Step by Step Love: The Complete Collection (9 page)

Ryan sat in his office, his face buried in his hands. He rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath, waiting for the world upon his shoulders to finally fall and crush him in entirety. He heard a knock at the door and rolled his eyes. The only hope that he had was that it was not another employee resigning or public relations representative coming to scold him. He did not even have the energy to answer the door, but the knocking seemed ceaseless.

“I'm busy!” he shouted in an annoyed tone.

“It's me,” a sweet whisper replied.

His ears perked up to the sound of Veronica's voice, but he was still nervous about telling her everything that had happened. Sending her home for the day seemed like a good option, but they had rode together that morning and he knew he needed to save money, so cab fare was not an option. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

“Come in!”

The doorknob turned and his beautiful, blonde stepsister walked into the office. Her face was tear-stained and her black makeup was running down her face. He frowned and stood to caress her. She clung to him, sobbing, and he cooed her, rubbing her back. The entire office had already been ridiculing her for quite some time. Their scandal had surely fueled the office gossip aimed at her.

“I-I don't think I can w-work here, a-anymore,” she cried, wiping her tears on his tie.

He tried to ignore the fact that she had just stained a five-hundred dollar tie with black mascara and kissed her forehead.

“What did they say to you?” he asked, stroking her hair.

“Marge called me a slut. Carla called me a
puta
, whatever that is,” she croaked.

“
Puta
also means slut,” he murmured.

She scowled.

“Sorry,” he apologized. He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head before adding, “My dad doesn't know yet, at least. That's good news, right?”

Veronica gave him a blank stare.

“They want us to go to dinner with them tonight, him and your mom,” he continued.

“They're going to find out,” Veronica muttered. “You have to know they're going to find out.”

Ryan pursed his lips and nodded.

“I know,” he replied, softly.

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Veronica knew that Ryan was not telling her everything that was going on regarding the scandal. She knew that there was something that he was hiding from her.

“What are you hiding?” she asked.

Ryan furrowed his brow, giving her his best poker face.

“What do you mean?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“There's something you aren't telling me,” she pressed. “What is it? What the hell else could possibly be wrong?”

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, waiting for a response. Ryan took a deep breath and sat down at his desk once more, rubbing his temples. Veronica frowned and slowly walked towards him. She seated herself on the edge of his desk and gave him a skeptical look, waiting for further bad news.

“The investors weren't happy, Veronica,” he whispered. “They're selling their stocks before this gets out. All of them. Every single goddamn last one of them.”

Veronica frowned.

“Surely there are other investors? Maybe not big ones, but you
must
have other investors?” she asked in a panic. “Is the company going to go under? Are we going to be poor?”

Ryan gave her a dark look. He was already stressed and she was not making the situation any better with all of her questions.

“I don't know, Veronica,” he muttered, “but you certainly aren't helping by acting like this is all my fault. I should have known there were cameras in here, sure, but you shouldn't have been trying to screw me in the workplace!”

Anger was evident in Veronica's expression.

“How
dare
you!” she shrieked. “How
dare
you pin this on
me?
I have been working day in and day out to make sure your stupid business keeps running and you're out nailing my mom like there's no tomorrow!”

Ryan scowled.

“You're going to throw
that
in my face? That was weeks ago, Veronica!” he shouted. “You never should have worked here in the first place! You belong at home with your mom and my dad, eating potato chips and moping like the hopeless wench you are!”

Veronica's face fell. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Well if that's how you feel, I'll be going home to pack my things,” she replied, quietly. “I'll see you at our parents' when you come over for dinner.”

With those words, she turned on her heel and walked out of his office door. She slammed it behind her and Ryan immediately regretted what he had said. He stood and kicked his desk before running towards the door and opening it. He was met with several knowing stares from staff members, but he did not care anymore. His eyes averted to Veronica's desk, but she had left without collecting her things. Terrified of losing her, he ran towards the elevator.

“Veronica!” he called.

She stepped onto the elevator with a lanky man and quickly pressed the button to her floor as Ryan darted towards them. The lanky man leaned forward to hold the elevator for him, but Veronica slapped his hand away from the doors, glaring at him. The doors began to close. He gave her a questioning look, but then he saw who she was.

“Whoa, y-you're—and h-he's—” the man stammered, bewildered, pointing at the step-siblings. “I've seen your—”

“Yes, yes, I know,” she interjected, annoyed.

