What We Won't do for Love (Love, Lies & Lust Series)

by Mz. Robinson

  “Octavia.”

  I didn’t answer Damon as he reached for my hand. I was too busy staring at the ring! Taking the key ring from me, Damon slid the rock off. Kneeling down beside me he held my hand. I sat unable to move as I watched him. Somewhere deep inside of me fear was scratching trying to get to the surface. Making me want to stop him before he started to speak, but above that fear there was something bigger and greater. That something was love, and love made me want to listen.

  “I love you,” he said, his eyes wide and clear.” With every ounce of me, I love you. There is nothing I won’t do for you but there is something I need you to do for me.”

  My heart felt like it was beating a hundred beats a minute when I said, “Anything.”

  Damon lifted my hand to his lips. I can’t remember a kiss ever being sweeter. “Octavia,” he asked, “Will you marry me?”

  I didn’t want to, but I cried anyway. I looked him in his beautiful eyes and cried. Then somewhere in between my falling tears I gathered my words and I said,” Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “Yes.”

  Damon slid the ring on my finger so fast I almost didn’t feel it. He kissed my face until all the tears were gone then pulled me out of the car into his arms.

  Chapter 29

  Damon Senior and Ilene stood outside their Stone Mountain mansion smiling as Damon and I stepped out of his car. Damon Sr. was a handsome older version of his son. Same caramel skin, same dark eyes, and the same bald head. Ilene was a beautiful, mocha complexioned woman with gray eyes. Their family portraits had not done either of them justice. Standing side by side the two of them were a remarkable pair.

  I was beyond nervous meeting Damon’s parents for the first time but they immediately let me know my feelings were unjustified. Throwing their arms around me they hugged me at the same time.

  “Finally,” Ilene sighed, stepping back to look at me. “Octavia how are you darling?”

  Smiling I said,” I’m fine and you?”

  “Outstanding,” she said.

  Touching my face, Damon Sr. looked at me carefully. “Son, you did not do this sexy young woman justice,” he smiled. “She is Ewe We!” Looking at the man, I blushed.

  “I have to agree,” Ilene smiled. “We are going to have some beautiful grandbabies.”

  Looking at Damon I raised my eyebrows. We hadn’t set a wedding date and much like my mother, his mother was already talking about babies.

  Throwing her hands in the air she let out a soft scream. “Is this the ring?” She asked.

  Holding out my hand, I wiggled my fingers in front of her. “Yes Ma’am,” I smiled, proudly.

  Holding my hand Ilene examined my diamond. “Seven carat platinum Cartier,” She cooed,” Nothing but the best.”

  Seven carats? My knees got weak. I held my hand up in front on me and looked at the ring like it was my first time seeing it. I knew it was banging, but damn!

  “Mama is an expert when it comes to diamonds,” Damon laughed, stepping between us to kiss Ilene’s cheek. Looking at the boulder on her finger and stones glistening from Ilene’s ears I chuckled.

  “So I see,” I said.

  “Whitmore women deserve a little bling-bling,” she said, reaching for my hand.” Come on darling let’s go inside.” “DJ, do you and your father need help with the bags?” She asked, looking over her shoulder

  “No, Ma’am,” Damon answered, watching his mother walk through the doors of their home with me tagging behind.

  Damon and Damon Sr. decided to go for a drive leaving me and Ilene behind. The two of us sat on the second story balcony of her three story home, stretched out on a matching pair of velvet chaise loungers.

  “Do you really love Damon?” She asked, looking at me. Her expression told me that she was waiting to analyze my answer. Turning on my side to face her I looked her directly in her eyes. “Yes Ilene. I do,” I said, confidently.

  “Why?”

  Her question caught me by surprise. I knew I loved her son but I had never broken down the reasons. I didn’t want to take too long answering her but I also didn’t want to give her an answer just to satisfy her curiosity.

  “Because he loves me,” I said. “He loved me first and that made me love him.”

  Ilene’s eyes widened. I cleared my throat preparing for a war of words. I respected the woman but I was ready for whatever.

