Checkmate 2: Let the Games Begin (20 page)

“I’m sorry, Rico. I’m just very emotional right now. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost my baby. I might seem cold hearted to you, but I love my son more than life itself and I don’t wanna lose him.” She continued to cry.

“Please, don’t cry.” He said, seeing any woman cry was hard for him. It was something to see her this vulnerable, because she was so strong willed and he couldn’t imagine her having a softer side.

“Rico, you don’t have to stay around. I understand that you have to go.”

“Yeah, it has gotten late and I’m sure Mona is wondering what’s keeping me.” Monica hated for him to talk about Mona in that way, but she knew she had to wear him down with kindness. Rico thought about her condition. “Oh, I’m sorry. I know this is not going to be easy for you, but I am with her now and we are definitely gonna have to figure some things out between us.”

“Don’t worry about it. I understand. It’s no wonder you moved on after I treated you like that. I just want to personally say that I am so sorry.” Monica stared in his eyes. She could see that he wasn’t going to be as hard to get through to. “I know me and Mona don’t get along, but it’s not about us. It’s now about these babies.” Rico shook his head in agreement, thinking that Monica was making plenty of sense. “If she’ll give me a chance, I would love to be cool with her some day.” He frowned, but kept it as real as he could.

“I don’t know if that shit will ever happen, but we never know.”

Monica just smiled, thinking.
I don’t care to be that bitch’s friend, anyway.
Her facial expression was so innocent until Rico couldn’t even tell that she was having those evil thoughts. Her reaction made Rico want to know why she was so cold-hearted and then could be so nice all of a sudden.

“Hey Monica, not to change the subject,” he paused. “Why are you so different now than before? I can’t lie, you were a real bitch.” Rico said before he knew it.

“Okay, I’ll take that. I honestly don’t have any excuses as to why my attitude was so horrible. In this line of business I work in, I have to be stern and sometimes, harsh with the people around me. I feel like if I’m too nice that people will take advantage of me. It’s hard to stay on top in this business as is, and it doesn’t make it any easier with me being woman. I’ve had to bargain, cut ties, and slit throats to get what I have. I’m never gonna settle for anything less than what I feel I should have. My father taught me that. He’s a millionaire because he puts his business first and everything else comes second to that; even us.” She sadly said. “But, I started working with him and I began to realize that I was more like him than I ever realized. He taught me to fight for what I wanted and to not back down from anything. I started being aggressive in everything; even my relationships and if I wasn’t in control, no one was.” Rico just listened to her talk and it began to all make sense.

She began to fidget a little as she continued. “I’m pregnant now and my son is my main and number one priority. My father never made us a priority. As long as we were taken care of, that was all that mattered to him. We became very close after I started working for him, but I found out a lot of unsavory things about him.” She looked at Rico who was still standing. She gestured for him to sit down. “If you want we can have this conversation later.”

Rico looked at his watch it was 12:25am. He sighed a little and figured that just a little longer is not going to make much difference since he was probably already in hot water.

“I’ll sit down just for a little bit. I’m really interested in this.” He said as he sat down to hear about what changed Monica Hunter into this hardcore, scheming person that she is today.

Monica walked over and sat down on the sofa beside him. She knew that it was late and was gonna use what she could to keep him there. She knew that Mona wasn’t going to like it one bit, but those were her intentions. Everything that she would tell him would be the truth. She felt if she could open up to him about her past and he understood her better that she would definitely have a better chance of being with him.

“Well, I don’t know how else to put this, but my father was a shark in the realty business. He’d eat you alive. I was glad to be on his team. He’d buy major business out and then sell it by breaking it down into smaller businesses or offices. Trust me; he has gained a lot of money over the years and lot of enemies, as well. I got into the realty business with him straight out of high school. Once I graduated I started working for him, because he wanted me to take over the business someday. I wasn’t aggressive, at first, but I had to learn the hard way. Roger Hunter wasn’t having it. He started taking me to his corporate meetings and I listened in and found out things about Brokers and Realtors. Those people don’t play when they are in this for the money. One of the richest men I ever met in the market wanted to have dinner with me, but not without a price. He would practically hand me an already booming business, one that he and my dad had been negotiating. The guy wanted to sleep with me, but I didn’t want to. My dad told me that I had to do what I had to do to make it in this industry and I listened, because he was my dad and I wanted him to be proud of me.”