Suddenly, the doors stopped closing and Veronica scowled. Ryan's fingers were prying the doors apart.

“Veronica, please! Just hear me out!”

The lanky man raised his eyebrows.

“He really wants to talk to ya,” he quipped.

Veronica rolled her eyes.

“Well, I don't want to talk to him,” she snapped.

The doors opened and Ryan looked at her, keeling over in an attempt to catch his breath from the short run.

“You need to do some cardio,” the lanky man noted.

“Yeah, I'll do that,” Ryan retorted. He looked up at Veronica again and added, “Veronica, please, don't leave. You know that I didn't mean that.”

Veronica pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

“You know, I would never run out on you,” she whispered, a tear falling down her cheek. “Why would you do it to me?”

Ryan's face fell. He had truly believed that she would have left if he were to lose his money and the company.

“I—I panicked,” he admitted. “I promise, if this company goes down, we're still going down together. Please don't pack your things. Just stay. That's all I ask.”

Veronica took a deep breath and thought for a moment. She chewed on her lip and swallowed, anxiously. It had been an emotionally compromising day, but she knew that she had to do what was going to make her happy. After a moment, she nodded, slowly.

“O-okay,” she agreed, “but only if you never do that again.”

Ryan nodded and pressed his lips to his. He smiled against the corner of her mouth.

“I promise I won't, love. I promise.”

The lanky man raised an eyebrow.

“Is this legal?” he asked.

The couple scowled.

***

Veronica and Ryan were getting dressed for the dinner that they promised to attend at their parents' house. The two of them had abandoned the office for the day after their argument in Ryan's office, but they still had not rid themselves of all the stress associated with the company. Veronica's stomach was in knots as she thought about her mother and stepfather's possible reactions to their ongoing relationship. She slid into her dress and looked at Ryan, who was changing in the adjoined bathroom.

“Do you think they're going to find out?” she asked.

Ryan averted his gaze as he buttoned up his shirt.

“I suppose there's no avoiding it,” he muttered.

Veronica furrowed her brow.

“What if we just don't tell them?” she suggested. “We can tell your dad the investors got cold feet and—”

Ryan shook his head with a frown as he adjusted his collar.

“No,” he asserted. “It won't work. My dad is friends with a couple of the investors. They'll blab.”

Veronica scowled.

“So pay them off not to blab!”

Ryan chuckled.

“Babe, we're far past the paying people off phase. That ship sailed long ago,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. He eyed her in the mirror and added, “God, you look good in that dress.”

Her face flushed and she looked at the clock hung above the toilet.

“We're running a little early,” she murmured. “We could...”

Ryan quickly turned and seized her, crashing his lips into hers. Her eyes widened out of surprise for a moment, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed his tongue to enter her mouth. She groaned as his hands reached up her dress and rubbed her between her legs. Breathing heavily, she pulled away and looked into his dark eyes.

“Well aren't we eager,” she teased, running a hand down his chest.

His breathing hitched and she unbuttoned his pants. Before he could say a word, they were around his ankles.

“I-I want you,” he breathed.

She smirked and kissed his lips before getting to her knees and wrapping her soft lips around him. He tossed his head back in pleasure and groaned, closing his eyes as she began to bob her head. She hummed against his member and he ran his strong fingers through her blonde hair, biting his lip to muffle a loud grunt.

Veronica looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, swirling her tongue around his shaft, sensuously. His breathing hitched and he gulped.

“If you do that too long—”

Before he could finish, Veronica pulled away and stood, grinning at him. He bit his lip and ran a hand up her dress once more, feeling her wetness. Kicking off his pants, he pushed a finger inside of her. She moaned and closed her eyes before he picked her up, bridal-style, and she squeaked. He smiled down at her as he carried her to the bed and lay her on it. Beaming, Veronica reached towards him and pulled him close to her. He collapsed on top of his blonde stepsister and smirked before pressing his lips to hers once more.

“Please,” Veronica begged. “I need to feel you.”

Ryan smirked and nodded before guiding his manhood towards her warmth. She chewed on her lip and her breathing slowed before he pushed it inside of her. A gasp fell from her lips and Ryan groaned, slowly thrusting into her.

“That feels so good,” Veronica moaned, pressing her hips towards his and pulling her dress up further. “Can you help me get this off?”

