2 comments/ 9270 views/ 5 favorites Tainted Love Ch. 01 By: lyricalpoet95 Zaire- 'Why is it always my luck' I thought as a tall wall of muscle knocked me down in the middle of the sidewalk on my way to work. The impact of the collision made me twist my ankle as I fell. "Miss are you okay? I'm so sorry" his deep honey flowing voice washed over me as he stooped down to help me up and pick my bag up off the ground. "Yeah I'm fine except when big giants knock me down. Now I'm going to be late for work" I said pulling away from him before excruciating pain shot up my leg and I almost fell back down on my ass "it doesn't look like your fine" he said. I still hadn't looked up at his milk chocolate face but from what I could see he was a sexy god. He was tall around 6'4 and had broad shoulders and muscles that filled out his hoodie and his jeans fit just right on his lean waist to where I could see his muscular thighs and the outline of his dick. I was immediately turned on. I don't know how long I stared at him before I realized he was still speaking to me "I should take you to the hospital to have someone look at your ankle it could be broken." He said pulling me through the crowd of screaming women and men with cameras that I just noticed were surrounding us. "Why are all these people taking pictures of us?" I asked nervously as a way of distracting myself from the throbbing pain in my ankle "that would be because of me" he said and I finally looked up and honey brown met hazel and I instantly recognized him as my favorite singer. 'oh my god I'm in Tyler Wright's arms' I thought as we stared at each other "your Tyler Wright" I whispered in awe "in the flesh" he said shooting me with that thousand watt smile I smiled back before promptly fainting in his arms as the crowd gasped around us. Tyler- My petite beauty sagged in my arms after finding out who I was. My fans and the paparazzi closed in around us. "Tyler who is the woman you're holding?" "Is that your new girlfriend?" "We love you Tyler!" "Marry me Tyler!" was all I heard as I shifted her body in my arms. My bodyguard and my long time best friend Raheem pushed through the crowd. "Back up folks give the man room to breathe." he said the crowd, while it thinned a bit, still consisted of the paparazzi trying to get the latest scoop on what was going on. "Rah help me get her to the room without too much more attention" I barked out as I walked toward the hotel entrance. Raheem ran ahead of me into the hotel as I waited outside the door. The cameras were still flashing away but I tried my best to ignore them. Raheem came out a minute later "all good Ty" he said motioning for me to follow. I slipped into the hotel and headed through the lobby to the private elevator that would take us up to my penthouse suite. "Damn Ty when you want someone's attention you really go all out" Raheem laughed as the car climbed up the floors. "Shut up Rah" I said but couldn't resist chuckling as I looked down at the woman in my arms. She was tiny no taller than 5'2 or 5'3 and had the perfect hour glass shape that rivaled Nicki's to go with her tiny frame. Even though she was dressed like a shapeless teacher with the glasses and her curly/wavy hair in the bun but that didn't stop me from seeing her beauty. Her slanted, doe eyes, even though closed, were accentuated by her long lashes. Her nose was slightly up turned like a rabbit and went well with her pouty lips and complemented her smooth peanut butter colored skin. Everything about her screamed sexy and innocence. She resembled the singer Sevyn Streeter but only prettier. The elevator dinged letting us out in front of the door to my hotel room "Ty I'm going to do damage control over sleeping beauty here. If you need anything hit my cell" Raheem said as he closed the door leaving me alone with my mystery woman. I laid her down on the bed right before she opened her eyes. She immediately sat up and checked her clothes in a rush. "I would never take advantage of you" I said right off the back when I saw her face relax when she saw her clothes were still in place "what am I doing in here?" she asked in that sexy husky voice and I had to fight off my hardening dick. "I wanted to get you out of the paparazzi spotlight and this was the closest place" I said as I sat down next to her. She looked at the clock on the table next to my bed. "oh shit I'm so late for work" she scrambled off the bed only to flop back when she put her body weight on her ankle "ow ow ow" she wined "look miss I don't think you should try to walk on it until I can call somebody to come look at your ankle" I said. She narrowed her eyes at me "Fine" she said as she crossed her arms over her ample breasts drawing my eyes to her loose fitting blouse "Mr. Wright my eyes are up here" she said, the frown evident in her voice. I just laughed "well you know my name but yours is still a mystery to me" I said flashing my million dollar smile. I saw her blush before she answered me "Zaire Jensen" "nice to meet you Zaire. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman" I flirted with her. Something about her had my mind tied in knots and I wanted to know more about her " Shouldn't you be making that phone call to whatever doctor your calling so I can get out of here?" she asked me in a sarcastic tone. I looked at her shocked because nobody had ever talked to me like that especially women. Falling at my feet, worshiping the ground I walk on yeah but never sarcasm and even disdain. "I'll just call my personal physician for you. Don't run away beautiful" I said snatching up my phone of the night stand. I took one last look at the woman on the bed before going into the bathroom to place the call. Zaire- As soon as I heard the door close I quickly grabbed for my stuff and as fast as I could make a break for the door. My ankle was protesting my pace but I just ignored it and quickly made my way to the elevators while checking to see if anybody was following me. Nobody was in the hall as I repeatedly hit the down button praying the car came before he noticed I was gone 'holy shit I'm running out on Tyler fucking Wright' I thought as the elevator sounded letting me know that the car was finally there. The doors opened and I tried to rush in only to bump into Tyler's body guard "where are you off to? I didn't think the doctor had come so fast" the guy said. I turned and quickly sprinted down the hall toward the stair case "hey wait" he called after me. I heard his footsteps coming toward me which caused me to quicken my pace breaking through the door and racing down the steps "Come back" he yelled his voice echoing through the stair well. I ignored him as I continued bounding down the stairs before finally making out the door to the lobby. The people and workers all turned and looked at what I'm sure was a sight, before turning back to what they were doing. I sprinted across the lobby leaving the body guard in the hotel and kept going until I was well around the corner. I finally hobbled to a stop and tried to catch my breath that was coming in shallow uneven puffs. I felt around for my purse but came up empty "fuck" I said out loud drawing more attention to myself. Praying I wasn't an idiot and left it in my purse, I patted the pockets of my slacks, thanking Jesus