Checkmate 2: Let the Games Begin (24 page)

“Yeah, except for fucking Monty,” she said, knowing that she hadn’t given Monty any sex in two months.
What was I thinking?
She asked herself.

“Don’t worry about that, Cuz. Just get here as soon as possible. I’ll be gone so please don’t whoop her ass. You have to wait until I’m around so I can get a lick in.” Dee and Candy laughed a little.

“Okay, I won’t. Let me get myself together and I’ll be on the way.”

“Well, call me if you need me.” She responded.

“I will.” Candy said. “Talk to you later, bye.”

“Bye, sweetie,” Dee ended the call, walking out of the restroom. She walked out to the car where Maurice was waiting and got in on the passenger side. She leaned over and kissed him.

“Are you alright?” Maurice asked, patting her on the thigh while she fastened her seatbelt.

“Yeah, actually I’ve never felt better.” She smiled, knowing that Candy was definitely going to step her game up to make sure that she didn’t lose Monty and MiKayla would be out of the picture.

__________

Rico kneeled down beside the bed and watched Mona while she was taking a nap. Her beauty made him smile inside as he gently ran his fingers through her colored hair. He knew that things had been tense in their relationship and he was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that he got things back on the right track. It was easier said than done, because Monica was still in the picture and due any day now. He knew that the heat was heavily riding his back and it was surely not going to get any cooler once the baby was born. His heart raced when he rubbed Mona’s plump stomach. He was overly excited to be having a daughter with her. He had already pictured their baby to look just like her mom, maybe with a few resemblances of him. While rubbing on Mona’s stomach, her eyes slowly opened. His handsome face was something she could wake up to every morning. She smiled, because deep down inside she knew that Rico was going to be a great father. He smiled back at her and gently touched the side of her face.

“I’m sorry I woke you.” He said.

“That’s okay. I need to get up anyway.” She responded.

“Well, before you get up I’d like to talk to you about our relationship.” Mona tried to sit up. “No, don’t move.” He insisted.

“I’ve been a real disappointment to you and I’m sorry. I know I’ve caused you pain during a time in your life when we both should be very happy. I know that things aren’t going to be any easier if it’s proven that Monica’s baby is mine.” Mona’s smile turned upside down as she rolled her eyes a little. The sound of Monica’s name made her cringe inside. Rico continued as he saw the hurt in her eyes once again. “I know baby, please don’t do that. I know these past few weeks have been hectic, especially since Monica calls me every chance she gets. However, it has gotten a little easier since her mom and sister are here to help her out now. I’m no fool and I know that Monica does things to cause tension between us and even though I know this; it’s still my responsibility as a man and a father to be there for her if she needs me. I just want you to understand and know that it’s not about her though, it’s about the baby.”

Rico’s eyes filled with water. “I can’t say I’m sorry enough. I can only try my best to show you that I’m going to be here for you and our daughter, no matter what. I know this is premature, but I want you.” He paused, clearing his throat. “I need you in my life.” He kneeled down on one knee, staring into Mona’s beautiful slanted eyes. She sat up on the side of the bed watching Rico reach inside his pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box and opened it, revealing a two-carat diamond ring.

Mona’s eyes lit up as the tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks. “I love you.” Rico took a gentle hold of her hand. “Will you marry me?” He asked, surprising Mona to the fullest. Her hand started shaking as she tried her best to catch her breath. This was the best moment of her life and she felt as if it couldn’t get any better than this.

“Yes, I will marry you!” She screamed in excitement. “Yes, yes, I will marry you!” Rico slid the ring on her finger as she hugged him tight around his neck. He kissed her with so much passion, letting her know that this was about as real as it gets. She was so excited that she didn’t know what to say. All she could do was hug him. He’d made her the happiest person alive.

Rico’s phone rang, but he ignored it not wanting anything to ruin this moment while he embraced his new fiancé. His phone continued to ring as if whoever was calling would hang up and call right back. Mona looked at him strangely. An uneasy feeling came over her.

