He's my Stepbrother

When I got home, I couldn't stop thinking about his offer.

I took out my savings box to calculate how much I had saved so far because I had put in extra money last night only to discover the money was all gone.

My body suddenly grew weak as the box fell to my hand.

I was supposed to move the money to a bank about a month ago. But I had been procrastinating because of how busy I had been. Now see what it has done to me.

I stormed to Sophia's room and pushed the door open. There she was, scrolling through her phone while lying on her bed.

“What happened to my money?” I asked, trying not to raise my voice at her.

“I borrowed it.” She replied absentmindedly. “I had to buy foodstuffs for the house.”

“And you took it all?” My voice shook. “You didn't even remain a single dime for me, mother.”

She didn't reply. And I knew standing there was only stupid of me because she'd just ignore me. So, I turned back to my room, my feet pounding on the floor board.

I sat on my bed and brushed my hair backwards. Now I had nothing left in my savings, what was I going to do?

My eyes landed on the contract on the table and a small voice said in my head.

“Why work so hard for change when you could get a huge amount in a month?”

But I had to set a condition first.

I picked up my phone from the night stand and called him.

He answered on the second ring, like he had been expecting my call and I went straight to the point.

“If I just accept, I have a condition.”

If he could set rules, I could set conditions.

He was silent for a minute. Then he said,

“What?”

“You make an advance payment,” I said and watched him closely to catch every nuance of expression.

He chuckled a humorless chuckle.

“You’re the first girl to bargain with me.”

“Well, there’s always a first time,” I shrugged, waiting for him to agree or say no.

“Deal,” he replied.

I gave a single nod and ended the call.

I grabbed the paper and fumbled in my bag for a pen. I looked at it for a minute before signing.

Now it was done, I'd have to figure out a way to survive.

*****

Two days later.

The café bell chimed, and as usual, I didn’t turn to see who had walked in. We had tons of customers every day at DeLatte Café, and I was busy trying to fix the coffee maker. It wasn’t switching on anymore.

“Pls hold on a second, sir,” I said apologetically, still bent over it, pressing the button again like it would magically come back to life. It didn’t even flicker. The damn thing showed no signs of breathing.

I exhaled sharply, straightened up, and decided to attend to the customer first before coming back to it.

“Welcome to….” The words died in my throat the moment my gaze met his.

My heart didn’t just drop. It slammed into my throat.

Kayden stood at the counter in jeans, a black leather jacket, and sunglasses pushed up into his hair.

What the hell was he doing here?

And worse, how did he even know I worked here?

Behind me, Lily dropped her tray with a loud clatter on the counter. She muttered something under her breath, coughed awkwardly, and hurried off like she suddenly remembered she had somewhere else to be.

I swallowed, forcing my expression into something flat.

“What do you want?” I asked quietly, my voice cold, even though my pulse was anything but.

“A coffee,” he said smoothly. “And five minutes.”

“I’m working,” I replied without looking at him. My fingers stayed on the stubborn machine, pressing the button again like it might suddenly decide to wake up. “And sorry, the coffee machine just isn’t working. Who knows, maybe it’s your bad luck that caused it.”

I tilted my head slightly, waiting for whatever reaction that would pull out of him.

“I’m not asking, Dolly.” He leaned in, a smug curve on his lips.

“It’s Ashley,” I said through my teeth, my hands curling at my sides. How could one person be this annoying?

“Have you signed the contract?” he asked calmly.

“Yes,” I replied.

“I knew you needed the money.” He said it like he’d already written my life for me.

Then his fingers brushed a strand of hair back from my face slowly, like he had every right to

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lily watching and smiling like she was the one he was talking to. I nearly rolled my eyes. If not for how much I needed the money, I wouldn’t even be standing this close to him.

“Remember, it’s tonight.” He leaned over the counter, his voice dropping as it slipped into my ear. “Hope you’re ready.”

I stiffened. I hated how easily he made it sound like a reminder, like I could forget something like that.

A few customers had turned to look at us now. Their gazes prickled over my skin, making my face feel warm.

“Go to hell, Kayden,” I muttered. “I’ll meet you at the location. Wherever it is. Just text me.”

He scoffed, like I’d said something amusing.

“If I go to hell, you’ll come with me, princesa.” His eyes flicked to the counter. “And your coffee is pouring away.”

I turned away sharply.

The coffee machine was running again.

Steam hissed from the nozzle and the low mechanical gurgle filled the space as dark coffee poured straight into the tray like nothing had ever been wrong with it.

I rushed over, quick steps across the tiled floor, and slammed the button off before it could make more of a mess. The machine let out a final sputter, then went quiet.

When I turned back he was gone.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the counter.

God.

What had I even agreed to?

Thirty nights with the one person I hated most in this world.

~~~~~~

That night, I walked down my street completely exhausted. My mind kept drifting back to Kayden. No location sent, no advance payment either. Nothing. And without that money, I wasn’t doing anything with him.

By the time I reached my apartment, the hallway light was flickering again, casting weak yellow blinks across the cracked wall paint.

I paused.

The door was unlocked.

My hand tightened around my bag strap.

At first, I thought it was one of my mother’s numerous flings. The shameless woman never cared. She’d bring men home like it was normal, sometimes even two at once.

But then I heard a familiar voice.

My heart sank straight into my throat.

I stood still for a second, listening again, just to be sure I wasn’t imagining it. Then I pushed the door open slowly.

And froze.

Sophia was there.

Standing beside a tall man in an expensive suit I didn’t recognize. He looked like money. The kind of man my mother never brought home.

But I wasn’t looking at him.

I was looking at the other person in the room.

Kayden Devereaux.

He was still wearing the leather jacket from earlier.

Was he stalking me now?

First he knew where I worked, and now he was in my home, standing there like this was all some coincidence.

“Oh, she’s home. Ashley, meet Mr. Victor Devereaux,” Sophia said with a bright smile. She tilted her head slightly and mouthed for me to greet him.

I didn’t move. I just looked at him with disgust.

So this was the man she always talked about. Even with all that wealth, he still couldn’t let go of fifty thousand dollars. Rich people and their obsession with squeezing every last drop out of the poor.

“Nice to finally meet the man Sophia can’t stop talking about,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, my voice flat and cold. I couldn't even bring myself to call her mother.

His gaze held mine for a second, like he was trying to read something under my skin. But I wasn’t looking at him anymore.

My eyes shifted to Kayden instead.

There was a striking resemblance between him and Mr. Victor Devereaux. Same sharp structure, same intimidating presence. The only difference was age… and the fact that Kayden somehow looked more dangerous and more unfairly attractive.

Wait.

My thoughts slowed.

Devereaux.

Kayden’s last name was Devereaux. And the man my mother owed was Victor Devereaux.

That meant…

A chill ran through me.

Holy fuck.

The club. The contract. Did he know who exactly I was from the beginning?

“Ashley,” my mother said softly, like she was introducing something delicate. “Meet Kayden, Mr. Victor’s son.”

It confirmed it.

“Meet your new family,” Sophia said, still smiling like she was announcing something normal.

My jaw nearly fell open.

New family?

God, no.

There was no way Kayden could be my stepbrother.

Victor’s lips curled into a calm, satisfied smile.

“Your mother and I got married this afternoon.” he said smoothly

It was like tiny bells were ringing in my ears as Sophia's laughter faded like background noise.

Then…

“WHAT!” I shouted.