Chapter 17
TWO CHAPTER UPDATE WOOHOO. Thanks for being on this journey with me and reading this story. Happy to provide a safe space for Zanessa fans. :) Hope you enjoy!!!! xo
Although Zac and Vanessa had not officially defined their relationship, it didn't stop them from wanting to spend as much time together as possible. Whenever Kai was with his father, Vanessa would end up at Zac's, and during the regular work week, they'd find time to catch up for a quick lunch or dinner whenever possible. They'd successfully avoided the paparazzi, and no one apart from their immediate circle knew about their relationship, which made it easier to lay low.
One lazy Saturday morning, they were curled up in bed together. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Zac was lying on his back, gently tracing circles on Vanessa's back with his fingertips. She sighed contentedly, resting her head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath.
"Hmmm, I gotta go soon," she said reluctantly, her voice muffled against his skin.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Zac's voice was soft but carried a hint of nervousness.
"Yeah, of course," she replied, lifting her head to look at him. His blue eyes were serious, contrasting with his usual playful demeanor.
"Will you go out with me… on a date?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.
"A date? I think we're way past a first date, don't you think?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
"I'm serious…" Zac's tone was earnest, and he looked so hesitant and shy that it melted her heart.
"Will you go out with me… on a date?" he repeated, his expression hopeful and vulnerable.
Vanessa couldn't help but laugh softly. "Hahaha. Aww. You're serious? That's adorable."
"Adorable? That's NOT what I'm going for," he said, grinning as he tickled her sides, causing her to squirm and giggle. "I'm being serious! I know we've been avoiding going out in public and such, but…"
She stopped laughing and looked at him intently, her amusement giving way to curiosity and affection. "But what?"
"If we go during off-peak times or something, let's have a meal… together. Outside. Let me wine and dine you," he said, his eyes shining with sincerity.
Vanessa's heart swelled at his words. The idea of a normal date, despite their public personas and the chaos that often surrounded them, was incredibly sweet. "Yes. I'd love to go on a date with you," she replied, smiling warmly.
Zac's face lit up with a smile that made Vanessa's heart skip a beat. "Great! I'll plan everything," he said, pulling her closer for a tender kiss.
The rest of the morning passed in a haze of contentment. They lazed around in bed, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying each other's company.
Eventually, they had to part ways, but the promise of their upcoming date lingered in the air. As Vanessa got prepared to leave, Zac walked her to the door, their hands intertwined.
"So… I have brunch with the girls tomorrow afternoon but other than that I'm free, yeah? I can come over after because this coming week is going to be packed."
"No, I'll pick you up at 6pm. It's a date," he winked.
"Wait? Tomorrow?"
"Well, yeah. You're not going to be free until next weekend and I don't really want to wait so…" he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
"Well me neither. Sounds perfect. Can't wait," she replied, standing on her tiptoes to give him one last kiss.
As soon as she left, Zac made the necessary arrangements for their date the following evening. He wanted everything to be perfect. He called the restaurant beforehand and requested her favorite wine to be put on the menu. He had wanted to rent out the whole space for the evening but he was told there was a reputable businesswoman who was having a private party - they'd only taken his request for a secluded section in the back of the establishment once they realized who he was.
As Saturday arrived, he was freshly showered and ready in his black pants, leather jacket and crisp white t-shirt. As the clock struck 3 pm he was about to head out to buy flowers when he got a call from his publicist, Melissa.
"Hey, honey, where are you?"
"Hey, I'm just heading out. Why what's up?"
"Well… I was trying to make dinner reservations tonight for a client and they thought you'd already done it yourself."
"Oh yeah?" Zac knew it would be tricky to evade Melissa. She always seemed to have a way of having a sixth sense.
"But obviously you're not the client I was booking for. So… who'd you book out half the restaurant for?"
"No one. Just a friend…"
"Listen, you know I never really pry into my client's personal life until and unless it's about to become a news headline tomorrow which sadly is the case with someone of your status…"
Zac rolled his eyes. He knew Melissa meant well but he wanted to just do something he wanted to do without it becoming international news.
"And normally it wouldn't be a big deal…" she continued, "until I found out that the rest of the restaurant has been booked out by Kendall Jenner for her tequila brand party."
"Oh shit-" Zac stopped in his tracks. When the restaurant mentioned a businesswoman he thought it'd be someone who was important but wouldn't garner media frenzy. He should've known better. It was LA.
"What time does her thing start?" He asked Melissa pleading for an answer that would assuage him.
"Around 6."
"Shit…" he grumbled.
