by Thomas, C. M
Liam’s face instantly got red with suppressed rage. “Don’t even start. You don’t know shit about love or being in a real relationship. You fuck the woman then tell her to leave. I don’t,” he snapped.
“And you know so much about love, right? Then how come your girl left you without so much as a note?!” I knew this was below the belt, but I couldn’t stop myself. Liam was still hurt by the breakup with Evie. She was his girlfriend for years, and then one day she was gone. No one knew where she was, not even our sister, Amy, and she and Evie were best friends.
“Shut the fuck up, Zane!” Caleb shot me a hard look. I knew he was just protecting our little brother. But this thing with Anna was toying with me. And Cole kept bothering me about it. I shut up and started to eat. Moments later, Kylie and Anna came to the table. The moment Anna was near me, I could feel her. And with that, my cock was semi-hard. Just from her proximity. This was going to be a problem. I needed some pussy, sooner rather than later.
“So, are you guys ready for tonight’s benefit?” Kylie asked when she sat down. That’s right! Tonight, we were performing a few songs for a benefit. Actually, this was something I was looking forward to. Giving back to children in need was something I found very important. But it was Cole’s cause for sure.
His childhood was not like mine. He came from a home with an abusive father and a mother who bailed on him and left him alone with his father. This benefit tonight was something Cole asked us to do. And we all wanted to. Helping these kids get away from abusive parents was the right thing to do. So tonight, we were showing up to this event. With our support for the cause and with all the press following us, it would get some good publicity and raise even more awareness about the problem. We already provided a lot to the foundation; Cole was one of the three people who founded the foundation. This was his baby. And we supported him all the way.
“I’m so ready for this. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the kids the foundation has already helped.” Cole’s eyes were almost glowing. Just seeing how much this meant to him was enough for me to want to do this. He might not be my brother by blood, but he was my brother by choice.
“Yeah, me too. Can’t wait to see the outcome of this. We have supported this foundation from the beginning, and I think it’s time we do this,” I said, smiling at Cole. It had been over two years since they started the foundation, Happy Childhood.
“But before tonight we have a meeting with Tristan. I know you guys don’t want to do all these interviews, so I think we need to talk to him about it again,” Kylie said. I looked over at Caleb. We all agreed on this. We didn’t want to do interviews daily. Sure, we were going to do interviews from time to time. But not three or four a day.
“We need to get him to understand that doing interviews isn’t our main priority right now. I think two in each city will be fine. The press is at every concert, and we’re giving them quotes both before and after each concert. The interviews can’t be that important.” Caleb looked at me, then Liam and Cole. We all nodded.
“We will see what he says. I’m on your side. But remember he’s your manager, so be nice,” Kylie said while looking at me. I held up my hands in defense. I knew I’d been a pain to Tristan for some time. But this time it was all of us that wanted this change, not just me.
“When is this meeting?” Cole asked.
“He will meet us here in about fifteen minutes, so don’t go anywhere.” The moment Kylie stopped talking, Anna got up from her chair.
“I will just leave you guys to do this. I’m going to the gym,” she said, looking at Kylie while she spoke.
“You can stay if you want.” Wait, did I just say that? Anna wasn’t a member of our team. Tristan would never allow her to be at this meeting, and we all knew it.
“It’s fine. I need to get some running done anyway.” She smiled at me before leaving the table. When she turned around and walked away, I saw her petite ass. This girl was going to kill me. The connection I felt to her, it was not just about sex. I felt something else. It scared the hell out of me. I didn’t get attached to girls, like Liam. I had sex with girls for sure, but then I was done. What was it with this girl that was so different from all the others? And I said all because I’d slept with a lot of girls. Not something I was proud of. But I didn’t want a girl who only wanted me for my fame and money.
“Hey, guys, great concert last night,” Tristan said when he sat down at the table. His assistant sat down beside him. Kylie got her iPad and looked like she was ready to get this meeting over with. It was no secret that Tristan and Kylie didn’t get along. More times than I wanted count, Tristan had tried to get Kylie fired. But we all liked her, and she listened to us. No way he got to fire her just because she would not following his lead.
“Tristan, the guys would like to talk more about what we talked about the other day. About keeping the interviews to a minimum.” Before Tristan could talk, Kylie held her hand up to stop him. “I, for one, think two interviews per city will be fine. It’s not like these guys need the public to know them. They have fans all over the world. So maybe not so many promotion interviews, but more like interviews about the tour or the foundation the band supports.” Kylie looked at us, and we all nodded. Caleb looked over at Tristan.
“As Kylie said, it’s not like we don’t want to do any interviews. It’s just like, these interviews are all the same. When did we start playing music? Do we have any girlfriends? Are we moving away from our hometown? And stuff like that. It’s getting old.” While Caleb was talking, I could see Tristan was not happy with this. He liked to have control, and right now we were trying to take the control from him.
“I hear what you’re saying. But the interviews are important. It’s your fans’ way to hear from you guys,” Tristan said.
