Haywood Millionaire Series: Box Set Books 1-5

by Zi'ere

  “I got married during my last conference in Las Vegas” John spit out; relieved with each word he recited.

  You could literally feel and hear the wind of 6 heads turning to look John in his face.

  “You did what John?”

  “Did Dr. John just say he got married in Vegas? Here I was thinking he was the smart one.” Carlos spoke just above a whisper but the room was so quiet we could all hear his words clearly.

  We never heard an answer from John. Instead we were hit with even more shocking news.

  “Dad, I have a child on the way. I am absolutely certain she is pregnant and that it is my child.” Terrell looked down at his shoes as he spoke.

  Only raising his head to look my father square in the eyes to add; “I’ve asked her to marry me five times already and she is still flat out refusing.”

  “Omg!” I could only place my hand over my mouth in complete shock.

  “Well, Carlos you’re the only one left. What secret are you holding?” Dad demanded.

  “Dad, I have been keeping my nose and my peter clean!” Carlos admitted. “Seems like I’m the only one who’s been working around here. I sold one of the chains in London and my net worth will peak at over seventy- five million at the end of the year. That is my only secret.” Carlos stated matter of factly.

  “Seventy- five million? What have you been doing? Mine is only fifty million! That’s not including trust funds, but my feelings are still hurt.” Ced’s eyebrows furrowed in intent to listen as he moved closer to Carlos to get an answer to his question.

  The whites of my eyes immediately went dry attempting to do the math on street businesses yielding fifty million.

  “Well future bro-in-law, I will have to turn you on to my investors so you can catch up with me one day!” Carlos had a smug look of confirmation on his face while brushing off his shoulder.

  My dad let out a simple, “Congratulation’s son! I’ve always believed in you and I am so proud!”

  “Thanks dad. If it is okay with you I think I’m going to head on home now. Baby can catch me up on anything that I need to know later on.”

  “No, it’s not okay with me. Seems like you have a lot of new family members you need to get acquainted with. Everybody needs to be en route to the big house right now! Lord, please have mercy on my wife’s soul. Terrell and John get these women to the house immediately. Carlos, contact the chef and instruct him on meals that will be suitable for all of my family to dine together for dinner and the rest of the weekend. Cedric, your children’s presence will be needed as well. Do not make me have to place one single phone call to inquire where any of you are- is that understood?” My dad walked out the front door without waiting for an answer.

  My brothers filed out one by one, each having looks of sheer fear, all except Carlos. I could only bring my hands to my head, the universal sign for having a headache. My foyer had received more action in the past few weeks than it ever had in the five years I lived in this house.

  24

  Ced reached to his clip on his hip to retrieve his cell phone. After a short pause he instructed his nanny to have the children dressed and ready to go shortly. I wasn’t ready to meet Ced’s kids. Was I really ready for that life of being an instant mommy of three? Maybe once daddy found out that there was no intimacy between Ced and I things could go back to normal. Unlike my brother, I was not expecting a bundle of joy. Truth be told I was not enthused about meeting my new niece or nephew’s mom or my new sister-in-law. John had married a woman in Vegas for God’s sake. There was no telling what these women could be like. I desperately wished I could snap my fingers and turn back the hands of time.

  “Baby, there is no backing out of this. I made my intentions clear to your father and you will be my wife so you can stop trying to come up with a plan to get out of this situation. These events were bound to happen and now that they have we can move on with our lives. We talked about this, you are the only woman I want and I will not stop until we are all in a church and I see you approaching me in a wedding gown.”

  “Ced, this is all too much too soon. We barely know each other! How can we even entertain the notion of marriage? I’ve never even met your kids, what if they don’t like me? I don’t know if you want more kids? I don’t know if I even want kids at all. I don’t know if your street business is over- no man of mine will be living the fast life! You can go ahead and get back to your kids. I will take care of my parents.”

  “Baby I’ve known you longer than you’ve known Angel. True, I moved away but so did you. You’re trying to be a coward in this situation. Yes, things are happening fast but it seems like your family is changing whether you like it or not. I promise to stick by your side and we will figure out the dynamics of what our life will be. But right now, more importantly Mr. Greg Haywood told me to be present at the big house with you and our children and you best believe I am not going to disobey his command!”

  “Ced, that’s how my dad talks to everybody when he is upset. I said I would handle it.”

  “I hear now and I heard what your dad said, but I will not go against Mr. Haywood and that is final! As a matter of fact he said be at the big house immediately, you need to get dressed so we can pick up the kids.”

  Ced grabbed my shoulders and steered me into my bedroom, then into my walk in closet. I chose to dress up since I would be meeting my new sister- in- law and a soon to be sister- in- law. There was no doubt Terrell and his baby mama would be married before that child was born. Even if they had to get married in the hospital room as she was giving birth- whatever her name was would be a Haywood before it was all said and done! And to think John Haywood was married already! There really was no telling what either one of these women’s backgrounds could be. All I knew was it meant less heat on my trail about this oh so handsome and equally sexy man talking to me as I was lost in my own thoughts.

