CheckMate 4: Winner Takes All

by Tiece

  “You didn’t have to, because I hadn’t moved on.”

  Candy frowned. “Was I to think anything less, Monty?” she questioned with thoughts of him showing up to Brendon’s grand opening with MiKayla.

  “I don’t know what you were supposed to think, but I didn’t come straight out and tell you that we were together did I?”

  “Nah, you didn’t do that and with good reason. Apparently y’all are not together anymore.” She said trying to read his body language.

  “I have nothing to say to MiKayla nor do I wanna have this conversation about her with you.”

  “You’re rather snappy this morning.” Candy teased with a light chuckle.

  Monty sat composed with an unbothered facial expression, looking handsome as ever. She knew that she was getting under his skin even though he acted unfazed.

  “I’m not being snappy. I just don’t wanna talk about her. Let’s talk about you and my cousin.” He told her waiting for the moment to talk about that.

  “Let’s,” Candy said feeling that she’d led him right up to where she wanted this conversation to go. She felt like she had some explaining to do and why not explain herself now, than to keep up this charade like she wasn’t bothered by his actions, because she was.

  “Have y’all slept together?” Monty asked.

  Candy laughed out loud. “That seems to be the only thing you’re concerned about. Why is that?”

  “I’m just asking, but if you have then I’m leaving now.”

  “Why you gotta act like that? We’re just starting to get along.”

  Monty shook his head. “I can’t lie. I won’t be able to take that.” He truthfully told her.

  “Take what, me having sex with him?” she pondered.

  Monty slowly nodded his head. He hated to even imagine it. “I don’t wanna think about it.” He said, literally feeling sick on his stomach.

  “We haven’t had sex, Monty. My goodness,” she said with an irritated shake of the head. “It’s funny how you can sleep with whomever you choose, but I can’t.”

  Monty felt relieved that she’d confirmed it again. He’d been hearing about Brendon’s visits with Candy from Kina, and even though she said that they hadn’t had sex yet, he wasn’t so sure. Brendon was a for sure lady magnet and was every bit of his cousin. He had to hear it from the horse’s mouth again to be sure.

  “Brendon and I are cool. We hang out together, we talk, and we chill.”

  Monty quickly cut in. “What else do y’all do? You can’t tell me that you’ve not had some kinda intimacy with him. I caught y’all in his hotel room while the nigga was wearing his boxer shorts.”

  Candy shook her head. “Well,” she said, but he cut in again.

  “Well what?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow. “What else have y’all done?”

  “We kissed.” She openly admitted.

  Monty frowned from hearing such bitter words come out of her mouth. “We kissed,” he whispered while mocking her. “Damn,” he disappointedly said shaking his head. All along he’d known that something was going on, but hearing about it had him in his feelings.

  “Yes Monty, we kissed. I’m not going to lie to you about anything. I want you to know what’s going on in my life.”

  “Well, I don’t wanna know if it involves my cousin.”

  “Well, you’re gonna know as long as you’re MJ’s father and there is no DNA results that could ever prove otherwise.” She gently touched the back of his hand. “I hate that we’ve become such strangers like we never had a close relationship. It bothers me how we treat each other now. I’ve not seen you in weeks. Somehow we’ve made it convenient to miss each other or to not come around period, but that’s not healthy for us or as parents of MJ’s. We need to do better for him.” She said looking over in the playpen at their son to see that he’d fallen asleep.

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” Monty said with a sad look in his eyes.

  Candy almost felt bad for him. “Do what?”

  “I can’t come around you like that and not feel the need to touch you or hug you.” Candy just stared at him. She wanted to allow him the opportunity to tell her how he really felt. “I know I’ve been a jackass and for no reason at all except for being a dog. I don’t ever want you to think that I didn’t want to be with you. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I think for me, settling down was a bit scary. We kinda moved quickly, ya know.” He said taking in a deep breath as he thought back at their time together. “It’s like we kissed and things took off. I know you’re a rider, I know you’ll go hard for your family, and I also know how much I meant to you at one point. I can’t change the things I’ve done, but I can tell you that you’ve changed me.”

  Candy’s bright eyes widened as she looked at him. He definitely seemed sincere, but with Monty she never wanted to press her luck. “How exactly have I changed you?”

  “I look at you now and I see the woman that I should’ve wanted to be with from the beginning. They say you don’t miss your well until it runs dry.”

  Candy waved her hand in the air like she was in church, and then said, “Amen.” she chimed in.

  Monty ignored her smart remark and continued. “I can’t lie. I got distracted by MiKayla. I don’t know what it was that drew me to her, but it was something or I was just crazy and thinking with my other head.”

  “Now that could explain it.” Candy said with a slick roll of the eyes. “Seriously though, I can see how. She’s a pretty girl.” Candy softly said. “She has business about herself and if nothing else it seemed like she loved you.”

