I Heard A Rumor

by Hodges, Cheris

  “I’m sorry,” Amanda said. “I wasn’t going to get emotional about all of this. This is about my money.”

  “But it’s emotional as well.” Chante sighed, thinking about how she had waited around for Robert to apologize to her after everything broke during the campaign. It wasn’t as if she’d thought his apology would have been sincere or changed anything, but still, it would’ve been an acknowledgment of her hurt feelings.

  “The state has offered a settlement—eighty percent of the money they seized from you—and I turned it down.”

  Amanda nodded. “Thank you. It’s as if they are determined to make me pay for Harlan’s crime. Going off the grid didn’t help me as much as I thought it would have. My business is gone, my reputation is in ruins, and people act as if I should be in a cell beside him.”

  “That’s why we’re about to change the narrative, tell your truth, and get your money back.”

  Amanda leaned back in her seat. “But I’m about to open myself up to a lot of scrutiny. After all, I had an affair with a married man.”

  “A man who you married.”

  “Do you think people are going to care about that? Maybe we should settle?”

  “No!” Chante crossed over to Amanda’s chair and looked into her eyes. “If you want to recapture who you are, you have to tell your story. You might be able to help someone else in a situation like yours.”

  “I’m not sure I want to be a life lesson.”

  “Oh, I understand. I’ve been on the other side of this situation. But nothing made me feel better than when I took my life back. Those videos and the media camping out at my front door actually gave me a chance to look at what I’d lost.”

  “How?”

  Chante smiled. “My grandmother is the one person I can always depend on to surprise me. I went to Charleston to get away from the judgment and the madness that had become my life. Then something unexpected happened.”

  “Your grandmother passed?”

  “No, thank God! She’s actually on a cruise around the world with a man she should’ve been with years ago. But that’s not the point. She wrote me a letter that made me realize I hadn’t been living, because I was scared of what my mother thought and what the legal community thought, and because of my confusion over why I hadn’t gotten that partnership. All I needed to do was control my destiny.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “It isn’t. I’m scared. For the first time in my life, I’m in a position where I have to depend on me, and failure is not an option. I have to make things right for you. That’s part of my mission.”

  “That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself.”

  “I prefer my pressure to someone else’s. And I know I won’t fail myself or you. But you have to know that this will be hard.”

  “I can take it. I’ve allowed people to create stories about me, and I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “And it’s time for all of your judges to realize that. Don’t settle. Fight and show the world how you are going to take back your life.”

  “Better yet, I’m going to pull a Chante and create an even better life.”

  Chante slapped high five with Amanda.

  “Now, let’s get ready to put you on the right path for . . .”

  The intercom buzzed, interrupting Chante. “Yes, Gabby?”

  “There is a Zach Harrington here to see you, and he wanted me to tell you that he’ll wait as long as it takes.”

  “Please tell Mr. Harrington that I’m finishing up with a client and I won’t keep him waiting that long.”

  “Did I mention that he’s fine as . . .”

  “Thank you, Gabby,” Chante said and clicked the intercom off. She turned to Amanda with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.”

  “No need to apologize because you have a fine man waiting for you.”

  Chante felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Wait. How did Zach find her, and what was he doing in Charlotte?

  After Amanda and Chante agreed to go to trial and had set an appointment with the state’s attorney’s office, she was ready to see Zach. Fluffing her hair, she buzzed Gabby and told her to send Zach in.

  When the door opened and he walked in, Chante’s breath caught in her chest. “Hi,” she said as she crossed over to him, “what are you doing here?”

  “I missed you,” he said as he drew her into his arms. “But now I’m starting to see why my calls went unanswered. This setup is amazing.”

  She smiled proudly. “I knew I had do something because there was no way that I was going back to the firm I was with before.”

  Kissing her gently on the forehead, he smiled. “I’m proud of you. I must say, some of the people at your old firm aren’t happy. I went there first.”

  Chante dropped her head. “Who did you run into?”

  “That guy Taiwon.”

  “Bastard,” she whispered. “Anyway, what brings you to Charlotte?”

  “Chante Britt. Like I said, I missed you.”

  She melted in his arms. “How are things in New York?”

  “Great,” he said. “My company and I have been cleared officially of any involvement in Natalie’s sex crimes, and business is good again. I just have to figure out what’s going on with my sister and the FBI agent.”

  “Huh?”

  “Zoe, with her headstrong ways, and Agent Banks have something going on. I’ve never seen her flustered before.”

  “Wow.”

  “Enough about her. Let’s have dinner tonight.”

  “Of course,” she said. “I have some things I need to finish up here, and then I’m all yours.”

  “I love the sound of that. I’m staying at the Westin, so do you want to meet me there around seven?”

  “Sounds good,” she said as they made their way to the door.

  “But before I go,” he said in a deep whisper, “there’s something I have to do.” He brought his mouth down on top of hers, capturing her lips in a hot, knee-weakening kiss. Soft moans turned into impassioned groans as Zach slipped his hand between her thighs. Immediately, Chante wished she’d worn a skirt instead of her favorite slim-tailored black pants. Still, her body throbbed and her lips puckered with want and need.

