Theodore (Members From Money Book 25)

by Katie Dowe

  “I was,” Ebboni said sweetly. “Until your brother proposed to me.”

  “You are quite the lucky girl, aren’t you?”

  “I think I am the lucky one,” Theodore said smoothly as he laced his fingers with hers, his eyes warning his sister to stop.

  “You have decided on a wedding date?” Emma said swiftly as if to diffuse the tension.

  “The second Saturday in November,” Theodore told her.

  “Isn’t that a bit too hasty? Is there something you are not telling us, Teddy?” Eleanor asked coyly.

  “I am not pregnant if that is what you are wondering.” Ebboni answered the question, wanting to smash her pretty face! The woman was making it plain that she did not belong in their family!

  “You have met with the wedding planner?” Emma asked her.

  “I have. I have also chosen the wedding dress.” She turned her gaze to look at her fiancé’s sister. “I am afraid I already have a maid of honor and since it is going to be a small ceremony we don’t need anyone else.”

  Ebboni almost grinned as she saw the woman bristle.

  “I already told you that we are not having a big wedding, El, I am leaving that to you. By the way where is Jeffry?” Theodore asked her.

  Ebboni saw the look of defeat on her attractive face before she replaced it with a benign look and realized that beneath that cool sophisticated veneer there lay a very unhappy woman!

  “He had to go to New York.”

  Theodore opened his mouth to say something but Ebboni spoke swiftly, “I am sure I will get to meet him at the wedding.”

  Eleanor stared at her for a moment as if wondering whether to thank her or not and then nodded.

  Not long after that the dinner bell sounded, they went into the huge dining room to have the delicious meal. Conversation was desultory and was mostly based on business. “Ebboni has expressed an interest in the building we have recently acquired,” Theodore said casually after they were served coffee and the delicious strawberry soufflé. “I promised her that would she would be put in charge.”

  “You want to work?” Eleanor looked at her with a curl to her lips.

  “I am afraid I was not born with a gold spoon in my mouth so I know the value of working.” The minute the words were out of her mouth she knew she had gone too far, but she could not take them back and she certainly was not going to apologize. The woman was a bitch and she was not going to be afraid of her!

  “Are you sure, my dear?” Emma asked her swiftly before her daughter could retaliate.

  “I have the experience,” she said with a smile at the woman. “I know I will do a good job.”

  “She wants to oversee the entire remodeling stage.”

  “I know that there are some of the original structures that can still be used,” Ebboni told the woman earnestly. “I am used to working and I am afraid I cannot just sit and do nothing.”

  “Amberville women never work,” Eleanor said with a sniff.

  “Eleanor, let it go,” her brother warned her firmly.

  “But think of the scandal!” She looked from her mother to her brother, totally ignoring Ebboni. “It’s going to draw a lot of attention to the family and people are going to start thinking that we are losing our money.”

  “God forbid that should happen!” Ebboni muttered before she could stop herself. She started as Emma let out a peal of laughter.

  “You will do, my dear,” she said with a pleased smile.

  *****

  “Your sister hates me,” Ebboni murmured as soon as they were inside the bedroom and changing.

  “Eleanor is spoiled and often rude. Don’t mind her,” he said carelessly as he took off his clothes. He had given her the tour of the mansion and she had told him that she could not believe that people really lived like this!

  “She is your sister, Theodore, and if she hates me, then we are not going to be very comfortable at family functions.” She stepped out of the exquisite dress and hung it up carefully in the part of the closet that had been reserved for her.

  “She will come around.” He unhooked her half bra and placed it on one of the chairs before turning her to face him. “I suspect that the guy she is marrying is not all he says he is. She is not happy.”

  “Is it a marriage like ours?” she asked him as she stared up at him.

  “She should be so lucky.” His tone was light but his touch was far from it as he knead her shoulders causing the warmth to seep into her body. “I don’t want to talk about my sister or anything else.” He ran his hands down her shoulders and then used them to cup her breasts, staring at the puckered nipples. He loved having them inside his mouth and feeling her reaction to him pulling on them. It fascinated him and made him hot! “You looked so beautiful tonight and you held your own.” His thumb passed over the nipple causing her to arch her back.

  “Theodore,” she whispered.

  He had taken off his clothes and left his underwear on. He took one of her hands and brought it between their bodies. She cupped him and shuddered as she felt the heaviness of his erection. “I need you.”

  With a broken sigh, she reached in and took it out, sliding her hand up and down the length of him. With a groan, he took her into his arms and carried her to the bed!

