I Heard A Rumor

by Hodges, Cheris

  But when she ground against him and licked his earlobe, Zach couldn’t hold his climax back anymore. They collapsed against each other and took a singular satisfied breath.

  “My God, woman, that was amazing,” Zach said, then kissed her on the cheek.

  “You’re amazing,” she replied. “But if we don’t get out of this bed, you’re going to miss your flight.”

  “That might not be such a bad thing if I get to spend the rest of the day just like this,” he said as he stroked her bottom . . .

  “Sir,” the flight attendant said as she tapped him on his shoulder. “You need to fasten your seat belt.”

  Zach nodded and followed her instructions. As much as he wanted to get lost in sweet memories of Chante, he had to get his mind together to face Natalie, the FBI, and Zoe’s anger.

  “Vacation is about to be over,” he muttered as he glanced out the window and watched the clouds.

  Chante didn’t bother going into the lobby when she was ready to head back to Charlotte. She just took the elevator to the guest parking lot, where her Jag was parked.

  She was going to her mother’s house first, because she wasn’t going to avoid her anymore. After loading her things into her car, Chante headed for Summerville, and she was happy to see that the media trucks were gone from the parking lot as she passed by. Either there was some other scandal going on or the reporters were just following up on the video of her fight with Robert. Chante knew it was wishful thinking to believe that it hadn’t hit the Internet. But since she had turned her phone off and hadn’t taken a glimpse at the morning news, she had no idea.

  She was headed to Summerville to let her parents know that she was going back to Charlotte, and to see how much of the media coverage they’d seen. Part of her wanted to avoid her mother at all costs, but the main reason she wanted to see Allison this morning was to tell her mother that she was tired—of trying to prove herself to her mother and of failing to meet the sky-high standards that Allison set for her. And she was tired of turning herself inside out for approval she wasn’t going to get.

  It was going to end today.

  When she pulled into her parents’ driveway, Chante didn’t feel as if she was seeking her mother’s approval for a change. She was here to begin the journey to taking her life back. Finding her mother on the porch with a cup of coffee and a copy of The Post and Courier, she almost smiled. When she was a little girl, she and Allison would spend Saturday mornings reading the paper and talking about what was important in life, and how Allison hoped that Chante would come back to Charleston after she graduated from college, get married, and have a big family.

  Chante shook off the memories and crossed over to her mother. “Good morning, Mom,” she said.

  Allison dropped the paper and glared at her daughter. “I was hoping you’d leave without bringing more embarrassment to us.”

  “Really? And just how did I embarrass you, Mom?” Chante asked, slapping her hand on her hips.

  Allison rose to her feet and shook her head. “Don’t you come here and act as if you’ve been honest with us about the people in your life. A man who’s linked to a sex ring in New York, and then you have a ghetto-fabulous argument with your ex-fiancé for the world to see. Chante, who are you, and where did all of this come from?”

  “I didn’t know who I was, Mom. I thought I had to be someone’s wife for you to acknowledge the things I’d accomplished. Do you realize that you’ve never looked at me and said you were proud of me? I graduated at the top of my class as an undergrad and from law school. But that wasn’t enough for you.”

  “No!” Allison shouted. “You’re not going to blame this on me!”

  “You’re right, I’m not blaming anything on you. I’m not going to ask you why it wasn’t enough for me to be smart. I’m not going to ask you why you thought that what I did with my life wasn’t enough because I didn’t have someone else’s last name added to mine. I wonder if you think I should’ve stayed with Robert even though he paid a woman for sex?”

  Allison laughed and took a step back from Chante. “You are so silly. Don’t you think I wished I could’ve impressed my mother? I’m not as smart as you think you are, but I know better than to air my dirty laundry in the media. How do you think your father and I are going to face our friends when this footage of our daughter is played on TV and the Internet?”

  “Yes, Mom, how will you show your face? Through everything that I’ve faced over this past year, your concern has been about everything but me.”

  “What are you talking about?” Allison asked incredulously.

  “Seriously?” Chante asked. “You’re going to ask me that? All that I’ve ever done has been to prove to you that I was enough. From graduating at the top of my class to getting a position with one of the top law firms in Charlotte, I wanted you to see that I was enough, and you never did. So I did what I thought would’ve finally proved to you that I was good enough. I accepted a ring from a man I knew didn’t love me. How did that work out?”

  “Don’t you dare blame me for that!” Allison bellowed.

  “Oh no?” Chante retorted. “You couldn’t accept my achievements as an attorney because I wasn’t married, so the first ring I got, I took. I thought that ring would make my mother happy. I thought bringing a husband home would finally make you proud of me, and it blew up in my face.”

  “Shut up. Don’t sit here and pretend I’m the reason you’ve done this.” Allison tossed the newspaper at Chante. “You made this bed, now lie in it, alone.”

  “I’m fine with that,” Chante replied. “And for the record, he was never my fiancé. If that makes you feel better about showing your face at your bridge club, tell them your horrible daughter played a joke on you.”

  Allison narrowed her eyes at Chante. “Why are you so against tradition?”