  25

  Dressed to get down to business, I was ready to attend a family meeting and dinner at the big house. The rules had always been to dress nice for a family dinner. I convinced Ced to let me drive myself to my parents estate because I was pretty sure I would be held hostage by my parents for the remainder of the weekend. Not to take anything away from Ced, I just needed time to think in quiet. I didn’t even turn on the radio during the journey to my parents’ home. As soon as I pulled my car into the family garage my god-babies ran up to my car. I could not help the tears that dropped from my eyes. They were so precious and if Darrell was not the father of this baby Angel was carrying, my relationship with them would not survive the damage she’d done to my heart. Looking into their faces I could tell that Angel had definitely stepped her mothering skills up recently in caring for them. Today their chubby cheeks were filled out and they were cleanly dressed in designer label apparel that I knew I did not purchase.

  After I gave each one of them hugs and kisses I grabbed their hands and lead them back into the house. Doris, my parent’s hostess asked if I would like a snack or drink before I joined the rest of the family who had already arrived in the formal sitting room. It was a little before noon and I really needed a shot of Tequila. Instead I settled for a glass of lemonade. There was no point in getting tipsy; I needed my head to be sober to keep my hands off of Angel. I spoke to Doris’s adult daughter who sat quietly at the island in the kitchen prepping salad greens. No doubt she had been called in to serve as an acting nanny for all of the children that would be in the big house today. My father was such a resourceful man who literally thought of everything.

  Walking through my parent’s home I instantly began to get that calming feeling washing over me. I loved being in my childhood home. The house had undergone several upgrades but the floor plan remained the same stunning seven bedroom nine full baths that deserved to be aired on an episode of MTV Cribs. Turning the corner into the sitting room my heart did a slight change in beats as I recognized my college roommate sitting across from my mother gently rubbing her protruding belly.

>   “Simone Montgomery?” The words came out of my mouth in a high pitched squeal as if I were a 16 year old girl chatting with my girlfriends.

  “Hi, Baby” Simone’s words came out very controlled as if she did not know what to expect from my seeing her.

  “You mean to tell me you’re my new niece or nephew’s mother? Ohmigod, this is such a blessing, oh I’m so happy for you guys!” I screamed jumping up and down.

  “See Simone, I told you had nothing to worry about. I knew Baby was going to be elated to have you in our family.” My mom countered.

  “Wait a minute, you guys thought I would have a problem with this?” My words came out broken because I was truly hurt.

  True I didn’t have as long of a friendship with Simone like I had with Angel, but Simone was a good match for my alpha male daddy Terrell. Simone and I had been roommates in college for the duration of our under grad & grad years. She was also a fellow sorror. According to social media, Simone Montgomery was making a name for herself incorporating starving businesses with viable ones. I could not have picked a more suitable mate for my brother.

  “Yes, Baby. All I could think about was how you felt that no woman was ever good enough for your brothers. That is the reason why I would not accept Terrell’s marriage proposal. I didn’t want to jeopardize all of us not being able to have a good relationship for the benefit of this little girl I’m carrying.”

  “Oh, Simone I would never feel that way about you.”

  “But you do feel that way about me huh, Baby?” Angel seemed to come out of the walls throwing accusations at me.

  I made a quick decision not to entertain Angel’s words at that very moment. Instead I continued to focus on Simone, after all the next day she would be a part of our lives for the rest of her life. I couldn’t say the same thing about Angel.

  I pulled her into a sisterly hug and we both formed the signature sign from our sorority at each other. Pill number one wasn’t a big one to swallow.

  “Ok, Terrell that pretty much settles it. I will now accept both of your proposals.”

  “Both proposals?” Mama inquired.

  “Yes Mama Anna, when Terrell proposed the last time we knew at that time we were expecting a girl and he suggested that we name her after her grandmother and aunt- we decided on Stephanna.”

  “Aww, that is so precious!” My mothered and I squealed.

  Terrell walked over to me and placed a tender kiss on my forehead and said. “Baby, I am so sorry for keeping this great news from you. I was so scared of hurting not only our bond as siblings but also the sisterhood you share with Simone as well. I should have trusted your sound judgment and also your everlasting love for me.”

  “Big brother I could never turn my back on something so special that you have created, believe that.”

  Angel interjected once again, “Baby, you cannot ignore me forever! You forgave Terrell & Simone; you cannot still be upset about me and Darrell?”

  “Angel you know good and well there is no you and Darrell so why are you standing in front of Mom and Dad telling that big lie?” Darrell had lost all patience with this sticky situation.

  Angle ignored his words and kept on talking like the dizzy bird she was.

  “I cannot understand how it was okay for me to be a member of this family as your one and only true friend but not as your sister-in-law! It’s evident I am the only woman in the world can tolerate your Queen Bee persona but frankly it’s getting a bit old. You are thirty years old now!”

  Standing up straighter, rolling my shoulders, and counting to ten is what kept me aware that my parents were present in the room. They had never seen me be anything less than the graceful woman they raised me to be but I was seriously considering introducing them to someone else. Even though I still had yet to respond to any of Angel’s words she still felt the need to throw low blows at me.

