Sweetest Obsession

My father has made mistakes. A lot of them. Marrying my mother was the biggest one—or so I thought. After their divorce is finished, and I’ve finally gotten her out of both of our lives, I get a call from him telling me he’s married yet again.

My father’s latest mistake has given me a stepmother and a stepsister. I have zero doubt that both of them are after my family fortune. So, I have to fly home to fix the mess.

But when I get there, I meet her.

Molly Reynolds. My stepsister. A girl who somehow manages to capture my soul in the space of a few moments. I know I can’t let her go, not even if her mother is up to no good, which I still suspect.

Keeping Molly by my side will require some scheming on my part, but that’s what I’m good at. I am Asher Score after all. I’m cold and calculated and always get my way in the end.

I make a deal with her of sorts, one that will keep her close. So close, in fact, that I get to know my stepsister in every way.

Dedication

“There are certain people who make the world a better place just by being in it. You are one of those people. I love you my friend.” — Healing Hugs

1

Molly

The buttery croissant melts in my mouth. It's no wonder I’ve put on some weight since we moved into the Score home. I’ve gone from grabbing a banana or having a bowl of cereal in the morning before school to having a full breakfast laid out for me each day. Well, it’s not only for me. It’s for my new stepfather and stepsister, along with my mom.

In the past six months, my whole world has changed. It’s still a bit jarring, to say the least. My bedroom is bigger than the apartment Mom and I called home before she went and fell in love with Tomas Score.

One of the richest men in the world. I learned that when I googled him. When Mom came home one day after her twelve-hour shift at the hospital gushing over some man she’d met at work, I’d wanted to dig into said man to make sure he wasn’t some loser who was trying to take advantage of her.

I thought it would be hard to track someone down online. I’d never done it before but with only entering his name into my Google search, article after article came up about the Score name. They are pretty much American royalty, which I didn’t know was a thing. Until now.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Mom enters the kitchen where breakfast is laid out on the giant island.

“Morning.” I flip the page on my statistics textbook.

I have a test later in the day. I hate statistics. I hate anything with numbers. My stepsister Emily can do math in her sleep. She’ll help me from time to time. It’s nice that we’re in the same grade. I return the favor by going over all her language arts and composition class papers. Emily and I are opposite in almost every way.

It’s a day-by-day thing for us to grow closer. At first it was super awkward, but all that tends to slip away when we’re helping each other with schoolwork. She hangs out with the super popular kids at Bradford Prep, and she’s on the cheerleading team. In the fall, she’d cheered for the football team, which apparently is a big deal, but now she cheers for the basketball team. It’s often that she hangs out with the people from those groups at school. She’s part of the popular clique, which has no appeal to me.

I stick more to myself, but this is my first and only year at Bradford. It sucked to start a new school my senior year, but I could see how happy my mom was. It wasn’t as though I was some social butterfly in my old school, either. I’ve always been more of the quiet and shy type.

“Have you given any thought to those acceptance letters?” Mom asks.

“Not really.” I shrug. Tomas and my mom had me apply to a handful of colleges. They wanted me to be able to have options.

I thought they were crazy with some of their suggestions, and that it was ridiculous for me to even try to get into the Ivy League schools. Yet I took their advice and applied anyway. I don’t know why I was shocked that I not only got accepted to all of them but was offered scholarships. It didn’t take me long to put together that it was probably due to Tomas.

Mom starts to poke more, but thankfully Emily enters the kitchen, drawing their attention to her.

“Morning!” she chirps with a bright smile on her face.

She is in her cheerleading uniform, so that means she’ll have a game tonight. I’m stuck in the standard white collared polo and dark blue and burgundy striped skirt. I wear sneakers with it. The other girls at school will wear freaking heels. The sounds of clicking fill the hallways throughout the day. They aren’t any old heels either; most of them cost more than a month's rent in our old apartment. But the kids that go to Bradford don’t have to worry about money. If they did, they wouldn’t even be at that school. Everyone knows the only reason I am is because of Tomas. I’ve heard that whispered in the halls a time or two. I’m the outsider who doesn’t fit or belong.