She paused as she thought back. “Well, let’s just say that I made a lot of money off of that deal and I never looked back.”

Rico stared at her at her, feeling a little sorry for her having to sleep with men to get what she wanted. He now knew why she was so adamant about getting things she wanted. He looked at the time. It was 1:15am.

“I see why you’re the way you are.” Rico said. “I know that wasn’t easy for you to tell me, but I appreciate your honesty.” He said. You do realize that you don’t have to continue to be the person you were back then, right?” Rico asked.

“Yes, I know that and I’m changing for myself and my son. I don’t like hurting people, because it don’t feel good when karma comes back around to get me.” Monica said thinking about Mona being pregnant now.

“I’m glad you’ve realized that.” He looked at his watch. “Damn, I’ma have to go.” Monica looked a little disappointed, but she knew he’d be back. She also knew that Mona wasn’t gonna take him coming in so late lightly; especially after knowing that he was with her.

“Well, don’t worry about me. I’m gonna be alright. I’ll call Mama in the morning and I’m sure she’ll come or send my sister here to help me out.”

“That’s good. I’m glad and you can call me once you talk to them and find out what they are going to do.” He looked back down at his watch. “Boy time really flies by. I gotta go. I’ll talk with you later.” Rico said walking to the door. You don’t need any help getting into bed, do you? I’ll wait if you need me to.”

Monica smiled inside. “No, I showered before I started having pains and I’m just gonna go get ready for bed and lay down.” She knew that she almost had him where she wanted him, but she wanted to take her time and reel him in slowly. Rico knew he was wrong for asking to help her with getting ready for bed, but he just wanted to make sure that she and the baby would be okay; nothing more, nothing less.

“Okay, cool. Call me if you need me,” he said.

Oh, I will,
she thought quickly. “Okay,” she said smiling. “We’ll be alright.” She rubbed her stomach as Rico threw up the deuces and exited her house to head home.

Chapter Eighteen

Monty was awakened by MJ’s crying in the next room. He felt over to the side of him and realized that Candy wasn’t there. He was at his mom’s house in his own bed. He sat up to stretch his arms out. Before he could get out of bed to go get his son, he heard Catherine singing to him and his crying stopped. He smiled, because he could remember how she used to sing to him and Mona when they were younger and it always made everything better.

He lay back in his bed, not really wanting to come out of his room, yet. He didn’t want to hear his mama questioning him about what happened. He thought about Candy and felt bad for hurting her again. She was very upset when she found out the truth about him and Monica and it wasn’t anything that he could do to make her feel better. He planned on calling her, but figured that he’d wait to see if she’ll call him first. He knew that he’d tapped and tamed that ass so good that she wasn’t going anywhere, but he also knew that making the wrong moves could lead to worse things. He missed waking up with her, but for some strange reason it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. To his surprise, someone else was dancing around in his mind.

He smiled to himself with the thought of MiKayla on his mind. Going over to her house after Candy put him out was the best and worst thing that he could do. She took his mind off his problems and gave him the
ride
of his life. The time he spent with her allowed him a chance to see her sensitive side and how fun she could be. He knew that this wasn’t going to make things better in his relationship with Candy, but he couldn’t help himself. He enjoyed MiKayla’s company. He could still hear her laughing aloud in his thoughts. MiKayla had that
come back
and he would definitely be going back for more. Even though she was one of his pawns now, it didn’t feel like it when they had sex. He thought about her beautiful eyes and the way she’d stare into his as they connected on so many different levels. Her touch was different from the other’s and she was graceful in the way she held him closely around his back as their intimate moments felt like this was how it was supposed to be.

