Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 46

KESTER.

Power was a fragile thing. Give someone a taste of it, and they'd start believing they had a right to wield it however they pleased.

That was the mistake Sylvia had made.

Kasmine was mine.

Mine to scold. Mine to break. Mine to put back together aga. No one-no fucking one-had the right to lay a hand on her. Not in punishment. Not in humiliation. Not in any damn way.

When Claire came strutting into my office, wearing that self-satisfied smirk she always did when she thought she had something I'd want to hear, I almost dismissed her. Almost.

I barely heard most of what she said beyond 'Sylvia and Kasmine and humiliation in front of everyone."

And just like that, the room around me ceased to exist.

A slow, cold rage settled inside me, and for the first time ever, I felt like pulling the annoying bitch into hug for letting me know all that had been going on between Sylvia and Kasmine for a while now.

Kasmine would never have told me about it. I knew her that much. She always didn't like situations that would put people into trouble, especially with me.

I had steeled myself not to get affected by Kasmine's presence but imagine the effect the scene I met had on me. But, even at that, I tried not to let it show. I was still angry with her.

"Please, sir, it won't happen again. I swear," Sylvia was on her knees in front of me, hands trembling as she clutched the termination letter I had just handed her. It took everything in me not to make her suffering worse.

I didn't respond. Didn't even look at her. Her presence was nothing more than a stain in my periphery, a noise I had no interest in entertaining

She cried. As she should..

She knew what she had lost.

She was well treasured here, but she lost it all. She knew she would never find another employer like me. Never find another position that came close to the power she once wielded here.

I wish Mine had been here to see this, but she had walked out of her office with Claire as soon as she returned from her unpleasant meeting with Sylvia.

She was probably crying her eyes out right now, but I tried not to care, even though my every instinct pushed me to go and check on her. Especially when Jake left his seat, and I knew exactly where he was headed. But I tried to sit my fucking ass on my chair and pretended to focus on things that didn't matter to me at that moment.

I was already picturing her, already imagining the way her face crumpled when she cried.

And worse, imagining Jake wiping her tears with those cursed hands of his. The ones I'd cut off soon enough.

Fuck

her, releasing my

wouldn't give me the peace and quiet I demanded

me in the car. I'll be out in a minute,” I told Kasmine as I caught sight of her heading toward the elevator at

in my lap-Fred Anderson, Valor Lante Technologies former Head of Operations,

won't be riding with you. Jake will take me home today, heard her say,

to throw his

say?" I turned slowly to face

could take another step. My grip was firm, but I tried not to make it too obvious because of the subtle glances I was getting from my

mine, and for the first time, I saw the damage I had done. Her yes-red, swollen told me

matter what happens. I don't care what you

hurried out of my sight. Was

both have a death wish,

Kester Hamilton! Let. Me. Go!" She clenched her

beneath my grasp, and when I studied her intently, I saw

was still

with me,

let me go!" she hissed under her breath, but I didn't

into the elevator, slamming my palm against

free.

spent the entire day pretending I didn't care, but I

pulled her forward, leading

Some had the audacity to look curious, and others

floor

car door. He stepped back immediately when he saw the

Chapter 46

had time to turn before'l

moment she landed on the leather seat, she twisted around, eyes blazing,

slid in beside her, shutting the door

"Yes, sir."

from the curb, I pressed a button, Instructing the driver to raise the privacy partition. The glass slid into place,

ripped her wrist from

with fury. "I don't want to

I don't want to be anywhere

her, "What's your fucking problem, Kasmine?"

low and cold. "Is this

but

lashes fluttered, and her expression

time since this entire fight began,