Page 21 of Obsessed with the Man of the House

She pauses for a moment, looking at me.

“Are you okay with it?”

I shrug.

“I guess. There isn’t much we can do. Renata and I have been divorced for years now, and if my ex-wife wants to be a porn star, then go with grace. It’s not whatIwould want, but she’s free to do as she likes.”

Vanessa pauses for a moment, looking down at her hands, and I know what she’s thinking. After all, my stepdaughterisa porn star, she just hasn’t told me yet. But perhaps now is the time.

“Is there something you’d like to add?” I ask in a deceptively neutral voice. Vanessa raises her head immediately, those big brown eyes shuttered.

“What do you mean?”

I pin her with a meaningful look and go for it. After all, Vanessa can’t keep her secret life hidden forever. It’s got to come out at some point, and now’s as good a time as any.

“I mean that I stopped by your work today,” I say in a calm voice. “I went into the building, but you weren’t in your office.”

Vanessa goes as pale as a sheet.

“I wasn’t?” she asks in a weak voice. “Maybe I stepped out for a cup of coffee. You know I’m addicted to caffeine. I’ve been mainlining that stuff since I was seventeen.”

I shake my head, my blue eyes sharp.

“No, you didn’t step out for coffee, sweetheart. I heard sounds, and when I followed them, guess what I saw?”

Vanessa’s bottom lip is trembling now.

“What?”

I look directly into her gaze.

“I saw you filming a video. A dirty video, actually. One where you were bouncing your tits, caressing your pussy, and fucking your ass with your fingers while an on-line audience watched. From what I witnessed, it sounded like you were getting paid well to perform, too.”

Vanessa’s lips part as her cheeks drain of all color, but then they silently close without a word.

“Let me guess,” I continue in a slow tone. “The real estate job is a farce, isn’t it? It’s a fake front for what youreallydo, which is on-line porn. Let me guess: you even have a channel on OnlyYou, where your mom performs too.”

At that, Vanessa shakes her head wildly.

“No, I’mnoton OnlyYou,” she retorts. “Although it’s none of your business, Gray.”

I stare at her, my black brows up by my forehead.

“None of my business? You live under my roof, so I don’t see how you can say that.”

“I’ll move out then,” she snaps immediately, her fire returning. “And yes, I make tons of money by producing sexy videos for my audience. The men love it, and last year I grossed almost seven figures.”

I stare at her.

“So let me ask you this: the four hundred thousand that you lent me. Was that from camming, or was it from your real estate work?”

Vanessa looks down at her hands again, her cheeks bright red.

“From camming,” she says in a quiet voice. “I’m on-line as Nessie Prince, and I have almost a million followers. Not all of them watch all my videos, but there’s a very loyal contingent that tunes in almost every time I put on a live show. So yes, it’s these men who are supporting Thomas Builders, Gray.Yourcompany. Before you say another word criticizing me, just let that fact sink in.”

I pause, trying to breathe. I have to admit that I’m not happy at this development. I don’t want my beautiful stepdaughter sharing her curvy assets with other men because they belong tome. Even more, the long-term consequences of her profession are far-flung, with ramifications that will echo for life.

But Vanessa reads my mind.

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