"Dressing Zico"

There was a loud knocking at my door. I had hoped it would stop and they would go away but it continued. I pulled the blanket off of my head and tried to open my eyes but they were stuck. Every knock of the door felt like a knock on my head. I never drink and this is why. Hangovers are no joke.
The knocking was getting more persistent and I was getting mad. “Nobody’s home!” I yelled. Big mistake! It felt like my head would explode. I decided that the only way to make the noise stop was to answer the door. I threw the blankets back and sat up. I still felt drunk but it was just the headache. Standing up, I waited for a minute for my sight to come back and I went to open the door.
“This better not be Zico!” I yelled. Then I realized if it was, he would just come in. I opened the door to pure sunshine. It was Jong’s smiling face. How is he so fresh and smiley this morning?
“Hey there! I wanted to check on you. Are you okay?” asked Jong. He was looking me up and down and grinning.
Then it hit me. I was standing there with nothing on but a shirt and underwear. I jumped behind the door and put my head against the cold wood. “I’m good. I just need to wake up,” I said with my eyes closed.
“I was afraid Zico had killed you. Or fired you. He was pretty mad. He’s such a control freak sometimes,” said Jong.
“No. He yelled a little and then left. It’s all good. Thank you for checking on me Jong but I really need to wake up and shower and take something for this headache. What time is it anyway?” I asked.
Looking at his watch he said, “It’s five past one.”
“In the afternoon?”
“Yep. Um, I have some stuff to do today but I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight? Around seven?”
“Sure. Sounds good.” I just wanted him to go so I could crawl back under the covers and wait for my head to shrink back to normal.
“Okay, I’ll text you later then. Feel better.”
“Bye.” With that, I slowly shut the door and leaned my head against it for a second. The cold felt good. I went into the bathroom, downed a handful of aspirin, and wet a washcloth. Taking off my shirt, I climbed back into the bed and lay the cloth across my eyes. “That’s better,” I said and started to drift back off to sleep.
I don’t know how long I slept after that but I felt the blankets being laid across me and I froze.Surely the maid wouldn’t bother with that. Crap! It must be Zico! And I was laying here in all my almost naked glory. I pretended to still be asleep.
“You silly girl,” he said. Then I heard him leave and quietly shut the door. I sat up and looked at the closed door. Why does he keep coming in here? I know he has more important things to do. I got up and had a hot shower.

After working for a couple of hours, my stomach had settled down enough to eat a little something. I looked through the menus and decided on a chicken place not far from the hotel. I wanted to go out to eat since I was getting sick of the sight of this place. I got dressed and grabbed my key card and headed for the door when my cell began ringing. The funny thing was, it wasn’t my ringtone. It was one of Zico’s new songs. My favorite as it turned out. I answered the call to a familiar but unexpected voice.
“Ay, you hungry?” asked Zico.
“I was just getting ready to go eat actually. I thought you didn’t have my cell number.”
“I got it this morning. I need to get away from these people for a while. Meet me outside and I’ll treat.”
With that, he hung up. I couldn’t believe the gall of him. He acted like he owned us all. I was tempted to teach him a lesson and let him sit out there but I didn’t. I met him outside and hesitated when it came to getting in his car. I remembered the last roller coaster ride we took and I didn’t know if my weak stomach could take another. I looked at him as he held open the door for me.
“Well?” he asked raising his eyebrows.
I gave him a look and climbed into the car. Here we go again.
Thankfully the ride was short. We went to a steakhouse that seemed a little too fancy for the way I was dressed. Zico didn’t seem to care so I decided not to worry about it.
After we were seated and got comfortable, I asked, “So, did you apologize to Jong?”
“For what?”
“For being so rude to him last night. You did slam the door in his face.”
Zico picked up the salt and sprinkled some in his hand. “Are you kidding? He apologized to me.”
“Why?” I don’t know why I was surprised but I was.
“For being inconsiderate.”
I looked at him. He was playing with the salt in his hand and ignoring me.
