Chapter 11: Playboy.
Zachary's POV
"I need the flowers over here." Sabrina tells the florist, who is carrying a really heavy centerpiece.
Poor guy.
"Babe, don't just stand there. Come here and help me." Sabrina orders.
I just let out a chuckle as I stare at her. I walk towards her, staring down at her 5'11 frame. She stares at me with her doe eyes, with a frown on her face.
"What do you want me to do?" I ask, placing my hand on her hips.
"Can you help me pick up the food?" She asks, biting her lip as she slips her hand under my sweater.
"Sure. Text me the address." I tell her and she claps her hand smiling at me.
"Yay. You're the best." She says before she kisses me.
"I'll see you when I get back." I say, kissing her cheek before I pull away from her.
Today is Sabrina's twenty-first birthday. So, I am trying everything in my power to be a good boyfriend. I don't wanna step on her toes today.
Grabbing my car keys from the coffee table, I head out the door. The drive to the location is short, it's just ten minutes away.
"Hi, welcome to Greenville. How may I help you?" The barista asks me.
"I'm here to pick up a custom order." I tell him.
"Name?" He asks me.
"Iran." I reply, he nods and types something on the computer.
"It's ready. I'll be right out." He says before he walks into the back.
I just stand there waiting for him. He finally arrives, after what feels like eternity, with a large box.
"There are three hundred vegan hot dogs in here. The vegan cheese and apple tartlets are in the back. I'll go get them." He says before he rushes off again.
I lift the heavy box and I walk out of the store. Someone bumps into me and the box almost slips out of my fingers.
"Oh, I am so sorry." A female voice says.
"Valarie." I say, surprised.
"Hey." She says, smiling at me.
"Wow, it's surprising to see you here." I tell her, moving away from the door as someone enters the café.
"Greenville is my spot." She tells me, chuckling.
"Figures" I quip, laughing as I walk to my car.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asks, trailing behind me.
I place the white box in the back seat of my car before I stare at her.
"That the food here is trash" I point out, turning around dusting my hands.
She scoffs.
"Yet you're carrying a box filled with..." She pauses looking into the box from the clear top. "Hot dogs." She completes.
"They aren't for me." I say as the barista comes out of the café with the other box.
"Oh, there's more." Valarie says, as she watches the barista place the box beside the other one.
"That'll be all. Tell Sabrina I said hi." He says before he walks back into the café.
"These are for Sabrina's birthday party tonight. You should come." I say, running a finger through my slick hair.
"I don't think so. Supermodel parties aren't really my scene." She tells me, declining my offer.
"Oh, come on. You look like one, you'll fit right in." I say and she laughs.
"I'll see you around, Zachary." She says before she turns around and walks into the café.
Shaking my head, I enter my car and drive off.
I get home in about ten minutes, the traffic on the way back was no joke.
"About time." Sabrina says, walking down the marble steps in front of my mansion. "What took you so long, babe?" She asks, folding her arms.
"There was traffic on the way back." I tell her, getting out of the car. I proceed to carry the boxes, but she stops me.
"Don't. Go get dressed, the ushers will take those in." She says, stroking my cheek.
I wrap my arms around her waist and I smile at her.
"See you in a bit." I say before I kiss her on the lips.
***
My phone rings in my pocket and it's a text from Valarie.
Valâ¤ï¸: I'm outside.
She came.
A smile instantly appears on my face and I start walking outside. Valarie is wearing a red dress that is covered in crystals. Her hair is in a chignon bun.
She looks breathtaking.
"Hey." She says, shyly.
"You look stunning." I tell her and she smiles at me.
"Thank you. I bet the birthday girl looks even better. Come on, let's go inside." She says before she grabs my hand and leads me inside my house.
As we walk into the garden, Sabrina spots me and she smiles. Valarie leads us closer to her. She stops when she is in front of Sabrina.
"Hey, nice to finally meet you." Valarie tells her.
"I'm Valarie." She adds.
"Oh, I know who you are." Sabrina tells her, taking a sip of the drink in her hand.
Valarie realizes that she's still holding my hand and she lets go.