  “When I met Damon Sr. I wasn’t looking for love,” She said. “I was happily single but then he came along and everything happened suddenly.”

  “That’s what happened with me,” I confessed. “One day I was happily single then the next I was in love.”

  “It’s scary isn’t it?” She asked, running her fingers through her hair.

  “Knowing a man can come into your life and change everything, including the way you feel and think.”

  “How did you deal with that fear?”

  “Honey, I still am,” she laughed.

  “After thirty years of marriage?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yes,” she smiled. “But now I wouldn’t call it fear. It’s more like I’m…I’m amazed.” She paused for a moment then continued, “Amazed that every day he gives me a reason to love him more and more.”

  I smiled at the thought that after being with Damon for thirty years I would feel exactly like Ilene did.

  “Next time the two of you come to visit bring Charlene and Charles,” She said, referring to my parent’s as if she knew them.

  “We will.”

  “Damon told me they recently remarried.”

  Thinking back to my parent’s wedding day, I smiled, “Yeah after all those years.”

  “Real love never dies,” Ilene said, smiling at me.

  The two of us sat under the Georgia sun laughing and talking until Isabella, Ilene’s plump Italian housekeeper, interrupted us.

  “Excuse me, madam,” she said, with a thick Italian accent. “Mrs. De-voe-Whitmore is here.”

  I watched Ilene’s eyes roll into the back of her head. “Not today,” She mumbled,” Not today!”

  Confused I looked at Isabella,” Who is Mrs. Devoe -Whitmore?” I asked.

  Looking from me to Ilene, Isabella said, “You’ll find out soon enough!”

  Turning on the heels of her white Dr. Scholl’s, Isabella marched back thru the open French doors. I watched Ilene as she massaged her temples with her manicured fingertips.

  “There are a lot of great things about being married into the Whitmore family,” She said, exhaling loudly. “Then there’s the one reason you want to pack your shit and run!”

  “What’s that?” I asked, curious.

  “My mother in law.”

  I was confused to say the least, so I asked, “Didn’t you tell me you were the only living Whitmore woman?”

  “In this family darling,” She answered, “I don’t consider her a part of this family.”

  I followed Ilene downstairs to the family room. Sitting on the Italian leather sofa was a tall, thin, light-skinned woman with curly short gray hair. She was wearing an expensive looking white pants suit much like the gold one Ilene had on and white heels. Looking up, she stared Ilene down from her head to her open toe Jimmy Choos. Then she cut her eyes in my direction. “Who are you?” She asked. She had a look of disapproval stamped on her wrinkled face.

  Staring her in the eyes I said, with authority, “I’m Octavia Ellis, Damon’s fiancé.” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “No one told me my grandson was engaged,” She said, staring at Ilene.

  “That’s because we haven’t talked to you,” Ilene said, nonchalantly. Walking over and taking a seat in the wing chair facing her mother in law.

  “That is until you showed up here today,” Ilene corrected herself. “Unannounced.” She put emphasis on unannounced. Both of the women watched as I sat down on the far end of the sofa.

  “I didn’t know I needed an appointment to see my son,” She snapped.

  “It’s common courtesy to ca
ll before you come,” Ilene snapped back.

  “That didn’t occur to me!”

  “It should have when you made your arrangements to fly from New York to Georgia!”

  I looked from one woman to the other waiting for the next come back. There was a pregnant pause until the older woman asked,

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

  “Darling,” Ilene grunted.” This is Damon Jr.’s grandmother, Odessa.”

  “Odessa Devoe hyphen Whitmore,” Odessa corrected her.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I lied.

  She turned her nose up and then asked, “What is it you do?”

  “I am a restaurant owner,” I answered.

  “Um,” she grumbled, sucking on her teeth.” How long have you been dating my grandson?”

  “Nine months,” I answered. I was getting a little annoyed with her tone of voice.

  “Nine months,” She frowned. “That’s not very long.”