  “Maybe it’s time to start a new tradition, or maybe I’m more like my grandmother than you want to believe.”

  “Chante, I just wanted the best for you, and a southern woman needs a good husband.”

  “I’m going to prove you wrong, Mom. You and Dad are a great couple, but I’m done trying to prove that I’m good enough when I know that I’m better. If you want to spin some yarn to your friends about what an embarrassment I am to the Britt name, feel free. But I am so done worrying about what you think and figuring out how I can meet your approval. Have a good day.” Chante walked off the porch, ignoring her mother’s cries. She was going to be her own woman, and the world had better get ready for it.

  “We’re now descending into JFK International Airport,” the pilot said. His voice awakened Zach, and he wiped his mouth. Now that he was about to be in New York, he had to get his mind focused on the task at hand, letting everyone know that he and Natalie had no ties.

  Of course, he had to calm his twin down as well. Zoe was mad as hell, and she had every right to be. After getting arrested, everything she’d built during her career was in jeopardy. And as much as he didn’t want to think about it, it was Zach’s fault. Had he listened to Zoe, this might not be happening. She’d wanted to do a background check on Natalie, but he’d been in love and wanted a wedding. He’d told his sister to back off, and now the aftermath was too much to bear.

  “Damn it,” he muttered as he walked to the baggage claim. Despite all he’d done to insulate the company from the negative press, his family was still suffering. Zach felt as if he had failed his family by not being in New York. What if he had stayed instead of going to South Carolina?

  “You would’ve never met Chante,” he muttered as he picked up his baggage. Pulling his smartphone out of his pocket, Zach called his driver to make sure he was going to pick him up. He hoped there wasn’t a team of cameras and reporters waiting for him as well. It was too damned early to deal with this drama, to answer questions that should’ve been put to rest months ago.

  If only he could get his hands on Natalie. She could’ve just let their marriage go and moved on with her miserable
life, but she wanted to bring him down to her level. Get him dirty because she was a criminal. He was angry and embarrassed that he’d allowed himself to fall for her. Now his sister and his family name were being dragged through the mud because he’d married the wrong damned woman.

  “Mr. Harrington,” his driver said when he answered the phone, “I’m about five minutes out from the airport.”

  “Great,” Zach mumbled, “I’ll be outside in a few minutes.”

  “Sorry that I’m late, sir. Traffic is . . .”

  “Hey, it happens. Just hurry,” Zach said as he made his way out of the airport. It must have been his lucky day because there wasn’t a photographer in sight. Just as he was about to put his phone away, it rang. When he saw the name on the screen, he smiled.

  “Hello, beautiful,” he said.

  “Are you in New York?” Chante asked.

  “Yes. I’m standing outside of the terminal at JFK, waiting for my driver.”

  “No Mustang rental?” Her laughter made him remember her kisses and the sweetness of the area between her thighs.

  “Not this time. Besides, you’re not here to speed around in it. Wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  “Sweet talker,” she quipped. “I don’t think I’d want to drive in New York. Charlotte is bad enough.”

  “Have you made it back yet?” Zach held his hand up as he saw his driver pull up.

  “Not yet. I’m just leaving my parents’ house. I finally told my mother I’ve had enough of her judgment.”

  “You go, Chante.”

  “I hope you can still say that when the fallout from that video hits,” she said with a sigh.

  “Don’t even worry about that. You’re smart enough to overcome all of that.”

  “From your mouth to God’s ear,” she said.

  “Baby, I have all the faith in the world in you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My driver is here, so I’m going to call you this evening and check on you.”

  “Sounds good. I hope everything goes well for you.”

  “So do I. We’ll talk soon.” When Chante said good-bye, Zach missed her like crazy. As he climbed into the black Lincoln that had stopped in front of him, he knew he had to focus on the task at hand, clearing his family’s name once and for all.

  “How are you, Mr. Harrington?” his driver asked.

  “I’ve been better. Let’s get to my office and get this day over with.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  It was midafternoon when Chante drove past the Charlotte city limits sign. She sighed with relief as she turned onto her street and saw there were no media trucks parked on her block. Sitting in the driveway, she dialed Liza’s number to find out if her friend had arrived in Charlotte yet.

  “Hello?”

  “Liza,” Chante said, “have you made it to Charlotte yet?”

  “Have I? Honey, I’m already at Amelie’s sitting in a corner waiting for you,” she replied.

  “Let me unload my car, and I’ll be right there.”

  “Good, because we have a lot of work to do. Although I have to say that on a personal level, I love the video.”

  Chante groaned. “And,” Liza continued, “that’s what Robert gets for having that stupid blogger Persone Wallace follow him around. All he wants are page views, and I know he got a lot from people watching Robert’s meltdown. Still, since you’re my client, and he and I have a legal agreement about him covering my clients, I’m going to get the video taken down.”

  “The damage is already done. You and I know what goes up on the Internet is there forever.”

  “Just get here. We’re going to game-plan this.”

  “All right.” Chante hung up and got out of the car. She was happy that the video had exposed Robert’s madness, but she was smart enough to know there would be plenty of people who’d blame her for reacting to him.