Dang.
"How do you two know each other again?" Sabrina asks us.
"We went to high school together." Valarie replies before I can even speak.
"So, you're just an old classmate of his. Thought you held more value in his life." Sabrina jokes, but I don't find it funny.
"I'll go get myself something to drink." I tell them before walking away.
"Yo, Zach." I hear someone call out.
I turn around and it's Chad.
"My man." I say, before I hug him.
"You've been MIA ever since our trip to Italy. Hope you're good?" He asks and I nod.
"I'm doing great. I've just been really busy with football, you know." I tell him.
"And how's Sabrina?" He asks me, raising an eyebrow at me.
"She's..." I trail off, staring at Valarie and Sabrina.
They are laughing at something on a phone. They seem to be getting along.
Valarie flips her hair to the side and looks to the side. She catches me staring at her, but I don't stop.
"Zach." Chad says and I turn my attention back to him and clear my throat.
"Sabrina is doing just fine. Can I show you the case in my study?" I ask him.
"Of course, I've been waiting for this for three weeks now." Chad says before we start walking towards my study.
We walk to my study in silence, Chad finally speaks when we're inside.
"What are you trying to do?" He asks me.
"I'm trying to buy Stone Construction." I tell him, blatantly.
"Valarie, would never sell it to you." He says laughing.
"She won't find out, because you're going to buy it for me." I tell him.
"No way, man." Chad refuses. "I'm not doing it, that business means so much to her." He adds.
"Remember Malibu?" I ask him and he stills.
"I'll do it." He says and I nod.
"Good." I quip.
"You're so obsessed with this girl." Chad tell me.
"I'm not obsessed. I just know that she's not happy, especially now that she's dating that playboy, Aaron Wang. ." I tell him.
Valarie's POV.
"How long have you and Zachary been together?" I ask Sabrina.
"About a year. He's the love of my life." She says and I smile.
Well, that's new.
"That's great." I tell her, faking a smile.
"So, word on the street is that you're dating Aaron Wang." She yells over the song playing.
"Yeah, we're just seeing where things go." I say, nodding.
"Would you like to get mani-pedis later this week?" She asks me.
"Do you really want to hang out with Zachary's girlfriend?" My subconscious asks.
Yeah, she seems like a lot of fun.
"I doubt that." My subconscious quips.
"I would love that." I tell her, smiling.
"Attention everyone, I'll like us to give a warm welcome to the woman of the hour, Sabrina Iran." The MC says.
Everyone cheers as Sabrina walks up the stage.
"Happy Birthday to you." The MC starts to sing and everyone joins in.
"Happy Birthday dear Sabrina." The crowd sings as Sabrina blushes hard in the center of the room.
"Thank you." She says, smiling. She's smiling so hard she might break her face. Sabrina blows out the candles and we all clap.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Zachary says beside me.
"Now's not a good time, Zach. You should be up there with her." I tell him.
"Please Vee." He pleas, staring at me.
"Fine." I reluctantly agree.
He leads me towards the balcony and we stand there, watching the stars before he finally speaks up.
"I hate that you're with him, Vee." He spits out, sounding pissed.
"With who?" I ask, confused.
"Aaron." He tells me.
"I'm not with him." I say, sighing. "And even if I was...why do you care?" I ask him.
"He's no good for you." Zachary says and I roll my eyes at him.
"This conversation is over." I tell him, chuckling.
"I'm serious, Valarie." He yells and I reply him with a slap on his cheek.
"You have no right to talk about anyone I'm dating. You're literally in a relationship, Zach. Why won't you let me be happy? You're the one mistake I wish I never made." I say before I turn on my heels and walk out.
Some nerve he has.
"Val, how's it going?" Chad asks, walking towards me.
"Good." I reply with a tight-lipped smile.
"That's great. I'd like us to have a meeting at your office tomorrow. Is 10am okay?" He asks me and I nod.
"Sounds good. I'll tell Naya to add it to my schedule." I tell him. "Now, if you'll excuse me." I say before I walk towards the exit.
I'm going home.
Fuck this deadbeat party.