  “Long enough,” Ilene jumped into the conversation.

  Smirking at Ilene Odessa crossed her bony legs. “That’s what, five more than it took you to sleep your way into my family?”

  Letting out a sinister laugh Ilene smiled at me. “I was in after the first two weeks.”

  I smiled and Odessa cut her eyes in my direction. “What happened to Nadia?” She asked.” The pretty ballerina from Los Angeles.”

  Rolling her eyes, Ilene looked at me. “Nadia was a gold digging tramp that Damon dated two summers ago. She was nothing and she meant nothing.”

  I nodded my head. I didn’t give a damn about Nadia, I was the one with the ring.

  “I favored Nadia,” Odessa said, sucking her teeth.

  “I guess so,” Ilene laughed.” She’s your best friend’s granddaughter.”

  “She may be but it was a total coincidence that the two of them met.”

  “Let’s not dwell in the past,” Ilene said, throwing her hand up in Odessa’s direction. “This is my future daughter in law’s first visit and I won’t allow anything to ruin it.” Ilene put her hand down and frowned at Odessa. “Anything or anyone,” She added.

  The three of us were completely silent until Odessa blurted out, “You’re pregnant, aren’t you!”

  I looked at her like she had lost her damn mind. “What?” I asked, pissed.

  Ilene crossed her legs and shook her head. “Unbelievable,” She laughed.”Odessa you are unbelievable!”

  Leaning forward on the sofa, Odessa turned to face me. “Well are you?” She asked.

  She was treading on thin ice and I was ready to push her old ass thru.

  “No, I’m not pregnant!” I said, loudly. “Why would you think that?”

  “You don’t seem like my grandson’s type,” She stated.” But Damon is an honorable man and he would compromise his standards if there was a child involved.”

  I know she didn’t just say Damon compromised his standards.

  “Odessa don’t be rude,” Ilene snapped. “And how would you know my son’s type? If you knew his type you wouldn’t have arranged that meeting with that tramp, Nadia.”

  “I told you that was a coincidence.”

  “Well it was a helluva coincidence.”

  “The past is the past,” Odessa said, nonchalantly.

  “Do you know me?” I asked, staring at Odessa. I didn’t care who she was. I was not going to allow her to talk to me like I was beneath her.

  “What do you mean?”

  Looking her directly in her eyes I spoke slowly,” Do you know me?” I repeated.

  “Before today I didn’t know you existed,” She laughed.

  “Well you do now,” I said, with an attitude.” However, keep in mind you still don’t know me.”

  “I…”

  “Therefore do not assume anything about me,” I cut her off. “It matters not to me whether or not you think I’m Damon’s type and I promise you it won’t matter to Damon either.”

  Daring her to say something, I paused. She didn’t. “What does matter, however,” I said, crossing my legs.” Is that Damon is in love with me and I am in love with him.”

  “Love didn’t buy that ring on your finger,” She said, pointing at my hand. “Damon’s money did.”

  “They don’t accept love at Carrier’s,” Ilene whispered.

  Never looking in Ilene’s direction, Odessa frowned,” Nor did love pay for all the shit my son has provided for Ilene. But if you really love my grandson please try to remember this one thing; his money is his money and your money is your money.”

  I watched as the withering old woman stood adjusted her pants legs and walked out of the room, leaving Ilene and me alone.

  “What’s her issue?” I asked Ilene, still annoyed by Odessa assumptions.

  “Darling, she is a bitch,” Ilene stated, bluntly.” She hates anyone who doesn’t kiss her ass.”

  “I guess she’ll hate me forever,” I said, shaking my head.” Because I’m not kissing anyone’s ass.”

  Laughing Ilene told me, “You just better hope she stays healthy until she dies. Because if she ever needs someone to take care of her, she’s moving in with you and DJ because I am not allowing her to stay here!”

  I didn’t have to pray about that one because if the black Cruella Deville ever got sick, I planned to drop her ass off at a nursing home and never look back.