when I found it still in the same place I had placed it earlier. I hit the first programed number and waited as it rang "Kyla do you have the car... because I need you to pick me up downtown...... it's a long story" Tyler- "What do you mean she's gone Rah?" I asked getting more frustrated by the second. I stepped out of the room and the woman- Zaire- took off with even a goodbye. "I caught her at the elevator trying to go down but she took off down the stairs. The girl must have ran track in high school or something cuz she was ghost" Raheem said to me flopping down in one of the chairs in the living room. "Be serious bro I got to find her" I said still pacing. Raheem smiled at me "that should be easy," he said pulling something from behind his back "she dropped her purse." Tainted Love Ch. 02 *1 month later* Zaire- "I still can't believe you met the Tyler Wright, walked out on the man and he wrote a song about you. Does he still have your purse?" Kyla said as she sipped on her martini on my couch. "Yes he still has my stuff and for the last time he did not write a song about me! Kris tells her," I said looking at Kyla's long term boyfriend Kris for support. "Sorry babe but she's right. That song is about you," Kris said. "Ugh you two are impossible. The song isn't about me. It can't be." I said softly. "And why the hell cant it?! You sweet as pie, smart and you have the body of a video vixen with the class of the girl next door. You're the perfect package!" Kyla exclaimed causing Kris to fall off the couch laughing. "Stop lying I do not," I said frowning "Zai, I would get with you in a New York minute if I didn't love my lady so much." Kris said nodding toward Kyla. I knew he was kidding considering the fact that he had been in love with Kyla since middle school. "Oh shut up you big lug," Kyla said blushing before turning toward me. "The point is, Zai, that Tyler Wright the sexiest man alive-outside my baby-wrote a song about you his mystery lady. You're on the cover of hip hop magazines with him holding you on the street. It has to be about you." "Let's just drop the subject because it's obvious I'm not going to agree with you." I said firmly letting them know that I was done talking about it. Kyla and Kris just looked at each other smirking but didn't say anything else about it leaving me to ponder whether they were right or not. Tyler- Mystery lady, My sweet love You got me hypnotized You're like my personal drug You were here then you were gone Taking my heart with you on a string Mystery lady Sent down from heaven above Teasing me then snatching back your love Damn this shit is getting ridiculous The way I let you get in my mind Come back stay Let me take your hurt and your pain away Let me be your man My mystery lady.... "Damn Ty that's your hottest track yet! You've already sold half a mill in the last 48 hours. I'm glad you're out of your rut." My manager Carla said walking up behind me as my latest song went off on the radio. "Thanks C I had good inspiration for it I'm glad I'm out of the rut too." I said absent mindedly staring out the window of my 2 million dollar Los Angles mansion. Ever since Zaire ran out of my hotel room up in Seattle it seemed like my music had taken a turn for the better. It was as if the thought of Zaire gave me inspiration to write from the soul. 'Now if only I could find her to tell her how much she helped me.' "Ty... Ty... Tyler?" I heard Carla call pulling me out of my thoughts. "What?" I asked turning to find Raheem and Carla staring at me. "Sasha's here" Carla said with a look of distain on her dark chocolate face. "Did she say what she wanted?" I asked walking toward the front hallway not bothering to wait for them to reply. "Sasha what are you doing here?" I asked her irritated by her presence. "I heard you were back in town. Why didn't you call me?" she said trying to wrap her arms around me but I backed up quickly. "Maybe because we aren't together anymore Sasha so I don't have to tell you anything I do. I told you that when I caught you fucking Gabriel in your apartment," I said getting angrier. "Baby I told you that was just a onetime thing when are you going to let that go? But anyway I heard your new song. Is it about me?" she purred coming closer to me again. "No Sasha it's not about you now if you excuse me I have things I need to do that don't involve cheating bitches like yourself." I said pushing her back toward the door. "Ohh you can be involved with this bitch any time," she said trying to resisting me but failing against my strength. "Thanks but no Sasha. No really you need to leave my house now before I call security. How did you even get past the gate for that matter? They have orders not to let you up here." I spat at her. "Really Tyler? Quit playing," she said trying to laugh what I said off as I pushed her out my front door. "Sasha ain't nobody playing with you. I had you banned the last time you came up here unannounced and started breaking my shit. Don't come to my house any more I don't have time for the games you like to play. Go find Gabriel I'm sure he would be happy to have you back in his bed!" I said leaving her standing out there. "Fuck you Tyler Wright you will regret the day you scorned Sasha Johnson!" she screamed before storming back to her Mercedes and driving back down my drive way. I shook my head and walked back into my house slamming the door behind me. "What did she want?" Carla asked walking into the front parlor. "Don't know don't care. I'm going up stairs to sleep off my bad mood. Call ya later C." I said taking the stairs two at a time leaving her standing there. I reached the second floor and heard voices coming from Raheem's rooms but ignored it and went up the shorter flight of stairs to my bed room. The double doors led in to a spacious sitting room complete with the bookshelves and the flat screen and my overstuffed couch. Further into the suite to the left you had my bar and mini fridge and to the right was my bedroom and bathroom and dead center was the double doors that led to my balcony with the view of my lush back yard. Flipping on the TV I walked into my bedroom and reached into the top dresser drawer for Zaire's purse. Going through her wallet once again I found her ID with her information on it. On one card I had her address and her number in my hand and this wasn't the first time I contemplated calling her and letting her know that I had her still had her stuff. Usually I stopped myself after I dialed the first 6 numbers 'Damn I've never been this worked up over a woman before. Just forget about her.' I thought to myself dropping the ID back into the drawer closing it before walking to the side of the bed and putting head in my hands. 'What is it about this woman that has me going out of my mind' I leaned back on the bed and tried to shake Zaire out of my head which wasn't working. I heard the intercom buzz outside my door and got up to answer it. "Ty man I've got to go run an errand for my mom is it aight if I burn out for a few hours?" Raheem asked coming into my sitting room. He had been my best friend since we were in diapers and there's nobody else I trusted to have as my right hand then him. "Yeah Rah its cool tell moms I said hi. I'm just about to chill for the rest of the night maybe write down a couple verses. Go handle your business" I said. "Alright man I'm out" he said walking back out the room leaving me alone to my thoughts over Zaire again. "Damn it" I said to the empty room as her pretty face filled my mind again. 