The Outcast Is Actually The Boss

The town I grew up in had the best water, the freshest air, and the most jagged mountain views you could imagine. The only problem was the people.

In my village, conflict resolution was a fancy term for a fistfight. Logic was a luxury; power was the only currency. If you had a problem, you threw hands until the problem went away. By eighteen, I wasn't just a participantI was the undisputed heavy-weight champion of a town full of brawlers.

The day my final exams ended, I had a score to settle with the local heartthrob behind the old creek. I was just about to teach him a lesson when my old mans roar echoed across the valley, summoning me home. He told me my biological parents had finally found me.

When the wealthy couple saw medecked out in my dirt-stained boots, smelling of adrenaline and mountain airthey looked like theyd swallowed glass. They promised to take me back to their mansion, to give me the "life I deserved."

But it was a lie. From the very beginning, they didn't want a daughter. They wanted a sacrificial lamb.

Too bad for them. Im not a lamb. Im a wolf.

The second I stepped into the foyer of the Montgomery estate, the sound of sobbing hit me like a physical wall.

I paused, looking at the man I was supposed to call my fatherHarrison Montgomery. He adjusted his silk tie, his eyes avoiding mine.

"Don't tell me," I said, my voice dry. "Theres a 'replacement daughter' already in the picture, isn't there?"

As if on cue, the sobbing in the living room escalated into a full-blown wail. Harrisons face tightened with a flicker of embarrassment.

"When you were lost, your mother... she couldn't handle the grief. Thats why we adopted Serena. She isnt a 'replacement.' Shes been our daughter for eighteen years. Shes the one who stayed. You should be grateful to her."

My biological mother, Victoria, emerged then. She had been clutching a weeping girl in her arms, but she pulled away to stand in front of me. Her eyes were red, but they held no warmth for me.

"This is your sister, Serena," she said, her voice trembling. "Serena was supposed to be your name, you know. But shes lived with it for so long that changing it now would be... inconvenient. From now on, your name will be June."

I let my gaze drift over the three of them. The "loving" father, the "heartbroken" mother, and the "fragile" daughter. They looked like a portrait of a perfect family. I was just the smudge on the canvas.

I took a step back, creating a deliberate gap between us.

"Why would I change my name?" I asked. "I already have one. You can call me The Boss."

Harrisons forced smile vanished. His brow furrowed into a deep, jagged line. "What kind of ridiculous, low-class name is that? Weve already updated your paperwork. You are June Montgomery."

Before I could retort, Serena was suddenly at my side, her fingers trembling as she reached for my sleeve.

"Is... is June mad at me for taking her name?" she whimpered. "Im so sorry. I didnt mean to. If you hate the name June that much, I can give it back. Ill do anything, I"

She broke off into another sob, tears fat and heavy rolling down her cheeks. I pulled my arm away, feeling a surge of genuine disgust.

"Let me get this straight," I said. "Youll give me the name back, but youre keeping the parents?"

I turned back to Harrison and Victoria. "You brought me back here. Are you planning on sending her away?"

Serena stumbled back as if Id struck her. Victoria immediately rushed to steady her, throwing me a look of pure vitriol.

"Youve been in this house for five minutes and youre already trying to kick her out? Did you hear a word your father said? If it weren't for Serena, we wouldn't have survived these eighteen years. You should be thanking her, but instead, youre being a bully. I am deeply disappointed in you."

Harrison shot her a sharp look, a silent command to stop. I pretended not to see the exchange and started wandering through the living room, appraising the place like a landlord.

"Fine. As long as she stays out of my way, Ill let her keep her seat at the table," I said. "Nice place youve got here. Five thousand square feet? You guys must have been busy making money while I was gone. Its better than the mountains, I guess. So, wheres my room?"

Victoria looked ready to explode, but Harrison cut her off.

"June, your room is on the second floor. We had the staff prepare it specifically for you. Im sure youll love it. But listen, since youve been living in... less than ideal conditions, were worried about your health. Your mother is going to take you to the clinic tomorrow for a full physical. We just want to make sure youre okay."

"June" he started again.

I held up a finger, silencing him. His face went pale with the perceived insult. I smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes.

"The clinic is fine. But with all this 'June' and 'Serena' stuff, things are going to get confusing. I told you what to call me."

"The Boss."

Harrisons face turned the color of spoiled milk.

But because Id agreed to the medical exam, he swallowed his pride and hurried Victoria to get me out the door the next morning. The "physical" was exhaustive. They ran every test in the book, taking enough blood to fuel a small army. By the time we got home, I was drained. I collapsed into bed and fell into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night, my throat parched. As I crept downstairs for water, I passed the study on the second floor. The door was ajar, and the muffled voices of the Montgomerys drifted out.

"Is it handled?" Victorias voice was sharp, devoid of the maternal softness she feigned in public. "No loose ends?"

