Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Jason Davenport

Ashley was all smiles as she burst through the doors, clutching a huge pink shopping bag in one hand, and an oversize purse in the other.

Dad walked in behind her, looking flushed. He shouted orders to the servants about the luggage in the limo.

I examined Dad carefully to see if he showed any strange signs. Satisfied, I tore my gaze away and concentrated on my phone.

“Hey, Jason,” Dad said loudly, grinning from ear to ear. “How’ve you been?” He asked.

Despite myself, I felt a warmth spreading through my chest. As much as I hated to admit it, I kinda missed him.

“Fine, dad. How was your trip?”

He grinned a second time, handing me a huge box. From the weight I could tell it was video games. Tearing the box open, I procured video games and the latest PlayStation.

My eyes widened in shock.

My head shot up. “Dad!”

He chuckled. “I knew you’d like it.”

“Thank you so much.” I engulfed him in a hug.

“Awww,” Ashley cooed from behind Dad, bringing me back to reality.

I cleared my throat, moving away from dad. Yes, it was a great gift. But I wasn’t about to get carried away. It doesn’t mean I forgive him.

It was best to let him have that in mind.

Dad sighed loudly. “I’m famished.” He turned to Ashley. “Honey, you said you were hungry too right?”

I turned to Ashley, observing her. She was too busy replying a text to hear dad calling out to her. I craned my neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what was on her phone.

“Honey?” Dad repeated.

She looked up in surprise, stashing her phone safely in her purse. “Yes, yes, of course.”

“Well then, let’s eat.” Dad said, washing his hands in the tap and settling down on a chair.

Her smile faltered. “You go ahead. I have to go somewhere.”

My ears prickled. But I pretended not to be interested. This was a great opportunity to find out what she was up to.

Dad’s eyebrows scrunched up together. “We just got here. Where are you going?”

Ashley dropped the shopping bag on a sofa and adjusted her dress. “I got Marisa something from Paris. But she’s leaving for the weekend and I really wanna give it to her before she leaves,” She pouted, for effect.

Marisa. I’ve never heard of her before, but she was probably one of Ashley’s friends.

Dad nodded, obviously whipped. “Just be quick, okay?”

Ashley let out a yelp and blew him a kiss, racing out the door.

My mind ran fast. I should follow her. This is the first chance I’ve had and I should make good use of it. Luckily, I was dressed to go out so I had a reasonable excuse.

“Gotta go, Dad. I’m hanging out with Adrian.”

He only nodded, concentrating more on the food in front of him.

Quickly, I jumped into my car, driving at a reasonable distance from Ashley. I wondered where she could be headed. Was she really going to meet this Marisa person?

I doubted it. Something fishy was going on. I looked down to make sure my phone was there. Seeing it lying there, I picked it up, clicking it open and setting my camera at the ready. In case I needed to take pictures for proof.

Ashley drove, cutting through the Wayne County Park and finally arriving at Sally’s.

My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. What was she doing at Sally’s? Literally no one goes to Sally’s. It was the worst pastry shop in the whole of Wayne County.

My eyes narrowed. For Ashley to be here, in this almost rundown shop, it was obvious she was here for funny business.

She finally killed the engine of her car-parking a few blocks away from Sally’s-and got out, walking into the shop.

I made a detour, searching for a good place to park my car. I finally found parking space across the road and proceeded to the shop, my phone clutched in my hand.

Getting to the entrance, I pulled on the cap and sunglasses I’d brought along and walked inside as casually as I could.

I sighted Ashley engaged in animated conversation with two people-a woman her age and an older looking guy.

They looked familiar enough with each other and they were deep in conversation, laughing aloud at intervals.

I suddenly felt foolish. Was this just a friendly meet with her friends? And I stood here like an idiot searching for nonexistent proof to incriminate her.

I felt my jaw tic and I suddenly had the urge to break something. I shook my head. I wouldn’t leave here empty handed.

I refused to believe that Ashley was innocent after all. She couldn’t be. She was a homewrecker, and I was going to prove it.

I discreetly took a snapshot of the three of them sitting at the table. In case I needed to recall their faces.

In anger, I moved to the counter and ordered a cup of ice cream. I needed to buy something so I wouldn’t look suspicious.

The face of the attendant at the counter lit up as I approached. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Obviously they wouldn’t have any customers. Their pastries were terrible. And don’t even get me started on the yogurt.

I could almost throw up thinking about it.

Trying to keep my face blank, I ordered chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

He chuckled a little as he scratched the back of his neck. “Um, we don’t have that flavor, sir. Maybe banana instead?” He asked hopefully.

Chocolate peanut butter and banana weren’t even close. The only thing that helped me control my temper was the thought of smashing his head into a wall.

I forced a smile. “I’ll take the banana then.”

His face brightened as he packaged it to go. I slipped a twenty dollar bill across the counter.

“Keep the change.”

Not waiting to hear his words of thanks, I walked away, giving Ashley and her friends one last look.

As I got outside, disappointment washed over me as I dumped the ice cream in the trash.

Ashley just got lucky this time, I thought. I wasn’t giving up. Never.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

One of these days she’d slip. And I’d be right there to catch her.