  Just as she was about to unbutton her pants and lay back on top of her desk, Gabby buzzed her. “Chante, your appointment is here.”

  “Damn it,” Chante muttered as she and Zach broke the kiss. She stalked over to her desk and pressed the intercom button. “Give me five minutes, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Chante smiled at Zach. “Duty calls.”

  “Yeah, you have to handle your business. I guess I can wait.” Zach winked at her, then headed out the door. Chante took a deep breath and fanned herself, hoping her heart rate would soon return to normal.

  “Gabby,” she said into the intercom, “I’m ready.”

  As Zach walked to his vehicle on the parking deck, he prayed that Chante’s meeting would be successful and short. Very short. Kissing her and feeling her in his arms made his desire for her skyrocket as though NASA had launched him into space. Seeing Chante in her element made him realize just how sexy she was. He hadn’t expected to drool over her in a suit as much as he did when he saw her in a sundress. But damn. She looked good. Better than good. And she felt even better. Getting into his car, he decided that dinner was going to be in his suite—no waiters and no interruptions. He’d planned to take her to the famous Hometown Delights, but he’d have to sample that restaurant another time.

  Tonight, all he wanted to taste was Chante. Arriving at the hotel, he called room service.

  “How can I help you?” the attendant asked.

  “Please tell me you have a seafood quiche,” Zach said.

  “I don’t, but we have low-country-style shrimp and grits.”

  Smiling, Zach remembered how he didn’t want to take a chance with grits that first night he’d taken Chante dinner. “You know, I really need a seafoo
d quiche. I have a special lady visiting and that meal is kind of sentimental to us.”

  “Really? Well, being it’s that special to you two, I don’t want to have the chef try to make one and we mess it up. I’m going to call over to one of my favorite restaurants and see if they can help us out.”

  “If you make that happen, I will definitely make it worth your time.”

  “When are you expecting your dinner guest?”

  “Seven. And what do you have in the way of desserts?”

  “We have a great chocolate cake with extra frosting and a dark chocolate drizzle. And there is a caramel drizzle as well.”

  “I like that. I want to have a cake with both drizzles.”

  “Excellent choice, sir. I’ll check on the seafood quiche and get back to you about what I can do.”

  “Thank you so much,” Zach said. After hanging up, he called housekeeping.

  “Mr. Harrington, is there a problem?” the woman who answered the phone asked.

  “No, but I need some candles and rose petals.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I have a special lady coming to visit me tonight, and I want to create a sexy mood. Can you help me out?”

  The woman laughed, then said yes. “I have candles, but you’re going to have to get your own roses. There’s a florist on Fourth Street.”

  “That’s awesome. Now, where is Fourth Street?”

  She laughed again and gave him directions. Zach glanced at his watch. He had plenty of time to get everything together. As he headed for his car, his cell phone rang.

  “Zoe,” he muttered when he saw his sister’s face appear on the screen. “What’s up, sis?”

  “Where are you, and are you sitting down?”

  “Not sitting yet. What’s going on?”

  She blew into the phone. “Natalie is out of jail, and her case has been thrown out.”

  “What in the . . . How in hell did that happen?”

  “Missing evidence or something like that.”

  “Bullshit. I bet she had a federal judge on her list too. This woman is like the Teflon Pimp.”

  “But it gets better. She’s doing the I’m the victim media tour. And is talking about suing for defamation.”

  “Who’s going to take that case?”

  “Are you sitting yet?”

  “Spill it, Zoe.”

  “Ever heard of the Legal Center for Women?”

  “What? Wait, that’s Chante’s firm.”

  “A source told me that Natalie is in Charlotte meeting with your girlfriend.”

  Zach closed his eyes. This. Was. A. Nightmare. “I’m sure Chante won’t take her case.”

  “I bet she will. New firm, all about empowering women. Can you imagine the press she’d get taking this case? I bet you’re glad you didn’t go traipsing after her in North Carolina.”

  “Zoe, I’m in Charlotte right now. And I probably narrowly missed seeing Natalie when I left Chante’s office.”

  “I can’t believe you. After everything you went through to restore the business, you’re back on the chase. You’re proof that women run the world and we just allow you men to live in it.”

  “What are you ranting about?”

  “I think these women are setting you up.”

  Zach rolled his eyes. But what if she was right? “Where are you right now?”

  “In the Bronx—why?”

  “Not that I think you’re right, but I’m going to see if there is something going on with Chante and Natalie. I’m going to need your help.”

  “This must be serious because you never want my help when it comes to a woman.”

  “I’ll call you back.” Zach hopped into his car and headed for Chante’s office. He silently prayed that Zoe was wrong.

  Chapter 21

  Chante sat across from Natalie Duvall Harrington and tried to remain professional. There was no way she’d take her case. But she did want to get a good look at the former Mrs. Zachary Harrington. She was pretty. Okay, the woman was gorgeous—with her auburn bob, hazel eyes, and café au lait skin—but full of shit.