'Just call her fool you know you want to' I thought. "Fuck it" I walked back over to my dresser and pulled her ID back out and before I could stop myself I picked up my iPhone and started dialing. Tainted Love Ch. 03 Zaire- I heard my phone ring as I walked into my dad's house but I ignored it. "Daddy it's me," I called out walking into the kitchen not surprised to see my brother Cameron and his wife Kim sitting at the table with my father. "Oh Zai I didn't know you were supposed to be dropping by today," he said as I leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I got off work early and figured I would come visit you. Cam, I figured you would still be at the hospital working." I said to my brother as I leaned up on my tippy toes to reach a glass from the cabinet. "I work tonight. Kim and I just wanted to come and tell dad and I guess now you that we're having a baby!" he said proudly as he rubbed Kim's still flat stomach. "I'm going to be a grandfather?" my dad asked excitedly as I rolled my eyes. 'Great the golden child strikes again,' I thought as I drained my glass and stuck it on the counter behind me. "Yup, dad in 6 months you'll have a grandson or granddaughter to bounce on your knee." Kim said beaming from ear to ear. As my dad and Kim discussed my niece or nephew Cameron came over to me probably looking to start an argument as always. "So little sister you still working that shit job downtown?" he asked with a smirk on his face. He loved to put me down because he got to finish college and go to med school. Hell it was his fault I had to drop out after 2 years. My dad used up all his money sending Cameron to school which meant my dreams of getting my degree in public relations went out the door. I had to quit school and work as a receptionist at one of the law firms downtown and my brother never let me forget that fact. "You know I am so I don't know why you bothered to ask." I said with an attitude. "Zaire watch your tone." My dad scolded me like I was still a little child. "Daddy did you not just hear Cameron" I asked in disbelief. "Zaire let's not start this. Your brother just asked you a question it's nothing to get upset about" my dad replied brushing me off. Once again my brother got away Scott free. "Whatever. I just dropped by to see if you were okay but you're busy right now with the golden child. I'll see you later daddy." I said picking up my new purse from off the counter and headed to the door. "Zaire don't act like that" my dad said trying to get up out of the chair but my brother stopped him. "No pop let her go. If she wants to act like a brat then let her!" I ignored the comment and kept walking outside I made it down the stairs and started walking back toward the bus stop when my phone started buzzing again. I didn't recognize the number on the screen and was skeptical to answer but chose to any way, "Hello?" I asked continuing to walk down the street to the bus stop. "Is this Zaire? Zaire Jensen?" The deep voice asked. I stopped and tried to place it. "This is she may I ask who's calling?" "This is Ty. I mean Tyler. Tyler Wright." He replied. I pulled the phone from my ear to stare at my iPhone screen in shock. Did Tyler Wright really just call my phone? "Hello? Hello?" I heard him call and quickly put the phone back to my ear. "Sorry. Umm how did you get my number?" I asked him still a little shocked. "When I knocked you down you dropped your purse. I uh I still have it," he stuttered. 'Is he nervous?' I thought as I answered him. "Thanks for calling. I thought I lost it forever. That's my favorite and most expensive purse" I gushed happy to find out my coach bag hadn't been stolen. "It was no problem. I have been meaning to call you for a few weeks now and tell you that I had it but I got busy." he explained in a rush. "You don't have to explain to me. I'm sure you're a busy man with your music and all. By the way I love the new song." I told him. "Thanks. So how do you want to go about returning your bag?" He asked me. "Well since you still have my ID you can just mail it to my apartment. I don't want to unconvince you though." I said getting to the bus tunnel just in time to make the train heading back toward my house. "It's no unconvinced for me." he said quickly. "Umm okay thank you Mr. Wright..." "Mr. Wright is my father call me Tyler or just Ty." he grated out. "Okay thank you Ty. It's nice of you to return my bag" I said at a loss of what to say to him at the moment. "You're welcome. I'll send it out tomorrow. Bye gorgeous. Stay beautiful" he said. I could hear his smile through the phone and couldn't help but start smiling myself. "Bye Ty" I said sliding the icon to hang up my phone. I sagged back in my seat and stared at my phone again. The only thing my mind could come up with to say to that whole situation was: 'No fucking way!' Carla- My phone rang while I was pedaling away on my exercise bike in my home gym. I quickly glanced at the screen before answering it and sticking it on speaker phone. "Hello?" I puffed out not slowing my pace. "C I need you to do me a favor. I need you to book me a flight out to Seattle for tomorrow morning," Ty said in a hurry. I stopped pedaling in shock. "Ty you just got back from Seattle and you're trying to go back?" 'What's going on with him' I thought. "I met this girl up there and we got into an accident- well I sort of knocked her down- and I want to go up and check on her. You know make sure she's okay so that she doesn't sue." he said trying to make a joke. "Umm yeah sure what time you want to fly out? And is Raheem going with you?" I asked gritting my teeth while thinking 'he must be talking about the fat bitch he was holding in those pictures!' "Any time tomorrow morning and naw I'm not going to be up there more than a day or two I should be fine without him" he said to me. I could hear rustling in the background and I knew he was moving around in his closet. "Sure I'll get right on it and email you your flight information." I said hoping of the bike. "Thanks C you're the best!" he said and hung up leaving me standing there with the phone to my ear grinding my teeth. I had a habit of doing that when I was angry which was usually when Ty got a new play thing. Calmly I got off the bike before throwing my phone at the wall, watching it shatter into itty bitty pieces enjoying the sound and sight of it breaking. "One of these days Tyler Wright, you will be mine." Zaire- "Kyla I'm still in shock. I mean he really called me. Tyler Wright, the prince of R&B, called me!" I gushed on the phone as I jogged up the stairs to my apartment door. "I told you he wanted you" she laughed. I thought about the reality of the situation and lost some of my pep. "Ky he didn't call because he wants me. He called to return my purse that I dropped outside his hotel room." I said entering the empty apartment. "Whatever the reason he has your number boo and he used it. That has to mean something Zai and you know it." Kyla reasoned with me. "Your right. But I probably won't ever hear from him again after my