Ryan slowly moved in and out of her as he slid the red dress over her head. His eyes traveled to her full breasts and he groaned, penetrating her a little faster and a little harder. A moan fell from Veronica's lips and she cupped one of her full breasts, rotating her hips against his. Ryan groaned, his eyes fixated upon her fingers lightly brushing across her nipples.

“Oh God,” he moaned, speeding up his thrusts. “Oh, Veronica!”

Veronica ran her hand under his shirt to sink her fingernails into his back. She bit her lip hard in an attempt to muffle a scream, but it was of no use. The scream came out and Ryan groaned, pushing all of himself inside of her until he could feel her buttocks against his testicles. She screamed, feeling them slap against her skin with each thrust.

“I'm getting close,” she breathed. “Oh, Ryan!”

Ryan's breathing hitched and he gulped. Sweat dripped down his body onto hers and he bit his lip. He watched her magnificent bosoms bounce with every movement and it was beginning to be too much for him to handle anymore. He stiffened inside of her and groaned.

“Veronica,” he breathed. “I'm going to c-come.”

“Me too,” she moaned.

Her womanhood pulsed around his throbbing erection and he became stiffer with each sloppy thrust. Veronica let out a scream as her warmth tightened around him and he released inside of her. The couple collapsed into a sweaty mess on top of the duvet.

Breathing heavily, Veronica looked up at Ryan and asked, “What time is it?”

He closed his eyes and retorted, “Who cares?”

Veronica frowned and averted her gaze to their alarm clock.

“Shit,” she cursed. “We're late.”

***

Ryan knocked on their parents' front door, looking at himself in the glass to assure that he did not appear to have just had intercourse. Veronica did the same, primping her hair as she looked at her reflection and looking at her stepbrother out of the corner of her eye.

“You think they'll notice?” she murmured.

“Let's hope to hell not.”

Suddenly, the door opened and Jacquelyn smiled at Ryan before glaring at Veronica.

“Lovely to see you, Ryan,” the elderly woman said. “Come on in, come, come!”

Veronica rolled her eyes at her mother's rudeness, but followed the wretched woman all the same. She met Ryan's gaze and they exchanged amused glances as Veronica led them to the dining room. The two of them sat beside each other on one side of the table, eyeing the massive meal lain on the table.

“What's all this, Mom?” Ryan asked.

“Oh, your father just got a
major
client,” Jacquelyn replied, excitedly. “He'll be joining us in a moment.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“Major as in who?” he asked, skeptically, before taking a sip of water.

“Vera Clark!” Jacquelyn quipped.

Ryan choked on his drink.

“You know her?” Jacquelyn asked.

Veronica elbowed Ryan before clearing her throat and nodding.

“Yes,” Veronica answered for him. “She's one of his biggest investors.”

“Was,” Ryan muttered under his breath, clutching angrily onto a fork.

“What was that, Ryan?” Jacquelyn asked.

Suddenly, Ted walked into the room, grinning, and pulled out his chair at the end of the table. He seated himself, beaming at everyone.

“Hey, son! Hey there, Veronica!” he welcomed them, happily. He looked up at Jacquelyn and added, “Did you tell them the good news, honey?”

Jacquelyn nodded as she sat down. She took a sip of what Veronica assumed was not water and made a noise.

“Yes, dear, I told them,” she replied. “Everyone, help yourselves! I spent hours on this so I hope you all enjoy it.”

Ted leaned over and murmured, “She means her maid spent hours on this.”

Jacquelyn kicked him under the table and glared. He winced before loading his plate with food. Veronica and Ryan looked at one another, awkwardly. Ryan's stomach was in knots after hearing that Vera had chosen to invest in his father. It would not be long before his entire family knew their secret.

Jacquelyn frowned and gestured Veronica and Ryan.

“Why aren't you two eating?” she asked, skeptically.

“Why aren't
you
eating?” Veronica asked.

Jacquelyn narrowed her eyes and tapped on her glass.

“I have dinner
right
here,” she murmured before taking a sip of the mystery beverage.

“And you wonder where I got my alcoholism,” Veronica murmured.

Jacquelyn rolled her eyes and inquired, “Really, what's wrong with you two? Did you have to fire her, Ryan? Be honest with me.”

Ryan chewed on his lip.

