Secret Liaisons (12 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Mona left the office with plans to meet Terrance later at his place. She felt guilty about not coming clean about Garrett's appearance in the office earlier. She probably would have told him if his mother hadn't made it sound like she walked in on them in a compromising position. Mona wondered how long Sara had been standing there. Did she see the hug? Did she Mona's tears as she officially closed the door to her past?

Terrance's attitude struck a nerve with Mona so she went into defense mode. After learning that Garrett's mother lied and changed the course of her life, Mona refused to deal with another meddling mother. She parked her car outside of Terrance's house. This time she brought an overnight bag so she could leave directly from his house to the office the next morning.

She rang the doorbell. Terrance held his cell phone to his ear with one hand and opened the door with the other. He greeted her with a hug and quick peck on the lips. He took his available hand and took her carry-on bag from her.

He whispered, “I'll be off in a minute.”

The aroma of the spaghetti sauce from the kitchen filled the air. Mona watched Terrance walk up the stairway with her bag. She turned and went to the kitchen. She walked to the stove and removed the top off a boiler to reveal spaghetti and meatballs simmering.

The buzzer on the oven went off. She placed an oven mit on and opened the door. She removed the pan of garlic bread and put it on top of the stove.

“Thanks for getting that for me. Have you checked the messages at the office? Charlotte informed me that the press release went out. She's gotten a lot of interview requests.” Terrance walked near her and turned off the burners on the stove.

“No. Not since earlier. I'll go check now.”

“Let's eat and then you can get to work on it.”

“Yes, sir.” Mona saluted him.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound demanding.”

“I'm your assistant too so I'm not tripping.”

“We need to talk about making some changes, but we can do it later.”

After dinner and cleaning the kitchen, Mona and Terrance headed to Terrance's home office.

Mona sat behind Terrance's computer. “What's your password?”

Terrance recited his password. Mona logged on to her work email and read out loud some of the interview requests.

“I'll do all of those. I'll let you handle my schedule. Just don't overbook,” Terrance said.

“Turn your printer on for me, please,” Mona asked.

Terrance turned the printer on and Mona printed out the emails.

Mona stood and removed the pages from the printer. Terrance walked behind her and placed his arm around her waist. “This can wait until tomorrow.”

“Business before pleasure,” Mona said. “I don't want anyone to accuse me of slacking on my job because I'm sleeping with the boss.”

“We're a two-man running machine so no one cares.”

“Your mom does.” Mona pulled away from Terrance. She went and sat back behind the desk.

“My mom doesn't run my business,” Terrance assured her.

“Does she know that?”

Terrance's cell phone rang. “Her ears must be burning because it's her now.”

“You go talk to your mother and I'll work on this.”

“Hi, mom,” Terrance answered. “No, I've already eaten.” Terrance took a seat in a chair across from the desk.

While he talked with his mom, Mona went back to working. She placed the papers out in front of her and looked at the calendar on her phone. She began making notes on the paper.

Terrance looked uncomfortable. He kept moving around in his seat. The frown on his face showed that he wasn't too happy about how the conversation with his mom was going. Mona decided at that point to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Mom, we've gone over this before. I don't need you interfering in my personal life.”

Mona wondered what Sara was saying.

Terrance ended the phone call. Mona asked, “Does your mom know about us?”

“She suspects something is going on, but no, she doesn't know that you and I are in a relationship,” Terrance admitted.

“Why haven't you told her? It's cool if you don't, but I'm just curious.” Mona crossed her hands out in front of her.

“It's none of her business.”

“True, it's not, but if we're going to be in a relationship, I don't see why our liaison has to be some secret.”

“Mona, baby, I have no problems with our relationship being made public.”

“My friends know we're together, so that's not what I'm talking about. I don't want our relationship to be a secret from your mom because you're afraid to do something you think she might not approve of.”

Terrance leaned forward and stared Mona straight in the eyes. “I'm not your ex. I will not let my mother interfere with what we have going on. My mom doesn't speak for me. Unless you hear it coming from my mouth, don't concern yourself with what she says.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Terrance, wearing a black
Brooks Brothers
Lapel Suit, tapped his foot while standing at the end of the stairway. He glanced at his Rolex watch. He needed Mona to hurry because he didn't want to hear his mom's mouth if they were late to her engagement party. He'd decided that he would reveal that Mona was more than just his assistant at her engagement party.