bag gets back up here. He said he's shipping it up here tomorrow." I said throwing my keys and my bag on the table by the door. "Whatever you say Zai. How's your dad?" she asked me. I heard the front door close in the background and faint voices indicating that Kris was home from work on her end of the line. "He's my dad. And my life got worse. Kim's pregnant." I muttered darkly walking to the fridge for a bottle of the sparkling water I kept around my house. "What? They allow douche bags to reproduce?" Kyla asked snorting in disbelief. "Apparently and you know he didn't waste any time rubbing it in my face that once again he's my dad's favorite." "He's like that at work too from what Kris said. Always thinking he's better than everybody else" she said. I heard more talking in the background "Zai, Kris told me to tell you that if he didn't need his job so bad he would have decked him a long time ago." Kyla laughed. "Ky tell him thanks but no thanks. I don't want him to have wasted those 6 years of school and the 2 years of residency trying to beat the shit out of my dickhead brother." I said flipping on the TV as she repeated what I just told her. "It's okay Zai at least you still got one nice caring brother," she said as she started giggling. "Kris stop!" "And with that I'm off the phone. Good night you nasty's" I said hanging up before either of them could reply. I walked into my bedroom to get ready for my shower. Rifling through my drawer for my favorite shorts and a tank top I found the magazine with Tyler and I on the cover that I had shoved into the drawer. 'Maybe Ky's right. Maybe he does like me.' I said picking it up staring at us on the cover before quickly shaking the thought off. "Girl bye with all that. The man was just being nice. You probably won't ever see him again." I said out loud shoving the magazine back into its hiding place before grabbing my night clothes and headed to the bathroom. Gabriel- "Oh my god baby that was so good" Sasha said rolling off my chest to lay on her back next to me, the blanket falling off her exposing her B cup breasts to the air conditioned room. I watched as her nipples hardened in the cold air as I came down off my sex high. The only reason why I had started fucking her in the first place was because she was Tyler's girlfriend. I had an ongoing rivalry with him since before I could remember and I took pride in having affairs with all of his so called girlfriends. They were all too welcoming to screw another star to boost their own reputations and Sasha was no better. Just because she had her own fame didn't mean she didn't want to boost herself higher. She didn't even give a shit that I was using her because she was using me too. "How'd it go earlier getting information on the girl from the cover?" I asked her. I had heard that Tyler was back in town and was curious to find out about the woman he was with on the magazine cover in Seattle. "I have no clue baby. When I got there he immediately kicked me right back out after Carla got in my face. I never got the chance to ask him who she was." She explained. "So you didn't do what I told you to do?" I asked her rolling away from her giving her the look. "Baby I'm sorry!! I know you told me to do anything but what was I supposed to do he literally pushed me out the door!" she said scooting away from me. "You suck his dick on the front porch that's what you do!!" I yelled slapping her across her face roughly, causing her nose to start bleeding. "Gabriel I'm sorry please don't" she pled but it fell on deaf ears. I glared back at her menacingly as I opened up the top draw of my nightstand. "Assume the position." Tyler- I sat in my rental truck staring at the cute little apartment building debating on if I was going to man up and go inside. 'Man, what the hell is wrong with me? Man the fuck and go give the girl back her purse!' I thought and quickly slid out of the jeep before I lost my nerve. Jogging up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, I reached apartment 2101 and knocked. I heard what sounded someone stumbling their way to the door. "Ugh it's too early in the morning to be dealing with you Kyla! Why the hell didn't you just use your damn key...?" I heard Zaire complain as she opened the door. Her hair was a wild mess on top of her head, her face was void of makeup and she was absolutely beautiful. Her eyes went wide when she realized I wasn't her friend. "T...Tyler what are you doing here?" she asked steeping back from the door way to let me into her apartment but I was frozen in place staring at her attire. She was wearing a black tank top that clung to her chest and tiny waist in the chilly morning air I saw the outline of a plump nipple, and a pair of woman's boxer clung to her wide hips and ample behind, exposing her thick thighs to my sight. 'Damn!' I said to myself or at least I thought I did. She gave me a weird look. "What? Is there something wrong" she frowned moving her hand up to her wild hair. "Uh nothing I'm sorry I woke you." I walked past her into the apartment. It was a quaint little place comfortable and homey only a few pictures: one of her by herself, two of her with a guy and another woman and one of her as little kid standing with an older Asian gentleman and an boy who looked to be a few years older than she was at the time. "It's fine I guess it's only... 8:30 in the morning." she said sarcastically sitting on the couch. I laughed before sitting down next to her "I take it you're not a morning person?" I asked. "You're just lucky I haven't tried to kill you because of lack of sleep and coffee." She said to me with a grimace. "I take it you're not a morning person Zaire?" I asked again laughing. "No I'm not and the fact that I don't have coffee and it's my first day off in 2 weeks doesn't help." she said and I instantly felt bad for waking her up. "I'll make this visit short so you can go back to sleep I promise. I brought your bag back to you." I said handing her the purse. "I thought you were just going to ship it to me I didn't want to interrupt your busy R&B music star schedule but thank you." she said throwing me a radiant smile. "It was the least I could do considering I knocked you down. And in all honesty the reason I came back up here was because I wanted to see you again" I told her truthfully. She gave me a look that was half surprised and half shocked. "Me? You wanted to see me again?" "Yeah I wanted to see you again." "But why?" she asked still looking at me. I flashed my 100 watt smile "Because beautiful I can't get your pretty face off my mind." she did the one thing I never expected her to do: laugh. "Mr. Wright flattery will get you nowhere with me this early in the morning," she stood up and started walking back to the door. "But I thank you so much for bring back my bag." I stared at her in shock as she opened her apartment door waiting for me to stand up and leave. "Your welcome I think," I said baffled over the fact that she was kicking me out. "Look Zaire..." I started to say out in the hall way. "Thank you again Ty" she said before closing the door in my face leaving me standing there looking like an idiot. Zaire- 'Did I really just slam the door in Tyler Wright's face' I thought leaning up against the wall. I was surprised when he showed up at my door and even more shocked when he said he couldn't get me off his mind. I pushed off the wall and walked back to my living room when another knock sounded on my door. "Who the hell is it now" I asked out loud before pulling it open to see Tyler still at my door. "I'm sorry but can we go get a cup of coffee from Starbucks? You know to make up for me waking you up so early" he asked nervously shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. I was once again shocked by his words. "Umm yeah sure just... just give me a minute to get dressed." I stuttered and noticed for the first time that I was half naked in front of a guy I didn't know. I let him come back in the apartment and he reclaimed his place on the couch. "I'll just be here waiting" he said and I quickly rushed off to go get dressed. 