~6
1772 Words
Zack's POV:
"When are you going to ask out Brittany?" Mom asked as we eat breakfast.
"Mom", I sighed.
"What? It's a only a matter of time before it happens", she shrugged and I gave dad a look.
"Drop it honey, you can't rush true love", he smirked and I sighed as Landon laughed.
"I love my family", he said.
"When will you be back Zack?" Mom asked.
"Maybe before Thanksgiving", I shrugged.
"Please come back for Halloween", Landon pleaded.
"I'll see what I can do buddy", I ruffled his hair.
He was already in dressed in his uniform, he attended the same high school I went to.
"We need to have a talk after son before we go to the office", dad stated.
I nodded.
"Hurry up and eat Landon, your driver will be ready soon", mom said watching the time, "remember Zack, you have to pick up Landon after school", mom reminded me.
"Yes mom", I rolled my eyes.
"I am old enough to get back home on my own, plus I am going over to Blair's house after school", Landon added.
"Good, I don't have to pick him up later", I stated, mom sighed.
After breakfast, mom went to get ready for work and I went to dad's home office and sat down on one of the chairs.
"What you wanted to tell me?" I asked my father.
"Remember the deal that you were trying to get for the past two months? Well they're reconsidering the deal", he explained.
"Really?"
"Yes, if we join the business together then they'll agree to sign the contract."
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"You'll have to marry the daughter of the business owner, she's only a year younger than you", he started.
"No, no freaking way", I shook my head, "I'm not even ready to settle down."
"I told them you're both still young, they wouldn't listen. They don't really like your current status, it may ruin their reputation, they think if you settle down it may bring more investors to you in the future."
"My answer is no, I will not be in an arranged marriage", I said.
"They give you until December 1st to make up your mind, so you can have a New Years wedding", dad informed me, "think about it Zachary, all the investors you can get and reach millions in a short space of time since your business just started up last year."
I sighed.
"Think about it for the benefit of your business and your future."
"If they want me to settle down, can I settle down with someone else?" I asked.
"Zack, you can't just marry someone you just met before December, you need time to get to know the person."
"Yet you want me to marry the daughter of the investor, right? Are you so desperate? It's my business, not yours", I left the room.
*****
"Sir, there's someone here to see you", my dad's secretary told me over the phone.
"Who is it?"
"She said her name was Maize, brunette hair-"
"Tell her to leave", I cut her off.
"Right away sir."
I sighed as I continued my work on my laptop, I'm bringing in new shipment next week which I have to present for in Los Angles.
My door burst opened and I looked up it was my one night stand from yesterday with dad's secretary behind her.
"Sir, I tried to stop-"
"It's okay, I'll handle it", I told her and she left closing the door behind her.
"What you're doing here?" I snapped at her.
"I missed you baby", she pouted.
"Get out, we're not dating", I hissed.
"But we can, no one is stopping us", she blinked her eyes at me.
I sighed, "one date, I need the paparazzi to leave a friend of mine alone."
"I can help you with that", she nodded and kissed my cheek then left.
It was just one date, I hope she wasn't looking for anything serious, who even let her in?
2 hours later
"I heard you had a visitor earlier", dad stated, "who was it?"
"No one really."
"I hope you're not going into a serious relationship with her, it'll just turned out badly in the end", he warned.
"I don't want to marry my investor's daughter, I don't even know her", I snapped, "I can date whoever I want right now."
"Think about your future son and if you're worried about not knowing her then get to know her from now so you'll be comfortable when you marry her", he suggested.
"No way, I got work to finish", I looked back to my laptop.
"All I just want for you to be happy and successful in life", he sighed.
"I am happy now, single"
"It's your choice, but if you want to meet her there's a charity event next month", he stated, "she can be your date."
I scoffed.
"Or you can always take Brittany, for old time's sake", he left the room.
******
When I got home that evening, I decided to call my sister, she was a well known lawyer in Chicago.
"Hello stranger", she chuckled.
"Hey Annalisa, what are you doing?"
"Work, working on a case for court for Friday, I miss you guys", she said, "how's Landon?"
"He's good, he's growing", I laughed.