  “She’s not you, though. I don’t know what I was thinking. These past few weeks have been hell on me. It may not look like it, but trust me. I’m going through it.”

  “I think you’re only feeling this way, because of Brendon.”

  Monty stood up, feeling somewhat irritated by her saying that. “I’m feeling this way, because I fucked up a good thing. Yes, it bothers me that you’re seeing my cousin. I mean, who would’ve ever seen that one coming? But, I’ve had nothing but time to think things through. Plus, you know how Catherine Banks is. She’s been giving it to my ass so bad that I’d been looking for a nice bachelor pad of my own just to have a lil peace.” He said with a grin to try and play off his real feelings.

  “Yeah, trust me I knooooow,” Candy dragged with a smile on her face. “She and I spoke the other morning when she came over. Once she gets started there ain’t no stopping her.”

  “Tell me about it.” Monty said with a light chuckle.

  “Well, for the record. Brendon and I aren’t seeing each other. I had a talk with him yesterday and I feel that I need to focus on me and my life and less on having a man in it to fulfill my needs.”

  Monty smiled. “That’s smart thinking.”

  “I bet it is.” Candy chimed in. “Speaking with your mom opened my eyes to a lot of things. She definitely keeps it real. Then my mom called and they gave me the same advice. How could I not take heed when the most important women in my life are giving me the same woman to woman talk?”

  “No man defines who I am. Brendon is definitely every woman’s dream, from what I can tell, but your mom is right. I should really slow down and take my time before jumping right back into another relationship with anybody. That doesn’t mean that I’m gonna stop being good friends with him or that we won’t hang, but I’m not giving up the goods. Not yet, anyway.” She said with a slick smile since it seemed that Monty was bothered anytime she’d mention that.

  Monty simply shook his head at her as he headed for the front door. He checked his Rolex, noticing that it was almost ten o’clock. “I don’t mean to cut this talk short, but I gotta run. I have a meeting with a client at eleven.”

  “That’s fine,” Candy said as she walked him to the door. “I’ll pick up MJ tomorrow when I get off if that’s cool.”

  “I never said that you couldn’t come by and get him. You chose to stop coming.”
r />   “I know, but I’m glad that we had this talk. I feel so much better.” He told her.

  “Well, do me a favor and talk with your cousin. He needs you and he loves you, too. I hate that y’all aren’t talking, because of me. That’s crazy. Y’all were too close for that.”

  Monty nodded his head. “I hear you,” he said, but it was a part of him that was mad at Brendon for even trying Candy.

  “I’m serious, Monty. Y’all need to talk.” She said hitting him on the arm.

  “I hear you,” Monty repeated, and then without notice he leaned in and kissed Candy softly on the lips. The sweet, unexpected kiss caught her completely off guard as she stood there. “I know you don’t look at me the same anymore and I can’t blame you, but I want you to know that I’m truly sorry. You were everything that I needed in a woman. I was just too blind to see it. Do what you feel you need to do for yourself and if you need me, I’ll be here. I’ll see you tomorrow when I pick up MJ.” He said as he walked away. He never gave Candy any time to respond. He just wanted her to think about what he’d said in hopes that someday she’d be able to forgive him for being such a dick.

  Chapter 9

  Within the hour, Monty was pulling up in the parking lot of Winter’s Realty, the company that belonged to Susan and Elaine Winters. The mother, daughter duo was what one would call, the head honchos of the realty world. They were millionaires in their own rights and didn’t play when it came down to business. Monty admired Susan, because even though being a realtor came with somewhat of an easy access to making money; she still was power driven and made her own name.

  As he reached for the latch of the driver door his cell phone rang, causing him to pause for a second while he answered the phone.

  “What’s up, Kina?”

  “Hey,” Kina apprehensively spoke back. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m getting ready to head into a business meeting.”

  You’re always busy, she sadly thought.

  “What’s up? You good?” he questioned.

  “Yeah, I’m good.” She responded. “Well, I was calling to see if we could have a lil lunch date later this evening.” She paused to see if he’d answer her right quick, but since he didn’t she continued. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks. I know we talk on the phone, but I miss you.” She added while nervously giggling like a school girl.

  “Well uh,” Monty said with hesitance in his voice.

  Here we go, she quickly thought with a heavy sigh.

  “This afternoon won’t be a good time.” He told her.

  “Well, you name the day and I’ll be there.” She said hoping that’d work instead.

  “Kina, I’ll have to get back with you on that one. We’ll talk though.” He said like he was in a hurry. “I’ll call you back later.”

  “Uh, well… Oh okay,” he said, and with that Monty ended their call. He liked Kina, but not in that way and even though they had slept together; he still didn’t want to be with her in that way again. He was done being a player. Just like Candy was getting herself together and didn’t need a man to define her; he was doing the same.