“Okay, how was he inconsiderate?” I asked.
“No man should keep a woman he just met out so late and he definitely shouldn’t bring her home drunk.” He licked salt off of his finger. I caught myself staring at his tongue.
“But Zico, that really had nothing to do with you.”
He took another lick of the salt which was becoming very distracting and then dropped it and dusted off his hands. All of a sudden, he looked up at me with a serious look and said, “Okay, this is how it is. As long as you or Jong or anyone else is in my employ, I am responsible for you. If something happens to you, it’s my fault. Even if I’m not there. If Jong does something to you, it’s doubly my fault. On both of your parts. I try to look out for everyone who works for me. That’s just how it is with me.”
“I understand but Zico, we aren’t always working for you. What we do on our off time is our business. It wouldn’t be your fault then.”
“That’s not how it works with me. Sorry.” The waiter came over to us then and got flustered when he recognized Zico. Without even asking me, he ordered our food. I was okay with what he ordered but I would have liked to have been asked.
“Zico can I ask you a question?”
“More often than anyone else I know,” he said while twirling the cap off of the steak sauce.
“Ha ha. Funny. Why have you been so concerned with what happens with me? You have a lot of people working for you. Am I the least competent or something?”
He didn’t answer right away. He dabbed the sauce with his finger and licked it. That tongue again.
“No. I think I see something in you. A passion. I remember what it was like starting out and how often I was cheated and people took advantage of me. I want things to go easier for you. I don’t really know why but I feel protective of you. You have talent and a good eye. That shouldn’t be wasted and you definitely shouldn’t quit because of bastards like yesterday.” He took another lick of the sauce from his finger.
“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you Zico.”
“Now, damn it, stop making it so hard for me!” He looked up in that sexy way he has and smiled.
I melted.
We discussed his upcoming events and what he would like to wear. I mentally put together outfits until the steaks came and then we got quiet. Zico sure was a steak boy. He didn’t eat his steak. He attacked it. I liked watching him eat. Everything he did was done with aggression. He never did things halfway. We were waiting on dessert which I honestly didn’t think I could eat but Zico insisted. My stomach still felt a little sour and the headache was threatening to come back. I think he was punishing me for getting drunk.
My phone rang and Zico’s song began to play. I looked at him for permission to answer it and he just waved his hand in my direction. I didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey! I just wanted to call and make sure you remembered our date tonight.”
I didn’t. “Who is this?” I asked. Zico looked up at me and became interested.
There was silence for a second then, “It’s Jong. We are supposed to go to dinner tonight, remember?”
I hadn’t. “Oh, yeah! Sorry. I was still half asleep this morning when you came by.”
“So, seven then?” he asked.
“Well, can we make it eight? That would be better for me.” Zico raised his eyebrows at me.
“Of course. Want me to come to your room or do you want to meet me in the lobby?”
I looked at Zico. He had sat back and had his arms crossed. “The lobby will be good. I’ll see you then Jong. Bye.” I hurried up and hung up.
“Jong huh? Going out?” asked Zico.
“Yeah. I forgot. He came by this morning and asked me to dinner but I had such a bad headache I didn’t remember.” I took a drink of my soda and hoped that the conversation would end there. No such luck.
“Is that why you were in your underwear when I came by?”
“Zico! How would you know that?”
“How do you think? And why does pretty boy have your cell number and I don’t? I’m your freaking boss!” He was getting angry.
I glared at him. I noticed I had also sat back and crossed my arms to mirror him. “For your information, I gave Jong my number last night. And you are going to have to quit coming into my room whenever you want. One of these days you’re going to walk in on something more private than me in my underwear!”
“Like you fucking Jong?” Zico said.
“ZICO!” I stood up and my chair fell over. The entire restaurant was silent and all eyes were on us. I picked up my fork and threw it at him and walked out. Behind me I heard, “Elizabeth!” and I knew he was following me.
“Elizabeth. I’m sorry.” He caught up with me on the sidewalk. “I was out of line.”
