Monty

by Tina Martin

  “It’s during the time you helped me when I got to know you as a person. Got to know your heart. Before then, I didn’t know you, Cherish.”

  “Yeah, and you didn’t like me.”

  “I didn’t like anybody. It wasn’t specific to you, baby.”

  “True. You got a point there.”

  “But that was then. This is now. I love you. There’s no doubt in my heart about that.”

  She smiles beautifully. “I love you, too, Monty,” she says, but I have a nagging gut feeling she doesn’t believe those same words that left my mouth.

  * * *

  She’s relaxed after brunch. So am I. We’re still sitting by the window. The rain doesn’t let up. It’s a dreary day – perfect day to be indoors – especially with her.

  “I should probably get going,” she says.

  I don’t try to hide the frown that appears on my face when I ask, “Going where?”

  “Home.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to say this is your home, but I don’t want to be presumptuous so I say, “It’s raining hard out there, Cherish. Stay until it slacks off a bit.”

  “Okay, but I’m not going to be good company for you. I’m exhausted.”

  “Then let’s take a nap,” I say gesturing toward the bed.

  She grins. “You don’t take naps.”

  “I don’t, but I’ll take one with you.”

  She walks over to the bed, stretches her body and lies flat on her back. I open the windows. The sound of the downpour fills the room, along with the smell of rain. This is perfect.

  I get on the bed, lay next to her and slide so close, my nose almost touches hers. She smiles then closes her eyes. She has a look of contentment on her face like this is where she’s supposed to be. She doesn’t look terrified. Doesn’t appear uncomfortable. She looks like a woman who knows she’s with a man whom she can feel safe and protected with.

  I brush my fingertips down the side of her delicate face. She releases a soft hum that has the power to relax me the same way she’s relaxed. She opens her eyes – it’s like she’s opened her soul – and looks at me.

  I say, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you—I met Magnus.”

  Her eyes light up “How’d that go?”

  “It went well. It was an emotional experience. I never thought I’d get to meet him.”

  “Why not? You could’ve hired a private investigator to track him down.”

  “I know, but sometimes, fear of what you’ll find makes you hesitant to go looking.”

  “Yeah. I get that.”

  “But I’m glad I met him. He said my father’s brother, Mason St. Claire, who’s still alive has four sons. And get this—Mason told him I have half-siblings. Three of them.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “It is. He hasn’t tracked them down yet, though.”

  “I’m sure he will.” She yawns. “Tell me more about Magnus.”

  “He’s married. His wife is pregnant with twins. He told us he lost his first wife and child in a car accident.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “It is, but he seems to have come around now. He has a billion-dollar company called MJS Communications. He wants us to meet up again soon, with the cousins this time.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “It would. For the longest time, I thought it was just me and Major in his world. I’m glad to know I have some family out here.”

  “I’m happy you found them.”

  “And it’s all because of you.”

  “No. Give yourself some credit. You went. You didn’t have to.”

  “I suppose, but I’m grateful to have you.”

  She cracks a small smile. Her eyes close as she succumbs to sleep.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Cherish

  Old habits die hard. A week later, I find myself still getting up at three, arriving at Monty’s house at four and laying out his clothes. It’s weird, but I miss doing this for him since he banned me from working for him, only I don’t feel like I’m working now. I feel like I’m taking care of my man.

  My man…

  It’s what he is to me now. The man who I thought could never see me – someone I always believed was out of my reach is my man.

  This past week, he’s come to my house every day after leaving work. He came by to make sure the alarm system was installed correctly. Every evening we ate dinner together. We even watched a movie together, finally.

  Monty is amazing. He knows about my past and so he’s careful not to touch me in a way he thinks will disturb me. He wants more. I can feel it, but he doesn’t have a problem taking it slow. His self-control is impressive.

  “And just what do you think you’re doing?” he asks.

  I turn around to see him standing there, bottom half wrapped in a towel.

  “What are you doing, Cherry?” he asks again.

  “I’m finding you a suit.”

  “That’s not your job anymore,” he says with a straight poker face as he walks over to me. “I thought I made that clear.”

  “I know, but you have a big day today with testing that taser and all. I just want to make sure you look fly.”

  All I see is a wall of muscles coming my way. I see the healed scar on his chest, remembering back to when it was a wound. To when I changed his bandages. To when I helped him heal wounds that weren’t visible.

  He stops in front of me, pulls the scarf off of my head and takes off the barrette that was keeping my braids in a ponytail. He buries his fingers in my hair and plows his tongue into my mouth. He hasn’t kissed me this hard since our first ever kiss in the conference room downstairs. Whatever the case, I close my eyes and absorb it. When I’m with him, I’m with him and try my best not to think about nothing else but him. My only experience with a man was a bad one. I try to not allow it to control my life, especially when this man is so freakin’ yummy, I don’t know how I could ever turn him down.

  After he gets his fill, he gives me my tongue back along with one of those pointed stares of his and says, “Good morning,” then bites his lip.

