Chandra’s laugh came through the earpiece. “I don’t think you’d want me to expose my chest. I told Preston that for the first time in my life I’m willing to do a centerfold layout. My girls are off the hook!”
“What did he say?”
“It’s something I can’t repeat on an open phone line. But I told him to enjoy them before my belly takes over.”
“Are you big?”
“No. I’m getting thick in the waist, but so far no belly.” She sighed heavily. “All right, I’ll be your matron of honor.”
Denise closed her eyes, whispering a prayer of gratitude. “Thank you, cuz.”
“You’re welcome, cuz. I’m honored you asked me. Now tell me, what does your ring look like?”
Denise held out her hand and described the exquisite diamond engagement ring featuring a cushion halo with a round cut center stone, three rows of micro pavé diamonds on the shank and surrounding the center stone.
“When are you coming to Philly so I can see it?”
“Tomorrow. I have to come up for the closing on the co-op. If you’re not busy maybe you can meet me for dinner.”
“Call me when you’re finished and I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Why don’t you and Preston come down here a weekend? We can hang out at the house on Cape St. Claire in Maryland.”
“I’d love to, Necie, but Preston’s still working the final edits for Death’s Kiss. He’s planning a short theatrical production before filming begins—”
“It’s going to be a movie?” Denise interrupted.
“Yes. Griffin just negotiated a movie deal with a major Hollywood studio. Griffin insisted on complete literary control on behalf of his client, or he was going to take it to an independent studio. He gave them twelve hours to come back with a yes or no. It took only three hours for them to agree. Literary control has been something Preston has wanted for years.”
“You know my father calls Griffin a legal hustler.”
“Whatever works,” Chandra drawled. “His hustling got my husband what he wants, and when my baby is happy I’m happy.”
“I ain’t mad at you, cuz,” Denise drawled.
“Thank you, Necie. As soon as P.J. Tucker comes up for air we’re going to take you and Rhett up on your invitation to come down and hang out with you guys. I overheard Mom talking to Aunt Paulette about not putting on a family reunion this year because Belinda’s still recuperating from sixteen hours of hard labor and Myles says the doctor doesn’t want Zabrina to travel long distances.”
“That’s okay. I’m taking some time off in the fall to look for a gown, and during that time I’m going to make my rounds and visit with everyone.”
“Is your gorgeous fiancé coming with you?”
“I don’t know. Right now he’s fixated on some deal that has him getting up out of bed to talk on the phone in the middle of the night. I’m so exhausted that I told him to stay at his place until whatever he’s working on is resolved. Unfortunately, I don’t do well on three hours of sleep.”
“Right now I sleep through everything,” Chandra admitted, “and that includes thunderstorms. Don’t forget to call me tomorrow.”
“I won’t. I’m coming up on the train, so maybe we can eat somewhere near the station. My treat.”
“You treated the last time. I’m…”
Denise hung up, cutting off what she knew would become a rant from Chandra. Once she deposited the check from the sale of the apartment into the bank, not only would she have more disposable income but she would also amp up her anemic savings account. Unlike her fiancé, who’d paid as much for her engagement ring than she planned to pay for a new car, she had become more discerning when it came to her finances.
Leaning over, she placed the receiver in its cradle when it rang. She picked it up without looking at the display. “Hello.”
“What’s this I hear about my favorite sister getting married?”
Denise frowned. “Why do you always refer to me as your favorite sister? Does Daddy have a secret love child hidden away somewhere?”
Xavier’s smooth baritone laugh came through the earpiece. “Dad may be a badass on the bench, but I know he’s not so bad that he would risk cheating on our mother, who probably would make his life a living hell.”
A smile replaced her frown. “Mom is worse than a dog with a bone when she becomes fixated on something.”
“I hear you. She’s going to love playing the role of mother of the bride.”
“I’ve decided to let her have her wish and go along with whatever she has planned. The only thing I’m going to do is show up and exchange vows with my new husband. I’m certain Mom told you that Daddy is going to do the officiating, so I want you to give me away.”
There came a beat of silence. “Are you certain that’s what you want, Denise?”
“Of course it’s what I want, Xavier. Who else is going to give me away? Besides, everyone in Philly knows Paulette Eaton is the consummate hostess and puts together some of the best parties in the city. That’s why she’s on all of the social registers of every bougie African-American couple and organization.”
“You know how I feel about her fake friends.”
“You just don’t like them, Xavier, because they’re always trying to set you up with their daughters.”
“I’ve never had a problem finding my own women.”
Xavier was telling Denise something she already knew. All of her friends in high school and college had wanted her to introduce them to her brother. What most hadn’t known was that he had a jealous mistress—the military. Denise didn’t know what it was about putting on a uniform, standing in formation and marching for miles with more than sixty pounds of equipment on his back that her brother found rewarding. He claimed it turned boys into men, girls into women, while building character.
“I’d always thought you would get married before me.”
Xavier laughed again. “I’m glad you’re marrying Garrett, because now the pressure is off me to give Mom a grandchild.”
“Give me time to enjoy being married before I start pushing out grandchildren. Right now there’s an Eaton population explosion with Belinda, Zabrina and Chandra.”