"What could go wrong?" Harrison replied, his tone dismissive. "Shes an eighteen-year-old girl from the middle of nowhere. No matter how sharp her tongue is, she has no idea whats happening. Ive already established the medical records in her name. As far as the world is concerned, it was June who had the procedure. Serenas reputation remains spotless."

I heard the rhythmic tapping of a pen against a mahogany desk.

"Good," Harrison continued. "The only reason to bring that girl here was to have her take the fall for Serena. And if the other matter comes to light... well, well just send the mountain girl to prison. Serena is our jewel; I won't have her life ruined by one mistake."

I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a smirk. I turned and walked silently down to the kitchen.

They thought I was just a "mountain girl." They thought they could play me because I was young.

This was going to be fun.

The next morning, the house was quiet. Harrison and Victoria were out, leaving Serena in the living room with a guy who looked like hed stepped out of a Ralph Lauren catalog.

As I came down the stairs, I caught the tail end of their conversation.

"Serena, have you decided on a college yet? Do you think your scores are high enough for the Ivy League?" the guy asked. "Honestly, it doesn't matter. My dad said we could just go abroad together. Italy, maybe? What do you think?"

Serena looked down, playing the part of the modest debutante. "If we go abroad together, what will people say? Besides, I think I did okay. I should be around a 1200 on my SATs."

I was sipping a glass of milk, and at that, I couldn't help it. I snorted.

Id heard from the housekeeper that these two had spent a fortune on Serenas education over the last eighteen years. Private tutors, elite prep schools, equestrian camps, golf lessonsthe works. And she was proud of a 1200?

The guy stood up, his face flushing with anger. "You must be the sister. Do you even know what the word 'respect' means? Serena and I are having a private conversation. Whats so funny?"

I set my milk down and looked him over. He was handsome in that boring, cookie-cutter way.

"Oh, youre big on respect, are you?" I asked. "Did your parents forget to teach you to introduce yourself before demanding things from people?"

Serena rose gracefully, her hand fluttering to the guys sleeve. "Parker, please. Im sure she didn't mean it that way. Don't let it bother you." She turned to me, her smile a masterpiece of fake sweetness. "June, this is Parker. His father is a close associate of Dads. Parker and I grew up together."

The childhood sweetheart. Of course. It was practically a clich. I nodded, bored already.

But Serena wasn't done. "June, Mom and Dad mentioned you took your finals this year too. Have you checked your results? How do you think you did? I know the schools out in the country aren't... great. If the results are bad, don't worry. You can always redo the year."

I leaned back against the counter, casual. "I did alright. Probably around a 1590 on the SATs. Might even be the top of the state."

The silence that followed was absolute. You could have heard a pin drop on the marble floor.

Serena managed a tight, brittle laugh. "You... you certainly have a sense of humor."

Parker just laughed openly. "A 1590? Do you even know what you're saying? Youre delusional. What, did you dream that while you were milking cows?"

Victoria chose that moment to come downstairs, draped in a cashmere shawl. "I told you shes been corrupted by that life. Lying through her teeth the moment she opens her mouth. Its embarrassing. Why cant you learn from your sister? This is how a lady behaves."

I looked at Victoria. The disdain in her eyes was no longer hidden. I smiled inwardly. It was only my second day back, and they were already done pretending. Now that the medical records were swapped, they figured I was no longer a threat.

I walked past Victoria, heading back upstairs.

"To be a lady of the house, you actually have to be a daughter of the house, don't you?" I said over my shoulder. "Ive never heard of an orphan from a dumpster being called a 'lady.' As for my scores... the official results come out in a week. Well see whos lying then, won't we?"

For the next week, Parker was a permanent fixture at the Montgomery house. He and Serena took every opportunity to needle me, and Victoria was always there to back them up.

But they didn't realize who they were dealing with. I wasn't just a brawler; I had a tongue like a razor. Every time they tried to corner me, they ended up leaving the room frustrated and red-faced. They were the perfect entertainment for a boring week.

On the day the results were released, the whole family was gathered. Even Harrison stayed home from the office.

When the clock struck the hour, Harrison reached for the laptop to check Serenas scores, but Serena caught his hand.

"Dad, check Junes first," she said, her eyes gleaming with a malice she couldn't quite hide. "If she really got a 1590, we should celebrate her success, shouldn't we?"

I didn't argue. I pulled out my phone, logged into the portal, and typed in my ID. A second later, I turned the screen toward them.

Reading: 790. Math: 800. Total: 1590.

The living room went silent. They stared at the screen as if it were a bomb about to go off.

I pulled the phone back with a sigh of mock disappointment. "A 1590? I guess Im getting rusty. I really thought Id hit the 1600. Lucky guess on the estimate, I suppose."

I looked at them. "Whats wrong? You look like youve seen a ghost. I thought we were celebrating?"