“Baby, please answer it. It doesn’t seem like they are going to stop calling.” She stated already knowing who it was. Rico shook his head, picking up his phone. He couldn’t believe that Monica would even ruin this moment for him as he saw her name on his caller id, missed call. He looked at Mona.

“This is not going to happen today, baby. She is not going to come between us and I’m going to let her know that.” Mona smiled, but before Rico could call Monica back, his phone was ringing again. He quickly answered it.

“Yes, Monica!” He said with no patience at all.

“This is not Monica.” The disturbed woman’s voice responded. “This is her mom and she is giving birth to your son. If you don’t want to miss the delivery, then you need to be on your way over to Trinity Hospital right now.” She stated and hung up the phone, not even waiting for a reply back from Rico. Rico looked in Mona’s face. She was so happy and he hated to disappoint her, yet again, but he had to.

“Sweetie, I know this is not the best of timing.” He said as he stood up.

“What does she want now? I thought you said that you weren’t going to let this moment be ruined by Monica today.” She stated, getting upset.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie, but Monica is having the baby and her mom said that if I want to see him being born, then I need to get there right now.” Mona’s head dropped. How could one minute she be so happy and then just that quickly be so sad. She knew what she had to do as she looked down at her beautiful ring shining brightly on her finger.

“Rico, just go.” She sadly stated, pushing him back from her as he tried to hug her. “I will be at my mama’s house. Just call me when you have time.” She was so heartbroken. She slipped on her bedroom shoes and walked out of his house to leave.

Rico followed her. His heart was torn between being there for this little helpless baby that was possibly his son or staying with his fiancé, trying his best to keep her happy. He shook his head and watched Mona get inside her car and leave. She never once looked back at him as the tears fell from her face. Rico got in his car, hitting the steering wheel with his fist. He was very disappointed at how a moment he had planned to be wonderful turned sour in a matter of seconds. He then thought about the baby finally being born and the butterflies hit his stomach as he headed to Trinity Hospital.

__________

Candy pulled up to the office, taking a deep breath in then exhaling. She looked in the backseat at MJ. She had plans of taking him over to Catherine’s earlier, but after speaking with Dee she figured that showing up with him would remind Monty of the family that he already had. Plus, she knew that MJ had the ultimate key to Monty’s heart and not even the best pussy in the world could break that bond. She watched him as he was trying to get to his shoes strings on his tiny Air Jordan’s. Candy smiled at how much he looked like his daddy.

“Okay, big boy, let’s go get daddy back.”
She stated. She got out of the car and walked around to the passenger backdoor to get MJ out of his car seat. She picked him up, kissing him on the jaw and walking inside of Banks Realty. Candy opened up the double doors looking over at the empty u-shaped desk in the lobby. Monty still hadn’t hired an Executive Secretary. She was a little shocked being that they would open in a few days.

Candy expected Rico to come out of his office, but as she walked by it she noticed that he wasn’t in there. Dee was normally on alert for anyone that came through the doors, but Candy already knew that she was gone so she quietly walked up the stairs.

MiKayla was anxiously waiting for Monty to finish with his work. She needed to feel him inside her. Every time he made love to her it brought them closer together. And with those types of feelings, she knew that he wouldn’t be able to leave her, not even for Candy. She’d heard how he felt about her, but she chose to believe otherwise. She knew that she was reeling him in and that was all she cared about. In time, he would care for her just as much, if not more, than he ever did for Candy.

“Come on baby. Let me show you how bad I want to be with you.” She said smiling. “Wrap that up and close the door.” Monty closed his applications down and stood up. His dick was getting ready for action, because she’d been teasing him for the last hour. He looked at MiKayla and smiled.

“Alright, you talked me into it.” He joked. “I’ll close the door.” Monty said while getting up to close the door. As he was closing the door it was pushed back open from the other side. Monty was caught off guard when he looked in Candy’s face. She was standing there with MJ in her arms.

“Well, hey stranger.” She paused.
“Say, hey Daddy.”
She said, looking at Monty’s shocked reaction. “I didn’t realize you had company.” She smiled at MiKayla trying her best to play it off.

