Chapter 3 .

Zanders POV

I don't know why I need to see a stupid therapist. I'm not crazy, I'm just being a smart entrepreneur.

My dad is such a douche. He doesn't understand social media... and --

Wow! This doctor is smokin' hot! Good choice, Dad. This may not be so bad after all. I love older chicks. Hell, I love all women. Big, skinny, tall, short... bring them all on.

"Welcome, Mr. Kane," the therapist said with a voice as soft as silk.

"Vain. It's Vain now."

I hear my dad groaning on the couch beside me. It's so funny. He's still freaking out, and it's been two days since I dropped the bomb on him.

Dad grumbles like an old man, "Zander, shut up."

"You must be Mason Kane. Mr. Kane, can you step out in the waiting room while I speak to your son? We can have a family meeting soon."

Look her over I can see it. She's checking me out. This chick definitely wants me. Good move, Doctor Hottie. Get the old man out so we can have some fun.

Well, that's interesting. My dad just left with no protest. I need to find out how she did that.

"Mr. ... (rolls her eyes) Vain. Let's begin."

"Sure thing, sweetheart."

What do I do? Start taking off my clothes now or let her take the lead? What's the protocol here? This escalated rather quickly, so I wasn't prepared, but I like a woman who knows what she wants. I wasn't expecting to get laid at the therapist's office, but hey... if she wants it...

"Zander, is it?"

"Yep."

"Grammar, please. Yes, ma'am, or call me Doctor. Why are you unbuttoning your shirt?"

I look up at her, expecting her to be naked by now. "So, we're having a therapy session?"

"Yes. What did you think we were doing?"

I'm dumbfounded. "You sent my dad out."

"And?" She rubs the bridge of her nose under her glasses and groans, just like my dad does. "Jeez. You are an idiot. Put your shirt back on."

I may have read that wrong. Damn it. She's hot too.

"I see this Mr. Vain thing is more of your reality than I expected."

Buttoning up my shirt, I try to state my defense. "I'm not vain, I'm just confident. I mean... look at me. I'm eye candy."

"Be that as it may, Zander, you're here for a reason. Your parents believe you may have some sort of mental illness you're struggling with."

I'm annoyed now. I can't believe they think that. "You think I'm crazy too? Just freakin' great."

"No, I don't. I think you have a huge ego with narcissistic tendencies, but not mentally ill. I saw your social media and videos online. From your actions since you walked into this room, I see you are exactly like you are online. By-the-way. Get your hand off my thigh before I ruin your manhood for life."

Dang, Doctor Hottie has a bit of fire in her. I like it. She's still checking me out, though. I give it one more session and she'll have me bending her over her desk while calling me daddy.

"... Earth to Zander. Are you with us? Turn your listening ears on. Don't make me have to treat you like one of my child patients."

Sitting back in the chair, I can see this won't go my way. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Let's start with the name change."

"It's gotten me tons of publicity and the paparazzi are eating it up. I'm on all the entertainment news shows, and it's lit my social media up with new followers."

"So, you want to be a celebrity like your parents?" she said, crossing her legs and tapping her pen on her lip. This is feeling like a real therapy session.

"Doesn't everyone, Dr. Hottie?"

"It's Olivia or Dr. Hicks. And no. They don't."

Yikes. She looks like mom when she gets mad at me. Dragon lady, part two.

"Yes, ma'am. I like the attention."

"So, you feel you don't get enough attention?"

"No. I said I like attention. Big difference."

"Okay, fair enough. Your father says you plan on marrying yourself in a month?" The clicking of her pen is driving me nuts.

"Yep. If I'm already married, no one can expect some lame romantic fling. I don't want to get tied down. I have my whole life ahead of me."

"So, It's a commitment issue?"

"NO... I... didn't say --"

"Now we are getting somewhere. Tell me, Zander. When was the last time you dated long term?"

"I... I guess I was... nineteen maybe? My high school sweetheart. We dated for four years. We stopped seeing each other when she left for college and started traveling."

The pen stopped clicking and now she is writing on her notepad. "Tell me about her?"

