*~*Kamalei's POV*~*

I looked at him and he still had the darkness in his eyes, and I instantly became seriously worried that I was in trouble. I looked at the ground and made my way past his whispering employees up the stairs. I reached the top of the stairs and looked down to see Zacky directing everyone back to work.

“Zee, I think she broke Gena’s nose! Where did you find this girl?!” an employee asked him.

“She’s Matt’s baby sister, Corey. I’ve seen her break a security guard’s nose with a superman punch. You don’t fuck with that girl.” Zacky replied as he made his way towards the staircase.

“You weren’t kidding about the ‘touch her and die’ thing huh? She can hit like Matt that’s for sure…” another guy said.

“Yeah. Get back to work Mark.” Zacky answered before turning to Jeremiah, “I’m sorry about this man. Maybe rain check tomorrow?”

“Hey, I think we got everything we really needed to get done. If you approve of the designs, then I’ll just change the one Lei suggested and bring it back for your final approval.” Jeremiah said.

“Yeah, that sounds great. Just call me. If it’s not in the next week, I’ll be out on tour but we can figure something out. Thanks and I’m sorry you had to see this.” Zacky apologized.

“Nah, it’s cool. Never thought I would see Matt’s baby sister beat up your ex-wife. This was the best business meeting I’ve had in a long time… I’ll call you.” Jeremiah said before waving up at me on the stairs and leaving.

Zacky turned his attention up to me before shaking his head a little and jumping the stairs two at a time.

“Get in there missy.” He pointed to the door.

He walked around the desk, pressing the intercom, “Jackie, is there anyone else scheduled today?”

“No Mr. Vengeance. Mrs. Baker, excuse me, Ms. Paulhus has also left the parking lot as well.” Jackie replied.

“Good. Please hold any calls for me at this time. Thank you Jackie.” He said releasing the button.

He slipped his glasses back on his face and leaned back in his desk chair. I felt like a child sitting in the principal’s office waiting to be scolded and told my parents were getting called. He crossed his arms over his chest and sat there staring at me, making me nervous.

“Lei, come here.” He said waving me behind the desk.

I stood from my chair and walked around the desk, stopping in front of him. He reached his hand out and pulled me down onto his lap.

“I’m sorry Zacky… she just… I couldn’t stand it when she was bad-mouthing you and…” I apologized.

“Shhh… Lei, it’s fine. Are you alright? Did you get hurt when she tripped you?” He said with his arm wrapped around my waist.

“No. I’m okay. I’m so sorry Zee. I shouldn’t have done that at your work. I should go and change out of these clothes too…” I said starting to try to stand.

Zacky held onto me tighter, resting his other hand on my thigh across his lap, “Kamalei, it’s alright. I’m the boss and I can do whatever the fuck I want to here. My main concern is you right now. I’m sorry about Gena. She said some fucked up things about you and I’m sorry you had to get dragged into my bullshit.”

“It’s okay Zacky. I had no idea you were married. Val only told me she was your ex. I didn’t think she meant your ex-wife.”

“I know. I should have told you about that. I’m sorry. My marriage to Gena wasn’t something I’m very proud of. As you can see, it didn’t end very well. She cheated on me while we were on tour, and left me saying that I didn’t provide for her. I don’t know what else that woman needed from me, but apparently she found it somewhere else.”

“I’m sorry Zee. She doesn’t seem like a very nice person and I honestly think you are better off without her.” I replied.

“I agree. I’d much rather be with someone else…” he said softly pulling me down to kiss him, “someone better…”

I put my hand on his chest lightly pushing back, “Zack, I should go get changed. Your employees will talk if we are up here alone too long.”

“I don’t give a shit.” He replied as I stood up.

“Well, I do. Matt doesn’t need to know about this whole thing. Can you imagine how mad he’d be? He’d never let me go anywhere with you again…” I said as I opened the door to his office.

“I guess you have a point there. In your defense, Gena started it and I have to say it was really hot to watch you man-handle her like that.” Zacky said smiling and following me downstairs, “Get changed and let’s go.”