“Mona, don't mean to rush you, but we need to go, dear,” Terrance yelled from the bottom of the stairway.

“I'm coming,” Mona responded.

Mona seemed to glide down the stairs in the four-inch
Jimmy Choo
crystallized suede and mesh sandals. Terrance smiled. He knew when he saw the Tracy Reese black and metallic frock cross-pleated skirt, she would look good in it.

Terrance held his arm out and she held on to it as she stepped off the last stair. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You're looking quite dapper yourself,” Mona responded.

“Our chariot awaits us.”

Terrance opened the front door. Mona's mouth opened in surprise. “We're going in style, I see.”

“Yes. Since my mom wanted to throw a grand affair to announce her engagement, I thought, why not.”

A little over an hour later, the limousine pulled in the circular driveway. The driver drove past the expensive cars parked and stopped near the front of the stairs leading to the Beckham's house.

Terrance and Mona exited the limousine and walked behind others inside. They were greeted by servers holding trays of h'orderves as soon as they entered the front door. Soft music from a live jazz band filled the house.

Terrance knew his mom had a thing for throwing elaborate parties but he wasn't expecting to see this many people. He greeted and introduced Mona to several people he knew as they made their way through the house.

He heard his mother's laughter before he laid eyes on her. She stood next to another woman looking regal in an
Oscar de la Renta
ivory and black cocktail dress.

Sara looked at Terrance and raised her hand to motion for him to come closer to her.

“There's mom,” Terrance said.

Terrance led Mona towards his mother.

Sara saw Terrance and gave him a tight hug. “How's my baby?”

“Mom, I'm doing fine.”

Terrance watched his mom give Mona a once over. “You look nice,” Sara said to Mona. She looked at Terrance. “What is she doing here?”

“She's my date.” Terrance grabbed Mona by the hand. Mona squeezed it.

“Date?” Sara stuttered.

“Yes, mom. Date. Mona and I are seeing each other. We're a couple.”

Sara shook her head from side to side. “There are too many people here now. We'll address this issue later.”

“There's nothing to discuss. I'm with Mona. Deal with it.”

Sara grabbed a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter and gulped it down and then returned the empty glass to the tray.

Reverend Hamilton walked over and placed his arm around Sara's waist. “Hi, Terrance and Mona isn't it?” Reverend Hamilton asked.

“Yes. Nice to see you again,” Mona responded.

Terrance spoke but didn't take his eyes off his mother.

Reverend Hamilton said, “I think there are enough people here for me to make my toast. Come on Terrance. I want you upfront too.”

Reverend Hamilton led Sara to the front of the living room. She kept looking back at Terrance and Mona who walked behind them. Instead of smiling, she looked upset. Terrance looked at Mona but wasn't able to read her. Her facial expression remained neutral.

Terrance wanted to do something that he hoped would ease the tension. “Reverend Hamilton, let me make the announcement.”

Terrance hoped with this gesture, his mom would tone down on how she was openly showing disdain towards Mona. Reverend Hamilton walked over to the band and they stopped playing. He handed the microphone to Terrance.

Terrance spoke out in a loud voice. “Listen everyone.”

People turned to face them. The noise level decreased. “It is my pleasure to announce the reason for why you're all gathered here tonight. On behalf of Reverend William Hamilton and my mom Sara Beckham, we would like to thank you for sharing in this momentous occasion with us. My dad loved my mom and I believe in my heart that he would want her to move on and find happiness with someone else. So it is with a clear heart and conscious that I would like to be the first person to officially congratulate my mom and Reverend Hamilton on their engagement.”

Tears flowed down Sara's face as the crowd yelled out their congratulatory comments. Terrance hugged his mom. He reached out to give Reverend Hamilton a hug when the reverend pulled him into a brotherly embrace. “Thank you son for your blessing.”

Terrance moved out of the way as different people congratulated the couple.

“You did well,” Mona noted from beside him.

“I hope she's happy.” Terrance looked at his mother whose face was covered by a huge smile as she talked and hugged different people.

He noticed many admiring her huge engagement ring.

