handle this, I will find you something…suitable.” 

I scoff. The drag on his last word only means he doesn’t see me as deserving as Greyson.

“Will you be waiting for dinner? Your mother…”

“Stepmother! She never fails to remind me that.” I reply and start to walk away. “And sometimes I wonder if I am your child too.” With this, I pull the door open and step out.

The air hits my lungs and I exhale hard. I hate him. I hate every single one of them. My rage is brimming. I need her. My eyes search the dining and she is nowhere in sight. Just these two. Aubrey sights me and starts to make her way forward.

I’m about to pull out my phone to dial her number when I hear her soft laughter. I see her walking in with that two-faced bastard and my jaw tightens. Pushing Aubrey aside, I surge forward, halting in front of them.

“Care to share the joke with me too?” I say and she freezes.

“Rhett…I mean, boss. I…umm..didn’t know you were done.” 

I can smell a different perfume on her and I bit the inside of my lower lip but I don't show my anger. I know he is trying to get to her to annoy me. Grabbing her hand, I pull her with me.

“We are leaving.” I announce to no one in particular.

“But baby…you just got here. I missed you.” Aubrey steps in front of me.

She doesn't know that I can see beneath her lies. I know this woman hired her to penetrate me. But for what reason? I don’t know.

“Feel at home.” I snarl and soon we are walking out of the door and back into my car.

“Start!” I try to suppress my annoyance. 

She trembles behind the wheel but her eyes are not on the road. She stares back at the door and I follow them to see Greyson standing there, hands in his pockets.

“Now!” I bellow and it roars to life then makes a sound as we rode off.

Everyone likes him. Father. The investors. Her. Everyone sees him but never me.

I pull out my alcohol bottle from my hiding spot and pop the head off. I down almost half of it in a go and let it burn the back of my throat. It is harsh. Just like their words, and it washes down the whole thing. My head rests against my seat, my eyes closed. My body calms down a little. I am not drunk nor tipsy. I have always been able to control my alcohol.  

“Drop me at home.” I order.

She doesn't say a word but I catch her looking into the rearview mirror when I open my eyes. There is fear etched in her face. She is scared of what I might do to her.

I scoff again.

“You seem to like my brother too.” I point out, smiling to mask my agony. “You even smelt like him.” I lean in to sniff her. “You reek of him.”

My body tenses up again and I wrap my right palm around her neck.

“Tell me, did he touch you?” My voice sounds nothing like me.

The car almost swerves off the road as she attempts to set herself free but I tighten my grip.

“Answer me, Birdie!! Did he touch you in ways…” I bit my lip as I complete. “I haven't. Did he bend you over too?” 

Just like he did with Aubrey and the girls before. Every single one I liked.

She coughs, scratching my flesh with her nails. It stings, and leaves my blood under her nails but I can barely feel any pain apart from the one oozing from my chest. Images of her moaning his name as he slams her from behind fills my mind.

“Let…m..e..g…o..” She croaks out. 

My eyes blinds with rage at the thought of him tainting her delicate skin with his. I want to cut every finger of his off. I want to peel off his flesh. I want to kill him, the fuck.

This isn't his first attempt at triggering me off then why did this have so much effect on me this time?

Little Birdie isn’t mine. She isn’t my woman.

So why?

The screeching sound of the tyres echo loud as we almost collide with a trailer I didn't see coming. I feel her body slump in my hand. She is out.

Fuck!!!

I stretch my other hand and try to steer the wheel back on track. I lose control and the car collides with the street light, slicing through the bonnet like it is nothing. The sound of glass shattering blows hot in the air. The seat throws up forward and my face hits the wheel. My breathing is heavy. My eyelids hurt as I pull out the shard of glass from my skin. My own blood smears my face.

“Sophia..” I grunt as I drag my hands to search if she is hurt.

She isn't. I heave a deep breath.

 Tapping her isn't working so I attempt to curb her and that is when I see it. The blood behind her head. My heart starts to pound loudly, 

Shit!! 

“Hey!” I shake her violently as fear swallows me. 

She can't die. The news headline would be bizzare. This will ruin everything I have worked for. The image I try to build.

“Sophi…”

Her skin is cold. I swallow as I retrieve my phone to dial the emergency line but it is fucking broken.

Fuck!

Tears are stinging my eyes. My hand trembles.

“Don’t die on me, too. Please.” I mumble.

I dip my hand into her bag and pull her phone out. No face ID. Just password.

Shit. Shit. Shit.