  *****

  Eleanor paced the length of her bedroom restlessly. She had a distinct feeling that the woman her brother was marrying knew about her insecurities and what was worse, she also had a feeling that she felt sorry for her! She was an Amberville, she thought in righteous indignation and that meant she was respected and revered within her circle. The woman her brother was marrying was an employee who had no right feeling sorry for her. But she had also noticed the way Teddy looked at her! It was practically indecent! And then she realized that she had been with Jeffry for two years now and he had never looked at her that way. She plopped down onto her soft plump bed and stared over at the charming painting that was positioned over her mantle. Her dad had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday. It depicted a young girl on a swing and a man, obviously her father, looking down at her as he pushed the swing. The girl’s long black hair flowed freely as she looked up at the man with a carefree smile on her face. “It reminds me of us, darling,” her father had told her with an indulgent smile as she opened the package. He had also given her a diamond bracelet and matching earrings. She had not appreciated the painting until he had passed away. She knew what he was and how he cheated on her mother over and over again but he had always treated her like a princess. “Oh, Daddy,” she cried softly. “I wish you were here.” She blinked away the tears as she stared at the painting. She had a feeling that she had unwittingly fallen in love with a man who was very much like her dad!

  *****

  Theodore watched her sleep. He had moved the nightgown out of her reach when she made to put it back on after they had finished making love. He had told her that he wanted to see her naked next to him. His eyes followed the lines of her lush curves and his body tightened as he visualized her big with his child. She had such a beautiful complexion, he thought in wonder as he trailed a finger down her hip. He was falling in love with her and the emotion was so powerful that it threatened to overpower him! He removed his finger and pulled the sheets over her body. He had to get some sleep!

  Chapter 8

  Ebboni ran her fingers along the columns with interest. The demolition of the original building had started two days ago and she had been there as she had told Theodore to see about preserving the original structure. She had been right. The building had some lovely structures that needed polishing and refining. The construction team had gotten rid of several rotted boards that could not be saved. She had wandered into the vast area of the conference room and had found that the floor boards there were made of a beautiful mahogany that when restored would shine with magnificence. She was excited and had secretly named the building “The Ebboni.”

  “Miss?”

  She jumped at the sound of the cont
ractor’s voice behind her.

  “Mr. Layton.” She smiled at him. “I am afraid I was dreaming about the finished product.”

  “That’s quite okay,” the florid face man said with a smile. “I do that too.” He came in further. “I am afraid with all the demolition process, the place is unstable. I would not want to have to answer to Mr. Amberville about you getting hurt.”

  “I am a big girl,” she said with a wave of her hand. “What are the plans for today?” It was now the second week of October and she realized that she had four weeks left for the wedding. She had tried on dresses and had chosen one with a simple sheath like design. Andrea was wearing cranberry.

  “We finish the demo process and then start the rebuilding in a few days. Mr. Amberville said he wanted it finished and up by January.”

  “That quickly?” she asked with raised brows.

  “It can be quicker,” he said with a nod of his head. “He also said you have some ideas?”

  She nodded. “I want the original structures to stay.” She pointed to the towering columns. “These are strong and they have a very lovely design.”

  “I agree.” He turned to look at them. “Are you going to be here every day?”

  Ebboni hid a smile as she realized that the man was politely asking if she was going to be in their way.

  “No. I have a wedding coming up. But I want to be involved.”

  “We could shoot you the specs we have and work together via the computer,” he suggested.

  “I would like that.”

  “Good.” He nodded and looked around. “I will escort you out if you are ready to leave.”

  *****

  “You have a visitor,” Eaton’s polite voice sounded near to her. She jumped a little and realize that he had a penchant of coming into a room without making a sound. It was creepy! She was sitting in one of the living rooms poring over the designs she had come up with.

  “Who is it?” she asked with a tiny frown.

  “Leesa Wellington,” the sultry voice sounded behind the man and Ebboni found her eyes widening as she got to her feet slowly.

  “Thanks, Eaton,” she said as she waved the man away.

  Leesa Wellington had grown older but she was still spectacularly beautiful! Ebboni had followed her career as well as the works she did with the other wives and had always admired them.

  “Mrs. Wellington,” she murmured, feeling foolish and gauche in front of the chicly dressed woman.

  She let out a squeal of laughter. “Please, call me Leesa. You are making me sound old and I am far from it.” She sat gracefully on one of the sofas and indicated for Ebboni to do the same. “I have come to pave the way. I was over this side for a meeting and I called and asked Theodore if you were here and he said yes so I decided to come.” She looked up as Eaton came in with a tray of refreshments. It was the middle of the day and Ebboni realized that she was hungry. “I am here to welcome you into the family.”

  Ebboni poured the coffee and handed her a cup.

  “What family?”

  “The family of wives, darling.” She sat back against the sofa and sipped the coffee in delight. “This is delicious!” she exclaimed. “We are a clique, at least that is what the papers call us, and we don’t mind one bit. We are involved in various charities and we make things happen. We are not prepared to leave things up to our politicians as well-meaning as they are.”

  “I have seen indications of what you do.” Ebboni handed her a plate. “I am going to be involved in the building that my - that Theodore acquired recently.”

