Amera's POV
"Ms., you need to wake up. You need to wake up now, please; it's time for breakfast. Wake up." My nanny, Nanny Marlowe, didn't stop tapping me until I opened my eyes and sat up in bed.
"What is it?" I whined, barely fighting sleep from my eyes.
"It's time for breakfast," she repeated with a shaky breath. "The brothers... The brothers have already taken their seats at the table and request your presence."
Hearing their name instantly ruined my mood, and before I knew it, I was fuming. I hate that name. The brothers—the four toxic brothers: Bryce, Parker, Gavin, and, lastly, Cooper.
They are popularly known as the notorious Alpha brothers. They swim in wealth and good genes, and every female in town wants them. Well, every female except me. Why? Because I hate them. Because they make my life unbearable.
I haven't forgotten what they did to me last night, how they bullied me until I almost collapsed. Rolling my fist into a tight ball, I pushed myself out of bed and, without looking in the mirror, stormed out of the room and ran down the stairs.
They'll hear from me. I'll give them a piece of my mind. I'll never forgive them for how they tormented me. Reaching the large dining room, I found the four of them seated on separate chairs, their attention focused on different things.
Bryce was reading a newspaper. Parker and Gavin were on their phones, while Cooper was drinking his usual cup of coffee.
Cooper was the first to notice me, and once he did, a smile broke out on his face. "You're here," he chuckled, moving his eyes from my head down to my feet. His words attracted the attention of his brothers, and before I knew it, they were all staring at me.
All four of them.
But I'm not backing down. I used to feel scared, but not anymore. I am no longer afraid of them. I'll speak my mind. I'll tell them how exhausting living with them truly is.
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, Bryce beat me to it.
"What are you doing standing there? Sit down." He dropped the newspaper he was reading and adjusted in his seat, then rang the bell. The minute he rang the bell, different maids swarmed into the dining room like bees. They came with various food trays and neatly arranged our breakfast on the large dining table before quietly leaving. They did all this within a minute; they've been doing this for a long time. They're used to it; they don't usually exceed that time frame. If they do, their pay for the month gets deducted.
"Why are you still standing there?" Parker turned to me when I continued standing.
"Doesn't she look funny today?" Gavin chimed in, glancing at me.
"She does. What the heck is she wearing?" Cooper agreed as he dug into his meal.
"I should take a picture." Gavin opened his phone, and before I could object, he took a picture of me.
This is it. This is their usual behavior. This is what happens every time I try to speak to them. I end up not speaking at all.
"What are you doing?" When I continued standing there, Bryce grimaced; his displeased look was enough to drag me to my chair.
I immediately forgot all I had planned to say, took my seat, and started eating with them.
"It looked like you had something to say. What was it?" Parker turned to me. I was sitting very close to him, so it was easy for him to look at me.
"N... No..." I shook my head.
"Really? Are you sure? Your hands were tightly fisted; it looked like you were going into battle," he chuckled.
"No... No," I shook my head again.
Shit. I am being a coward again. I am a total coward.
Why is it so hard to do this? I've practiced so many times. I even hired a private trainer to help me, yet I'm still unable to speak to them.
You're a coward, Amera. A big coward.
Halfway into the meal, Bryce made an announcement: "Amera will come to my office directly from school today," he said.
What? I instantly dropped my cutlery and fixed my gaze on him.
Again? Why...? What does he want this time?
"There is work for her at the office. Does anyone have any objections?" He moved his gaze from one brother to the next, but no one spoke. After receiving their support, he dropped his cutlery and stood up.
"That will be all for now. Do not be late, Amera," he said, then grabbed his car keys and walked out of the dining room. Seeing his fading shadow brought tears to my eyes.
Why me? Why me? What horrible thing did I do in my past life to deserve such a fate?
I almost died from overworking the last time I went to his office. And that was just three days ago; now he wants me in his office again?
Moon goddess, please...
Cooper finished his meal shortly after; he stood up and quietly exited the dining room. Gavin did the same, leaving just me and Parker.
"Why aren't you eating?" Parker looked at me, but when I didn't respond, he slid one of his fingers under my chin and turned my face.
"Why are you crying?" When he noticed the tears in my eyes, he didn't hesitate to ask. But I quickly wiped the tears away and returned my attention to my meal.
"N... nothing," I said.
"You don't want to go to Bryce's office?" he asked. "Do you want me to cancel the appointment? I could cancel it. I..." He started to speak, but I didn't let him finish.
"No! Please, no!" I refused, shaking my head.
Bryce will kill me if Parker cancels the appointment on my behalf.
I will not live to tell the tale another day. The best thing I can do for myself is honor Bryce's request.
"Okay then, good." Parker brought out his phone and dialed a number from his contact list; the call went through, and soon, Bryce's voice filled the dining space.
"What is it?" His voice came.
The second I heard his voice, my heartbeat skyrocketed.
Parker... Parker called him?
"It's Amera," Parker responded.
"What about her?" Bryce's voice came again.
Parker opened his mouth to say the next word, but before he could speak, I jumped to my feet. "No!!!" I screamed, my eyes wide in horror. But Parker ignored me and went ahead to speak. He said, "Amera is crying; she doesn't wish to work for you today. Why don't you let her off?" he asked.
The minute the words left his lips, I collapsed into the chair and immediately stopped breathing. I'm dead. I'm ruined. Parker has ruined my life.