"Oh, Ivy was great. We had a lot in common and did everything together. She got accepted to Julliard, and I went to school for film. She was a dancer and got picked up with a big dance troupe early on."

"Have you ever been in love?"

"Well... yes. With her. We even talked about marriage once. When she started dancing, she joined the American Ballet Theatre, and she broke up with me. She didn't care for the way I was in college. I partied a lot and was a frat boy." Deep down, I don't blame her.

"You cheated," she says with brows raised.

"Is that a question or a statement?"

The woman is staring down her glasses at me. Busted. How do women have this cheater radar?

"Yes. On spring break in Cabo my sophomore year of college. I regretted everything I did and hated myself for it. I loved her more than I love myself and would have married that girl."

"If you loved her, why cheat? What happened?"

"It wasn't like I planned it. This chick came onto me at a tiki bar when I was drunk. I didn't even know the girl's name. My girlfriend saw the photos of us kissing online and the truth is, I don't even know how she got them. Anyway, Ivy dumped me, and I was heartbroken. HEY! Why am I telling you this? What are you writing?"

"Never mind that. So, you haven't been serious since then?"

"No. Why would I do that just to get my heart broken again? No thanks."

"You cheated... Mr. Vain. Not her."

Did she just smirk? What's with the snarky attitude? Did my therapist just take a shot at me?

"Well... ya. But I still loved her. It was just a one-night stand that meant nothing. I admit I screwed up. I've always taken responsibility for it."

"What would you have done in her situation?"

Kicked the guy's ass and dumped her, but I'm not admitting that out loud. "I don't know."

"You hesitated."

This bitch. I guess that's why she's the best. I should have known the dragon lady found the one therapist with mind-reading capabilities.

"Fine. I would have done the same thing. I lost her trust, and that's my fault. I never denied I screwed up." There, I admitted it. Dr. Hottie is asking too many questions.

"Do you still have regrets? Things you would like to say to her?"

"Yes. I would have told her I loved her because I never had the chance. Can I tell you something, Doc?"

"Of course, that's why we're here."

"Maybe I cheated because she left me. I was drunk that night, but maybe that's the reason I did it. I don't remember much about that night, but I know I started drinking because I knew I'd end up lost without her. I was depressed that she was going to travel the world and leave me all alone. Ivy was becoming a famous dancer and left me behind. I've told no one that, and if you tell my parents, I'll deny I said it."

"No. This is doctor, patient confidentiality. You're an adult here. Tell me, do you think her newfound fame is why you become so obsessed with being a celebrity yourself? Maybe you're trying to prove something to her?"

Yes.

"No. I don't know?"

Great Dr. Hottie is smirking again. I hate when women are right.

"I think this is a good place to stop. We'll pick this up at the same time next week. I want to take this time to tell you that my methods are very... untraditional. Would you have a problem if I used my designed methods to dig into this? I believe it will help you deal with some things that have been haunting you."

"Like what methods?"

"Let's just take this one step at a time. Can you trust I have your best interest at heart?"

"Well... my mom referred me to you. I trust her, so I guess I trust you."

Doctor Hottie finally gave me a nice smile.

"Good. You'll understand once we get further into this process. Here's a journal. Why don't you spend a few minutes every day writing some thoughts? Try reflecting on why fame has become so important to you."

"I'm not getting out of this, am I?" I roll my eyes.

"No. I told your parents to make sure they encourage you to take fifteen minutes a day to write. There will be no discussions with them unless you tell me otherwise."

"I'll have to think about that. I have to let them know some things for my dad to go along with my plans."

"Your decision. We'll discuss it next week."

"Fine. This sucks."

"Better this than the mental institution your parents were ready to have you committed into."

What? Can they do that?

"What? Are you serious?"

There is that damn smirk again. I'm going to make the old man miserable this week.

"See you next week... Mr. Vain."

Yep. Smug comment. That was definitely a shot. I hate the way she says my name like it's some smart-ass remark.

"Next week, Dr. Hottie."

"Dr. Hicks."

"I could call you a..."

"Don't even think about it!" she snapped.

I'm going to have fun messing with her. "Are you telepathic or something?"

"Maybe... maybe not," she said with a wink.

I think I may have met my match with this one.