I was crying. I couldn’t help it. He tried to pull me into a hug but I wasn’t having that. Not after what he said. I started walking down the sidewalk and he followed, pulling on my sweater.
“STOP!” he yelled.
I did but I didn’t turn around.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that but I know Jong. Every time a pretty girl starts working for me, he goes for her. He likes the chase. Then when he gets what he wants, he loses interest. You’re just a conquest for him and you deserve better. Can’t you tell a predator when you see one?” Zico sounded desperate.
I turned to face him, still crying. “I told you I don’t sleep around. So what if he’s after one thing? ALL men are after one thing! It doesn’t mean he’s gonna get it! Not from me.”
“I’m not saying you’re a slut. I’m not saying that. But I can tell that you like him and he’s very good at getting girls into bed.” His voice was almost down to a whisper.
“Not this one.” I turned and continued to walk.
“Elizabeth! Get in the car.”
I ignored him.
Zico ended up driving right beside me all the way back to the hotel. If I wasn’t so mad it may have been funny. I went to my room and not only locked the main lock but the chain lock too. He wasn’t coming waltzing in here tonight.
He opened the door and finding it double locked, he yelled through the crack, “Elizabeth! Let me in!”
“Go away Zico!”
“Open this damn door!”
“I have nothing to say to you tonight!” We were back to yelling.
“I’ll fire you! Is that what you want?”
“Go AHEAD!”
“FINE! YOU’RE FIRED! DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU! ARE! FIRED!” He yelled louder.
“I’LL START PACKING! NOW GO AWAY!”
The door shut and I threw my book at it. Hard. Instead of crying I screamed. And pulled at my hair. I was so mad!
I pulled down the blankets on my bed and climbed under. I was not leaving here for the rest of the night! I pulled them over my head. That’s when I heard Zico’s stupid song start playing. It was my cell phone. I stuck my lips out from under the blankets and yelled, “I’m not answering that Zico!” It rang a few more times and then he got the message and gave up.
I got bored after a little while of hiding under the blankets so I reached a hand out and grabbed the remote and my laptop. I played games and watched dumb sitcoms for hours. When my phone began to ring again, I ignored it.
It eventually stopped. But then it started again. It rang three more times and I realized the only way to shut him up was to cut off my phone. I threw the blankets off and grabbed the phone. Just as I started to turn it off, it began to ring again. “SHUT THE HELL UP ZICO!” I yelled at the phone but I noticed that it was Jong’s number. Craaaaaaap! I had forgotten about him.
“Hello?” I tried to sound composed but I didn’t do a very good job of it.
“Hey there. I’m in the lobby. Um… are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry Jong. Something has come up and I can’t make it. Can we do it another night?” I thought about what Zico said about him being a player. But he was so sweet.
“Oh. Okay then. Everything’s alright isn’t it? Do you need help with anything?”
“No, no. Zico gave me work to do. You know him! I’ll let you know something later. Okay?”
“Sure. I’ll look forward to it. I love hearing your voice so call me whenever you want. Goodnight.”
“Night.” We hung up. I felt so bad. I changed my ringtone and looked at Jong’s number again. Why should I let Zico ruin the rest of my night?
I pushed the call button under Jong’s number.
“Hello beautiful. That was fast. Miss me?” Maybe Jong really is just a player.
“Actually, I can do this work later tonight. Let’s go eat. I’m starving,” I lied.
“I’m still in the lobby.”
“I need to get ready. Can you come up here to get me?”
“I’ll be right there. Bye.”
“Bye.” We hung up. He can just wait in my room while I get ready.
Take that Zico!

I opened the door and Jong looked amazing! Black silk shirt, black pressed slacks, and a black tie. His hair was sexily tousled and he smelled expensive. I rethought what I was going to wear the instant I saw him.
“Wow! You look great! Where are we going?” I asked, letting him in. I forgot the room was a mess where I had been throwing things and he definitely noticed.
“My favorite restaurant. Is Italian okay with you? I should have asked,” he said.