“Come on. The guys are on social media all the time. They put out tweets daily, and on concert days even more. On Instagram, they are uploading pictures all the time, and their Facebook status is also updated daily. Don’t say that the interviews are the fans’ only way to hear from them.” Kylie sounded mad. Now Tristan looked pissed. I, for one, was happy that this time it wasn’t me who caused this.
“I know they are on social media. But I also know this business. The fans love the interviews; it gives them a chance to ask questions to you guys. I’m sorry, but you need to continue the interviews I already have set up.”
“What if I have another idea where the fans still get to ask the band questions?” Kylie looked at Tristan.
“I can’t see how, but let me hear.” He really didn’t like her. I could see he wanted to strangle her so she would just listen to him. But knowing Kylie, she had given this a lot of thought, so she was prepared.
“How about the night before each concert, the band goes live on Facebook? I think for an hour or so. Then the fans can ask questions in a thread, which we post just before noon the same day. The guys can then pick what topic they want to talk about. This way the fans get answers to some of their many questions and the band gets more control over what comes out to the public.”
That was actually a good idea. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t told us about this. Looking around at the other guys, I could see they were all thinking the same. After a long pause, I could see that Tristan was still not sold on this plan, so I tried to help get him there.
“I think it’s a great idea. This way the fans get to see us, and not just hear us on the radio. And at the same time, we control what questions we will answer. That way we don’t get a surprise like that one two weeks ago.” I looked over at Tristan. I knew he hated that “surprise,” as I called it. Two weeks ago, during a live interview, the interviewer had told me that he had heard a rumor.
The rumor was that I had been with a prostitute. This, of course, was a lie, but the question caught me off guard, and I didn’t deny it as fast as I should have. After that, the media got wild. I was followed even m
ore than before, and even though we put out a public statement that the rumor was false, it hit us hard. Fortunately for us, a well-known actor had an even bigger scandal just five days later, and after that, the press let go of the rumor. At least for now.
I could see Tristan thinking. I just hoped he could see the benefits from this.
“I will give this a try. In three cities, you’ll do this before each concert. But if this doesn’t get the same publicity as the interviews, you guys have to do them for the rest of the tour. Deal?” He looked around the table.
“Deal,” Kylie said with a smile on her face. Over the next hour, we talked about the schedule for the tour until summer break. Tristan would meet us just before we went on tour again after summer. For now, we got to do our own thing, without him breathing down our necks.
“I will get my assistant to cancel the interviews in Portland, Springfield, and Sacramento. Then we will see if this thing on Facebook will be a success.” Tristan looked at Kylie. “Send me an email with the interviews the band still wants to do, and then the rest get canceled.” Tristan motioned for his assistant to stand with him.
“Fine, you’ll have the email by the end of the day.” Kylie sent him a smile. She was enjoying this. Normally, she was the one who had to compromise, not Tristan. This was a win for her, for sure. Tristan nodded and walked away. When he left the room, Kylie looked back at us.
“I know I didn’t talk to you guys about this first. But it was something me and Anna talked about the other night. Actually, it was Anna’s idea. I just thought that this was a better way than the interviews. I didn’t think he would buy it, though.”
“I think it’s a great idea. And as Zane said, we get to control the questions, and that is a good thing,” Cole said.
“Yeah, me too. Great sister you have. Maybe having her with us isn’t a bad idea,” Liam added. I was all for this idea, but having Anna here was not the best for me. Okay, so maybe this was just me being silly. But having Anna around was doing stuff to me. Stuff I didn’t like. That was a lie. I liked how I felt about her, I just didn’t understand it.
“I will let you do your thing today. Remember to be ready at five. We have to leave here at that time so we can get to the ballroom in time.” Kylie walked over to the door.
“We’ll be ready, Ky.” I smiled at her before she left the room. The rest of the day, we did what we always did the day after a concert: hit the gym for a couple of hours, catch up on sleep, and rehearse in the royal room at the hotel.
Before I got to think much about it, it was time to get ready for the benefit. The dress code was black tie. I hated wearing a tux, but I did it. When we had to perform tonight, I would be wearing my jeans and T-shirt like I always did on stage. But for now, I was dressed in a tux, just like the other guys.
We waited in the lobby for Kylie and Anna. When the elevator door opened, I turned around. And wow, Anna looked stunning. She was wearing a long black dress, high heels, and her hair was falling down her shoulders. That dress looked fantastic on her. It fit her body perfectly. When she saw me looking at her, I could see her cheeks turn pink, and she shot me a small smile.
“Wow, girls. You both look amazing.” Cole moved over to Kylie and offered her his arm. They started walking out to the waiting limo. I walked to Anna just before Caleb had the chance.
“You look gorgeous.” I looked up and down at her before offering her my arm. She took it. And the moment she touched me, it felt like electricity went through me. Anna let out a small gasp, and I just knew she felt it too.
When we came out to the limo, I motioned for Anna to go in first. And that was when I saw the back of her dress. Or should I say the lack of back? The dress was backless and displayed her tanned back perfectly. I took a deep breath before I joined the group in the limo. This was going to be a long night.
Chapter 9:
Anna
Seeing Zane in a tux was like a dream. He looked amazing. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep away from him. Hopefully, he’d be busy this evening doing what he did: flirting with all females around him. That way he wouldn’t look at me like he was right now.
