Bridgette's POV
I sat at the dark polished table, the silverware perfectly aligned, and the scent of roasted duck and wine filled the air.
My mother, despite throwing anxious glances toward me, I could not deny how beautifully glowing she looked in the champagne-colored dress that seemed almost tailored just for her.
A shocking thought crossed my mind: how long had it been since I'd seen her look this good?
Yes, she did dress up once in a while, but never had I seen her skin look so radiant, and her eyes held a hint of something I couldn't place whenever she looked sideways. My eyes followed her gaze, which flickered toward the older man sitting beside her—tall, silver-haired, with a dashing face and an even more striking name to boot: Aaron Warner, founder and ex-CEO of A.R.W., the second-largest company that dealt with anything and everything. From tech to fashion, ARW was your go-to, and Aaron had single-handedly created that company from scratch.
Despite his age, his features remained hauntingly beautiful, similar to the man currently sitting beside me, shooting lasers my way—Rhysand Warner.
If Aaron was the sun, Rhysand was the galaxy that surrounded it. Despite being born into money, he hadn't gone lax, lavishing and spending; instead, he'd dived into the company, creating a whole new niche for himself, easily shutting up every critic who had accused him of being under his father's shadow. With a stubborn outlook, he'd proved he was far more than a pretty face.
For all that he had accomplished, I respected him, but apart from his drive, he was nothing more than a jerk and an ass who couldn't manage to remove his head out of his ass for a single moment.
My thoughts were interrupted by a single clink of glass. My mother sat up straighter and pinned her gaze on me. "Thank you for coming. It really means a lot to have you here," she said, her eyes flickering toward the dark ball of grumpiness at my side, "both of you."
When Rhysand didn't answer, she continued, but not before she reached out for Aaron's hand, squeezing it tightly. "We wanted you here to celebrate our special day with us."
Her words rang through. I didn't acknowledge them, neither did Rhysand, and as the silence continued, I saw my mother signal her soon-to-be husband to speak.
The older version of my boss finally cleared his throat. "We are getting married, and we wanted you to know."
A beat later, I was left stunned when he added nothing to his statement. Was that it? No explanation, nothing?
Margaret seemed to share my thoughts as she nudged him again, giving him a single warning glare. Aaron lifted her palms, bringing them to his lips, as he flashed her a dreamy smile.
"What I meant to say is we—I and the lovely lady whom I cherish and love—are getting married, and we would love for both of you..." he trailed off and nodded, "to celebrate with us and become a family."
Family?
What did that mean?
Confused, I turned to face my mother. Her eyes barely glanced my way, and I sat up straighter. I was about to ask what they meant by that when he growled, interrupting me.
"You've got to be kidding me," Rhysand, my boss and current confused partner, shot out of his seat. "Dad, no. Tell me this is some twisted joke."
I ignored his outburst, facing my mom. "What the hell, Mom? What do you mean, family?"
Margaret reached out for my hand, but I pulled away, my arms clenched.
Margaret looked downright panicked. Aaron just smiled calmly, patting her hands. "It's not a joke. We're in love. We wanted you both here to share the moment and hopefully make our family whole."
I scoffed, wrapping my knuckles on the wood. "In love? With him?" I pointed at Aaron like he had personally offended my entire bloodline. "Mom, are you serious right now?"
"Bridgette, I—"
"No," I cut in. "This is insane."
"You think this is insane?" Rhysand snapped, glaring at me. "What the hell are you doing here? Did you plan this? Is this some scheme to get back at me for the meeting? Because if it is, it isn't funny, and you aren't winning any prizes."
I scoffed. "Me? Get over yourself already. You think I planned this? Please, my mom could do better."
I caught Aaron looking my way, and I raised my arms. "I'm just saying. No offense, but my mom is a catch. This is a bad decision if you ask me."
His lips twitched at my words before he gave a simple nod.
"Oh please," Rhysand snarled. "My father is the real deal. How high can your mother reach? This is all your doing. You probably orchestrated this whole fiasco, manipulating and twisting until you got your way!"
I threw my hands in the air. "Why would I ever want to be your stepsister? Do you hear yourself right now? Being close to you in the office is already more than I can take. Why would I ruin that?"
"Who wouldn't want to be!" he snapped. "This is probably why you've been at loggerheads with me, annoying me, until boom—you worm your mother's way into my father's bed."
I seethed at his words. "How dare you! Your father doesn't deserve my mom. She's a catch. What does your father have going for him? Why would I put her through the pain of marrying into your family and having to deal with someone as disagreeable as you!"
My mother gasped. "Bridgette!"
Rhysand stepped toward me, forcing me to look up at him, his lips curled into a snarl.
My heart spiked at the sudden closeness, and I found myself leaning into his warmth.
"That's enough!" Aaron ordered.
But neither of us was listening. The tension exploded between us. I didn't back down, crossing my arms.
"I don't know what's worse," I said, "the fact that my mother is marrying your father, or that I now have to see your stupid face somewhere other than the office."
Rhysand leaned in, face dark, ready to let out his anger. Surprisingly, I found myself anticipating his words when a thunderous sound erupted, shaking the dining table.
"Rhysand, I said that is enough!"