  “Forget them,” she muttered as she unlocked her front door. Maybe it was time to rebrand herself, and that was what she and Liza were going to work on.

  Chapter 18

  Chante walked into Amelie’s and quickly spotted Liza sitting at their usual table. Waving at her friend, she walked over and smiled when she saw two caramel salted brownies on the table.

  “You are so awesome,” she said as Liza rose to her feet and gave her a hug.

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Liza replied with a wink. “So before we get started, what’s the real deal with you and Zachary Harrington?”

  Chante felt a blush burn her cheeks. “Zach is a really nice guy. He made Charleston a lot of fun because Miss Elsie Mae is going around the world with her boo.”

  “Wait, your grandmother is on a trip with a man?”

  “Guess who she’s with,” Chante said.

  “Mr. Tanner?”

  “How did you know?” Chante asked incredulously.

  “I remember when we went to visit your grandmother that summer and he was there. You had to be blind not to see the sizzle between them.”

  Chante sucked her teeth. “Then call me Ray Charles. I figured they were just friends.”

  “Friends with benefits.”

  “Eww, Liza, come on! It’s bad enough that she gave me a few too many details in the note she left for me.”

  “I hope when I’m older, I’m as fabulous as Miss Elsie Mae, and that Jackson and I are making our children and grandchild uncomfortable.”

  “I feel sorry for your unborn children already,” Chante quipped.

  “Whatever, Chante. So how did you and Zach meet?”

  Chante told Liza how she went to her grandmother’s house and it was gutted.

  “She left a note with instructions for me to stay at the Charleston Harbor Bed and Breakfast. It’s a wonderful place. Zach was staying there, and we ended up at the bar together.”

  “Pause,” Liza said. “You picked up a guy at the bar? You?”

  Chante rolled her eyes. “No, I didn’t. As a matter of fact, I threw a drink in his face.”

  Liza broke out into laughter. “Of course you did. Why did you throw a drink at the man?”

  Chante shrugged. “Because he kissed me.”

  Tilting her head to the side, Liza shook her head. “Okay. You meet a stranger, he kisses you, you throw a drink in his face, and y’all still end up kicking it together?”

  “I blame the seafood quiche. It had oysters in it.” Chante laughed as she thought about the meal she and Zach shared before they left Charleston. “As it turned out, his kisses were amazing. We even told my mother that we were engaged when she caught us kissing at Grammy’s shop.”

  Liza shook her head. “I think I like this Zach person. I just hope all of this stuff going on with him isn’t true.”

  “It’s not,” Chante said.

  Liza raised her right eyebrow. “You’re defending him, huh? How serious are you about him?”

  “I-I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, I barely know the man. After what happened with Robert, I’m not jumping into anything.”

  “Now, you have to stop that. What happened with Robert was the anomaly. And I feel responsible. I should’ve never introduced you two.”

  “Just because you introduced us doesn’t mean you have responsibility for anything that happened.”

  “Still, I don’t like to be fooled, and I should have known that he would do anything to win that seat, including using both of us.”

  Chante shook her head. “We were both fooled. But I have an idea.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I don’t want to be the Chante Britt that everyone knows anymore.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think you’d call it rebranding. There are so many women in this city who suffer because of things the men in their lives do. I want to be the attorney who helps those women reclaim their lives.”

  “That is an awesome idea,” Liza replied with excitement. “And you can make it more than just a Charlotte thing. Think of all of the women who are marr
ied to powerful men who mess up and she gets dragged through the mud? You’ll be busy and rich.”

  “This isn’t about money,” Chante said. “What I went through with Robert taught me a lot, and I didn’t like the lesson.”

  “It’s not fair. I mean, you lost your position at your law firm, and he went on TV to bring you back into his mess.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to do a video where you tell the world what you just said to me, and we make it go viral. All we have to do is juxtapose it against what happened in Charleston.”

  Chante closed her eyes. “Do we have to focus on the negativity?”

  “We can’t ignore it. It’s out there.”

  Sighing, Chante knew her friend was right, but she didn’t want that video of her and Robert to become a part of who she was turning herself into. But there was no denying that it would be one of the first things people saw about her.

  “I guess you’re right,” she said.

  Liza bit into her brownie. “I’m always right in this sort of situation.”

  Chante rolled her eyes. “Don’t hold this over my head because I said you were right.”

  “Now, would I do something like that?” Liza laughed.

  “Let me point to the fact that I got drunk sophomore year and threw up in your precious Mustang. You referred to that for years.”

  “I loved that car!” Liza exclaimed. “And it was only two months old.”

  “You talked about it for ten years.”

  “Again, I loved that car.”

  Chante smiled, thinking about the Mustang she’d been zipping around Charleston in and her handsome road dog.

  “What’s that look?” Liza asked.

  “Zach rented a Mustang, and we drove it around the city and . . .”

  “You really like him, Chante.”

  She wasn’t going to admit anything. “We need to talk business,” Chante said.

  Liza nodded. “I know you aren’t big on falling in love, but don’t let one bad experience sour you. Look at me and Jackson.”