'What the hell am I going to wear?' I thought to myself picking through my closet. It wasn't always easy to be thick and still look cute especially when you had a size 14(sometimes 12) bottom and a medium top. I thought about wearing a skirt to show off my legs but then I stopped myself real fast at that thought. 'Whoa girl back the truck up this is not a date. The man is just being nice because he feels bad he woke you up this morning. He probably has a girlfriend waiting back in Cali anyway.' With that I grabbed a pair of straight leg black jeans and a simple dark red t-shirt. I didn't want to keep him waiting too long so I snatched up my hair brush, threw my glasses on my face and grabbed my purse and padded back out to the living room. "I'll be just one more second. I have to brush out what I used to call my hair." I joked referring to my curly hair. "It's all good ma. May I ask what are you mixed with if anything?" he said striking up a conversation while I cringed as I yanked the brush through my hair. "I'm half black, half Filipina" I replied pulling my long hair into a bun. "Damn that's a sexy ass mix!" he said grinning at me again making my panties flood. 'This man is too damn sexy.' I thought turning away from him to put on my tennis shoes. "I'm ready to go if you are." I said choosing to ignore his comment on my ethnicity. He unfolded his long body from the couch and stretched and it took all my will power not to drool at the sight of his hoody riding up his washboard abs. 'Get ahold of your hormones Zaire! You are not some teenage girl you're a grown woman.' I scolded myself as we walked out the door and down to the lobby in the elevator. "Hold up Zaire I need to stop bye my car to get something." he said to me pulling his hood over his head when we got down to the main street. "That's fine with me and could you please call me Zai?" I asked as he walked over to the range rover barked in front of my building. 'What on earth is he doing?' I thought as I watched him pull out a pair of Ray Bann sunglasses and a snapback then walked back over to me. "What on earth is that for?" "So that nobody recognizes me. I really don't want to be harassed today while I'm with you. Now on to the nearest Starbucks!" he said pointing down the street. I laughed and started walking. "Yes she finally cracks a smile at me!" he teased. "Oh ha ha. Like I told you earlier just be thankful I haven't tried to murder you yet." I laugh as we dodge the early morning joggers. "I told you I was sorry for waking you up." "I'm kidding jeez calm down." I laugh again at the look on his face. We walked into the busy Starbucks and weaved our way through people waiting on their drinks up to the front counter. "Hi Zai you want your usual?" Tina, my favorite barista asked me when we got up to the register. "Yup and my friend here wants a..." I started off before turning toward Tyler who was staring at me. "Umm can I have a tall drip, black, 4 sugars and a shot of caramel." he said to Tina who was writing his order down on the side of the cup. "Okay that will be $8.63" Tina said. I reached in my bag for my card but Tyler's hand shot up with a $20.00 bill. "Keep the change" he said glancing at me daring me to say something but I just kept my mouth shut until we were by ourselves at a table waiting for our drinks. "Why would you do that? I would have just used my Starbucks card." "But I asked you out for coffee. And last time I checked if I asked you out then I should be the one paying" he said casually walking over to grab our coffee from the back counter. "But this isn't a date. This is apology coffee." I argued back. "I don't care if this was I'm mad at you muffins I'm still paying" he said back. I couldn't do anything but laugh at his last line. "Okay okay you win this time." "Oh so you're saying we'll have other times?" He asked me and I almost choked on my mocha. "Ummm..." I started "Because I'm going to be completely honest I want to see you again." he said licking his bottom lip. I watched as his tongue move across his plump bottom lip and desperately wanted to suck it into my mouth and nibble at it myself. I didn't know how long I had been staring before I heard him chuckle bringing my attention back up to his eyes. He smirked which caused me to blush. "Why me?" I was dying to hear his answer but also afraid of what it would be. "Because you're the first woman that doesn't fall over herself trying to get me to notice her. You treated me like I was a nobody. Like I was Tyler, the man not Tyler, the R&B music star" he said looking into my eyes. Tainted Love Ch. 03 For a moment I thought my heart was going to stop and drop out of my ass at the vulnerability he showed to me. "Well say something love. It's not every day when you have a totally sexy music sensation bears his true thoughts and feelings to people." he said the cockiness returning to his voice replacing vulnerability that was there moments before. "See that right there makes me think you're not serious." I said irritated that, for a fleeting moment, I thought there was more to him then what he showed the public. 'What a fat joke!' I thought standing up and grabbing my coffee cup. "Thanks for the coffee but I have to go." And without another word I walked out. Tainted Love Ch. 04 Raheem- "When the fuck are you going to tell them it's been 25 years and you still haven't told your wife!" I yelled at the man sitting across from me. I was beyond mad at that point. "Look son I know I should have done this a long time ago but you have to understand how hard it's been on me trying to juggle both, making sure that you had the best of everything while she had to suffer. Do you know how much that tore me apart?" He spat back at me. "Don't you dare put the blame on me you fucker. Maybe if you had kept your dick in your pants you wouldn't have had that problem. But no you couldn't do that so deal with the damn consequences!!" I screamed as I felt my blood pressure rising. I couldn't afford to get sick now especially since I was so close to getting what I had always wanted. "Look I'm done playing games with you. You're on my time now. If you don't tell her soon I'm telling them for you. Got that?" I said to him. I watched his jaw clench as he nodded. "Good" Tyler- "Hey mama," I said with a huge grin on my face. "Hi baby I haven't seen you in a while. When are you going to come see your mother?" she scolded playfully. I loved both my parents but my mom was my biggest supporter