Christmas Secrets and the Brothers' Bet

Scatlett's POV

Can my life get any more complicated? I remember gazing at the unknown number calling me. My throat went dry, anticipating the divorce lawyer to deliver good news.

Instead, it was my assistant manager, who dialled me to come down to the meeting. My heart swelled with emotions.

Will I be getting the much-awaited promotion!?

I quickly ran down with my files and presentation.

And then, no news was more devastating than being delivered a low-cut, square into the jaw with the words pronounced by your boss:

"Despite your hard work, Scarlett, Serena deserves the title more. You can continue working as a four-star tour guide. Keep up the good work."

My world was shattered. My hands went cold and numb.

Why? Why couldn't I - the perfect candidate with 120+ five-star ratings from customers - be given the title? It was the best promotional opportunity in the industry!

The whole block agreed that I should've been the FIVE STAR TOUR GUIDE, not Serena. She didn't even boast a success score as good as mine!

"Sir. Can I please, please know why?" I asked with tears threatening to dampen my shirt. This promotion meant everything to me. Everything depended on it. Financial, personal, and many more things that were ready for a restart. Mostly, it was my personal life in shambles that I wanted to fix with this promotion.

"You know the reason, Mrs Thorne. Don't make me say it. You're starting to look a little...desperate." The manager laughed in my face. I swallowed my pride for the sake of promotion.

"You have to tell me, sir. I have a right to know. I'm not leaving until the reason is disclosed." My firm words silenced the atmosphere. I was firm and adamant for a reason.

Divorcing my husband was a hassle. Raphael Thorne, my ex-husband, was making the process difficult. Claiming custody over a girl child with my current salary level was close to impossible.

Raphael was everything a woman could ask for. Successful, funny, witty and mostly, a very caring husband. However, things took a wild turn when we went to my company party. He stayed at the building while I went back home to care for our daughter.

He didn't come back for three days.

That was precisely when his attitude took a lopsided shift. He became aggressive and argued over every little thing, and his relationship with our daughter was beginning to strain as well. We mostly argued over why he was late to home every day. And someone else in my company always went home earlier than check-out time.

"Sir. Can't you hear me? I said I needed to—"

The manager was walking away, ignoring my request. I felt a surge of indescribable anger and the tone lapsed with words flew out.

"So that's it?" I looked down and asked, shaking with so many emotions eating me away.

"Excuse you?" The old man turned around with an attitude.

"Someone inferior to me gets the Five Star Tour Guide title and I don't? You know you'll face great losses if I quit right now. The clients love me." I threatened the manager. I knew I was a great asset to the company. What could I have done? I was desperate beyond belief. I needed that promotion!

The old man walked up to my face. His rotting minty breath fanned over me, "You're most welcome to quit."

He glared down at me. Didn't it matter that I was a good tour guide who reeled in clients like a fisherman? Then I realized after the cloud of anger started disappearing.

The company I work under is the best tour guide facilitator in the industry. Languish Travel.Co had no problem if one or two employees quit. And they definitely didn't have a problem if I quit. I was growing rebellious, according to them.

Serena Devereaux, my work rival shot me a mocking glance as she passed by. She reached to hug the bloated goat - our manager.

I stared at their intimacy, disgust overflowing from my system.

"Oh, thank you so much, boss! You're the best boss I could ever ask for! I'll give you a special treat at my special house party tonight. Just. For. You." Serena bit her luscious lower lip and pat the manager's fat waist.

"Oh-ho-ho! Early Christmas celebrations already?" The bloated goat hummed and 'subtly' brushed his hand across her ass.

Can I get a bucket? I'm about to throw up.

Having had enough, I breezed into the restroom to vent.

"Argh!!" My scream could've awakened the dead. But I screamed underwater in the overflowing sink. I made a tearful mess for the janitors to clean.

I've spent countless hours perfecting my art to be the Perfect Five Star Tour Guide. What did I get slapped with instead? A reality check of how this corrupted industry works.

For a week straight, I poured all my energy into perfecting my presentation of client feedback, going through hundreds of clientele records. Each of them made me feel confident as hell.

But what did I get in the end? Nothing. While Serena's crappy presentation, which barely showed any good reviews from married women, was awarded best presentation. She was awarded!

I gasped when I walked out of the big restroom. In the common sink was Serena, reapplying lipstick, which was smudged.

I hope she didn't hear my scream of desperation. After all, I'm a mother who lost her sole ticket of leveraging the custody battle for my baby girl Aria.

Serena looked at my reflection, our communication happening through the mirror. I noticed her necklace. Oddly enough, I had the same necklace made in silver while hers shined in gold.

Serena moved her lips and that's when I noticed she was speaking. With me.

"Hard work doesn't pay off, does it? You didn't get the promotion. Oh, and by the way, you couldn't even hold onto your husband. Pity."

She made a horrendous sad smile face which would make even the happiest child on earth cry. I let out a shaky breath. The world knew already that Serena Devereaux was a personification of the word - BITCH. She must be the Goddess of bitches.

But I couldn't get past one thing.

I slowly turned to the woman and narrowed my eyes,

"I...didn't tell anyone about my marital situation with Raphael. How did you know?"