  Odessa managed to avoid us until Damon and his father returned home. When she saw them she immediately started frontin’ like everything was perfect and the three of us were getting along like old girlfriends. Ilene and I just listened to her lie on and on, each of us giving her a look that let her know we wanted to strangle her ass.

  The rest of the weekend went great. Damon took me to P Diddy’s restaurant, Justin’s, Ilene took me shopping, and Damon Sr. and I went horseback riding at his stable. Odessa managed to stay out of my way and that only made the weekend even better.

  Despite my run in with Odessa, I felt welcomed into the Whitmore Family. I knew Odessa was going to be an obstacle but I knew that together there was no obstacle Damon and I couldn’t overcome.

  Chapter 30

  There is a difference between overcoming an obstacle and running into a damn sync hole in the middle of a one way overpass! That’s exactly how I felt when I strolled into Damon’s office Monday afternoon. I wanted to surprise Damon, so I showed up unannounced wearing a sexy pink slip dress and a pair of four inch open toe heels.

  “Good Afternoon, Miss Ellis,” Damon’s assistant, Louisa greeted me from behind her desk.

  “Good Afternoon, Ms. Louisa,” I smiled.

  Louisa had been working for Damon every since his office opened. I liked her. She was sweet and old. Ms. Louisa was the perfect woman to work with my man on a daily basis.

  “Mr. Whitmore is in his office,” she said. “He’s wrapping up a consultation with a new client.”

  “Maybe I should wait here.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Louisa said, looking me up and down. “You and that dress may be the motivation his client needs to get him to do business with us.”

  Laughing I winked my eye at her,” I’ll do anything for my baby,” I teased.

  “And he’ll do anything for you,” She said, leaning forward on her desk, “If I would have known you were going to stop by, I would have worn sunglasses.”

  “Why is that?” I asked, puzzled by her statement.

  Pointing at my left hand she covered her eyes, “You’re blinding me with that rock!”

  “You are too much, Ms. Louisa,” I laughed.

  Holding her hand over her eyes, she said, “Go on back there. I’m an old woman, I need what little eyesight I have left.”

  Shaking my head I headed towards Damon’s office. When I reached his closed door I knocked and waited until I heard him say “Come in.”

  Smiling I opened the door and immediately saw Damon sitting behind his desk looking delicious in a cream dress shirt and mint green silk tie. His eyes were
wide with surprise and approval as he looked from my head to my toes. Then I glanced to my left and almost passed out. He was sitting in one of the leather arm chairs wearing a dark suit with a red silk, button front shirt with no tie. Low haircut and well groomed goatee. He looked at me and a small grin crept across his face.

  “Baby,” Damon said, getting my attention.

  I pulled my eyes from the man nervously and looked at Damon. I watched as Damon rose from his chair and walked around his desk to me. He kissed my cheek and then wrapped his arm around my waist.

  “You look beautiful,” He whispered in my ear. When he let me go he stepped back and looked at me then smiled.

  “Octavia, I want you to meet my newest client.” he said.

  I watched as he stood and adjusted his jacket.

  “Broderick,” Damon said. “This is my fiancé, Octavia.”

  Our eyes locked as he extended his hand to me. “It’s nice to meet you, Octavia,” He said, looking at me seductively. “And please…call me Beau.”

  Everything about him was different; from the way he was talking to how he looked and was dressed, but it was Beau. The same Beau I had been fucking. The same Beau I had arrested for harassment. Beau. Now Beau was standing in my husband-to- be’s office, smiling at me.

  With his hand still extended to me he looked at Damon and smiled.

  “You’re right, she is beautiful.”

  I extended my hand to him slowly and gave him a weak handshake. He held my hand a little too long for my comfort, then he finally let go.

  “You look familiar,” He said, stroking his goatee. “Have we met?”

  My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest and run for cover. I shook my head in slow motion.

  “Are you sure?” He asked, coolly.

  “Probably from the Ambiance,” Damon said, proudly. “Octavia is the owner.”

  Beau cocked his head to one side. “Is that right?” He asked.