and when it came down to it I was a mama's boy through and through. "I know mom things have just been really busy. Between working on my new album and then my two trips to Seattle I haven't had time to do anything let alone come visit my favorite girl." I said trying to sooth her. "Ty I know your busy baby but you need to slow down before you make yourself sick. And two trips to Seattle Ty what's going on?" She questioned. "Well the first one was for business and the trip I'm on now is a personal trip" I said vaguely. "Who's the girl?" she asked me. I smiled knowing she would get my drift. "I bumped into her on my first trip and honestly mama, I couldn't get her out of my mind so I came back to find her" I said thinking of Zaire. "She must be some girl if she made you come back up there. Tell me about her," she said as bowls clanged around in the background. "That's the problem mom. I don't know anything about her really. She's the first woman that has ever run out on me and tell me no. She actually slammed the door in my face this morning and walked out on me in the middle of our coffee date." I said shaking my head. "Damn I like her already. She's not one of them stick women again is she?" she asked and I rolled my eyes. My mom was by no means a fat woman but she wasn't skinny either and she hated when I dated women that were too skinny and didn't eat. "No mama she's not all skin and bones like nana would say." "Good it's about time you found you one that's sturdy. I like her already. When can I meet her?" she said getting ahead of herself and I told her so. "Mom you're getting way ahead of yourself. Right now she doesn't even like me." I said sighing. "Baby then you make her like you. I did not raise you to give up like that." she said with authority in her voice. "Yes mama I know" I said laughing. "Good. You need to call me when you come back so I can make you your favorite dinner" she said as a door closed in the background. "I will mama. Who just came in the house?" "Your daddy and nana just came in the house... No mama it's just Ty... Tyler, nana said you need to come see her before she gets old and dies. And daddy hi," I rolled my eyes at the message my mom relayed to me. My nana wasn't a day over 68 but she always said that to me when I hadn't seen her in a while. "Tell nana that I'll see her when I get back and tell dad I said hi. I gotta go mama." "Alright baby I'll talk to you later." She said as she hung up the phone. I thought over what she had said to me. "Make her like me huh?" I said out loud to myself as I picked up my phone to send the text. Zaire- "You did WHAT?" Kyla yelled over the phone after the words left my mouth. I shook my head as I repeated myself. "I walked out on Tyler Wright," "You walked out on Tyler Wright AGAIN? The Tyler Wright that you have been in love with since he came out when we were all at the tender age of 16? The same one who bumped into you in front of his hotel that Tyler Wright? ARE YOU CRAZY?!" she yelled again. I sighed as she pointed out my love for all things Tyler. I was 15 when he first came out in the music world. A gorgeous, baby faced 16 year old Tyler immediately captured my heart through his music and Kyla never missed the chance to tease me about it especially now since I've come face to face with my musical obsession and ran out on him twice now. "Ky what was I supposed to do. He was being a cocky unfeeling jerk. Do you know he had the nerve to say he wanted to see me again then acted like an ass" I told her before smacking my forehead realizing that I had opened up a bigger can of worms that I wasn't ready to deal with. "He asked you out? Have you been snorting coke? Your crush of the last 10 years asked you out and you walked out? I don't know you anymore." Kyla moaned out. I got up from my perch on the couch and walked to the kitchen, sipping from one of my sparkling waters. "Ky it was the principle. For half a second I thought he was completely serious and was actually contemplating saying yes then he started that whole 'famous music star' shit and it pissed me off." I said as my phone beeped letting me know I got a text message. "Zaire Marie Jensen the man of your dreams not only called you, but came to your house this morning, took you out for coffee and asked you out and your pissed because of that 'famous music star shit'? I swear I don't know you anymore. Most women in your position would have had their clothes off as soon as they saw him at their door. Truth to be told I would too shit." she said laughing. I heard Kris say something in the background. "I was kidding you big dope," she said back to him. "Well actually he said he likes me because I treat him like a regular guy and don't do that for him," I pointed out. "Seriously Zai? The man likes you because you're different and you turn him down? This is priceless," she said. Before I could answer my phone beeped again. "Hold on Ky someone is texting me," I said pulling the phone away from my ear. I frowned at the number not recognizing it as I read the Imessage: "Hey Princess" 'Who the hell would be calling me Princess?' I thought as I replied to the message. "Who is this?" I faintly heard Kyla calling me through the phone and quickly stuck it back up to my ear. "Sorry I had a message." I said walking to the trash as I finished the last of my water. "Ooh who from?" she said excitedly. Knowing her she was probably thinking I was holding out on her. "Don't know who it is. It's nobody saved in my phone," I said walking to the fridge to snatch a bottle of water. My phone beeped again in my ear. "Well what do they want?" she asked trying to pump me for whatever information I knew. "I don't know I haven't checked the new message yet" I told her flopping back on the couch. "Well what are you waiting on! Go look so that I can know." I didn't reply as I pulled the phone away from my ear to look at the screen. "You've forgotten me already I'm heartbroken Lol." My eyes went wide as it clicked who it was and my fingers flew across the touch screen to receive confirmation. "Tyler?" I pressed the phone back to my ear. "Kyla you will never guess who's texting me," I said squealing like a little girl. "By the sound of that squeal and the shit eating grin that's probably a mile long I'm guessing you have on your face it is the one and only Tyler Wright," "You take the fun out of everything Kyla Ann but yes I think it's him." I said grabbing the remote of the table in front of the couch. "Good that means that when Kris drops me off in a few I won't have to kick your ass," she said seriously. "Yeah yeah whatever hold on I just got another message." "You know it. Did you enjoy your coffee?" I laughed at the thought of me leaving him sitting at the table earlier. "Sure did. But it still doesn't make up for sleep," I sat there with a stupid grin on my face as I waited for him to reply forgetting about Kyla waiting on the phone line. "HELLO? Zaire I can hear your damn fingers hitting the screen of your damn iPhone! Find your head set!" Kyla screamed I quickly snapped out of my daze. "Damn you act like you weren't just scolding me to talk to the man now you're screaming at me to talk to you. Make up your damn mind." I joked. "Oh hell no. Kris baby you better get Zai cuz she has lost her mind," Kyla