บททั้งหมดของ So Long, Mr. CEO. I'm Now With Your Brother : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

ROXANNE "There's nothing to thank you for. I never asked you to come into the picture," I threw at him, filled with justified anger. "Really?" He raised a brow, his eyes sizing me up."Yes, really." I retorted, "I can handle my business quite well. What I do not need is the brother of my ex-husband who is obviously a playboy to add me to his list of 'fucked girls'...""You have no proof I'm a playboy. In fact, you barely know me." He cut in with a kind of calm and reason that made me sound paranoid and stupid. "However, I get your point. You do not want me to step in, fine. You're an adult. So you can sit down, we'll have conversations like two civil adults. I won't exceed my boundaries and try to kiss you again. First thing in the morning, I'll be driving you back home and it'll be the end of that. Are we good now?""Yes." I nodded, telling myself that whatever strange feelings humming inside was nothing to write home about.He rose from his seat to go open the drawer attached to t

ROXANNE "Roxy." Mom's head poked in my room.My fingers trembled as I tried to minimize the page I was navigating on the tablet that belonged to Ethan.Mom, ever sharp and smart, frowned, let herself into my room without an invitation, approaching the bed, "what are you doing, Roxy?"I turned off the screen of the tablet. "Nothing.""Roxy?" She called in that motherly tone that never failed to make me feel guilty for keeping stuff from her. I heaved a sigh. "I cancelled my college application this year."Her eyes widened, "Roxy? Why would you do that? Is that not the reason you're working here? To save up money for college and I promised to add to it if it's not enough?"I shook my head, sitting up the bed, "I know, mom. But... there's just one tiny mishap."Her grey eyes roamed my frame, already hinting at what it was, but she asked anyways, "and what tiny mishap would that be?""I..." I bit my lower lip, "I haven't been paid."Her expression scrunched in disapproval, "but you told

ROXANNE "What do you need to see him for?" She eyed me maliciously, her finely carved brow arched."I need to see him. He needs to explain why he would give me fake jewelries that worth nothing and not pay me my salary!" My voice rose with each word in frustration, pain and anger. The smack of her hand across my cheek came swift and cracked loud. "Stop shouting in my home."I held my cheek, my blood boiling. Before I could control myself, the bag slipped through my fingers to fall beside me with a quiet thud. I lifted a hand and raised it down on her face, harder than she'd given me. "How dare you slap me, Vanessa?!""Roxanne, you shouldn't have." Mom stepped forward, suddenly frayed on nerves. "I'm so sorry, miss. Please...""You let your daughter slap me, you stinking old fool?!" Vanessa raged at mom as though she was the reason I'd hit her.I landed her another slap on that same side of the face, "don't you ever talk to my mother like that. If you don't respect yours, I respect

ROXANNE "Argh!" The scream that tore through me drained the last of my energy. Another kick to my stomach, I coughed up blood. Then I was left alone. My bullies retracted to the dark side of the cell, laughing. "She's so puny." Their leader with mean tattoos and a scar running across the left side of her face mocked in her hoarse voice that told me she was a frequent smoker...or used to be. For the past one week, every morning, a cop would take me from my single cell and put me with these bullies and walk away.The first two times, I'd thought nothing of it. But the third time, I knew it was no coincidence. This was planned. And I could guess the three people who had me thrown in here were responsible. I've been told I would rot in jail. That I would be sent to prison on the basis of murder and attempted murder. Josh and Vanessa had visited once to rub it in my face and to tell me my fate.I curled my battered, wounded body, my bloodied lips trembling as hot tears ran down m

VANESSA "Hey mom. Dad." My face lit in a widespread smile, my heels clicking in a hurry to go engulf my parents in a big, warm hug. Mom pinched my cheek as she always did, "how are you, my darling?"I nodded, my lips spreading in a beam, "I'm fine.""My little princess," dad's cheerful voice boomed with a short laugh, he placed a gentle kiss on the bridge of my nose. "How are you?""I'm fine, daddy." I was daddy's little princess and even though I was twenty five, I'd never outgrow that title — not that I wanted to. "You look beautiful as always," he complimented, his eyes giving me an affectionate once-over. "Thank you, daddy." My cheeks were hurting from all that smiling."I thought we'd never see you again." Mom commented from the sidelines. "Mom, I've just been busy. You know, caught up." I bounced my shoulders in a shrug. Then I walked past them to go plop my butt on a sofa. They joined me, taking occupancy on the double sofa, "with what exactly?"I heaved a sigh. This wa