"Good, tell mom I'll try to visit before Halloween but work been heavy lately", she stated.
"I will."
"So I saw you and Brittany in the papers", she laughed, "what's that all about?"
Annalisa met Brittany for our high school graduation and wished we were still together just like mom and dad did.
"Nothing just old friends catching up", I answered.
"I saw the way you looked at her little brother, you have feelings for her", she teased.
"No I don't, don't you have your husband and child to go harass", I groaned.
"They're home, I am working remember?"
Annalisa took everything from dad, dirty blonde hair, gray eyes and height but looked like mom.
"Well tell them I said hey."
"I will, later", she hung up.
Annalisa was married a little over three years and has a 2 year old daughter named Harmony.
My phone rang when I was finishing up some work, "hello?" I answered the unknown number.
"Hey Zack, it's Maize, what time are you picking me up?" She giggled.
"How do 7 pm sounds?"
"Anything works for me, I'll text you my address", she said, "bye."
She hung up, how did she get my number?
I seriously need to get a better phone screen lock.
__________
I parked in front of a hotel and she was waiting by the entrance, she got in the passenger side.
"Hey baby", she kissed my cheek as the paparazzi surrounded my car.
"How did they find us?" I asked.
"Well you didn't ask me what I did for a living", she shrugged.
I drove out onto the road quickly and down the street.
"So what do you do?" I asked
"I'm a model, I had some photo shots to do in New York and Sunday I'll be flying to Los Angles for the fall clothing photo shot and winter wear, so I'll be in Los Angles until November", she explained.
Great, I can't get rid of her so easily.
"When are going to Los Angles?"
"I'm flying out Saturday night."
"Great, maybe Monday night we can have another date", she grinned.
"If I am not busy."
"We can totally date, I'm in Los Angles until November well I actually live there just fly all over the states because of my job", she smiled.
I sighed.
"You can even get into modeling, you got the looks, the body and the height. I can talk to my agent if-"
"No, I already was offered one but I declined it", I cut her off.
"Why? This can help your business."
"I got enough spotlight on me as it is, youngest bachelor right now and I tend to keep that reputation a little longer", I explained.
"Well our relationship can be a secret for now", she rubbed my thigh.
"That would be a problem because the paparazzi already saw us together in the car, they know we're seeing each other."
"Let's make it official then", she kissed my cheek, "you were great in bed", she whispered in my ear.
"I am driving I need to focus", I stated.
She giggled, "don't worry when we're in Los Angles I'll be your bed buddy for as long as you want, all I am asking for are dates and being seen in public together often."
"I'll think about it."
"How about afterwards we go back to my hotel room, no paparazzi will see you we can use the back entrance", she said seductively.
"Sure", I smirked.
When we got to the restaurant, I got out of the car first and opened the door for Maize to get out. The paparazzi surrounded us asking questions and taking photos, Maize stopped me and smiled for the camera then kissed me on the lips unexpectedly.
"Are you and Zachary officially dating?"
"Yes we are", she answered, "now excuse us, we got a reservation", she pulled me inside the restaurant.
"Mr. Grant, you table is ready", the manager guided us to our table.
When we settled down and the manager left, I asked Maize, "what the heck was that outside?"
"What? I told you I want our relationship to be publically known, the earlier the better", she drank her wine.
"You didn't even asked me how I felt with all of this", I glared at her.
"I knew you would take forever to give me an answer so I made the choice for you", she shrugged, "no backing out now, next week we'll publically go to our dates and even walk the streets."
I sighed.
"You get something in return, your warm bed and your friend will be out of the spotlight as promised", she added.
I'm doing this for Brittany, all for Brittany and my pleasure.
We ordered our dinner, talked and drank wine for almost two hours then I asked for the check.
"Are we still going to my hotel room or do you want to book one somewhere else?"
"Book one, I am sure the paparazzi are at that hotel waiting for us to return", I said as I paid with my card.
She smiled, "I feel so special right now and we're really good together in bed."
"No doubt about that", I winked and we left the restaurant with the paparazzi taking photos as we got into my car.
__________________________________________
- Writer
