Now, will you give me your answer?"
"Alright, I'll do it. I do owe you for saving me and for the new door."
"Thank you," he said, finishing his beer. "Will you be alright here by yourself or would you like me to stay?"
"Unless you want s£x I see no reason for you to stay," she said, hoping he'd say no as she wasn't in the mood now.
"No, I'm good. I'll pick you up tomorrow around six."
She got up when he did and walked him to the door. "Goodnight."
Pulling her into his arms he gave her a kiss that lasted for a long time. "Sweet dreams, I'll see you tomorrow."
Shutting and locking the door behind him she leans against the door, her fingers traced along her lips where his lips were only moments ago. There was something different about that kiss, it wasn't sexual in any way, it was actually sweet. She could still feel how soft his lips were, and there was a look of sadness in his eyes. Maybe she should have had him stay, it seemed to her he was wanting to.
The next afternoon she wore a blue cotton dress, matching heels and a pair of gold dangling earrings. Ryan had said it was a casual dinner and she hoped she wasn't undressed. There was a big part of her that was curious about his family. He hadn't told her anything except that his father always put him down. She couldn't help but wonder if he was exaggerating, well she would find out for herself when she met them.
A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts and she opened it. A smile crossed her face, he wore dress pants and a powder blue shirt, very casual.
"Now what is this smile for?" he asked, touching her lips with his finger.
"I've never seen you like this before, only in a suit or naked," she said, blushing when she added the naked part.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes," she answered, grabbing her purse.
They drove to the other end of Manhattan, to the ritzy part where only the very wealthy could afford to live. He came to a stop in front of one of the largest mansion she had ever seen.
It was set further away from the others. Ryan pushed a button on an intercom and a voice came through asking who it was. Giving his name the gates opens and he drives in, parking his vehicle next to some others.
"My God, your parents live here? Just how rich are they?"
Opening her door takes her hand and helps her out. "Very," he answered.
A butler greeted them at the front door. "Welcome home Mr. Carter," he said, stepping aside to let them in. "Your parents are out back sir."
"Thank you, Albert this is Ria Sanders."
"Nice to meet you, Miss," he said and walked with them to the backyard.
Lacey saw the older couple sitting by the pool. The woman was thin, her dark hair was done up into a bun on top of her head, she looked elegant and classy in a white sundress. The man had grey hair, a little on the stout side and had an air of arrogance about him, much like Ryan.
Ryan went over and bending over gave his mother a kiss on both cheeks, looks at his father and nods. "Mother, father I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Ria Sanders." He introduced her to them. "Sweetheart, my mother, Rose, my father Michael Carter."
"Nice to meet you both," she said, extending her hand to shake theirs.
Roses eyes looked her up and down, taking her hand. "It's lovely to meet you, my dear. Please have a seat. Can we offer you something to drink?"
After shaking Michael's hand she sat down. "A glass of wine would be nice."
Albert came back with a bottle of wine and poured her and Ryan a glass, he then went back into the house.
"It's finally nice to meet one of Ryan's many women. Though you are the first one he has ever brought home for us to meet. When he told us he was bringing you here I was sure he was lying and would make an excuse why you didn't show up."
She looks at Ryan and could tell he was getting upset, she didn't like the way his father was talking about him. "Mr. Carter, I'm not one of his women. I'm his only woman." She looks at Ryan. "Isn't that right?
"Just how long have you two been seeing each other?" Rose asked them.
"A few weeks now, but it feels like we've known each other forever," Ryan said, taking her hand in his. "I think I'll give Ria a tour of the house and grounds before dinner."
"Don't take too long dear, dinner will be served in a couple of hours," Rose told him.
Getting up he helps Ria up. "We won't be late, mother." He took her to the stable first, before showing her the inside of the house.
She went over to pet the horses. "They're beautiful. Do your parents ride a lot?"
"They both actually belong to my mother, my father doesn't ride, he hates horses. I used to go with my mother when I lived here. That was when she didn't have anyone else to go riding with."
"I don't mean to sound rude but they seem so cold towards each other and to you."
They don't have a happy marriage, never had that I know of," he said, patting the other horse.
"So why do they stay married?"
"Ria, why do you think? Neither one is willing to give up any of the money. To get a divorce, it would get split up and they are both very greedy so they decided to stay together."
"That doesn't explain why they treat you with such indifference."
"I was an accident and we were never close. I barely remember them from my childhood. I had nannies who raised me until I was old enough to be shipped off to boarding school. It was very lonely, I never felt loved or cared for. But that's life and so I decided to make a name for myself and make my own fortune. I was foolish enough to think they would be proud of me, but no, it was never good enough."
"I'm so sorry," she said and moved closer to him.
"Don't pity me, Ria. I'm fine the way things are, now let me show you inside the mansion."
She marvelled at the beauty that was inside, from the decor to the original paintings on the wall.