Step-By-Step(64)

"I'm fine. We're fine."

His father rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Come to think about it. She's been acting odd as well. I don't think she's been on a date since you two came back." Frank chuckled. "Can you imagine, Ramona not going out to her little parties or dating?" He hit Darrien with a suspicious stare. "Makes me think there might be something going on with you two."

Darrien's face blanched. "I'm not sure what you're getting at." Darrien shifted uncomfortably in his chair and gave a nervous chuckle. His father was one of the most perceptive men he knew, especially when it came to family. He was slightly surprised that his father had taken so long to approach him about his relationship with Ramona.

His father clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and stood. "What I'm getting at is this. If you two didn't actually sort things out between you while at the cabin and you're only playing nice with one another so you can get your trust funds then know this... I'll find out, whatever it is that you two are up to and if it's not to my liking you won't be seeing a penny of that money, are we clear?"

Fuck, if he only knew just how well we get along now, he mused ruefully. "Crystal, Sir, I assure you that isn't the case. We get along fine now and we're not up to anything. It's just all been sorted out."

"Good." He gave Darrien a quick, fatherly pat on the back, before walking towards the door. At the door he stopped and turned back to Darrien. "Oh and do me a favour and pack it up for the night. And also, if you see your sister, tell her to check in with her mother. She hasn't been home since yesterday afternoon and isn't answering her mobile."

"Stepsister," Darrien grumbled as his father disappeared out of the office door.



****



Having had enough of waiting around for Darrien to come home, Ramona decided to drop by the office and as suspected, his Black Escalade was parked in the VIP parking outside of the twelve story building with their father's Porsche beside it. Slipping her BMW into a slot next Darrien's she shut it off and stepped out.

Slamming the door behind her, she took a moment to reconsider going in. Perhaps Darrien and their father were working late finishing up some big project. She was about to get back into the car when their father came out of the building and immediately spotted her.

"Where have you been? Your mother said you weren't answering your mobile and you never came home last night." He glowered at her as he approached. "Let me guess you were at some wild party, you got drunk and then passed out. Am I close?"

Ramona bit at her lower lip and shrugged. "Something like that."

Her father eyed her up and down. "Why are you here anyhow?"

"Ummm."

"She called me and offered to accompany me to a late dinner."

Relief flooded over Ramona at the sound of Darrien's voice. Looking over her shoulder she noticed him exiting the building and walking towards them.

Their father looked from one face to the other as Darrien made it to Ramona's side. "You two? Going to dinner... together?"

Darrien shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "As I said, dad - we've set aside our differences." He gave her a slight hip bump. "Right, Sis?"

Rolling with it Ramona nodded, bumping him back, but with a little added force. "Right, big brother."

Their father was silent for a moment considering their words and eyeing them intently. Finally, he nodded and a rare smile pulled at the corners of his lips. "Good. It shows a great amount of maturity on both your parts. In that case, have a good late dinner you two."

Ramona and Darrien stood side-by-side and watched as their father slipped into his car and sped off. When he was finally out of sight Ramona spun around to face Darrien planting her tiny fists on her hips and glaring at him. She'd thought it over for the majority of the day and she was determined that they were going to have a serious conversation about what was going on between them and that conversation was going to take place now! "I think we need to have a little chat."

Darrien sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Ramona…"

"Why won't you admit how you really feel about me Darrien?" Ramona demanded, poking her index finger into his chest.

"Please Ramona. Not here. Not now." He made an attempt to brush past her, but she blocked his path.

"No, it will be now and it will be here." She tried to maintain her cool, but the frustration she was feeling was at its boiling point.

Darrien's dark eyes narrowed as he looked down at her and his voice took on an icy edge. "You wanted me to fuck you last night. And I hadn't gotten laid since the cabin, so I fucked you. End of story."