“No, Mom. It's nothing like that,” he admitted.

Ted frowned, scooping a heap of food into his mouth.

“What is it, then, son?” he asked, his mouth full of lobster.

Ryan took a deep breath and looked at Veronica out of the corner of his eye. He took a large drink of water, again, to try and combat his nerves.

“Is this about you two in the office?” Jacquelyn asked.

Ryan spat out his water.

“What?” he asked, incredulously.

Jacquelyn chuckled.

“You thought we didn't know?” she asked, nudging Ted. “They thought we didn't know!”

Ted laughed and shook his head.

“When did you think we'd find out?” he asked, taking a sip of the scotch in front of him. “After the tabloids? Vera talked about it today. I didn't see it. Obviously didn't want to.”

He wiped his mouth and Ryan looked at him, skeptically.

“And you aren't mad?” he asked, confusedly.

Jacquelyn and Ted shrugged.

“You two are consenting adults,” Jacquelyn quipped. “It isn't any of our business. I personally think you could do better than my daughter, but that isn't for me to say.”

Veronica furrowed her brow.

“Why didn't you say anything? Why did you act like this was just a normal dinner, then?” she asked. “Were you trying to get us to fess up or something?”

Ted took another sip of scotch.

“Not my business,” he replied. “Wasn't going to say a word unless one of you brought it up. You two aren't related. There isn't anything wrong with it. I'd much rather see you with my son than some bimbo just out for his money.”

“We only want to see you both happy,” Jacquelyn added. “Isn't that right, Ted?”

Ted nodded, shoveling caviar onto his tongue.

Veronica and Ryan furrowed their brows and exchanged nervous glances. Ryan sighed and looked at his father.

“So what do you think I should do, Dad?” he asked.

Ted raised his eyebrows and swallowed a large amount of food.

“Well
that's
another story, son,” he said, downing the rest of his scotch. “You aren't gonna make this go away. I'm sure you know that.”

Ryan nodded, sadly, looking at Veronica out of the corner of his eye. He knew that whatever he did was going to affect her as well. Losing the company once seemed like the worst thing that could happen to him, but it no longer seemed very significant. His greatest fear was losing Veronica. She smiled at him and he smiled back, hoping that he could do something to save them both.

“I do know that,” he replied. “What do
you
suggest?”

Jacquelyn cleared her throat.

“If I may?” she asked.

Ted rolled his eyes.

“Jacquelyn,
please!
We're talking about business.”

She glared at him before turning to Ryan.

“What if we bought the company?” she asked.

Everyone looked at her, incredulously. Nobody had expected her suggestion. She smirked and nodded, taking a sip of her drink.

“Maybe I'm not so stupid, huh?” she said, giving her husband a dirty look. “The company is thriving. We just made a huge deal with Vera. Sell it to us and we'll make her chairwoman. Nobody needs to know anything happened.”

Ryan was not convinced.

“What if Vera talks, though?” Ryan asked. “What if
anyone
talks? Then we're screwed!”

Jacquelyn chuckled.

“Oh Ryan, Vera won't say a word. That tape will be destroyed. They'll pay off your silly security guard. If anything gets out about it, we deny she is your stepsister and they'll have no way to prove it. You'll already be in Tahiti,” she stated, sipping her drink. “What do you think, Ted?”

Ted chewed on his lip before meeting Ryan's eye and nodding.

“Fifteen million, son,” he said. “What do you say?”

Ryan and Veronica both beamed.

“Really? Dad, you can't be serious. This is a huge risk—”

Ted shook his head and winked.

“Son, there is no risk that I can't turn into profit,” he replied. “I may be a lawyer now, but I'm a businessman first. With Vera on board, you'll see a nice little royalty fee. That is, only if you move to our summer house like Jacquelyn mentioned.”

Ryan looked at Veronica and raised his eyebrows.

“What do you think, babe?” he asked.

Veronica smiled and nodded.

“I think that sounds great,” she breathed.

Jacquelyn clasped her hands together and smiled.

“Great, it's settled, then! We'll get you a flight before you leave,” she quipped. “Ted, write him a check.”

Ted pulled his checkbook out of his breast pocket, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, dear.”

Veronica met her mother's gaze.

She mouthed the words, “Thank you.”

Jacquelyn nodded, silently, a small smile on her face.

***