*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

I chatted with Mark and Corey about the new products, while I waited for Kamalei to finish changing back into her clothes. I knew when she stepped out because the two guys peered around me to steal looks at her. They instantly snapped back to cheesy grins when they saw the anger in my face. I turned around with a big smile as Kamalei came up to me hugging me around the neck.

“What’s that for?” I asked her, hugging back.

“Because I can… and thank you for letting me come to work with you today. I liked trying on stuff.” She replied pulling away.

“Lei, this is Mark and Corey. They help run this shit while I’m on tour.” I said introducing her to them.

“Nice to meet you guys. I hope Zacky isn’t too hard on you guys.” She said cheerily.

“Nah. He’s a great guy to work for. Are you really gonna hire her Zack? I think she’d be a great model.” Mark said.

“I’d love to but I have to see what Matt says first. She would be a great model but I think her talents extend beyond modeling. Lei had some great input about the products Jeremiah brought and I’m curious on what else she has in that pretty head of hers.” I said placing a hand on her lower back.

“Really Zee? You were serious about hiring me? I would love it!” She squealed jumping back in my arms, hugging me tightly.

“Yes I was serious. Working with my best friend would be nothing but a plus.” I answered.

“Zee, will you stay over with me tonight? Johnny was supposed to but if you do, then you can ask Matt. Plus I want to watch scary movies and Johnny is just gonna get drunk.” She said not realizing that this probably sounded horrible in front of Mark and Corey.

“Woah… I thought you said you weren’t together?” Mark asked.

“We aren’t. I have sleepy buddies.” She smiled innocently.

“Sleepy buddies? How do I sign up?” Corey joked.

Kamalei’s face dropped at the question. She hadn’t realized how this all looked to everyone else because she hadn’t talked to anyone outside of the band for days. Her face turned a deep crimson as she tried to laugh it off, but I could tell it made her uncomfortable.

“Shut up Corey. Come on Lei, let’s go. I’ll call Matt in the car.” I said as I directed her out of the office, flipping off Corey behind her back.

“Zee… they think I’m a slut.” She whispered as we walked towards the reception desk.

“No they don’t Lei. They don’t know about you and what you have gone thru. Forget what Corey said okay?” I told her wrapping my arm around her shoulders before turning to Jackie, “I’m gone for the day. If it’s super important just text me please.”

“Alright. Have a nice day Mr. Vengeance. Nice to meet you Ms. Sanders.” Jackie replied as we waved goodbye to her.

We got in the car and I could tell she was disturbed by what Corey had said still. I reached over and took her hand in mine on the middle console.

“Hey, they’re just jealous. Don’t be upset.” I said as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“What could they possibly be jealous of?” She asked looking down at our hands.

“Well I almost beat them all up…” I told her.

“Why would you do that? They didn’t do anything…”

“I didn’t like the way they looked at you. You aren’t some piece of meat or a prize to be won. They’re jealous because you’re my friend. They’d be more jealous if they knew I got to do this.” I said leaning over and kissing her swiftly at the red light.

“Zacky, where are we going?” she asked me after I pulled away and kept driving.

“Your favorite place.” I replied.

“Where?”

“The beach.” I smiled as I glanced over to see her smiling too.

We went to the beach for a while, sitting in the sand, talking about the upcoming tour and what to expect. She seemed excited to go, not only because she would get to see us play nearly every night but because, like me, she wanted to travel and see what the rest of the world was like. We had called Johnny, telling him that I would stay over with Kamalei this evening, so he could stay at home and nurse his drunken self. The sun had set a half hour ago, the evening getting colder as I stood up and held out my hand to her, pulling her up.

“Zee, can we walk a little bit more?” She asked curling up to my side, holding onto my bicep as we walked in the sand.

“Of course we can… What’s wrong Lei? You seem like something is bothering you.” I asked her, looking down at her.