“It’s perfect. Make yourself at home and I’ll be out in a minute,” I said as I picked up the book and laid it aside.
I went into the bathroom and groaned when I saw my appearance in the mirror. I got ready in a flurry and decided on a soft blue dress and heels. When I stepped out, Jong was slumped down in the chair chewing on his thumb and looking like a model. He stood up and took my hand to twirl me around.
“Wow is right! If I had known this was what I was getting, I would have been more insistent during the first call!” Yep, a player.
He opened the door and let me go first.
His car matched him. It was sleek and black and very impressive. He was also a much safer driver than Zico. We arrived at the restaurant and he opened the car door and held the restaurant door for me. He was such a gentleman. We went in and were seated and Jong grabbed my hand.
“I love your hands. They are so small and soft.” He continued to hold onto me as he looked around the restaurant and said, “So what do you think? I love this place.”
“It’s very nice. But what really matters is the food,” I said and winked.
“Oh my gosh! You have to try the Spaghetti alle vongole. It is the best dish they make.”
“That sounds expensive. What is it?” I asked.
“It’s Spaghetti and clams. And let me worry about the expense,” He was still holding onto my hand.
“I’m allergic to shellfish. Sorry,” I lied. I didn’t want Jong spending a lot on me so he didn’t have a reason to think I owed him anything.
“That’s okay. You can order whatever you’d like.” Jong smiled which only made him more gorgeous.
“You mean I can order my own food?” I asked as a joke. He didn’t get it.
“Of course silly.” I thought back to when Zico had called me a silly girl this morning when he thought I was asleep.
I ordered the cheapest meal on the menu and declined the wine. The date was nice but I kept thinking back to lunch with Zico. Jong picked at his food and used his napkin and was nothing at all like Zico. Stop that!
We finished the meal and Jong insisted on taking me to a club. I had never been to a club before and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I’m a little nervous Jong. I’m not much of a party person and I don’t know how to dance.”
“Just stay close to me. I’ll take care of you.” He reached over and put his hand on my knee and left it there until he had to shift gears.
The club was loud and packed. There was no way to cross the room without rubbing against everyone we passed. Strobe lights were flashing with the music and I was sure everyone here, but me, was at some level of drunk. Some of these people seemed to know Jong and were glad to see that he was here.
Jong had put his arm around me from behind the minute we entered and he hadn’t let go yet. He led me to the middle where there was more room, but not much, and turned me around. He pulled me into him and began to sway. His face was close enough to mine to kiss me but he didn’t. He kept whispering in my ear. “You are so beautiful.” “You smell like Heaven.” “You turn me on so much.”
I didn’t say anything. I was very uncomfortable and I just wanted to leave. He turned me back around and, with his arm around me, he led me to the bar. We sat down and he ordered two drinks with dirty names and then smiled at me.
“I don’t drink,” I said.
“What?” He almost yelled into my ear.
“I. Don’t. Drink,” I yelled back.
“Now I know for a fact that isn’t true,” he said with a smile and a wink.
“Last night was a mistake!” I yelled.
“You’ll like this. It’s tropical,” he said and handed me a very pretty blue drink with fruit in it.
He downed his but I just stirred mine with the little blue straw.
All of a sudden, someone smacked the bar in front of me from my left and I jumped. I looked over and standing an inch from me was Zico.
“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you,” he yelled into my left ear.
What in the hell is he doing here? “Why’s that?” I yelled back.
“That drink will land you on your back faster than a tackle from a football player,” he said.
I was tempted to drink it all right in front of his face but I looked over at Jong who hadn’t noticed Zico yet, and thought better of it.
“I wasn’t going to. What are you doing here?” I yelled.
“I told you, I know Jong! He’s predictable. Want to know what happens next?”
“No thank you!” I almost forgot and took a sip of the drink but Zico took it from me and sat it on the bar.
“You sure? It’s really sexy!” He was taunting me.
“I’m sure. I’ll find out for myself!” He was NOT winning this one.