Why is this bitch sitting on his desk?
She quickly asked herself. “I thought that your son and I would take you out for dinner today. You know, to celebrate your opening next week.” Monty cleared his throat as Candy looked past him at MiKayla again. She knew what type of women Monty liked so it was not a surprise to see him with this very attractive woman. However, it was heartbreaking, because she knew if she hadn’t showed up what would have happened if he had closed that door.

“Uh, hey baby.” Monty finally said. He was all fucked up. “I didn’t, uh… wasn’t expecting you.” He paused, looking back at MiKayla. “You should have called me first.” He responded. MiKayla eased down off of the desk.

“I didn’t realize that I had to call first.” Candy said with a slight frown. “Has something changed in your life that I,” she cleared her throat. “That
we
don’t know about?” She asked looking at MJ then back at Monty.

“No, baby, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just saying so that I could have been ready when y’all got here.” He said trying to clean it up.

“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.” She affirmed quickly. Monty took MJ and kissed him on the jaw.

“Hey Daddy’s baby.” He said as MJ laughed out loud. Candy reached out her hand to the person she now considered her enemy. “Hi, my name is Candy.” She stated.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m MiKayla and I was just about to leave.” MiKayla reached in for a handshake, but Candy dropped her hand back down by her side.
As if
, she thought. MiKayla stood in the middle of the two of them as she was trying to exit.

“Don’t leave on my behalf. I see y’all were about to get busy.” She cleared her throat. “On some work that is,” she replied. MiKayla ignored her comment and playfully touched MJ’s shoe.

“Hi handsome.” She said as MJ smiled. Monty knew he had to step in before things got crazy.

“Well, MiKayla… I’ll call you about the ad later. I’m gonna go have dinner with my family.” Candy felt somewhat better that he’d acknowledged her in that way knowing that they weren’t together, but at the same time, she felt like he was moving on without her. MiKayla, on the other hand, hated to hear those words and even though she had turned to leave, Monty could see the hurt in her face. MiKayla looked back at her competition one more time.

“It was nice to meet you, Candy.” She stated then walked off.

“Likewise,” Candy replied, knowing that her moves from this point on had to be exactly right or she was sure to lose her King. She looked at her son’s father as MiKayla left the room. She smiled at him, but her thoughts were running a thousand miles per minute.

“So, this MiKayla chick,” she paused. “Who is she?” Monty began to throw MJ in the air, playing with him as he answered Candy. He was hoping this would be a little distracting while he explained himself.

“She’s just someone who is doing our newspaper advertisements. She’s printing our ads in the Augusta Chronicle and in a few of the surrounding CSRA newspapers.” Monty felt the need to go on. He was caught in the act. “She also has the pull to get our business ads in other newspapers in other cities and states, too.” Candy shook her head as if she was okay with the visit from MiKayla, but she knew what she saw and the look that he and MiKayla gave each other said it all. In her mind, if she’d been just a little later she would have seen more. She played it off even though she hurt so badly inside.

“Well, so are you going to let me and your precious son take you out to eat or what?” She asked as she tickled MJ in his side.

“Yeah, that would be great. I was actually very hungry. I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.” He stated grabbing his car keys off of the desk. He smiled at Candy, because he was so thrilled to see her, but hated that the reunion had to take place like this.

Candy and Monty ate dinner at Logan’s Roadhouse. They sat across from each other. She hadn’t touched the baked potato and grilled chicken she ordered, and the food sat on the plate in front of her getting cold. She picked up another bread roll out of the basket and began to nibble on it. She looked over at Monty since he was enjoying his half-rack of ribs and baked potato.

He stopped eating and noticed her watching him. “Thank you for this. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” She replied with a smile. “Monty, I want us to get back together. I miss us.” She reached over and touched his hand.

“I’ve missed us, too.” He sincerely agreed.

“Have you missed us so much that you haven’t been with or thought about another woman since our split?” She asked. She hated to bring this up, but this was the only way that she’d find out if he was having an affair with MiKayla or possibly someone else.

Monty cleared his throat. “Baby, can we just eat and enjoy each other’s company?” He asked, really not wanting to answer that question.