“I was the lead singer. I also play the guitar and the drums.”
I would put money on it that he has an amazing voice, to go right along with his super hard ass body.
“Why aren’t you playing anymore?”
“Kristy, I got tired. Long hours on the road. Too much partying. I am ready to stay in one spot now. I am getting to old for this.”
Our order comes out to us. Sebastian orders two more beers for us. My phone starts to ring. I look at it noticing it is Brody, “hey Brody, what’s up.”
“I just want to tell you, Mariah got five years for her crime. They gave Trenton two years. Giovanni told me to tell you that, he will call you later. He also says he loves you.”
I laugh knowing how difficult it must have been for him to say that.
“Thanks, Brody.”
I relay the message to Sebastian. We finish up with lunch. Sebastian pulls out his wallet. I put my hand on his, “I will get lunch. It is the least I can do. You just bought me new tires.”
On our way back to the office, I feel like someone was watching me. You know how you get that feeling. Well, I have that feeling. I do not want to look around because I do not want Sebastian to think I am going crazy.
We get almost there when Sebastian stops right in front of me, “is Giovanni having a problem with me working with you?”
I look up and down the sidewalk not feeling right. I look across the street; I do not see anything off. I guess it is my imagination.
“Sebastian, he just thinks we are spending too much time together.”
When we get inside the building, we get right back to work. Sebastian sticks his head in around five, “time to leave, Kristy.” He is laughing at me.
I look over at the clock shaking my head, surprised by how quickly the day went. I can probably sit there working for hours. After he drops me off at home, he tells me he will be back in a couple of hours.
When I get up to my place, I make a drink. I keep thinking what I am going to do about Candice. I cannot just let it go. On the other hand, I do not want to face her either. However, I know I will do something.
I need to get ready to leave, so I decided on a short mini dress. It is blue with white flowers, the back of it stops just above my ass. Simple yet cute.
I wander down to the garage to check out my new tires, when I see the message you will pay bitch keyed into the driver side door. I am fuming!
If I find out who is doing this I am going to kick their ass! I head back upstairs absolutely pissed off.
I settle down a bit then get my phone to call Giovanni.
“Hey, my love.” He answers.
“Hi, Giovanni. I am so pissed off right now! Did Maria leave?”
“I don’t know. Why? What happened?”
“Giovanni, something is going on. I found my tires slashed this morning. All of them. Sebastian bought me new ones. I just went down to the garage to see them. I found someone had keyed my rig.”
“Kristy, you think Maria did this?”
I was thinking to myself if he was smart, he had better not defend her.
“I guess. I do not know who else would do this. Giovanni, you bought me that car. I can’t believe you aren’t mad about this.”
“My love, calm down. We will find out who did this. Yes, I am very mad. Please watch your back. Try not going out alone. If this is Maria, she is a loose cannon. We will get this straighten out. I love you.”
“Fine. I love you back.”
I hang up the phone not feeling very happy. My intercom goes off. I know what they want so I tell them to send him up. After a few minutes, there is a knock on the door.
I open it to, Sebastian. I go to the kitchen making a couple of drinks. I definitely need one. When I bring him, his he is standing with his hands in front of his zipper.
“Sebastian, is everything alright?” I look to his hands then back up to his face. His cheeks are blood red.
“Yea Kristy, I am fine you . . . gave me hard on!” I cannot help but to laugh. We finish our drinks then leave.
“Let’s take your ride tonight. I want to check out your new tires.”
“Sebastian, I don’t think that is a good idea. I am low on gas. Next, time we can.” I have to lie to him; otherwise, he will be all-protective.
When we get into the party, it is in a huge restaurant. It has a stage up front with tables scattered all around the room. The bartender and servers are running around taking care of business. There must have been one hundred and fifty people there. The environment is awesome. It is super exciting.
Sebastian takes my hand taking me to a front table. He introduces me to his band and a few other ones. I spot the ones we are scouting. They were backstage getting ready to go on.