Zico frowned and took a sip of his own drink. “Don’t forget the condoms! Jong doesn’t like them but I really don’t want to work with a stylist with an STD!”
I gave him an angry look and reached for the drink in defiance. He grabbed it first and put it out of my reach.
“I don’t work for you anymore. Remember?” I yelled.
“Well, somebody has to play around with my clothes and since you’re already here it might as well be you.” He took another sip but he never took his eyes off of me.
Finally Jong remembered I was there. He had been talking to someone else but now he turned to me and grabbed my knee again. This time his hand traveled up my thigh. I looked over at Zico but he was gone. So was my drink.
“You don’t look like you’re having much fun. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s great! I’m just not used to all this. I come from a small town and we don’t have clubs and fancy restaurants,” I said.
“I want to spoil you! I want to show you everything,” he said as his hand massaged my leg. “Come on. A few more dances and then I’ll take you home.”
He pulled me back onto the floor and this time as we swayed, he began kissing and licking my neck. His hand moved around to my backside and one of his legs moved in between mine. I tried to push him away where I could but in this suffocating crowd it was almost impossible. Jong was getting so close that I was leaning away from him and my head fell back. That’s when I saw Zico on the balcony watching us. I watched as he pulled out his cell phone and began to text. He put his phone back up and continued to stare at us.
“Jong,” I yelled as I forced him away from me. “Can we go now? I’m feeling sick.”
“Okay.” He turned me around and wrapped his arm around me as he pushed our way out of the club. When we got outside, he gave the ticket to the valet and we waited for the car. He was still being handsy but he stopped when he checked his phone and began to read a text he had gotten.
“Man!” he said frustrated.
“What is it?” I asked as I looked over at his phone. I had a feeling I knew who it was from.
“Zico! He wants a meeting tonight. Sometimes he drives me crazy!”
When the car came, Jong helped me in and then drove me back to the hotel. “I’ll walk you up,” he said.
“You don’t have to,” I said.
“I insist. He smiled down at me.
In the elevator, he nuzzled my neck until an elderly couple got on. Then when I got to my door, I unlocked it and turned to thank him when all of a sudden, he shoved me against the wall and began kissing me. To be honest he wasn’t that great of a kisser. He was closer to me now than we were in the club. He pulled away breathless and put his forehead against mine and said, “I really wish I could stay. Sometimes I wish I could tell Zico where to shove his meetings. Thank you for going out tonight. I had a great time. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Before I could speak, he kissed me again and then left. All I could think after that was that that fruity drink really did taste good. I turned to lock the door and I found that the chain lock had been removed. Zico!
All I wanted was a hot shower and some more aspirin. I needed to get the feeling of Jong off of me and my headache really was coming back.
I got ready and by the time I got into the bed, I felt better. I had lost the place in my book so I decided to watch some tv. I became engrossed in a romantic comedy and just as it ended, the lock on my door clicked and Zico walked in. I know the look that I gave him said everything I wanted to say.
“Ay. Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m great except someone removed my lock. Know anything about that?”
“You didn’t need it. I’m glad to see you’re alone tonight.”
“You knew I would be,” I said.
“Yeah, I did. And you’re welcome,” he said as he pulled a chair over by the bed.
“For what?” I asked.
“For keeping you from getting pregnant, that’s what,” he said. Zico took the remote out of my hands and changed the channel. I jerked it away from him and changed it back.
“What makes you think we didn’t do anything?” I asked.
“Because, when Jong got to the meeting, he was about to blow. He could barely sit in his seat. It was awesome!”
“Maybe he’s coming back,” I said.
“I don’t think so. He’s too busy. I made sure of it.”
Zico stood up to go. “Don’t make any plans for tomorrow. I might need you.” Then he walked over to the door, rubbed the door where the chain lock had been, and smiled at me. I looked for something to throw.
“Goodnight. Sleep well.” And he was gone.
I turned off the tv and turned over in a huff. I thought of Jong and how close I had come to being his next conquest. Thank you Zico. And Goodnight.

Notes