Episode 11

Minutes after David is done, they leave the company. In the car, David is very serious.

"Is everything okay?" Amanda asks.

"No! It wasn't cool for you to call me daddy in my office!"

"Oh, haha, it was just a joke, and you are my dad, aren't you?!"

"No, I'm not! Your attitude in front of that guy was not okay. When you do that at home, I don't mind, but my workplace is not the place for jokes!" David says seriously, his tone of voice even harsher.

Amanda realizes he's genuinely angry this time and apologizes.

"Sorry, David, I..."

"Don't do it again! My work is serious business; there's no room for that kind of joking around – you really acted like a teenager, like your mother says!"

A bashful Amanda says nothing further; she just curls up in the seat and stares out the window.

"We're here! Go on, I'll wait here!" David says.

"Yeah... okay! I'm sorry about the joke at the office!" she says as she gets out of the car.

Amanda goes in to explore the college. She's inside for quite a while.

"Back already, waited for me all this time?"

"Yeah! So, did you like it?"

"Loved it, actually!"

"Great! Shall we go then?"

"Yes, let's!"

They return home. Amanda has never seen David this serious; he doesn't utter a single word the entire trip. Arriving at home, Carmen hasn't yet come back. Amanda goes up to her room and calls Marina, telling her all about her day and the past two days.

Later...

** **

Amanda doesn't come down to dinner, feeling awkward about seeing David after the earlier incident. She waits until everyone has eaten and then has her meal in the kitchen with Arlete, the cook.

"Why didn't you have dinner with your mother and David, Miss Amanda? Is everything alright? I mean, sorry for asking!"

"Everything's fine, Miss Arlete. I just wasn't hungry, but now I am, haha, so here I am to eat with you, if that's alright?"

"Of course, it is! But if you'd like, I can bring it to the table for you!"

"No, ma'am! I will have dinner here with you, Miss Arlete!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, do you mind?"

"Not at all, Miss Amanda! You can have your meal here."

Amanda dines with Arlete.

"Miss Amanda?"

"Yes?"

"You're different; we've never had someone like you here before!"

"Like me?"

"Yes, like you, treating us without any differences – around you, I forget I'm just an employee, haha."

"Ah, Miss Arlete, that's sweet to hear! I'll always treat you like this while I'm here, haha. I'm not like those people, and I apologize for my mother – I swear I'm not like her!"

"No need to apologize, haha – it's clear you're different!"

Minutes later, after spending a good amount of time chatting with Arlete, Amanda is going up to her room when she encounters David on the stairs. She feels uncomfortable and looks away as she ascends.

"Hey! Can we talk?" David asks.

"I'm... going to bed; it's late!"

"Why didn't you have dinner with us?"

"Because... I wasn't hungry?"

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes!"

"Sorry for speaking to you that way earlier – but I take my work seriously. There are no jokes allowed in the company; it's serious business!"

"I understand; you're right. It won't happen again, papa... I mean David, haha, sorry – I guess I got used to calling you that!"

"Haha, at home you can call me that, but at work, respect is required – it's serious business!"

"Ooh, yes, sir! And you lectured me today in the car; I was a bit sad, daddy," she says in a mock-sad tone.

"Really now?! Sorry, sweetie, haha – you were really misbehaving, did you know? I should punish you!" he says, playing along with Amanda.

"Oh?! And how would you punish me, daddy?"

"Hmm... I don't know... maybe make you kneel down!"

"Kneel down? And for what, daddy?"

"Better not to say!"

Amanda bites her lip and gazes intently at David. They are halfway up the stairs, and the house is dimly lit, with few lights on, and Carmen is already in bed. The atmosphere begins to heat up, as if for a moment, they forget they are stepfather and stepdaughter.

"I want you to tell me, daddy; I'd kneel down for what?"

"You're teasing me, young lady!"

"Am I?! And what about those handcuffs and whips in your drawer, daddy?"

"Well... I could handcuff you as a punishment, Miss Amanda!"

David moves closer to Amanda, uncomfortably close.

"So you'd handcuff me while kneeling?"

"Hmm-hmm! Are you still feeling needy?"

"You have no idea how much! I'm so needy, daddy!"

"Do you want me to help you with that?"

"How would you?"

"Do you really want me to show you?"

"I do..."

David draws closer to Amanda's face, and she does not stop him.

He kisses her slowly, and Amanda responds to the kiss without hesitation, leaning against the stair railing; David holds her waist with one hand and Amanda's chin with the other. Amanda moans during the kiss as David's tongue explores her mouth, and she shivers under the firm touch of his hands on her body.

"Wow, daddy... what kind of punishment is this?!"

"You asked for it, young lady!"

"Hmm... your mouth tastes of mint," Amanda says.

"I was sucking on a candy a few minutes ago!"

"Were you sucking, daddy?"

"Don't do this to me, Amanda!"

"You were sucking on a candy?"

"Yes."

"Hmm! And... have you been sucking on anything else besides candy?"

"David?!" Carmen calls out.

Carmen appears suddenly, startling them.

"Love? What's taking so long?! Did you have your drink?"

"I... yes, I was just..."

"He was helping me with something college-related, mom. I ran into him on the stairs and asked for his help!" Amanda says, trying to defuse the situation.

"And it's what? What kind of help, daughter?"

"Oh, about some stuff I was told today at the college. I had some doubts, and... I decided to ask David! Thanks for the explanation, David. I think I'll enroll there, mom; I liked it!"

"That's good, daughter. So you'll continue living here?"

"Maybe, mom. This house is getting quite interesting; I'm starting to like it here!" she says, glancing at David.

"That's great, daughter! I knew you'd like it!"

"Well, I'm off to bed! Goodnight, mom, goodnight David!"

"Goodnight, Amanda!"

Amanda heads to her room.

"Is she acting differently, did something happen?" Carmen asks.

"She does seem different, love – maybe she's getting used to me and to the house!"

"Thank God! That's a relief! That girl is complicated! But... what's that?"

"What?"

"That bulge in your pants?"

"Ah... I was thinking about you, and... well, this happened, haha. I hope Amanda didn't notice!"