“No, I'll probably go alone. Or," he said, thinking out loud, "maybe I'll ask Stephanie.”
“Why? She’s so…unnatural.”
“Okay, so she’s a bleached blonde. So what? She’s still good company.”
“I don’t know…” Vanessa seemed deep in thought. “Not exactly wife material.”
“I’m not looking for a wife,” Storm growled. “God, you can get on a man’s nerves sometimes.”
“That’s what sisters are for,” she said with a giggle and hopped up from her chair. “Anyway, I have to go. Buster and I are going out tonight.”
“And Buster is husband material?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Who said I was looking for a husband? I’m only twenty-three. I’ve got lots of years before I have to worry about that.” She headed for the door then turned to smile at him. “Don’t forget what we talked about,” she said with a wave of her hand. Then she was gone.
After that Storm totally lost the vibes to concentrate on any advertising campaign. His whole family had ganged up on him. Talk about pressure.
For a long while he sat there at his desk just thinking. He had absolutely no intention of giving in. Like Vanessa he was a long way from being ready to settle down. In the meanwhile, though, he had to do something to get his family, and especially his father, off his back. But what?
With a sigh he got up and grabbed the keys to his custom-made MV motorcycle. He threw on his leather jacket and put on sunglasses. There was only one thing guaranteed to clear his head. He had to go for a ride. He’d hit the road on the back of his motorbike and let off some steam.
“Are you being good over there?” Dani chuckled into the phone. "Remember, I’m not there watching over you so I’m depending on you to be responsible.”
“Come on, Dani. I’m a grown man. I know what I’m doing.” Brian’s voice was tinged with amusement. “You can stop being a mother hen now.”
“Never will,” she retorted. “As long as I’m your big sister you’ll have to put up with it. Even when you’re married.”
Brian groaned then they both laughed.
Ever since he’d gone away to university Dani hadn’t let a day pass without speaking to him. She knew she’d have to loosen the reins and let him find his own way but she wasn’t ready. Not yet. After being his sole caretaker for the past four years it was hard to let go of her kid brother.
“Thanks for the money you put in my account yesterday,” Brian said. “It came just in time for me to pay for my uniform. We have our first game tomorrow.”
“Cool. Wish I could be there to watch you cream them.”
“Sis, such violence,” Brian reprimanded with a laugh.
“That’s how I get by in life,” she said unapologetically. “You do what you have to do.” That had always been Dani’s philosophy. She was practical and focused and dealt with life’s issues head on.
They chatted for another few minutes then she glanced at her watch. “Listen Brian, I have to go. I’ve got to be somewhere by five.”
“How come you’re always running out in the evenings? Do you have another job?” Brian sounded concerned.
“Don’t you worry your head about that,” she told her brother. “You just focus on getting good grades and being the best hockey player you can be.”
“But Dani, I don’t-”
“Leave it alone, Brian.”
“Okay, but there was one more thing I wanted to tell you.”
“Fine, but make it quick.” She glanced at her watch again. She could spare him three more minutes.
“I’m getting a part-time job off campus.”
“You’re what? Why would you want to do that?”
"I heard about a student exchange program and I want to go. I need to get a job to pay the fee. Can you imagine spending a whole year in Europe?” Brian spoke excitedly. “There’s this guy who offered me a part-time sales job. I’ll start next week.”
“No part-time jobs off campus,” Dani said in her strongest ‘sister in charge’ voice. “You’re at school to study, not to take on jobs on the side. A few hours of on-campus work is okay but no jobs that will take you away from your studies."
“But the deposit is due next month. I really want to go.”
"I’ll take care of it," she said with greater confidence than she felt. "Just send me the details.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure I don’t want you working when you’re supposed to be studying. Now you be good. I’ve got to go."
She hung up the phone and reached for her chauffeur’s hat. As she stuffed her thick hair under the crown her mind raced. Another bill for Brian and this one would run in the thousands. Where the heck would she get the money by next month? Every time she thought she finally had things under control something new came along and then she was back in the hole.
There was no time to dwell on that right now, though. She had a pick-up in half an hour and she could not afford to be late. When she got back she’d brainstorm. Her priority - how to make more money. Fast.
CHAPTER THREE
The week flew by too fast for Dani. Maybe it was because her three and four year old charges were particularly rambunctious that week, or maybe it was because Tony had overwhelmed her with pick-ups late into the night. Before she knew it Saturday had come around again and she was on her way to pick up her billionaire, Storm Hunter.
As she drove along the highway her mind went back to her conversation with Brian. It had been four days since they spoke and she was no closer to a money making idea than she’d been then. She couldn’t take another job. There were just so many hours in the day and it wasn’t like she could go without sleep.
If she couldn’t increase her income then she’d have to cut her expenses. She didn’t spend much on clothes and even less on entertainment. Who had the time to go out anyway? That only left one thing - housing. As much as she loved her apartment in Hyde Park she’d have to give it up and move to a cheaper place. She grimaced. She was not looking forward to moving farther away from Applewood School. She’d hate having to fight traffic to get to work.
Dani was forced to drag her thoughts back to the present. She was now at the gate of the Vanderbilt residence and would have to identify herself before being allowed onto the estate. She put the car in park, hopped out and went to press the button of the intercom then as the gate swung open she ran back to the car then drove slowly up the driveway. A couple of limos were already ahead of her so she pulled into the parking area alongside them and waited.