A server walks over asking what we would like to drink.
“I will have tequila and she will have whiskey on the rocks.” Sebastian has told her. The server keeps smiling at him. Finally, she turns and walks away. I look at him smiling. He is definitely one hot man.
We get our drinks then got ready for the show. The first band called Eagles Fly High. They play rock and roll. They are good. The second band called Stonewall. They play country. I am not a big country person although they are good.
Our drinks keep coming. By the time, the last band comes on I am wasted. The last band called Deaf by Music. They play heavy metal. They are actually very good. I was not familiar with heavy mental although I enjoyed them. After we listen to the bands, Sebastian leans into me.
“Now, this is where you go and mingle with the crowd.” I get another drink then hit the floor.
I meet so many people that night. Some famous, some not so much. I am having a fantastic time. I look up seeing Sebastian smiling at me. I say my goodbyes going to him.
“Is everything alright, Sebastian?”
“Absolutely, you have this room eating out of your hand. You were made for this business.”
I smile feeling very good about myself. He takes my hand holding onto it tightly as we leave. He drops me off in front of my place.
“Thank you for tonight, Sebastian. I had a great time.”
CHAPTER 30
Before I head up to my place, I decide to check on my truck. As I get closer to it, someone hit me on the side. It felt like a baseball bat. What the fuck. I fall to the ground when someone kicks me.
“Watch your back, bitch,” I hear someone saying to me.
I cannot tell if it is a man or woman. My head feels so cloudy. I get myself up looking around. I do not see anyone. I leave to go to my place. Once inside I take off my dress noticing a big bruise starting to form on my ribs.
I put on my robe then took some Advil. What is going on? Who would do this to me? Maria does not know me. Would she stoop this low? I did not know although I have to find out. I have to stop this! I am tired of running around being afraid. Not anymore!
I get up the next morning feeling sore. I look in the mirror finding a huge bruise on my side. My ribs are killing me. I guess they are probably broken. Every time I take a breath, it hurts like hell. I thought about seeing a doctor but assumed they could not do anything.
Shrugging it off I get ready for work. While I am in the elevator, I start to get nervous. I keep wondering what is going to happen with my truck. If someone is going to jump out waiting for me. Taking a deep breath, I get off the elevator. I look around making sure Maria is not anywhere.
When I get to my truck, I feel a hand grab my arm. I turn around swinging. Pop, I hit Angelo right in the face. He grabs his nose, “Fuck!”
“Oh shit, Angelo. I am sorry! I did not know it was you. I am just so jumpy lately.”
He takes out his handkerchief holding it to his nose. Wiping away the blood, he looks at it shaking his head.
“That’s okay, ma’am. Giovanni asked me to get you to work today. He is going to have your truck fixed. I guess he didn’t tell you that.” I shake my head no.
Angelo looks back into his handkerchie
f again. The bleeding is becoming less. He opens the back door of the limo for me. I climb in feeling so bad for hitting him. Angelo looks in the rearview mirror at me.
“Angelo, please forgive me. I really did not know it was you. I feel so bad.”
“Ma’am, Giovanni asked me to keep an eye on you. I will say something to you before I walk up on you again. By the way, you have a great right hook.”
I am so embarrassed I do not want him to look at me. I take my phone out to see I have three missed calls from Giovanni last night. One missed call from Heather. I know I need to call her; it has been a long time since I have talked to her.
I start to listen to my message from Giovanni, “Hey baby, you are probably out having fun tonight. I just want you to know Angelo will be picking you up in the morning. I am going to have someone come and get your car. I love and miss you, my love. Call me when you can.”
I look at the phone smiling. Boy, what this man does to me really! I quickly call him back, “hey, Giovanni. How are you?”
“Hi, my love. I see you got my message.”
I giggle, “Yes. A little too late though. I got scared when Angelo came up to me. I clocked him, right in the nose.”
I look into the rearview. Angelo does not seem like he is listening to me.
