The iron bad boy

Ronnie's point of view:

Derek Diamond, first and only son of Desmond Diamond.

I've heard a lot about this guy. He was just as popular as any pop star. 

Also known as the Iron bad boy. That's Derek's nickname and he sticks to this name. 

This bad boy in question is a tall and handsome man with a chiseled jawline and striking features. 

His face is a work of art, with a sharp nose and high cheekbones that gives him a rugged yet refined look. 

His narrowed eyes are a deep emerald green, giving him a piercing gaze that can be both intense and alluring.

He is heavily tattooed, with intricate designs covering his neck and arms. 

The tattoos are bold and colorful, and they give him an edgy and rebellious look. 

He is clean shaven, with a smooth and masculine jawline that adds to his overall charm.

His dark, wavy hair is parted in the middle and falls just above his shoulders. 

He has a rough, unkempt look that is both alluring and intimidating. 

Tonight, he's donning in an expensive tuxedo. Other days, from what I've heard, he's always on leather jackets. 

I've seen a lot of bad boys throughout high school, but this bad boy is a force to be reckoned with. 

He is not just charming and handsome, but also dangerous. 

He exudes a sense of confidence and power that is both alluring and intimidating. 

He is the type of person who can turn heads wherever he goes and leaves a lasting impression on those he encounters.

He is the type of guy who makes women falls down on their knees, begging to have his kids. 

Overall, this bad boy is my new stepbrother. 

                          * * * *

As the party raged on inside, I stepped out onto the lonely balcony to catch some fresh air and be alone. 

I hated crowds. If it weren't for mom, I'd had rather stayed in my hotel suite, doing my paintings. 

But mom was adamant I meet her newly engaged fiancé, Desmond Diamond, the wealthiest man in Blue Coast.

Turns out he had thrown a big party so he could announce his engagement to mom to his business associates and the world at large. 

As mom's only daughter, I had to be there. I had no choice. 

For God's sake, I didn't want to be here. It's not just because of the crowd but also because of him. 

Derek. 

When I learnt he was going to be my Stepbrother, I spent over an hour in the bathroom wailing. 

Why him? Why Derek of all people?

I wasn't looking forward to meeting this guy and I've got my reasons. 

I leaned against the railing, looking out over the city as I took deep breaths, trying to clear my head.

Just as I was getting comfortable, I heard the sliding glass door open behind me. 

I turned to see the Iron bad boy, Derek,  a troublemaker I remembered from my childhood, approaching me with two drinks in hand.

"Here you go," he said, offering me the drink. "I saw you out here all alone and thought you could use some company."

I hesitantly accepted the drink, but kept a respectful distance from him. 

Now that we were step siblings, we should be miles away from each other.

"Do you remember me?" Derek asked, smiling charmingly at me. "We used to be friends when we were kids."

I remembered him from when we were kids, but didn't want to get too close to him. 

"I remember you," I said, "But I think it's best if we keep our distance now. We're family now, and I don't want to complicate things."

My voice was small but surprisingly firm. 

I didn't want him to get too close else he might hear the fast beatings of my heart or my flushed face hidden in the shadows. 

Derek's smile faded as he realized I wasn't interested. 

He pulled a face, "Geez, I understand your position but you don't have to jump into conclusions. Like you said, we're family now. Wouldn't hurt to have a chit chat with my step sister, would it?"

I slowly took a sip and stared at the city lights, hoping he would go away. "I just wanna be left alone."

"Yeah me too," he said, joining me to lean on the rails. "It's so crowded in there it bores me sick."

I didn't say anything. I was still cautious around this guy. 

I stared at his strong profile out of the corner of my eyes. 

His dark wavy hair, his rough features, his red lips, the colourful tattoos, the rings adorned on his fingers and ear, his million dollars wrists watch and the scent of his cologne were top tier in details. 

"Crazy, huh?" Derek finally said after a momentary pause. "Our parents pulled a fast one on us. Who would've thought of it?"

"You can say that," I replied. 

"I can't believe this," he chuckled uneasily. "We were once friends but look, we're step siblings now."

I nodded in agreement, not wanting to indulge him too much. "Yeah, it's pretty surprising."

"I don't know much about you after so many years, though," Derek continued. "I mean, at some point in time we were apart when we were kids. Tell me about your childhood."

I hesitated, cautious about sharing too much to him. 

Derek has changed—a lot. 

He used to be this playful kid with a cute smile on his baby face. 

But he's all grown now. He was a man. 

What's more, he's now the type of guy I'm wary about. Typical the sort of guy I hated. 

Bad boys. I don't like them.  

This guy has a reputation as a bad boy, and I didn't want to give him any ideas. 

"It was pretty normal, I guess," I said, keeping it short and vague.

I'll bet he could sense my reluctance for he held up his hands in surrender. 

"Are you scared of me or something? I don't bite."

"Why would I ever be scared of you in the first place?" I asked, frowning at him. 

He narrowed his eyes. "Cause you're putting up some barrier. It's cutting off any form of communication I wanna have with you."

"I told you," I sighed, staring at the sky. "I wanted to be alone. I can't say anymore than I can to you."

He stroked his chin, studying me. "Or you're of the impression I'm trying to make a hit on you?"

My cheeks grew hot and I darted my eyes at him. "That's gross! Is that what you're up to?!"

He shook his head sharply. "Nah, how could I? I'm way too decent to hit on my sister."

The looks in his eyes told me he saw my boundaries and he wasn't crossing those boundaries. 

"Good," I responded. "Let's keep it that way."

Derek blew his cheeks. "Look, I promise I won't make any advances at you, okay? You're my step sister now. I just want us to be free around each other."

I stared at him as he drew out his hand to me. 

"Welcome to my family, Ronnie," he said, flashing me his irresistible smile that sucked the air out of me. 

It was with great effort I kept my hands from shaking as I was about reaching out to shake him. 

Just then, we were interrupted by a butler. 

"Sir Derek, Miss Veronica, Your parents would like you both to come witness the announcement of their engagement to the guests in the ballroom," he said.

Derek and I exchanged a look before following the butler to the ballroom. 

We were silent as we walked side by side. I kept stealing glances at Derek's hand which I didn't touch. 

His hand was bigger, hairy and tough. I had this sudden urge to touch it but held my arm from reaching out for it. 

We couldn't deny that our parents' engagement was going to change our lives in ways we couldn't predict.

Yeah, I can't deny it anymore. Ever since we were kids, I had always had a crush on this dangerous guy. 

My Stepbrother—Derek.