  “I don’t need a woman to define me and I can jack my dick until I can’t take it no more,” he said to himself with light laughter. He then got out of his car.

  ***

  Within the next fifteen minutes, Monty was now inside of Susan’s office sitting in a comfortable leather chair across from her. She sat on the edge of her desk with her feet crossed as she smiled at him while flinging her medium length, dark brown hair from over her right eye. “You look good today,” she complimented him.

  “As always, so do you.” He responded with a Colgate smile. He’d only met up with Susan a few times, but every time he saw her she was dressed nice and always had on an expensive pair of Red Bottoms with whatever she wore.

  The Jessica Alba look-a-like batted her pretty eyes at him. She had the sexiest, deep brown eyes that he’d ever seen. Maybe it was because of her light tanned skin or her long, full eyelashes. All he knew was that whatever it was always seemed to play in her favor anytime they’d link up to close a business deal.

  “So, what’s up Ms. Winters?” he eagerly asked with ambition spread across his face.

  “Hm,” she said tapping on the edge of the desk with her short, freshly manicured nails. “I have this large piece of property that I want back. If you close this deal for me you’d be at least fifty million dollars wealthier overnight.” She said to lure him in.

  Monty’s eyebrows raised out of curiosity. “Say what now? How much was that?” he questioned.

  Susan smiled eagerly, and then said, “Fifty million dollars at the least. You’d be one rich man,” she told him.

  Monty didn’t say a word. Susan stared in his eyes as she watched his body language through her peripherals. There was nothing until he cleared his throat, and then said. “What makes you bring this type of offer to me? Don’t get me wrong, you know I’m going all in. It ain’t no way I’m playing about making that type of money.”

  “I knew you’d feel that way,” Susan said with smile.

  Monty’s smile slowly disappeared as he cut his eyes at her. “What makes you bring this type of offer to me? You know I’m still relatively new in this business. There are other people I know you could’ve gone to.”

  “There were others, but I came to you.” She said.

  “You came to me, huh?” He said with a bit of confusion. It just wasn’t adding up to him. He’d closed three deals for her already, but nothing even closely amounting to fifty million dollars. He could retire with that kind of money and hadn’t been in business a good year. “So, Ms. Winters, tell me what the real deal is.”

  Susan’s stare glanced off a bit and then back over at Monty. The look on his face expressed that he needed to hear more, regardless of how much money it was on the line. “See,” she persuasively started. “When I first got into this business there was a huge piece of property out by the Atlantic Ocean that my family had been trying to get for quite some time. The reason behind wanting the property so badly was because of sentimental value than anything else. Don’t get me wrong, this property is worth millions of dollars, but to have it back in my family would be priceless.”

  Monty grinned to himself while thinking, this is gonna be interesting. He then leaned back in his chair eager to hear more.

  “What I’m about to tell you may surprise you some, but it’s gonna help you with negotiating in the future. It may even come down to you knowing important information and using it in a way that gets you what you want.”

  “Oh yeah,” Monty said scratching gently in his head. Inside the excitement was taking him over, but his cool demeanor never showed it.

  “Many years ago my great-grandfather died and revealed in his will that he had property that my great-grandmother never even knew about. This property really took her interest by storm and it was only because of one reason. It was given to a woman by the name of Shirley Hunter.” Susan said, and then continued.

  “Well, Shirley Hunter was closely affiliated with my family at one point in time. She used to be one of my great-grandmother’s best friends. However, to the people on the outside of my family, she was just her maid. Needless to say, my great-grandmother was very upset to learn that her husband had left a valuable piece of land to one of her dearest friends and to top it off, she had no knowledge of it. She couldn’t understand why he’d do such a thing behind her back. Convinced that something was going on, she had her attorney’s dig up things that led to many shocking secrets that my great-grandfather hid.”

  “What type of secrets?” Monty pondered.

  “One of them being the affair that he and Shirley Hunter had for many years,” Susan explained. “She also found out about the daughter that Shirley had given birth to and that her husband, my great-grandfather, was the biological father to this child.”

  “Okaaay, well,” Monty whispered. The story definitely wasn’t one that he
was expecting to hear about, but he was definitely all ears as he listened.

  “Okaaay, well,” Susan mocked. “There’s more.”

  “Somehow I already knew that.” He uttered.

  Susan just looked at him. She knew what type of man Monty was so she just went with the flow as she continued. “Okay well, this said daughter of my great-grandfather’s died on her 18th birthday, but not before giving birth to a son named Roger Hunter.”

  “Roger Hunter?” Monty questioned with a frown. At that moment the last name Hunter started to make sense to Monty. “That’s Monica’s daddy.”