“True. But all the babies are Aunt Roberta’s grandchildren.”
“I’m still not going to bow to pressure and have a baby because our mother wants to be a grandmother. Now, tell me, dear brother, are you going to give me away?”
“Of course I will. I’m going to hang up now because the truck with my bedroom furniture just pulled up.”
“How’s the new house?”
“It’s nice. I’ll call you later in the week. Love you, baby sister.”
“Love you back, big brother.”
Unfolding her legs, Denise slid off the bed and walked over to the closet to select an outfit for the next day. Closing on the co-op had been a long time coming, and once the title was transferred to the new owners that phase of her life would be behind her.
Her next move would be from her current apartment to the fourth floor of the town house near Dupont Circle. The contractor projected completing renovating the space by early fall. Then there was the task of decorating the apartment. She knew it would take time to select what she wanted in each room, then she and Rhett would have to wait for the pieces to be delivered. Denise didn’t expect to have every room decorated for quite some time, but Rhett had asked her to decide on the furniture for the master bedroom suite so he could move out of the hotel.
She’d tried imagining, and failed, getting up in the morning to go to work where she only had to ride the elevator one floor or take one flight of stairs to her office. Rhett would never have the excuse that he couldn’t get to work because of bad weather or traffic jams. She also couldn’t complain about him bringing his work home, because his home and his office were in the same building.
Rhett pumped his fist in the air in triumph. Chambers Properties had pulled out of the bidding on the commercial p
roperty near Baltimore Harbor, resulting with CMP coming in with the lowest bid. His prospectus included building several middle-income rental units and a nearby shopping center with stores ranging from supermarkets, boutiques and a sporting goods shop to a movie theater with two screens.
“I heard Trey and his father are looking for investors.”
Rhett hadn’t known what to expect when he’d returned his financial planner’s telephone call, but it was not the news that CMP had the winning bid to a parcel of land he’d had his eye on for years. “How much are they looking for, Stanley? Is it doable?” he asked after hearing the figure.
“Hold on, Rhett, let’s crunch a few numbers.”
The rapid tapping of keys came through the intercom as Rhett waited for the financial guru to work his magic. “If I’m going to take over Chambers Properties, then I want total control.”
“You read my mind, brother,” Stanley said, chuckling. “I can make it happen if you’re willing to sell off your latest acquisition.”
“Not happening,” Rhett countered. “My fiancée has her day care center on that parcel.”
There was another tapping of keys. “What about putting your house in Maryland up for collateral against a short-term, no-interest loan?”
“Make it happen like yesterday.”
“Give me thirty-six hours to get the loan approved. Meanwhile I’ll contact Chambers and let him know that I represent an anonymous party willing to invest in their company.”
“I want to ink this deal before the end of the week.” He and Denise were scheduled to spend the weekend with his mother and stepfather.
“Hang up, Rhett, and I’ll call Chambers.”
Punching a button on the intercom, Rhett disconnected the call. He pushed back his chair and paced the width of his office. For some reason he was too wound up to sit and wait for Stanley’s call. In fact, he’d waited long enough to exact revenge on the man whom he’d trusted like a brother, a man whose deceit had kept him from the only woman he’d ever loved.
He and Trey had been, as people would put it, thicker than thieves. Their friendship had begun in boarding school and continued throughout college. Although Trey had inherited his father’s good looks and charm, he had always struggled academically. Rhett lost track of the number of papers he’d rewritten for his friend, or the countless hours he’d tutored him for an exam. He’d told Trey he was blessed to have a position waiting for him at Chambers Properties. What he hadn’t told Trey was he doubted whether he would’ve been able to hold down a position outside of his family’s business because he preferred socializing to studying.
Being academically inept hadn’t stopped the indulgent only child from concocting a scheme that would’ve worked if Rhett hadn’t been so in love with Denise. Even after he’d blackmailed her into dating him again, he realized he’d never stopped loving her.
He had promised Denise he wouldn’t hurt Trey. He knew she was talking about physically hurting him, when his intent was to cause psychological pain—namely humiliation. The man had to pay for stealing six years of his life.
His private line rang and, taking long strides, Rhett picked up the receiver before it rang again. “Yes?”
“We’re on for Friday morning. I told Trey Jr. that I would meet with him, his father and the board at ten o’clock. We’ll discuss the terms of the takeover, take a vote, then sign the necessary documents. I also told Trey, without mentioning your name, that you had a prior engagement and will join everyone at the luncheon following the board meeting. The only thing I’m going to tell you is that I don’t want to be anywhere close to that restaurant when the fireworks begin.”
Rhett smiled. “Don’t worry, friend. There won’t be any fireworks.” And there wouldn’t be. It wasn’t his style. He’d executed one other hostile takeover, resulting in little or no casualties, and he was certain it would be the same with Chambers Properties, Ltd.
Denise walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her head, turban-style. Rhett had decided to change their sleeping venue and had spent the past two nights at his suite in the Hay-Adams. It was very different not to have to make the bed, clean up the bathroom or cook. His suite was on the top floor, which offered unobstructed views of the White House.