I truly do feel bad about what I did. Nevertheless, really? You do not quietly walk up on someone. Jeez . . . a warning would be nice. I am sure G, told him what was going on.
“G, I feel terrible.” Giovanni starts to laugh.
“This isn’t funny, baby.”
“Kristy, I am sure he is okay. I plan on being home in the next couple of days.”
“Good, I miss you.” Hearing he is going to arrive home makes me feel so much better. I am relieved. Maybe, I will not be so uptight now!
When we pull up in front of work, we say our goodbyes hanging up. Angelo opens my door. I get out of the car looking around.
“Is everything okay, ma’am?”
“Yes, I am good.”
“I will be back at five. If you need anything call me.” Angelo climbs in the car driving away. I wonder what he did all day. I am sure Giovanni keeps him busy somehow.
“Good morning, Ms. Kristy.” Cecelia greets me. I smile because that woman is always happy.
“Good morning, Cecelia.” I take in a deep breath cringing. My ribs hurt so badly.
I enter my office and Sebastian and Brody are in there waiting for me.
“Good morning, guys.” I went to take my seat behind my desk.
“Kristy, did something happen to your car last night?” Sebastian ask me in a pissy voice.
“Not at all.” I look to each of them. Neither one of them are happy.
Brody walks over, bending down. He is kneeling in front of me. He places his hands on my knees, “Kristy, what the fuck is going on? Giovanni called Sebastian and me this morning telling us you have shit happening to you. I want to know what! It is our responsibility to watch over you when he is gone. Before you say anything, we wanted to do this for, Giovanni. We are like family.”
I look to Brody’s hands on my knees. I push them away. He stands to take a seat in front of my desk. I walk over to the window, “I already told Giovanni, I can take care of myself. I am not some little child. I can defend myself. Giovanni has to let me take care of myself.”
I am feeling highly irritated now. I take another deep breath to calm down. My ribs are screaming at me. Man, do they hurt.
Sebastian comes over to me. He turns me so I am looking at him. He places his hands on my shoulders. I wish he would quit touching me. It sends a shiver straight to my crotch.
“Kristy, listen to me closely. You know that I care deeply about you. None of us, that means Giovanni, Brody, or myself is going to let anything happen to you. Quit being a stubborn bitch! We all know you can handle yourself. That is not the problem. We are only trying to help. Now tell us everything that happened.”
Stubborn bitch! Maybe he is right. Maybe I did need to tell someone what is going on. Maybe they can help me figure out what is going on.
“I found my tires slashed. Sebastian, you know that. Then I found my truck keyed. There is a woman asking the front desk about me. I saw the same woman at dinner one night one night with, G. Then last night I am hit in the parking garage.”
Sebastian is still holding on to me. His grip tightens onto my shoulders, “Kristy, hit with what and where? Was this after I dropped you off at home?”
“Yes, it was after. I think with a baseball bat in my ribs.” I pull my shirt up so they can see.
Brody comes over to us. He takes a good look at them, “looks like they might be broken. That would be my guess. Giovanni is following up on a few leads. He will let us know if he finds anything out. I have to make a call. I will talk to you later.” Brody turns and leaves.
“Kristy, you can’t be by yourself. It is not safe. I am going to stay in your spare until Giovanni gets back.”
I do not argue with him. I know it will be a lost cause. I will feel safer if he is there. Man, I wish Giovanni would come back to me.
“Sebastian, we have a lot of work to do.” I sit behind my desk and get busy.
He leaves my office fuming. A few minutes later, they both come back to my office.
“So guys, tell me how last night went.” Brody has said to us.
“I had such a great time; I met many new people also. The bands were totally awesome.” I excitedly answer Brody.
“Which one would you say is your favorite band?” Brody questions us.
“I love them all,” I tell them.
“Eagles Fly High,” Sebastian tells us.
We decided to sign all of them. Brody leaves to go to his office. Sebastian goes to get the forms we need to fill out. When Sebastian comes back, we got to work on them.