  “Darling, we are black women making a difference in the societies where we are.” Leesa crossed elegantly shod legs as she looked at the girl. “Several of us come from the working class and still work for a living, but we find the time to contribute to the lesser in our society. I had breast cancer several years ago and before that I had a passion for people who have the sickness. I have doubled in my efforts along with the others to make contributions. Right now, we have doctors on board who are determined to find alternate treatments that is affordable to the general public and not just to people who have tons of money. We have donated money to the research of finding cures and the people who are doing this are making great strides. Then there is the issue of the homeless and the children being abused.” She waved her slender hand slightly. “We are a network of women who are making a difference and we stir up contradiction and resentment because we are close knit and selective.” She shrugged elegantly. “People are calling us prejudiced and maybe we are, but forgive me for being blunt! I am going to say something that I will deny under oath if necessary!” she said with a grin. “We are biased! We have been accused of marrying white men and taking them away from the white women in society, but I constantly say that it is not a matter of the color of our skin but the heart does not believe in black or white. I never willfully set out to marry a white man but I happened to fall in love with one and, honey, he is the most gorgeous man on the face of the earth.”

  “I can see you are in love,” Ebboni said with a smile. She liked the elegantly beautiful woman sitting opposite to her and found that she was far from being uppity! She had read up on the wives and knew that they were a powerful group of women who had lunches with the very rich and famous and were often photographed!

  “It shows?” Leesa teased, examining the girl’s flawless complexion. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and black tights and she was barefoot. She had read the report that she used to work at one of the Amberville Apartments as a concierge.

  “From a mile away.”

  “Good.” She nodded. “We have functions almost every week, so I am going to include you on the guest lists.” She put away her cup. “Now tell me about the wedding.”

  *****

  “Relax,” he murmured as he squeezed her hand. Their wedding was two weeks away and Ebboni felt herself getting more nervous the nearer it got. She had been introduced to a far different world than she had been used to and she felt giddy at the glitter and glamor that was portrayed.

  “I am trying and you telling me to relax is not going to make me do so,” she said as she took a deep breath. It was a function put on by one of the wives and the second that she had attended. The ballroom was filled with dazzling colors of the dresses the women were wearing. She had worn a cerulean color gown that wrapped around her body like a glove and left no room for underwear. She was wearing diamonds in her ears and around her neck. Her engagement ring sparkled in the lights from above and her face was artlessly made up. She was photographed each time she went out with Theodore and she would stare at the newsprint wondering if it was really her.

  “These women cannot hold a candle to you.” His breath stirred her ear and she shivered. It was amazing the power he had over her body! She looked forward to him coming home in the nights because she knew that as soon as they finished their meal, they would head straight for the bedroom where he would ravish her body. One night he took her right in the living room, with the sounds of her voice echoing around the large room. She had wondered if Eaton had been furtively watching them but had pushed the troubling thought aside. His hand wandered down her back and to her bottom where he squeezed lightly. He was highly sexed and he had made that clear to her. “It only happens with you, don’t worry,” he had told her with a grin.

  “Let’s go mingle before I change my mind and head home to take that gown off you,” he told her lightly as he took her arm and steered her off to join the others. She had met several of the ‘wives’ before and had found them easy to get along with, like Leesa. Latoya waved her over and Kelly greeted her like a friend.

  “Run along, Theodore. We got this,” she told him with a smile. His look lingered and then he walked away.

  “So, how are you?” Felicia asked her. The woman had on a plum colored gown that highlighted her curves. “The wedding is coming up and I guess you are nervous.”

  “I am sure if she was not before she is now,” Kelsey said dryl
y as she looked at her friend. “You are a world of tack, Felicia.”

  “I cannot help it,” she said with a pout. Her eyes wandered over to her husband and she smiled as she looked at the tall handsome man with the mane of blonde hair. “My husband tells me that I talk before I think.”

  “And he would be right,” Leesa commented as she joined the group. “Darling, you look stunning! A Romano original?”

  “Yes.” Ebboni looked at Monique self-consciously. The woman was quiet and serene and was wearing a white dress that suited her very well. She had met her a few days ago to discuss accessories. “I had no idea you were sending over so many clothes!”

  “Your man called and ordered and I showed the team a picture of you and they knew exactly what you needed and what would suit you and they were right.”

  “We are so happy you could make it,” Kelly said with a smile.

  “Now, darlings. It is time for the main event of the evening. I am going to go up to that podium and demand that check books and credit cards be surfaced. It’s time to collect!” Leesa said with a flourish.

  Ebboni enjoyed herself immensely! Emma Amberville was there as well as Eleanor with a young man who was introduced as the elusive fiancé. The girl seemed to glow as she clung to the young man’s arm as if it was a lifeline. Jeffry did not seem to share the same enthusiasm. She danced with Theodore as well as several others but not for long as Theodore would come and reclaim her in the middle of the dance. She could almost pretend that they were a normal couple!

  It was approaching midnight and they were moving slowly around the dance floor. His hands were at the small of her back and she had her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed.

  “Tired?” he murmured, his deep voice sounding above her head.

  “Hmm,” she murmured as she followed his lead. “This is nice.”

  “How much did you have to drink?” he asked her in amusement.

  “A couple glasses of champagne and maybe a splash of vodka,” she murmured.

  “So you are officially drunk?”