Rhett was in bed, talking quietly into the tiny microphone attached to his cell phone earpiece. The television was tuned to a station featuring a local D.C. news program. She crawled into bed with him, supporting her back against a mound of pillows on the king-size bed. She liked the suite because the French doors opened onto a small balcony.
Dinner had become a romantic affair when they’d ordered room service. She’d lit candles while Rhett found an all-music radio station featuring classical selections. They’d shared entrées of goat cheese and basil ravioli with spicy black olives, tomato sauce, capers, pine nuts and shaved parmesan and sautéed sole with parsley potatoes and lemon caper sauce.
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she walked over to the thermostat, adjusting the temperature. Although the space was icy-cold, it didn’t seem to affect Rhett, who had left his chest bare after pulling on a pair of cotton lounging pants. He lifted his eyebrows questioningly when she met his gaze, pantomiming rubbing her bare arms. Nodding, he returned his focus to his phone conversation.
Denise knew she had to compromise, or her marriage to Rhett wouldn’t survive its first year. He was a businessman, and that meant he would spend hours in meetings, on the phone or computer. Rhett had promised not to conduct business at home after eleven at night. The exception would come when they moved into the town house where he would have access to his office 24/7.
Rhett managed to concentrate on what Stanley was telling him even though he’d found his mind straying. Denise had emerged from the bathroom in a revealing black lace midriff top with a matching pair of bikini panties. She came back to the bed, moving closer and resting a bare leg over his.
Everything was in place. The meeting for his takeover of Chambers where he would hold the controlling share of the decades-old real estate corporation had been confirmed. Stanley would negotiate on behalf of a CMP holding company, which made it virtually impossible for Chambers to identify the players. But then even if he knew that Garrett Fennell was his mysterious investor he doubted if Trey could afford to turn away monies needed to keep his company afloat. The next step was filing for bankruptcy and financial ruin for the family and the company’s shareholders.
He reached for the television remote, increasing the volume when a special bulletin flashed across the screen. “Stan, let me call you back.” Rhett ended the call, staring at the large flat screen. He heard what the newscaster was saying even when he didn’t want to believe it. Someone had assaulted Trey Chambers Jr. and left him for dead. When his father was notified of the attack, he’d collapsed and was transported to the same hospital where his son was undergoing emergency surgery.
“You didn’t!”
Rhett’s gaze swung from the screen to Denise. Her eyes were large and filled with unshed tears. “What are you talking about?”
Denise slipped out of bed as if in a trance, backing up when Rhett reached for her. “Don’t touch me!” She hadn’t realized she was screaming. “You promised me you wouldn’t hurt him.”
Ignoring her protest, Rhett pulled her up close in a punishing grip. “How many times do I have to prove myself to you, Denise? When I told you I wouldn’t hurt Trey Chambers I meant it.”
“Why is he in a hospital fighting for his life, Rhett?”
“I don’t know, baby. It’s not because of anything I’ve said or done. Do I dislike Trey Chambers? Yes. But not enough to have someone beat him and dump his body in an alley. There are other ways of making him pay for his sins without resorting to violence.”
Denise went completely still. “How?”
“That doesn’t concern you,” Rhett countered.
“What do you mean it doesn’t concern me? Are we going to start keeping secrets from each oth
er even before we’re married?”
“Whatever goes on with CMP is my business, Denise, and I don’t intend to involve you in it.”
“How dare you…” The hotel phone shrilled loudly, preempting whatever Denise was going to say.
Rhett released Denise and reached for the receiver. “Fennell,” he said, identifying himself. “Calm down, Mom. I can’t understand a thing you’re saying if you don’t stop crying. Okay, I’m coming.” He slammed the receiver in the cradle. “Get dressed. My mother wants to see us.”
“Now?”
“Yes now.” Rhett had slipped out of the lounging pants and was searching through a drawer for his underwear by the time Denise was galvanized into action. It took five minutes for her to slip into a pair of underwear, jeans, T-shirt and running shoes. Damp curls hung around her face, and she managed to grab her handbag before Rhett took her hand as they raced out of the suite.
Chapter 16
Only the slip-slap of tires on the roadway shattered the silence inside the car as Rhett exceeded the speed limit during the drive from D.C. to Falls Church, Virginia. He could not have imagined what had happened to trigger his mother’s histrionics. The sign indicating the number of miles to Falls Church’s city limits came into view.
Denise bit down on her lip, wishing Rhett would ease his grip on her left hand. He drove with his left, while holding her fingers captive in his right. It was as if holding on to her would keep his anxiety at bay.
She’d tried imagining why Geraldine had called, asking to see not only Rhett but her, but was unable to come up with a plausible reason. What Denise did not want to entertain was the possibility that something had happened to her husband. Geraldine and Maynard had recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary and… Her thoughts drifted off, dissipating like a puff of smoke. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again Rhett had turned down a winding path to a cul-de-sac with a sprawling Shingle Style bungalow set back from an expansive manicured lawn. He maneuvered into the circular driveway to a home ablaze with light.
Twice the Temptation Page 17