"There's no way to avoid the paparazzi they're going to be swarming. More than that, Gen Z with smart phones. They're lethal. Look, again, I know I can't protect you from everything and I don't want to police your life - that's not the kind of relationship we have but if you can't even tell me who you're seeing I know you definitely don't want it out in the press so please be careful, okay?"
Please be careful was Melissa's subtle way of saying cancel your plans so we can both sleep easy tonight.
"Yeah, you're right. I have to go, yeah? I gotta figure some things out. Thanks, Mel." Zac said, disappointment flooding his chest.
"Anytime, honey. Take care."
Just as Melissa hung up, Zac immediately went to work on a plan B.
Before he knew it, it was almost 5:30 pm. Time to pick up Vanessa. A few minutes out he received a call. Connecting to bluetooth, he replied excitedly.
"Hey, babe! I'm just heading out. See you soon."
"Hey, I'm so sorry I'm not at home. There was a problem at the CaliWater HQ I had to sort out since Oliver isn't in town so I just finished and now I'm stuck in traffic. I did have time to change so if you like I can just meet you there? Just tell me where I'm headed."
This night was taking too many unexpected turns but the one thing Zac wouldn't compromise on was picking up Vanessa.
"Nah, babe sorry no can do. Just head straight home, yeah? Let me know when you're back and I'll come get you."
"Are you sure? I can just meet you there, seriously, it's no problem."
"Van, let me pick you up for our date. I really want to."
"Okay," she said simply. He could hear the small smile in her voice.
"I can't wait to see you."
"I can't wait either," she replied.
A few hours later, he walked up to her front door, heart pounding with anticipation. As he reached the door and raised his hand to knock, it opened, and there she stood.
Vanessa was a vision in a red dress. The dress hugged her figure in all the right places, with a neckline that was both elegant and alluring. It flowed down to just above her knees, swaying gently as she moved. Her hair was styled in soft waves, cascading over her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless, highlighting her natural beauty.
Zac stood there for a moment, completely in awe. His breath caught in his throat, and he found himself speechless. Vanessa smiled at him, a mixture of shyness and confidence in her eyes.
"Wow…" Zac finally managed to say, his voice full of genuine admiration. "You look absolutely stunning."
Vanessa blushed, a soft pink coloring her cheeks. "Thank you," she replied, her smile widening. "You clean up pretty well yourself."
He chuckled, still unable to take his eyes off her. "I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now."
Vanessa's heart melted at his words. She stepped out, and Zac offered his arm, which she took gladly. They walked to the car together, the world around them seeming to fade into the background. Zac opened the passenger door for her, and she slipped into the seat, the red dress catching the last rays of the setting sun and making her glow even more.
As Zac got into the driver's seat, he glanced over at her, still in awe. "I'm really glad you agreed to this," he said softly.
"Me too," Vanessa replied, her eyes sparkling.
"So, I have a little surprise planned," he said, his tone light and teasing.
"Oh? What kind of surprise?" Vanessa asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, it involves a bit of mystery," Zac replied, reaching into the glove compartment and pulling out a soft, black blindfold.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and intrigue in her eyes. "A blindfold? Really?"
"Trust me," he said, his grin widening. "It's worth it."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, I trust you," she said, taking the blindfold and tying it over her eyes.
Zac's heart swelled with affection as he watched her. "Perfect. Now, just relax and enjoy the ride," he said, gently placing a hand on her knee for reassurance before driving off.
They chatted and joked during the drive, Vanessa playfully trying to guess where they were going while Zac expertly dodged her questions. The anticipation built, and Zac's excitement grew as they neared their destination. Finally, they pulled up to his house, and Zac parked the car, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Okay, we're here," he said, turning off the engine. "But keep the blindfold on for just a little bit longer."
Vanessa nodded, smiling. "Alright, lead the way."
Zac got out of the car and quickly moved to her side, helping her out and guiding her towards the backyard. "Just a few more steps," he said softly, his hand firmly holding hers. They walked carefully, Zac making sure she didn't trip.
When they reached the garden, Zac paused for a moment to take in the scene. He had spent hours preparing everything, and now it was time for the big reveal. The garden was transformed into a romantic haven. Twinkling lights hung from the trees, casting a warm, magical glow over the entire area. A beautifully set table for two was placed under a canopy of lights, adorned with candles and fresh flowers. Even the pool had floating lights, creating a mesmerizing, ethereal effect on the water's surface.
"Alright, you can take off the blindfold now," Zac said, his voice filled with excitement.