  I could just die.

  “Good morning.”

  “You chose a black suit.”

  “Of course. It’s one of your power suits—lets people know you mean business.”

  “Let me let you in on a little secret—people know I mean business when I step in the room. It doesn’t matter what I have on.”

  “I don’t doubt that not one bit.”

  He kisses my forehead then says, “I need to get dressed.”

  “Go ahead. I already laid out your suit. Oh, let me grab you some socks.”

  I walk over to the drawer where they’re kept then walk them back over to him. He’s still wrapped in a towel, and the thing moves again.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, looking at his midsection then back up to him. He has a sneaky smile on his face.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re making the towel move again like you did the very first time you caught me in your closet.”

  The towel jerks again and he bites his lip. Amusement is in his eyes.

  “I’m about to get dressed, so if you don’t get out of here, you’re going to see what’s making it move.”

  “Alright. I’m out of here,” I say. “I’ll wait in the bedroom.”

  He comes out after about ten minutes – looks amazing. Smells like a slice of heaven.

  “Here goes nothing,” he says, slapping his hands together.

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  “No. I’ll get some from the office,” he says, sitting on the bed next to me. He rubs his hands together.

  “You’re nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous before.”

  “You’re probably the only person who can recognize when I’m nervous since you know me so well now.” He takes my hand, interlocks our fingers and brings my hand to his mouth. Kisses it. Sends a warm sensation through
out my body.

  “What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

  “Whatever you want as long as it doesn’t involve work.”

  “Then who’s going to clean your bathroom and change out your bath towels?”

  “Not you,” he says standing, pulling my hand so I stand up with him. He wraps his arm around my neck and says, “Don’t let me hear Naomi or anybody else telling me you were in here working.”

  “Okay, daddy.”

  He kisses me again, briefly this time, and says, “I’ll see you later.”

  “Okay.”

  * * *

  Once he leaves, I go to the kitchen to talk to the crew. Naomi is here early, sitting around shooting the breeze. Isidora has a broom in her hand and Minnie is tying on an apron.

  “Well, well, well, looka here, looka here,” Naomi says. “If it ain’t the lady of the house.”

  “Stop it,” I say, blushing. I can’t hide the smile on my face or the light in my eyes. I’m in love and they all know it.

  “Did I just hear you call her the woman of the house?” Paige asks as she walks into the kitchen looking at me like she’s somehow greater than I am. The last time I saw her, she was nearly about to puke at Montgomery’s charity event. Now, she’s here with her blond hair neatly flat-ironed. The black pantsuit she has on looks like it’s about to burst at the seams.

  “I beg your pardon,” Naomi says to Paige.

  None of the staff likes her. I’m actually surprised Sylvia would hire someone so stuck up and snooty.

  “I said, it sounded like you called Cherish the woman of the house,” she repeats.

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m not right here,” I tell her.

  She huffs and mumbles, “You won’t be here for long…”

  “What was that?” I ask.

  She smiles. “Nothing. And FYI, Naomi, the woman of this house would possess the kind of class suitable for a king.”

  Naomi snorts, then laughs out loud. Her infectious cackle has us laughing with her – me, Minnie and Isidora.

  When she can finally stop laughing, Naomi says, “So—so lemme get this straight. You think you got class. You? I saw you, just the other day picking your nose.” She laughs harder.

  “Whatever. Why don’t you cook something and try not to eat it?”

  “Paige, will you stop?” I tell her.

  Naomi says, “She doesn’t have to stop. It’s obvious she doesn’t know how tight that suit is she’s got on.”

  Paige rolls her eyes and stomps out.

  “What an entitled lil’ piss pot…” Minnie says.

  “Idiota,” Isidora says.

  “She thinks she’s something don’t she?” Naomi says. “See, the problem is, she knows Mr. St. Claire likes you, Cherry, and she don’t know what to do about it. Thought that white privilege was gon’ work on mister’s heart, but he only has eyes for you.”

  I force myself not to smile and ask, “Why do you think Montgomery has eyes for me?” I ask the question because I thought me and Monty were being discreet whenever we were affectionate, but apparently not discreet enough.

  “We know these things,” Naomi said waggling her brows. “A little birdie told me he’s been going to your house every day this week after work. Plus, that day he called you into that conference room—woo—we’ve all been speculating on what went down that morning.”

  “Nothing went down,” I tell them.

  “Cherry, stop that lying,” Naomi says. “It’s first thang in the morning and you already doing the devil’s work. We know some kind of wham-bam-a-lam went down in there. Mister always looking at you like he hungry.”

  “Mmm, hmm,” Minnie says.

  I laugh harder, then I say, “I’ll talk to y’all later. I have to go home and catch up on some sleep.”

  “You do that, lady of the house,” Naomi says, teasing me.

  “Yeah. Catch up on some sleep before your man comes over,” Minnie adds.

  I smile and make my exit. I feel bad about leaving them but Monty has banned me from working so what else am I supposed to do?