Serenas "fragile" act finally cracked. She let out a sharp, ugly shriek. "Thats impossible!" She lunged forward and snatched the phone from my hand. "You forged this! Youre a hillbilly from a town that probably doesn't even have electricity! How could you possibly get this score?"

Victoria rushed to her side, pulling her into a protective embrace. "Its okay, Serena. Its fake. It has to be fake. Don't get upset." She looked at me, her face contorted with rage. "I did my research. That village youre from? Its a dead end. They don't even have a proper high school. Youve never stepped foot in a real classroom. Youre a fraud."

Harrison finally found his voice. "June, its alright. We don't expect you to be a genius, but we won't tolerate liars in this house. Youre our flesh and blood; we wouldn't have looked down on you for being uneducated. Why did you feel the need to invent this?"

"Look at how much youve upset your sister," Harrison continued. "Apologize to her, right now."

Before he could finish, his phone rang. He glanced at the ID and froze.

"Its... its the Dean of Admissions from Harvard?"

At the same moment, Victorias phone buzzed.

"Stanford?" she whispered, staring at the screen. "Theyre asking for... The Boss?"

The four of them stood there, staring at each other in a daze.

I broke the silence. "Nothing to say? I thought I hadn't been to school? Did I hire the Ivy League to act in a play for you guys? And I thought you said you loved me regardless of my education? Why don't you look happy for me?"

It was true that I didn't go to the local county school. But my "uncles" and "aunts" back in the village were some of the most brilliant, albeit eccentric, minds in the country who had retired from the grid. If I didn't study, Uncle Silas would chase me across three hills with a switch.

If Silas found out I missed a perfect 1600, hed probably still give me a lecture.

Serenas eyes were filled with a loathing so deep it looked like venom. Harrison was the first to snap out of it.

"Happy? Of course, were happy! We had no idea you were so... talented."

I turned to Serena. "Well, little sister. My turn is over. Lets see yours."

Serena hissed at me, tears of frustration welling up, and bolted from the room. Parker pointed a trembling finger at me, sputtered for a few seconds, and then chased after her.

I turned back to the "parents." Victoria was glaring at me, speechless. Harrison cleared his throat, putting a hand on his wifes shoulder and steering her toward the stairs.

"Right. Your mother and I need to go to the study. We have calls to make. This is... big news."

I waved them off, smiling. Ten minutes after they went upstairs, I crept up and stood outside the study door.

Victoria was nearly hysterical. "You have to fix this! A score like that, a school like thatit belongs to Serena. We can't let that brat have it. Look at Serena! Shes been crying since the moment that girl arrived. Doesn't that break your heart?"

Harrison sounded conflicted. "But shes our biological daughter. Serena... as much as we love her, she isn't. If the girl were just some country bumpkin, fine. But shes smart. She could be an asset to the Montgomery name"

The sound of shattering porcelain cut him off.

"Stop acting like a devoted father!" Victoria screamed. "Have you forgotten who has been by our side for eighteen years? Blood means nothing! If anything happens to Serena, youll regret it. And that other matter... its only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Do you really want Serena to be the one they take away?"

There was a long, heavy silence. Finally, Harrison spoke.

"I know. Ill handle it."

The next morning, the house was empty except for Parker, who was sitting on the sofa. The moment he saw me, he stood up.

"Don't think youre special, June. You think a high score makes you better than us? Typical. You people from the mud think a little book-learning makes you king of the world. But so what? You get a degree, you get a job... so what? Youll spend your whole life working just to reach the starting line where people like us begin."

"The Montgomerys will only ever recognize Serena. My family will only ever recognize Serena. Youre nothing."

I picked at my ear, looking bored. "Stop, stop. Did I mention my name isn't June? It's The Boss."

Parker blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer absurdity of it. I laughed at his confusion.

"Oh, I get it. Youre here because youre afraid Im going to steal Serenas 'prize'which is you, I assume? Sorry, honey. You should visit my village sometime. Even our local farmhands have more personality than you. To me, youre just a generic Ken doll with a bad attitude."

Parkers face twisted. "Keep telling yourself that. Youre the outcast here. Even if you are their biological child, youre just a country girl with the right DNA. Nobody in our circle will ever accept you. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last woman on Earth."

I held up a hand. "Shut up. Seriously. I might actually throw up. Parker, let me tell you something. Not only do I not want the Montgomerys, but your family is nothing to me either."

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Pop? Someones bothering me."

"Can you send him to East Africa? Permanently?"

On the other end, Pops voice was as loud and boisterous as ever. "Sure thing, kiddo! I'll get Butch on it right away!"

Then, his voice softened. "If you're not having fun there, just come home. Ive got enough tucked away to keep you in silk and steak for three lifetimes. But if you want the city life, Ive got you covered there too. Houses, cars, a couple of tech firmsIve had them ready for you since you were ten!"