“Morning,” both my mom and I respond. Emily goes for her normal granola and yogurt. I’ve noticed that she can be a creature of habit. Almost obsessive at times when it comes to her routine. “You’re in a super extra good mood today.” Mom refills my freshly squeezed orange juice.

“Asher is coming home today.” I glance up from my book. I’ve never met my new stepbrother. There are pictures throughout the house and even at our school of him. You’d think he graduated a few years ago and not five. Wow, why do I know the exact number?

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, hasn’t it?” I don’t miss how my mom motions to tuck her hair behind her ear where it already is. She does that when she’s on edge about something.

“Forever. He never comes back to the States anymore.” She rolls her eyes. Emily mentions her brother often. They sound as if they were close at one point until he’d gone over to Asia to work at some new start-up company I guess they are investing in. I think he’s being groomed to take over for his father.

“You’ve only met him once, right?” Emily takes a bite of her yogurt, standing at the kitchen island.

“Yes, Tomas took me to meet him on one of his quick work trips.” I remember. They’d had a long weekend away together. Mom hadn’t said much about it. That probably should have been a clue. Mom and I are close, and we openly talk about most things. It’s only been the two of us for a long time. She actually hadn’t said anything about Asher when she got back, and now she’s doing the hair tuck thing. This can’t be good. There must be a reason she’s not telling me about him.

“I have a game after school, but I’ll come straight home when it’s over so I’m here for dinner.” Emily polishes off the rest of her yogurt before she drops the bowl into the sink. “See you at school.” She gives me a wave before she bounces out of the kitchen.

“You don’t like him.” I close my book and put it into my bag. I need to get going as well. I’ll ride to school with Emily when she doesn’t have after-school activities, but when she does, I’m given a driver. It’s weird. To me it is, at least. To Tomas it’s normal because there is always a driver on staff, so why would it be strange for anyone to use one? It’s just not a lifestyle I’m accustomed to, and I almost think it’s a waste.

I grew up in the city. I’d take the bus or even a train at times when I needed to get somewhere. I hadn’t learned to drive, but I have started practicing so I can take the test soon. I’ve already got my permit.

“I didn’t say that.” I give her a look that lets her know I’m not buying what she’s selling. “He was a bit cold with me, but it’s not surprising with Tomas's past.” Yeah, I’d heard that their mother was a nightmare. It was clear in the articles I’d read online too. “Plus, Tomas is twelve years older than me. So, I’m sure Asher thinks I’m in this for the wrong reasons. I really can’t blame him for being skeptical, but I just wish he would have given me a fair shot before casting judgment.” That tells me all I need to know. Asher thinks my mom is a gold-digger and that we are leeching off his dad.

My mom is thirty-eight. She had me when she was only twenty. Tomas is turning fifty next week. The gap doesn’t feel that big to me. Not when I see them together. If anything, I think the most jarring part out of all of this is that we come from two different worlds. Sometimes I think it’s more like two different planets.

“Well, I’m sure once Asher gets to know you, he’ll see you’re not a gold-digger.” My mom's nose scrunches at the word. She hates it. While she and Tomas might have been a whirlwind romance, she’d made him chase her for a minute thinking it could never work between them because of the lifestyle difference and age gap. But they are honestly in love. I’ve never seen my mom so happy. It’s why I keep a lot of my thoughts to myself.

“I hope that’s true.”

“He will, Mom. There is a reason you were named ‘Nurse of the Year’ at the hospital a handful of times.” She gives me a warm smile. “Just be yourself.”

“I love you.” She places a kiss on my cheek.

“I love you too.”

“Want me to drive you?” she asks as Tomas enters the kitchen.

“Morning,” we both say to each other as he makes a straight line toward my mom. I swear that man only sees her when he enters a room. No matter how many people are in it.

“No, enjoy your breakfast with your husband.”

“Have a good day at school,” Tomas tells me as I slip off my chair and sling my bag over my shoulder. He always goes out of his way to be nice to me. I know he means well, but it’s still a bit strange.