  At home, I get back in bed and as I lie there, Paige crosses my mind. This morning’s incident reminded me of a conversation I had with Major. He said Paige was suddenly a different person after Monty signed the contracts to secure Hawthorne Innovations. Sylvia had hired her and Paige supposedly lived in a Hawthorne property not far from the estate. What if there’s some truth to that? What else could explain the way Paige walks around like she owns the place? And why suddenly does she feel threatened by me? I’ve never done anything to the girl, well except catch the eye of the man who she thinks is hers.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Monty

  The taser works exactly like I want it. Of most importance is the handle specifications. The grip is made with uneven ridges that make it easily identifiable without having to look at it – distinguishes it from a gun. It’s what I set out to accomplish and it’s done. I’m satisfied that the product can finally go to market testing. That it could possibly save lives.

  “How do you think it went?” Major asks.

  “I’m pleased. It exactly what I wanted.”

  “Another billion-dollar idea. Good job, man.”

  “Yeah. Thanks. I got somebody I want to try it out on right now,” I say thinking about Cherish’s stepfather.

  Major chuckles. “What’s the latest with you and Cherish?”

  A smile automatically comes to my face. “I already told you how I feel about her.”

  “Okay, then, what’s the latest on meeting with mother to see about those papers you signed.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. His concern irritates me. “Why do you think you have to hold my hand through this process, Major? I know what I’m doing.”

  “It’s not you I’m worried about.”

  “You’re worried about Cherish?”

  “I am.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s my friend, and she’s a good person, Monty. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

  “Why would I hurt her, Major? She literally saved my life. And it’s really starting to bother me how much you think about her. Are you in love with her?”

  “I’m not in love with her, but she’s in love with you and I’m concerned how she’ll react when she finds out about you and Paige.”

  “I don’t even know anything about the girl.”

  “All the more reason for you to go to mom’s office and have a talk with her. The longer you put it off, the worse it’s going to be for Cherish.”

  He’s right. He’s a pain in my rear end, but he’s right. I walk away from him and go straight to mother’s office. At headquarters, her office is on the same floor as mine, just on the opposite end of the building.

  She looks up and her eyes brighten when she sees me enter through the glass doors.

  “Well, hello, Monty.”

  “Hey,” I say closing the door.

  “The testing went good today. I know you’re pleased.”

  “Very much so.”

  “I was sitting here thinking about how proud your father would be right now. If that man didn’t make you a replica of him…”

  I think about how much he taught me and how Caspian Hawthorne loved me and Major as if we were his. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so patient, especially with me since I wanted to learn the business. He could’ve turned me away – told me to do my own thing, but he patiently taught me. And then, he left the business to me. But there are other aspects of what went down after he died I didn’t quite understand, and it’s not anyone’s fault but mine. I didn’t care to understand. Back then, all I cared about was making sure I took Hawthorne Innovations to the next level. All that concerned me was the money.

  “You look like you have something on your mind,” she tells me, then gestures for me to take a seat. I do so, cross one leg over the other and lean back in the chair that sits in front of her desk.

  “I’ve had a l
ot on my mind lately,” I tell her. “Especially concerning all that paperwork from when I took over the company.”

  “Oh, now you want to talk about it, huh? When I first brought it to you, you just signed everything. Didn’t look it over or read nothing.”

  “I know. I didn’t care back then.”

  “But you do now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? You have everything you want now. You have the business, you have the money. You own half of the real estate, and—”

  “Let me interrupt for a minute. Did dad make the stipulation that you got to choose my wife or did you make that call?”

  “That was your father’s idea, and he didn’t tell me to choose a woman for you. He wanted you to choose one.”

  “Why? Why would he do that to me?”

  “You were too business-driven to do it for yourself. He was afraid you’d die alone without ever experiencing love.”

  “And out of all the women you could’ve chosen for me, you chose her. I don’t understand that.”

  “What’s there not to understand? The choice was yours, son. You told me to make the decision for you.”

  “Yeah, I did, didn’t I,” I say. “So, what would happen if I wanted to change it?”

  “Trust me, you don’t want to do that. Changing anything on those documents puts you in breach of contract which means you’ll lose everything – the money, the business, the house. You’ll be left with nothing and everything your father worked for would go up in smoke.”

  “There has to be a way it can be amended.”

  “I’m sorry, son, but it’s ironclad. If you want to change it, you’d have to sign an amendment form and then we’d have to meet with the lawyers to reverse everything.”

  For a moment, I feel like I’m not breathing. I can’t believe this is my life. I’m stuck being married to a woman I don’t love. A woman I can’t stand.

  “Does she know?” I ask.

  “No. It’ll be up to you to tell her.”

  The idea of it all disturbs me to the point that I get up and leave her office. I take the elevator down to the ground floor and stand outside, soaking in the sun trying to determine my next move. Do I tell Cherish I’m married and all the circumstances surrounding Paige or do I say nothing?