  “I’ve taken the fall for a lot of men,” Natalie said. “I was the scapegoat, and powerful men are just going on with their lives while I’m being called the ‘Harlem Madame.’”

  “So the call-girl ring wasn’t your idea, as the court documents say?”

  She narrowed her eyes at Chante. “My ex-husband left me broke. I needed something to do. It’s not as if I have experience in real estate or anything. I thought my marriage was going to be forever, and when it wasn’t, I was depressed.”

  Leaning back in her chair, Chante folded her hands underneath her chin. “So you were depressed and allowed someone to talk you into getting involved in an illegal enterprise?”

  “When you say it like that it makes me seem crazy.”

  “Natalie, I sympathize with your situation, but I don’t see a winnable case here. You got off on a technicality. Take that as a victory and move on.”

  “I know who you are, and I know why you’re turning me down. You think you and Zach have some sort of future, don’t you?”

  “Get out of my office.”

  “Chante Britt, you’re going to end up on the wrong side of heartache again. Zach isn’t the man you think he is, and I can’t wait until both of you fall off your high horses.”

  Chante rose to her feet. “Why are you here, because I know you didn’t actually want me to represent you or help you rehab your image.”

  Natalie smiled. “I’d like to start over, and I need money to do so, because New York will no longer be home for me.”

  “Is this a shakedown? Seriously? You came to a lawyer to blackmail her? Tell me why I shouldn’t call the police right now and have your ass hauled out of here.”

  Rising to her feet, Natalie crossed over to Chante. “You want your new venture to be successful. The bad press you’d get from calling the police and telling them I was here, yet you refused to help me, is going to tank your fledgling firm. How are women going to be able to trust you when you can’t help me?”

  “You’re not the kind of woman who needs help. You’re a liar who doesn’t mind stepping on people to get what you want.”

  “Funny, you think the media will see that side of me? I have powers of persuasion that rival the truth at every turn. How do you think I convinced the FBI that your boo was involved with the call-girl ring? That boring motherfucker wouldn’t even bet on the ponies. Maybe you two are made for each other. You seem boring as hell too, but you have some cash that I need. Make it happen, or everything you’re trying to build is going to sink like the Titanic.” Natalie sashayed out of the office, and Chante stood there with her mouth wide open.

  Was the woman serious? Chante hit the intercom button. “Gabby, the woman who just walked out of here? Never let her back in this office again.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Can I come in and talk to you?”

  “Sure. I think it’s about time for us to shut down for the day anyway.”

  Gabby walked into Chante’s office and took a seat across from her boss’s desk. “I heard from Robert this morning. He said he wants to work things out with us, and he’s dropping out of the race for mayor.”

  “What do you think of all of that?” Chante asked.

  Sighing, tears welled up in Gabby’s eyes. “I feel like he’s settling, and I’m not his first choice. Chante, I’m not you. I’m not as smart as you are, and . . .”

  “Stop. Stop it. You are enough. And you’re right: you shouldn’t be anyone’s second choice, and you damned sure don’t have to be like me.”

  “Over these last few weeks, I’ve seen what you’ve done here without anyone’s help. I want to be that kind of woman. Not someone’s second choice or a stand-in for the life he thought he could have with someone else. Why can’t I find a man to love me and my potential?”

  “How do you feel about you?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked with a confused look o
n her face.

  “You have to love you before you can expect someone else to love you back. Until you are the most important person in your world, you can’t think that you’re going to be that person to someone else.”

  “What if this is all I am? I mean, this job is wonderful, but I’m a receptionist. I’m not making a difference here.”

  “Yes, you are! I couldn’t run this place without you. Think about this: if you want to do more, then you have to plan for your future. Have you thought about going back to school?”

  “Back to school? I guess I could do that. I think I want to be a lawyer like you.”

  Chante hid her smile. Who would’ve thought she’d be able to save somebody from Robert? Whether or not Gabby went to school, she was already showing that she was smarter than she’d seemed when she first walked in the door.

  Glancing down at her watch, Chante wanted to bolt. She and Zach were having dinner at seven, and she wanted to get a pedicure, but she wasn’t going to leave until she was sure Gabby wasn’t going to do something destructive for herself.

  “Where did you go to school?” Gabby asked.

  “The University of North Carolina.”

  “Maybe I should apply there in the fall.”

  “That is a great idea. I’ll write you a letter of recommendation.”

  Gabby rose to her feet and hugged Chante. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  Chante broke the embrace and smiled at Gabby. “I’m going to expect a lot from you. I’m going to check on you and make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”

  “I’m going to make us proud. And then I’m going to pass the bar.”

  “And I’m going to hire you.”

  “Do you mean it?”

  “One thing you will learn about me is that I keep my word. Now you’re going to have to keep your word to yourself.”

  Gabby nodded. “I’m going to do that. Because I’m promising myself that I’m going to be the best damned lawyer in the state. People are going to be clamoring to have me represent them in court.”