He sat up and shook his head. He knew that he couldn’t get wrapped up in MiKayla like that because he had no intentions of letting Candy go. The thought of another man sharing his goods was out of the question, so he had to work on getting his woman back. He reached over on the nightstand and picked up his phone.
Damn, I may as well call her now if I know what’s good for me.
He knew he’d better initiate the first call or it would seem like he didn’t care and he knew that he did. As he started dialing Candy’s number, his phone rang. He looked at his caller ID and smiled as he answered it.

“Hello,” he said in his deep sexy voice.

“Well, hi handsome,” MiKayla responded. She could see her smile through the phone.

“What’s good?” Monty asked still smiling.

“You,” she said, slipping on her red pumps. “Are you at the office, yet?” She asked.

“Naw, I’m running a little late, but I’ll be there shortly.” He responded.

“My bad, I didn’t mean to disturb you at home. I’m sorry, I’ll let you go.” She stated not wanting to cause any trouble with him and his lady.

“Naw, you’re good. Don’t sweat it.” He replied, knowing that he wasn’t around Candy, anyway. “I’m getting myself together so I’ll see you at the office in a lil bit.” He stated.

“Okay, that sounds good. I’m about to go have breakfast at my sister’s house. That will give you enough time to get it together.” MiKayla paused. “Well, I’ll see you in a little while.” She said.

“Alright, sounds good.” Monty said as he ended the call. He pressed his face in the palm of his hands and thought about his growing feelings for MiKayla. They had come out of nowhere and totally caught him off guard. It was strange to feel as though he wasn’t in control when he was around her, but he had to stick with the business at hand and make himself realize that these feelings for her can’t get any deeper or he might find himself in a lot more trouble.

He stood up slipping on his O’dogs and walked out into the hallway. He peeked in MJ’s room and Catherine was sitting in the chair rocking back and forth.

“Well, hey son. What are you doing here?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. He eased over with a slight smile on his face, looking down at MJ sleeping peacefully. “I saw your car parked out front. So, what’s going on with you and Candy?” She asked, standing up to put MJ back in his crib.

“I don’t really wanna talk about it. I need to go wash up.” He said, gently rubbing his big hand across MJ’s slick black hair.

“Trouble in paradise, huh?” Catherine continued, trying her best to get him to open up.

“Ma, get from behind me.” Monty said as he walked into the bathroom. He already knew that Catherine would hound him until he told her what was going on. “I have to get ready to go to the office.”

“Just tell me, what did you do this time?” She asked knowing her son all too well.

“Not now, Ma.” Monty calmly replied while brushing his teeth. He was not in the mood for explaining. Catherine shook her head and turned to walk off.

“Knowing you, it had something to do with a woman. You’ll talk to me when you’re ready, if Candy doesn’t tell me first.” She said.

“Ma, just let it go.” Monty shut the bathroom door. He turned on the hot shower and stripped down to his boxer shorts, reaching in to make sure the water was just right. He took his boxers off and stepped in the relaxing hot water shoot.
Damn, I forgot to call Candy.

Candy drove to Catherine’s house to see MJ. She was a little disappointed that Monty hadn’t tried to call her, but knew that she had to stick with her decision of putting some distance between them. In her mind, this was her way of teaching him a lesson. She also knew that too much distance wasn’t good, so she had to make sure that she played her hand just right or she’d lose him for sure. She pulled up to the house and smiled to herself when she saw his Tahoe parked there.

At least he’s here.
She thought to herself, getting out of her car. She wanted him to miss her and desperately want her back, but he hadn’t even called to check on her. She knew she had to put her plan into motion, because she didn’t know what he was thinking now that she’d packed up his things and put him out. She walked up to the door and quickly looked herself over. She was dressed in a pair of button-tab, bell bottom, Apple Bottom jeans that hugged her hips and slightly covered her lavender pumps. She wore a lavender, pin striped, Apple Bottom fitted blouse, neatly tucked inside her pants with the top buttons left open to reveal her ample cleavage. Her hair hung shoulder length in a jet black bob and she knew she was feeling and looking good. Monty walked out of the bathroom with a white tower wrapped around his waist as the doorbell rang.