“Thanks.” I force a smile on my face to reassure them both that it’s all smooth sailing with me. My whole world has been turned upside down. Hasn’t it all been for the better? Guilt hits me that I’m not being more appreciative, but for some reason I can’t shake the feeling that I just don’t belong.

2

Asher

I rub my temples as the plane finally touches down. Between the jet lag and time change, I already have a headache. There is a private room with a bed, but for some reason I can never sleep on a flight. Instead, I’d gone over the financials for Encore. The whole reason I’ve been in Japan for the last six months.

Investing in Encore had been my call, and it was one that’s going to make billions. A new generation of electric cars will be hitting the market soon. They require less time to charge than any others that are currently available. I needed to know how everything worked because the next factory to be built will be here, and the plan is to make the factory run completely off solar power. Nothing creates energy like the sun, and it’s been far too unutilized. Not any longer.

I stand when the plane starts to slow on the runway, putting everything back into my bag. “Sir, do you need anything else?” the flight attendant asks. Normally I don’t have one on my flights, but this was a long one, and the pilots might need her for something.

“No,” I respond without glancing her way.

I know I’m being rude, but it’s easier to be off-putting. I’m fucking jaded, and I know it, but it’s better than dealing with any advances that could come my way. I’ve found if I act this way, it deters most. Not all—some women are more persistent than others—but I learned that even at a young age, watching them throw themselves at my father and then me before I was even out of high school.

Finally, the plane comes to a stop. The flight attendant opens the door as the pilots step out from the cockpit.

“I’ll be leaving after my father’s birthday party,” I inform them.

“I was told you’d be staying for—”

“You were misinformed.” I check my watch. “I’ll be leaving when the party ends. I won’t be staying longer than needed.”

“I’ll update the flights.” He nods in response before I descend the stairs wondering where the hell my car is. I had instructions for it to be waiting for me. A blacked-out SUV sits with the back open. Someone is already carrying my luggage over and putting it inside. I start to say something, but the driver's door swings open, and Chase steps out.

“Welcome back.” He gives me a cocky smile. One that has gotten him very far in life even when we were kids.

“I didn’t know you were back.” Chase travels excessively for his family's company, the Silverstein Group. They build some of the tallest buildings in the world.

“I wouldn’t miss your father’s birthday. Besides, I figured we had work to discuss.” He holds his hand out and knocks the sides of my fist. Fuck, I think it’s been a few years since I’ve seen him. We always keep in touch talking business, but we’ve both been busy doing what is expected of us. “You don’t look happy to be home.”

“My father got married.” I say what he already knows.

“So?” He shrugs. “It’s not some twenty-something girl. The woman was a nurse.”

“Was?” She already quit her job. Of course, she did. Why would she need to work? I know what she’s nursing now. My father’s wallet.

“Who gives a fuck if she is only about his money? If he’s getting what he wants, then she gets what she wants. It’s a fair trade, man.”

“You’re not wrong, but Dad isn’t in this for only sex. He’s in love with her. You should have seen him.” I shake my head, thinking back to the dinner I was forced to attend when my father showed up in Japan.

Okay, I wasn’t forced, but I wasn’t going to miss seeing my father if he was in town. It was clear the man was smitten with the woman. She’d been nice enough—pretty, too—but I could tell she was nervous. Why? Was she scared I’d see who she really was? Likely. My father has a type. Soul-sucking leeches.

My father and I tend to be a lot alike. Neither of us want to fail. It’s why he stuck with the marriage to my mother for so long. He kept trying to make it work when all the woman did was make all our lives hell. It had been me that finally got her to leave and never come back. I gave her enough money to never bother any of us again. My father could have done the same, but he kept thinking she’d change. People don’t change.

“He’s a grown man who can clean up his own messes, Ash.”

“Pretty sure I cleaned up the last mess.” Chase mutters something under his breath. He’d disliked my mother as much as I had. I wasn’t going to allow Emily to bear the same fate as I had with her.

