Everything Started Here With You

Look What The Storm Brought In

"Tell me to go. Tell me to leave. Please. I'm asking someone's permission for the first time in my life. If you stop me, I can't leave."

Lee Gon
--The King: Eternal Monarch

"You got your bag?" I asked as Hayden and I walked out the hotel. We were going to see some of his friends he hadn't even known were in town. One of the guys had said they were on vacation and somehow they chose Palm Spring, California.

"Yeah. You got yours? I don't want Lexi to think we hate her."

"She knows I don't hate her."

"Alright. Make sure that you put all the other bags in the trunk."

I walked around our rental car and waited for Hayden to pop the trunk. When it opened, I pushed aside all the other bags that crowded the small trunk and put the new bags in the trunk. I counted the bags, then closed it. We had everything and I was ready to deal with some of the most ruthless women I'd ever known.

To be honest, I had no choice but to go. If anything happened, I was leaving. Hayden could stay with his friends and he'd regret bringing me with him. I was wearing a purple sundress with gold accents. It was cute, but really a little too arrogant. I was going for that look, because I knew the wives of his friends were just as arrogant. Their husbands were rich and they were proud to show off the money they spent. I was rich, but there was no way I'd fall to their level. This was just a test.

When we got there, the valet took the car keys and Hayden helped me out the car. A small date in the middle of the day was a little odd for me, but it was worth it. What I didn't expect was the media crowded in front of the restaurant. It was a little alarming to me, but I kind of felt a little at ease. At least there were people who probably still wanted to be in my business. I wasn't completely invisible to the world.

Hayden guided me through the reporters with ease, making me wonder how he wasn't jumping out the pants. I'd be pushing through all of them and threatening everyone that I'd send them to jail for invasion of privacy. Then again, this restaurant was known throughout California. A hotspot for celebs and their celebrity friends. If you came here, then you either had the money, you worked there, or you happened to be a non-famous friend of a celebrity.

"Yo, wassup, bro," Hayden was pulled into a handshake.

I rolled my eyes and stood aside. of course they were these friends. The ones I despised the most. The ones who seemed to stalk us wherever we went. With money they could do anything.

"Here is my wife, Sha'kera. Some of you may remember her from her debut days." Hayden pulled me back to him and I put on the fakest smile.

"Yeah..." one friend said. "We know. She mighty fine."

"Don't go there, Duncan."

"Looks like he already staked his claim," another friend joked.

My hand immediately flew to my neck and I glared up at Hayden with all the hate that I could pretend I had. I swear this man never failed to make me embarrassed. His friends laughed and brushed off the matter. I knew I should have used more make-up this morning. I was going to murder him when we got in the car.

"It's all good. Happens to every good woman."

I shook my head and slowly took my hand down. The women around him and his friends smiled at each other, but I knew it wasn't a good smile. They were known to be evil, little snakes and I knew that smile was them planning something without saying anything. That meant I wasn't supposed to go anywhere by myself. But, what about the bathroom? I knew that the moment I wanted to go, they would be in there. I'd have to plan everything out while we ate.