  “You need to understand I will be equal to if not greater than you in Darrell’s life and you had best get used to it! I have as much of a right to be here as anyone in here. Despite how close you are with my man, you won’t be making love to him so there is no need in thinking you will outweigh me!”

  This chic was really testing my last good nerve!

  “Angel, I will not tolerate such a blatant disrespect for my daughter or my wife. While you are in this house you will respect me and uphold yourself as a proper woman should. I know your parents taught you better and I am more certain Anna & I taught you better!” I could only imagine her humiliation because my father’s words were spewed harshly.

  “Daddy, that’s okay. Let her get all her frustrations out and completely tell me how she really feels about me and this family. Since she is so interested in knowing how I feel about her and Darrell, I will surely let her know when she gets done with her tantrum!”

  “I’m not going anywhere so we have all night ole girl!”

  “Angel, you have been my best friend since the 7th grade. No matter how bad you messed up your life I was always beside you helping you pick through the pieces, shelling out cash, mothering your children, and providing emotional support for your entire family. Yet, the first chance you get you attempt to infiltrate my family to destroy our good name with a trashy scandal! I have no feelings left for you as my best friend, sister, or anything else you could ever turn out to be! As for how I feel about you and Darrell, I have no thoughts. You are a thorn in Darrell’s side, not mine. At this point I know without a doubt that he wishes he would’ve continued to feed you with a ten foot pole, let alone impregnate the town tramp!”

  “Steph, I am very much pregnant with Darrell’s child!

  “Oh, really? I thought you were pregnant with my child?” Ced had crept up behind Angel hearing her entire rant. I made a mental note to always be mindful of is light footwork.

  “Oh, no! She has been with Darrell and this young man too? By the way, who are you son?” Mama needed all the facts to this soap opera unfolding in her sitting room.

  “Sweetheart, this is Cedric Goldman. Cedric meet Baby’s mother, Mrs. Anna Haywood”

  “Oh, so this is my new son-in-law?” Mama rose to give Ced a hearty embrace.

  After the hug my mother grabbed both sides of his face in the palms of her hands and gingerly stared into his eyes. The site was hilarious because Ced was bent over, arms dangling, making up for the big gap in height between he and Anna.

  After what seemed like five minutes of silence my mother squealed, “Oh yes Greg, this is the one! He hasn’t touched Angel. I can tell, I just hate Darrell fell for such deception.”

  “What deception Anna?“

  “Oh, you have really lost your mind calling my mother by her first name!” Terrell grabbed Angel by the forearm as he spoke.

  “None of are going to stand for you disrespecting our parents. I told you about that yesterday and I will not hesitate to lay you out in this floor if you can’t respect my parents & their home! As a matter of fact get out!”

  “Stephanie, calm down!” Mama commanded.

  “Mom, I’m sorry to raise my voice but I am sick of her! She came to my house with this same attitude the other day and I’m done! Using me to come up after she has been rundown in the streets! I want her out right now! If she doesn’t leave I’m going to drag her out to the street by her hair like the trash that she is!”

  “Angel, it is time for you to go” Terrell and Darrell stood side by side in between Angel and I.

  Darrell was unwavering in his decision to put her out of our parent’s home.

  “Greg, you and Ced take Angel into the kitchen. I want to talk to Angel-“

  “Ma, this is the wrong setting for what has to take place between Angel and I. Our contact has been ungraded to go through attorneys only from this day forward. She can leave.” Darrell had a look of disgust as he looked at Angel even though his voice was velvety smooth talking to mom.

  “Darrell, I came here for one specific reason and even this big assed Baby is not going to stop me from get
ting it. I will leave when you unass my pre-arranged amount for child support for this baby I’m carrying!”

  “Angel, it is certainly time for you to go!” My dad was now on his feet.

  “I suggest you listen and listen well since you are certainly not wrapped too tight! I don’t know if you were paying attention but everyone now knows we’ve been intimate and that certainly is not Ced’s baby. So if you think for one minute I am going to give you a dime you are more insane than I previously thought. I never gave you money for child support for a child that I really doubt even exists. I gave you money for those other 4 children you couldn’t feed 2 months ago! But, even that good ride is over! You have disrespected my family for the last time! When the time comes I will be more than happy to oblige any necessary steps to gain sole custody of my child but that will only be after I receive a paternity test confirming my DNA runs through that child’s body! Until then you had better stay clear of Stephanie, this house, anyone you see here today- do you understand me?”

  “Fuck you and this family Darrell! I’m sick of all this prim and proper bullshit! There is no damned baby! I had my tubes tied after my last abortion! You don’t have to worry about seeing my face ever again! Oh, and just so you know I transferred a hundred grand into my account this morning, thanks for the parting gift you punk!”

  Ced grabbed my arm as I attempted to grab Angel by the shirt collar. With ease he lifted me from the ground and moved me to the other side of the room. That was the second time I had been picked up by an oversized man that day and that frustrated me even more. The corners of my eyes began to hurt from rolling my eyes so hard at him. He never said a word, he looked calm but he only stood firmly planted in front of me with his arms crossed at his chest. Wasn’t no use in tiring myself out, I wasn’t going to be able to get around him.

  “What is all the screaming about in here?” John entered the room with a petite blond on his arm.