“I was talking to my dad yesterday and he got me thinking…”

“Alright… go on…”

“Well, he asked me if I had anyone new in my life… I told him I liked someone but I wasn’t sure what to do. Then he said I had to move on in order to feel better. Am I taking too long to be over this?” she asked me.

“Do you think you are taking too long?” I questioned her.

“No… kinda. I feel like I should be over that asshole instantly, but I’m not. I mean, I don’t ever want him back or anything like that, but I still feel so hurt. I’m just so confused.” She said shaking her head.

“Like I told you before Lei, you take as long as you need. Don’t let anyone else tell you when YOU are ready. You went thru a lot of stuff you shouldn’t have had to. I know your dad means well, but he doesn’t really understand everything.”

“Not like you. You get it Zee. That’s why you’re the best. You never pressure me into anything and I just feel so comfortable with you.” She replied.

“Glad to be of service.” I said joking.

“Zacky?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you really going to wait around for me to figure myself out?” she stopped and looked up at me.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re worth it.”

“What if I realize I don’t want to be with you? What if my feelings change? Then I strung you along for nothing.” She said tears brimming in her eyes.

I put my hands on either side of her face and rubbed away the one tear that rolled down her cheek with my thumb, “Then so be it. As long as you are safe and happy, I’m okay with it.”

“You’re a horrible liar Zacky.” She replied turning away from me, continuing to walk.

“Ok, I’ll admit it would hurt but in the end I know that it’s what you wanted so I would be happy for you. I don’t know how long it would take me but if it’s what you want then so be it. I don’t know about you but I’ve enjoyed the times we’ve had so far and if that’s all I get, I’m grateful for even that much.” I said.

She stopped again, turning to look up at me, “Gena was a fool.”

I laughed lightly at her comment as she intertwined her fingers with mine, “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that.”

We made our way back to the car and started to head over to Matt’s place. Kamalei picked up her phone and texted Matt quickly that I was coming to stay over before setting it down in the cup holder and interlocking our hands again. She put me at ease when she held my hand, even though I knew there was the chance that her feelings could change. I tried to push those negative thoughts to the back of my brain and just enjoy the closeness I had with her now.

“Do you feel any better now?” I asked her as we got closer to the house.

“Yeah. I just felt like I wasn’t being fair to you because I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I feel like I’m stringing you along with no promise of anything in the end.”

“It’s all worth it to me. I asked you to give me a chance. I’m taking the chance right now. I don’t want you to feel bad about anything because this is my choice. I’m taking this chance that after the dust settles you might not feel the same as you do now. I care about you too much to not take this chance.” I replied as we pulled into the driveway.

“Zacky… thank you for understanding when I don’t even understand myself.” She said leaning over and kissing my cheek.

“Come on before Matt has a hissy fit.” I said letting go of her hand and getting out of the car.

We walked into the house to find it strangely quiet downstairs. I had figured by the time we had gotten here, Matt would be playing video games eating dinner with Val on the couch, but no one was even downstairs.

“Matt! Val! We’re home!” Kamalei yelled out.

It was quiet until we heard a loud thump from upstairs followed by Val giggling. I looked at Kamalei and she looked back at me suspiciously before shrugging her shoulders and kicking her shoes off.

“OH GOD MATT!” we heard from upstairs and both looked at each other in disgust.

“Ew… so fucking ew. Let’s get out of here.” Kamalei said quickly slipping her shoes back on.

We slipped back outside and got back in my car, “My house?”

“Sure. Anywhere away from my brother having sex is good with me.” She smiled.

“Icky and Majesty will be happy to meet you…” I said as I backed out of the driveway and headed towards my house.

Notes

Here you go my lovely readers! I hope you enjoyed it. It's not much but there is much more coming up and it should be fabulous. I will be MIA from at least Tuesday to Thursday this week as I will be 'off-island' as we call it, on Oahu for the A7X concert in Honolulu. I am predicting having no voice, and honestly, I'm cool with it. Please leave some comments about what you think because I love them just like I love all of you! Mahalo for your votes, subscribes, and comments! Much love and Aloha <3 <3 <3 XoXo