said. "Aww whatever bitch you know you love me. I'll see you in a minute." "Love you pooh bear when I get there I want to see these texts that has you ignoring me, Kyla Ann Rogers, your sister." she said over dramatically like always. I snorted "Bye Kyla," and hung up the phone without giving her a chance to respond knowing that she hates when I do that. My phone buzzed in my hand and I instantly glanced down to read the message. "What can I do to make up for waking you beautiful? You won't go out with me so I'm out of ideas since you did a drive by with the coffee this morning" "So you got jokes now. I'll figure some way for you to make it up to me. How long are you up here?" "It took you 10 decades for you to reply only to say that? God I need to teach you how to flirt with men," Kyla said in my ear reading over my shoulder, scaring the shit out of me. "Kyla you know I hate when you do that. Why can't you make noise like a normal person when you come through the door?" I yelled shooting up off the couch dropping my phone on the floor, "Shit" I muttered as it hit my foot. "We have been friends since we were 1 years old and you don't know how quit I am? I get Kris all the time catching him with the whipped cream nozzle in his mouth." she smiled plopping down on the couch. "I just figured you would grow out of that 'quite as a church mouse' stage as we got older. Apparently my pleas fell on deaf ears." I said darkly bending over to pick up my phone. During the time it fell I got another text from Tyler "As long as you want me to be ma ;p" "Ooh I'm telling. That stupid grin on your face means lover boy texted you back. Dish, dish before I break your hand trying to get your phone." She said to me reaching for my phone snatching it before I had a chance to pull away. "As long as you want him here? Girl that man just gave you power over when he goes back to Cali. You better take advantage of it. Woman would kill to be in your position and you know it." I contemplated her words before I snatched the phone from her and quickly replied before I could let myself over think it. "I give up Ty. We can do dinner tonight but you better not mess up. I don't believe in giving 2nd chances so you must be special" ?????- 'How the fuck did I let it get this far? What the hell am I supposed to do?' I thought to myself pacing in my office. My life had gone to hell and I couldn't blame anybody but myself for putting it there. If only I hadn't argued with her that night, if only I had kept my ass home I wouldn't be in this situation now. 'You dumb fuck it's too late for if only's now so there's no use in wishing,' I thought to myself still pacing in the room. I contemplated what I was going to do. I knew I had no choice but to tell them but I knew the outcome. I sank into the chair behind my desk and put my face in my hands just as a knock sounded at the door. "Dinner's ready honey come on out to the kitchen," The voice called breaking me from my panic attack. I cleared my voice before calling out "Coming baby." I shook off the bad fore brooding feeling I had in the pit of my stomach and stood up, putting on a fake smile as I opened the door. Zaire- "You look fantastic! There is absolutely no way Tyler won't choke on his own tongue after seeing your curves in that dress," Kyla gushed as she put on the last touches to my eye shadow. "I look like a slut," I said glancing into the mirror we were standing in front of. When I told Kyla that I had a date tonight she immediately went in to my closet trying to find the sexiest outfit I owned and came up with my little black dress that I had bought a few months ago. It was strapless and the lace, black bodice clung to my breast before loosening around my flat stomach then clinging to my ass before finally stopping a few inches above my knees. She paired the dress with a pair of 4 inch stilettos the "show off my legs" and straightened my naturally unruly curly hair making it fall around my shoulders to the center of my back. The topped off the whole look with a smokey eye shadow that mad my hazel eyes pop and clear lip gloss. As sexy as I looked I felt out of my element. "Zai you do not look like a slut you look hot. If I was single and swung that way or was even questioning I would do you in New York minute. If you never listen to me again ever in our life time listen to me when I tell you Tyler Wright doesn't stand a chance when he sets his eyes on you tonight." Tyler- I knocked on Zaire's door for the third time today before reaching up to fix my tie nervously. I didn't know how tonight was going to go considering the fight I had with her just trying to get her to say yes. I went to knock again just as the door flung open and the black woman from the pictures in Zaire's apartment stood in front of me. "Hi I'm here to..." I started to say before she cut me off. "I know who you are trust me and I know why you're here. Let's just get one thing straight if you hurt her you have to answer to me." she said poking me in my chest. I was surprised by her attitude because it reminded me of Zaire's- or at least what I had seen- attitude. "Kyla stop you're going to scare the poor man off before we even leave." I heard Zaire say to her friend as she walked up to the door. In that one moment my mind went completely blank and I lost all conscious thought. 'Hell I barely remember my own damn name!' I thought as I stared at Zaire. She literally took my breath away at the sight of her in that black dress. "Damn," I said out loud looking her up and down. What really got me were the heels that adorned her feet. They took her from her normal mid chest height to my shoulder. "Well hello to you to handsome," she smiled at me causing my heart to pound harder than normal. "You ready?" I asked holding my hand out. "Yeah sure let's go. Ky can you do me a favor and lock up for me?" She asked the woman who was still leaning against the door jam. "Yeah I'll lock up. Remember what I told you Tyler." she said again before stepping back into the apartment and closed the door. "Please ignore anything she says. She's just trying to look out for me" Zaire quickly explained to me. I chuckled "It's okay I understand." We stopped in front of the elevator waiting for it to reach her floor, "She's like my sister and if her boyfriend had of been there it would have been worse." "It's okay Zai, I'm a big boy I think I can handle your friends," I said cockily. She stuck me with a look before saying, "Why can't you go five minutes without bringing your cocky attitude to into the mix? Or is that too much work for you to do?" "Alright alright I'm sorry I'll try and be good tonight." I said to her taking her hand as we walked out of the elevator. Her small hand felt right in my larger one as we walked through the small lobby out to my car. "So what do you have planned for us tonight Mr. Music Star?" she asked me as I helped her in to the jeep before jogging around. "That's for me to know and you to find out. But trust me beautiful your outfit won't go to waste." I wiggled my eyebrows at her before I pulled away from the curb. "Come on Ty just tell me. Please?" She begged batting her eyes and poking her bottom lip out and I knew right then that she could ask me for the moon and I would find a way to get it for her. "How'd