“You took the high road. I admire you for it,” Mona commented.

Terrance gave her a quick peck on the lips. He caught a glimpse of Sara looking at him and her smile faded into a frown. Only thing he could do at that point was shake his head.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Mona wanted to leave the engagement party but she only remained because of Terrance. She knew when she wasn't wanted and Sara had no issues making it known. If she wasn't making snide comments, her evil glare when she looked her way made Mona want to smack her and of course she couldn't do that.

Mona kept her composure even when it was obvious that Sara had no issue trying to humiliate her. Terrance tried to be a buffer between the two of them.

“Mona, I'm so sorry. I promise to talk to my mom later on,” Terrance said to her, while they stood away from the crowd of people near the band.

Terrance walked over to the leader of the band and whispered in his ear. The band started playing another song. Terrance grabbed Mona by the hand. “Come on. Dance with me.”

Mona looked around. “No one else is dancing,” Mona said.

“So. That has nothing to do with us. You said you knew how to step, let me see if you really do.” Terrance smiled.

Mona enjoyed a challenge. She learned how to step from her relatives in Chicago. Her and Terrance used the small open space and began dancing. Mona was finally starting to enjoy herself.

They were gaining a small audience. Some of the people watching decided to join in and the area they were at expanded into an official dance floor.

Terrance pulled Mona close to him. “See, now aren't you glad I talked you into dancing with me?”

Mona held her back and smiled. “Now this is a party.”

“Yes, it is.” Terrance swirled her around and then dipped her.

They danced for the next twenty minutes. Terrance led her off the dance floor.

“I'm thirsty,” Mona said.

“Wait right here. I'll go find us something to drink.” Terrance kissed her on the cheek and left in search for their drinks.

Mona stood and swayed to the music.

“Look who I ran into,” Mona heard Sara say from behind her.

Mona turned around and her mouth dropped open when she saw Sara's arms looped through Garrett's arm.

“Garrett is here with my good friend, Dr. Carson,” Sara said with a smug look on her face.

Garrett spoke, “Hi, Mona.”

Mona's voice got dry. She couldn't open it to say anything.

“When I saw Garrett, there was something so familiar about him and then it dawned on me how I knew this handsome doctor. He's the man that I saw leaving my son's office. Knowing that you two knew each other, I had to come make this introduction.” Sara removed her arm from Garrett's. She moved past Mona and said, “Terrance, do you know Dr. Garrett?”

Mona looked and saw the frown on Terrance's face. She could see how intense he was from the way his forehead cringed.

“We've met,” Terrance responded, as he held on to the two glasses.

His mom took one of the glasses. “Thanks dear. My throat is a little dry.” She took a sip out of one of the glasses. She then went on to say, “I met Garrett the other day at your office. Well, I didn't know he was a doctor then.”

Terrance interrupted Sara. He looked directly at Mona when he asked, “Is this the guy who was the salesman?”

Mona knew she'd been caught in a lie. “Terrance, let me explain.”

Sara eased to the side and smiled.

Mona walked closer to Terrance and reached for his arm. Terrance jerked his arm away. “Why did you lie to me? I asked you about it and you told me it was a pesty salesman.”

“It was nothing, that's why,” Mona said.

“It was something,” Garrett intervened and said.

Mona and Terrance said in unison, “Shut up” and then turned back to look at each other.

Sara walked closer to them. “This is enough. You're drawing attention to yourselves. Dear, now you see Mona's just like I said she was so it's best that you find out now and cut your losses.”

Mona clenched her fists by her side or else she feared she would punch Sara in the face. Mona waited for Terrance to correct his mom, but he just stood there. Mona's face turned red as her blood pressure increased.

She looked at Terrance. “Aren't you going to say something?”

“What? What do you expect me to say?” he asked coldly.

“Fine. I'm not going to stand here and be insulted. I'm out of here.”

Mona rushed passed some gawkers. Terrance didn't follow behind her. She got outside and that's when it dawned on her she didn't have her car. She turned to walk back in but Garrett was right on her heels so she bumped into him.

“I'm parked over there if you need a ride,” Garrett said.

Mona didn't want to ask Terrance for anything so against her better judgment she responded, “Sure. I'll take you up on your offer.”