Our mother always had a problem with Emily. Even as a baby, she was jealous of her own daughter. It was strange, but the woman is fucking psychotic. At least when I was growing up there were times where she showed some kind of love to me. With Emily, it was completely different. I think my father thought a second child would save their marriage, but it only made it worse.

“Get in. I’ll drop you off.” I climb into the SUV, slipping into the passenger seat. I hate not driving, and he knows it. It’s a control thing.

“It’s good to see you,” I say as he pulls out of the private airport.

“It’s strange, right? We text and email so much, but hell, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

I nod. “Wait, you came to Japan.”

“That’s right. The hell.” Chase shakes his head.

“It can all blur together, can't it?” I say in understanding.

“Yeah, it does.” He lets out a long sigh. I think all the travel is starting to get to him. “You know your father asked me to build a new property for him.”

“Property for what?”

“He wants to move out of the Score estate.”

“What?” The house has been in our family for generations.

“Shit, never mind.”

“Chase,” I warn. It’s too late now. I want to know what the hell is going on. The last time I talked to my father, he hadn’t mentioned any of this.

“Said he wants a clean slate.”

“So, his new wife wants her own mansion. Is that what I’m hearing?”

“Ash, don’t be an asshole. I’m sure that place doesn’t have the best memories. I wouldn’t want to fuck my new wife in the same place I’d had my old wife.”

“He doesn’t. He switched wings, and the house has been updated since she left.” It’s bullshit.

“Again, who gives a fuck? Let him build whatever the hell he wants.”

“It’s not about the money.” I glance out the window at the stone wall. The private airport is not far from our family home. We had it built so we had easy access to it. We’re already coming around the back side of the massive estate. The wall wraps around the entire property. There are a handful of smaller homes set across it. Some sit empty while others are taken up by staff.

“You’re right. It’s about your dad being happy for once in his life.”

“And how the fuck do you know how happy he is right now?” Chase ignores my question as we pull up to the front gate. He rolls down his window so the guard can ID us.

“Welcome home, Mr. Score.” He gives me a curt nod, entering the code to let the gates swing open.

If only it felt good to be home. That’s the last thing I feel as we pull up the long driveway, my headache starting to pound. I almost debate telling Chase to turn around and take me back to the airport, but I don’t. Not when I see my father standing outside the front door with a smile pasted on his face.

“Looks fucking happy to me,” Chase mutters.

He does, but we all know what is to come. I don’t think he ever truly loved our mother, but he tried. I’ll give him that. This woman, however, I think he might. She could very well ruin him. I won’t stand for that. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

3

Molly

“Hey, Molly,” someone calls in a hushed whisper.

I glance up from my computer to see West headed toward me. Stupidly, I look behind me like there might be another Molly around here. I didn’t know West even knew my name, let alone why he’s saying hey to me. He runs in the same circle as Emily. He was on the football team, if I recall. We had one class together last semester. Never once did we say one word to each other.

I’ve seen firsthand how girls fall all over him. A lot of them he doesn’t give the time of day to. He can be a bit of a jerk about it to some of them. I don’t understand the appeal. Sure, he’s good-looking, but what they see beyond that is a mystery to me.

“Yeah?” He comes to stand beside the table I’ve taken over in the library. I always come here for lunch. The cafeteria is intimidating here. I peeked in one time and thought, Nope.

“You’re hard to track down.”

“I am?” Why is he tracking me down? He’s never uttered a word to me and now he’s going out of his way to find me. Something doesn’t add up here.

“Yeah.” He chuckles. “Did Emily tell you about the party this Friday night? My parents are out of town, so this might be our end of the year blow-out.” There are still a few more weeks of school left.

“She didn’t mention it.” I think Emily would know I wouldn’t want to go. I’m really not the party type.

“Well, you’re invited if you want to come.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, dropping it down on my laptop. “I put my number on there too.” He winks before strolling back away. What the hell just happened?

The Story Continues on BooksBarbecue!

Enjoyed this preview? ❤️ Do not stop here!

Read the complete book free online → 🔗

Continue reading now on BooksBarbecue and discover every page!

Love reading? Bookmark BooksBarbecue.com for more amazing books!

Happy Reading!