Cecelia’s voice comes over the intercom, “Ms. Kristy, you have a call on line one.” Picking up the phone, I am hoping it will be Giovanni.
“This is, Kristy, may I help you?”
“Kristy, its Zoe. Are you free for lunch?”
“Sure.” We sat up a meeting time of one in the afternoon to meet. We agree on the deli down the road.
Sebastian and I start back to working on the contracts. At twelve thirty, I leave for lunch.
When I get to the deli, I order an iced tea. I sipped on it waiting for Zoe to get there. She comes in taking a seat by the window. I stroll over to where she is, “Hey, Zoe.”
“Hey, Kristy.”
She looks bad, she looks stressed out.
“Hey Zoe, are you okay? You look like crap.” She starts to fidget in her chair.
“No, Kristy. I am not okay. I have wanted to talk to you.”
The server walks back over to see if we want something to eat. Neither one of us do. Zoe orders a Coke.
“Kristy, I feel really bad. Candice told me that she was going to get some payback for a friend.”
The server brings over Zoe’s Coke. Once she leaves, Zoe turns her head to look out of the window.
“Zoe, payback for what?”
“Something about you sleeping with a friend’s dad. She said he is still married. Candice is generally a good person but she likes her drama and bullshit. When she gets like that everyone should look out.”
“Zoe, did you know what she was going to do to me?”
“She didn’t say anything! She asked us to leave. She wanted to have some fun with you. Candice is bisexual. She told us you are also.”
She returns her looks out the window. I was not blaming her for what happened. I feel like she is blaming herself.
“Why were you two fighting then?” I look down at the table.
Neither one of us wants to look at each other, embarrassed by the situation at hand. Very understandable though.
“She told us you were bisexual. I did not believe her. You did not act as if you had the hots for her or anything like that. She was being too pushy. She pissed me off so I let her know that.
I have no idea what happened between you two. I just want you to know I am sorry.”
“Zoe, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. She is psycho, not you. I am going to take care of this.” I stand to leave.
On my way back to the office, I know I have to face Candice. I also know I want to get it done tonight. I want this done with now. I call Brody who gives me her phone number. I get to the door of the office building. Instead, of going in right away I call her.
“Hello.” She has a pleasant voice when she answers the phone.
“Candice, its, Kristy. Wanna get together for a beer tonight?” While I wait for an answer I think, please do not be a chicken shit. Please say yes.
“How about the same bar as we were at last time?” She finally answers me.
“Sure, Candice. I will meet you there at five.” We hang up then I go inside and continue to work. The rest of my day flies by quickly.
At four thirty, Sebastian enters my office, “I am going to go home. I need to pack a few things then I will be over.”
“Sebastian, I am going to meet with a friend after work for a beer. Here is a key so you can get in. Make yourself at home. I will see you later on tonight.”
All I can think of is how I want to beat the shit out of Candice. When I get in the limo, I look at Angelo. You cannot even tell I had hit him.
“How’s your nose, Angelo?”
“Fine, ma’am.” He is looking into the rearview mirror grinning at me.
“Angelo, I am going to meet a friend for a beer.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will drop you off then wait around the corner for you.”
I reach into the liquor cabinet in the limo. I take two shots of whiskey. I want to relax my nerves. My ribs are also hurting big time.
When I walk in, I find Candice sitting at a table in the back. On my way to her I order a beer with a shot of tequila. I take the shot at the counter bringing my beer with me.
“Hey, Candice.”
“Hey, Kristy.”
I sit down across from her. She is having a mixed drink. I take a sip off my beer, “Candice, I am going to get straight to the point. Why did you do that to me?”
She looks down to the table, playing with the base of her glass, “Sophie and her mom came to me. They have had me watching Giovanni for some time now. When I told them, he was seeing someone they wanted to know who. I told them he is seeing you.”
SCREAMIN' in Pain Page 23
