Page 3 of Obsessed with the Man of the House

I spin around, and Gray’s come up behind me. His features are drawn and harsh, and his broad shoulders tense.

“Daddy, I can explain,” I begin.

“You better,” he rasps as those black brows draw down. “Otherwise, my business is going down the drain and it’ll be your fault, Vanessa. Now start talking.”

2

Gray

What the hell does Vanessa think she’s doing? My stepdaughter has always been a sassy one, but I had no idea she was so aggressive. It’s a whole new side that I’ve never witnessed.

But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because Vanessa gets things done. She’s always been very capable. When Renata and Vanessa moved in with me after the marriage, the young girl got to work immediately. She literally took over management of the household, including hiring new cleaners and a new landscaping guy too. She also hired a new pool boy, although that became the seed that destroyed my marriage to her mother because as soon as Renata saw the young buck, she lost her senses. My ex-wife started crushing on the young man who’d appear shirtless in the backyard every week, and before I knew it, Renata left me to take up with him.

But it didn’t bother me much because by then, I was aware of Vanessa. The brat is nothing like her mother. Whereas Renata was lazy as fuck, Vanessa has always been industrious. Whereas Renata liked to lie by the pool, amorously staring at her lover, Vanessa was meeting friends, studying, and even getting elected president of the student body. Plus, after graduating from high school, the brat took a real estate licensing exam and passed on the first try. Then, Vanessa got into real estate, and built a thriving business. Just how successful, I clearly had no idea.

After all, I’m stunned by this turn of events. How the fuck does my stepdaughter have three hundred thousand dollars to invest in Thomas Builders? As she closes the door, I pin her with a hard glare.

“Do you have the money?” I bark. “Or was that all just for show?”

The sassy brunette rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips.

“I have the money, Gray. You don’t have to yell because I’m standing right here.”

I pin her with another look.

“Really? You’re not just pulling my leg? Business has been that good?”

The pretty girl shrugs, a smirk playing on those rose-colored lips.

“Yes!” she says. “I’m a very successful real estate agent, Gray. You don’t have to worry. The cash is in my bank account and I can transfer it to you now, if you want.”

I stare at Vanessa, a thousand thoughts running through my mind at once. First, I notice that she’s extraordinarily beautiful. I’ve been so busy running my business the past two years, that I’ve hardly been home. As a result, I didn’t notice that my stepdaughter’s gotten even curvier, with a big bust, a small waist, and a generous behind. She’s wearing a white blouse tucked into a red and black plaid skirt, as well as black tights and cute red shoes. All in all, Vanessa looks sexy yet professional at once, and I like it.

But then I stop myself. I used to be married to this girl’s mother, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t be lusting after Renata’s daughter! Yet as a red-blooded male, I can’t help but notice. My stepdaughter’s features are delicate, retaining the innocence of a child mixed with the glow and maturity of a young woman. She’s lush, sassy, and altogether too beautiful. Clearly, she’s a young woman with assets she knows how to use, and I frown.

“Where did you get all this money?” I rasp.

She shrugs lightly.

“Like I said, from my real estate business. I earn commissions on purchases and sales, and on my last few transactions, I’ve been the agent for both the buyerandthe seller. That means I get double commission.”

Still, I had no idea that Vanessa was this successful.

“But three hundred thousand?” I ask in a slow voice. “That’s not exactly chump change. That’s a lot of transactions, and a lot of clients.”

“It is,” Vanessa says in a slightly smug voice. “But business has been good. I mean, it took some time to build, but now I’m really seeing the spoils. Things have caught fire in the last six months or so, and now, I’m a highly sought-after broker. In fact, I’mthebroker for the Hartsville elite, Gray.”

I stare at the young girl. Heck, she’s not a girl anymore. Clearly, Vanessa’s a full-grown woman who’s leveraged her intelligence and street smarts into a lucrative career. Or maybe Ishouldhave expected it because the curvy girl’s always been resourceful and self-motivated.

Remember, Vanessa was Hartsville High’s valedictorian and student body president, the voice in my head reminds me.This isn’t coming out of nowhere. That’s true because I remember how gorgeous she looked at graduation with her valedictorian’s medal hanging about her neck. It was a shame that Renata didn’t attend.

I shake my head at the memory because I still can’t believe that Renata was a no-show. I arrived for the ceremony, expecting to meet up with my ex in the back of the auditorium. But I couldn’t find the damned woman, and gave up after about ten minutes. If that woman was going to be late for her daughter’s graduation, then that was her problem.

As a result, I took a seat in the audience, and soon the lights dimmed and the ceremony began. Sure enough, there was Vanessa striding across the stage, beaming in her dark purple cap and gown. As valedictorian, she gave a wonderful speech that was both uplifting and inspiring, without falling into the usual old cliches of “follow your dreams” and “find your passion.” Instead, her speech was original and thoughtful, and I’m proud to say that I helped her write it.

But after the speech, my stepdaughter’s pretty features fell when she saw that I was alone.

“Congratulations,” I growled, depositing a big bouquet in her arms. “You were great, and your speech was magnificent. I was on the edge of my seat, every word.”

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