Vanessa untied the blindfold and gasped as she took in the scene before her. Her eyes widened in awe, and she turned to Zac, her expression filled with wonder and delight.
"Zac, this is… incredible. It's like something out of a fairy tale," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I'm glad you like it, gorgeous."
"You did this?" She observed all the details in the decor closely.
"Yup."
"No secret elves anywhere?"
"Nope - just me, haha."
Zac smiled, his heart swelling. "I know I promised you a night out and I really wanted to take you out but there was an event at the restaurant I had booked and it just all spiraled out of control… but I still wanted to do something special for you. I hope this is okay."
Vanessa's eyes sparkled with tears of happiness. "It's perfect. Thank you," she said, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.
They held each other for a moment, savoring the closeness and the magic of the evening. Zac led Vanessa to the table, pulling out her chair for her before taking his seat across from her.
"Alright… the only hiccup is that I have to heat up the food since this is a one man show tonight and I don't have any waiters hiding anywhere."
"Haha, well, I'm in no rush." She had taken off her shoes and was contentedly sipping her wine.
The kitchen was filled with the warm, inviting aroma of simmering tomato sauce, garlic, and fresh basil. Zac stood at the stove, carefully stirring a pot of rich marinara, a look of concentration on his face. He had managed to convince the chef from the restaurant to send over a few dishes with special reheating instructions. Vanessa watched from the doorway, a smile playing on her lips as she admired him. The soft glow of the under-cabinet lights cast a warm ambiance, making the moment feel even more intimate.
Zac, wearing a navy blue apron, glanced up and saw Vanessa standing there. His face broke into a smile. "Hey, beautiful," he greeted her. "Dinner's almost ready."
Vanessa walked over, her bare feet making soft padding sounds on the tiled floor. She slipped her arms around his waist from behind, resting her head gently on his shoulder. "Do you need any help?" she asked, her voice soft and affectionate.
Zac turned his head slightly to kiss her temple. "No, love, I've got it all under control," he assured her, his voice filled with warmth. "Just relax and let me take care of you tonight."
Vanessa sighed happily, giving him a squeeze before letting go and stepping back to watch him work. She admired the way he moved around the kitchen, so focused and caring in his efforts to make their evening special.
A few minutes later, as Zac reached to grab a pot handle, he miscalculated and touched the hot metal. "Ow!" he exclaimed, quickly retracting his hand. He shook it in the air, wincing from the sudden pain.
Vanessa was at his side in an instant, her concern evident. "Oh no, are you okay?" she asked, taking his hand gently in hers.
"It's nothing," Zac tried to brush it off, but the small red mark on his finger said otherwise.
Vanessa brought his hand up to her lips, kissing the burn softly. "Let me take care of you too," she murmured, her eyes full of love and tenderness.
Zac's heart swelled with affection as he looked at her. "Thank you," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You're the best."
She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling. "And you're my favorite chef."
They shared a tender kiss before Vanessa reached for a dish towel, running it under cold water. She wrapped it gently around Zac's finger. "There, that should help."
Zac kissed her forehead in gratitude. "What would I do without you?"
"Burn more than just your fingers, probably," Vanessa chuckled, giving his waist a playful nudge. "But, let's not wait and find out…"
As they dined under the stars, the conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and heartfelt moments.
Zac's flow of thought was interrupted by a text message from Melissa.
'How are you?' It read.
That was Melissa's code for what did you decide?
'Stayed in.' He quickly sent back.
She sent him a text with a picture of a swarm of young teenagers outside the 818 event. 'Good choice. x Mel.'
Truly, he thought.
"Something more interesting than little old me?" Vanessa teased.
"Absolutely not. In fact I'm shutting off my phone right now and locking us in. Any complaints? No? Good."
"No complaints," she confirmed with a smile.
Zac stood up and extended his hand to Vanessa. "Care for a dance?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Vanessa giggled, placing her hand in his. "I'd love to."
They danced slowly, swaying to the soft music playing in the background. The lights cast a romantic glow around them, and the floating lights in the pool added a touch of magic to the scene. Zac held Vanessa close, his heart full of love and gratitude for this moment.
As the night wore on, they found themselves lying on a blanket by the pool, looking up at the stars. Vanessa rested her head on Zac's chest, feeling completely content and at peace.
"This has been the best date ever," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.
Zac smiled, kissing the top of her head. "I'm glad you think so. I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me."
Vanessa looked up at him, her eyes shining with love. "Well then you've outdone yourself. You've made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world."
They shared a tender kiss, sealing the promise of their growing relationship.