We were on our way to the ballroom where the benefit was being held. The other guys were talking, I didn’t know what about. Zane and I just maintained eye contact, none of us moving or talking. Finally, the limo stopped, and it was time to get out. The sexual tension between us was making me nervous and excited all at the same time.
Getting out in the long dress and with heels higher than I normally wore was proving to be difficult. Before I knew it, Zane offered me his hand. I took it because there was no way I was getting out of this limo without help. That was when I noticed all the cameras. I fell back in the limo. No way was I getting out there.
“You okay?” Zane came back in the limo.
“I’m fine. Isn’t there a back entrance?” I looked up at him. I didn’t want to get out there. The chance that “D” would see me in the tabloids was too big. “D” had sent me yet another text earlier today, stating that he wanted to feel my breast again, and that next time we would finish the act of making love. A chill ran through my body, and I tried to shake the thought of “D” off me. I wouldn’t let him ruin this night.
“Afraid of the cameras, are you?” Zane smiled at me. But when he looked me in the eyes, his whole face changed. He stepped out of the limo and talked to someone outside. Moments later, Marco joined me in the limo and closed the door.
“I will take you around to the back entrance.” The limo drove for like a minute or so before it stopped, and Marco opened the door. I got out of the limo and walked with Marco inside. I appreciated that he didn’t ask any questions, but I knew they would come at some point. A few minutes later, we rejoined with the band and Kylie.
“You okay?” Kylie came to me and gave me a small hug.
“I’m fine, I just don’t want my picture all over the tabloids tomorrow, okay?” I might have been talking a little harshly to her, but right now I didn’t care. I couldn’t tell her the real reason why I didn’t want my picture all over the tabloids.
“I get that. It’s still new for you. I don’t even notice them anymore.” Kylie smiled at me. A waiter came over to us with champagne flutes. I took one and took a big swig. At that moment, I saw Zane keeping an eye on me, even though he was talking to some men I didn’t know. I felt warm inside my body and smiled back at him before turning to talk to Kylie. The evening went on like it was planned.
After an amazing dinner, there was a keynote speaker. A boy, around sixteen, went to the stage and started talking about how the foundation had saved his life. He and his four siblings had been living with their mother and her new boyfriend. The boyfriend was abusing him and his younger siblings. Hearing him telling the story brought tears to my eyes. I could see Kylie was also battling with tears in her eyes. No kid should experience this. I just hoped that the foundation could help even more kids in the future. I looked over at Cole, and I saw his face was like a stone. Kylie had told me that Cole had experienced abuse himself. This had to be hard for him.
After dessert, it was time for the auction. A lot of companies and private persons had donated items, events, and vacations to this auction. I just hoped that some of the items would bring in a lot of money. Looking around the table, my eyes ones again caught Zane’s. He smiled when I looked at him, like he had been waiting for me to look over at him.
The hostess for the evening, a woman around forty, took the stage. Moments later, the auction was going strong. When she announced that it was time for the evening’s main event, the band disappeared behind the stage. She talked for about fifteen minutes before she gave the stage to Deep C.
I was surprised to see that in that short time, they had time to change into their normal jeans and shirts. Cole walked on stage first and gripped the mic.
“I hope you all have a great night. We are very
excited to be here tonight. Like most of you maybe already know, I, like so many other kids, was also a victim of abuse. We’re here tonight in the hope of giving this cause even more exposure, and I hope you all will keep giving to this wonderful foundation. I was one of the lucky ones—I found a friend, and his family became my family. These guys are not just my band members; they are my brothers. They are the reason that I came out even stronger when I finally told someone about the way my father was treating me. I would also like to send special thanks to Coleen and Brent; you guys are the parents I always wanted.” Cole stepped back, and Caleb took the mic.
“Like Cole said, we’re here to support the foundation and to play a few songs for you.” Caleb looked over his shoulder at Zane, who hit his sticks together and then they were playing. I saw Zane looking at me from behind the drums. I couldn’t look away from him. His eyes were on mine throughout the small concert. He wanted me just as bad as I wanted him? No, he was just flirting with me. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
After the band was done playing, the hostess once again took center stage. “A big thank you to Deep C; we truly appreciate the work you guys do for us. And Cole, a special thank you for letting me be a part of this from the beginning. Now there will be some music and dancing. I hope you all have a great night, and thank you for coming.” Everyone in the ballroom stood up and applauded. I looked at Kylie.
“So now what, are we leaving now?” Before Kylie had a chance to answer, Zane came up from behind me.
“Not before I get a dance.” He smiled at me and took my hand. I didn’t even have time to think before we were standing on the dance floor, with Cole and Kylie dancing just behind us.
“I hope you can dance, because I can’t.” Zane smiled at me.
“Then why did you want to dance?” I asked him.
“Because I wanted to dance with you.” I wanted to kiss him. That look in his eyes was so pure and sincere, and at that moment, I knew he was telling the truth. We started dancing. Luckily for us, I had been dancing all my life. My mother told both me and Kylie that it was important that a woman knew how to dance. And right now, I was glad that my mother forced me to go to all those dancing classes.