you know I'm a sucker for woman who pout?" I joked. "No you're not because if that were the case all of the woman in the world would have had their evil wicked way with you. Now can you pretty please tell me where you're taking me on our 2nd chance date?" "So you admit that this morning was a date?" I asked her before laughing as she shot me a look that told me to shut up. "That is completely beside the point. Just tell me already. You are worse with suspense then a scary movie," she said rolling her eyes at me. "We're going to dinner then we're going to this dance club downtown. Happy now that you know?" I teased her as I turned the corner. "Where are we eating?" She asked turning her body toward me as best as she could in the seat belt. "You'll see when we get there." Zaire- 'There' happened to be down on the water front. Tyler helped me out of the car and took my hand again as we walked down the boardwalk. "Where exactly are we eating?" I asked as we passed boat after boat before stopping. "We're eating here," he said pointing to the yacht tied up at the end of the dock. I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. 'Holy shit he's taking me to dinner on a yacht?' "That's where were eating?" I asked for confirmation and I saw him tense up. "Yeah I hope you don't mind I just thought..." He started to explain but I stopped him. "Of course I don't mind, but you didn't have to do something this extravagant for me," I said watching the tension drain from his body and he smiled again. "I wanted to now come on let's go eat." He took my hand again and led me up on to the boat where our waiter for the evening was waiting for us. "Mr. Wright we're ready to take off as soon as you and you beautiful guest are situated." He said taking my hand from Tyler's to help me on to the boat. "Thanks Marcos. Tell the captain we're ready any time." Tyler said climbing on before reclaiming my hand from the waiter. "Of course sir. I'll be down in just a moment to get you started." He said walking across the deck of the boat before disappearing into the control room. "Come on love lets go down to our table," Tyler said steering me down below the deck where it was set up like a restaurant dining room. He pulled my chair out for me before taking his own. 'He wins points for being a gentleman,' I thought to myself. "So Zaire tell me about yourself. This time you can't run from me," he said smirking at me. "Is that why you chose a boat?" I laughed. "I pled the 5th." "What do you want to know about me?" I asked him as Marcos came bounding down the stairs with a bottle of wine in his hand. "Whatever you want to tell me but honestly everything." He said truthfully. Once again he managed to surprise me with his words. I waited until Marcos had poured the wine and went back up on deck. "Umm okay I was born on October 31st so I'm a Halloween baby and I'll be 25 this year. I have an older brother named Cameron whose married and about to have his first baby. I was raised by my dad and I don't know my mom. She ran off when I was two. I have two best friends, Kyla, whom you met tonight and her boyfriend Kris. I love to read and write poetry so I'm a bit of a book worm. I work downtown Seattle as a receptionist at a law firm and I want to go back to school so that I can finish getting my degree in business." I said in a rush before blushing. "That was a mouthful but surprisingly I understood it all. I was born December 25th so I'm a Christmas baby and I'll be 26 this year I don't have any siblings but I do have my best friend Raheem. I was raised by both my parents and my grandmother I also love to read and write poetry obviously. I went to school for business as well and I want to open up a restaurant for my mom so that she can share her good cooking with the world." he said right before Marcos came back down. Tainted Love Ch. 04 "Excuse me miss but do you have any food allergies we need to be aware of in the kitchen? Mr. Wright already informed us that he doesn't but you were still a blank," he asked me. "I'm allergic to nuts. Other than that I'm good to go" I responded. The waiter simply nodded and left us alone again. "What else do you want to know Tyler?" Tyler- "What else do you want to know Tyler?" she asked me before taking a sip from her wine glass. I thought about it for a minute. "I have an idea. How about we play a game of 21 questions to get to know each other better" I suggested as our salads were set in front of us. I watched her take a small bite of her salad barely heard her answer because I was hypnotized by her mouth as she chewed. "I...I'm sorry I didn't hear you," I stuttered out. "I said sure why not." "Okay we'll start generic. Favorite color?" I asked "ruby red, sky blue, lilac, and black. What's yours?" she asked me before taking another bite. "Black and red," I said before taking a bite of my own salad. "What was your favorite show when you were little?" she asked. "I was actually a Family Matters fan and I also loved power rangers, spider man. The typical boy stuff." I told her taking a sip of my own wine. "Typical little boy. I was a Family Matters fan as well but I loved the Rugrats, Hey Arnold and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." She blushed. "You were a TMNT fan huh? Interesting." I winked at her before popping a piece of tomato in my mouth. "I swear if you tell anybody I will kill you." she laughed. I was getting used to hearing her laugh already and that wasn't good. "Wow threatened twice in one day? That must be a record. What's your favorite food?" "It must be you lucky day then. And it depends. I'm a pasta junky so I love alfredo and lasagna but I also love Thai food, Chinese food, pretty much any kind of food but I have to admit there are some exceptions." "So you're a foodie?" I asked her setting the bowl in front of me aside so I could focus sole on Zaire. "Yeah I am. You don't end up with hips and an ass like mine surviving on this stuff" she said pointing to the bowl in front of her. I felt my dick start to get hard at the mention of her ass and tried to will it back down. 'Come on buddy don't do this to me now things are going so good!' "Well you defiantly don't have any complaints from me. I'm like you are I love all kinds of food. I've never actually tried Thai food. Is it any good?" I asked her. "Only the best." She started saying before Marcos came back with our dinner, "Here you are. Tonight we made you fillet mignon medium well with a side of 4 cheese shell pasta and asparagus," He collected the half empty salad bowls and refilled the wine before leaving us alone again. "So if you could be any animal what would it be?" she said while cutting a piece of steak and popping it into her mouth chewing slowly before moaning. "Oh my gosh this is so good," I almost hopped over the table and attacked her. 'Damn how the hell is it possible she eats sexy too?' I thought as I answered her question. "I would be a lion because I want to be king of the music game and their king of the jungle." "I can respect that. I would want to be a dolphin. Their so majestic and loving not to mention really smart and they don't have any natural predators except us really." she told me. "Fair enough. Now this is a question that's relevant to present company: Who's your favorite singer?"