“I’ll be out in a minute. I’m getting dressed,” Terrance yelled from the other end.
“Okay. I’m ready when you are,” Mona yelled back.
Mona went to make sure all of the electric equipment such as her computer and coffee maker were turned off.
“You look beautiful,” Terrance said when she turned around to face him. He stood outside of his office door looking at her.
She felt a little uncomfortable because she thought she’d seen desire in his eyes. She wished she had a shawl to cover her arms so he couldn’t see the chill of bumps that swept over her skin when she heard his voice.
She twirled so he could get the full effect. “You like.”
He held his thumb in the air. “Thumbs up. You’re going to make the other women envious.”
“Thanks to you.” Mona smiled.
“You must have gotten that dress on sale because you look like a million bucks. I saw the receipt. It didn’t cost nearly as much as it looks.”
“It just so happened to be on the clearance rack.”
“Any other woman would have bought the most expensive dress in the store, but not you. I can’t complain, but you could have spent more if you wanted to,” Terrance said, as he walked closer.
“You did say, ‘get the dress you wanted,’ right?” Mona asked, as she exchanged purses to the small handbag she’d just purchased.
“I sure did.”
“This emerald dress was what I wanted. Besides, you were doing something nice for me. I wasn’t going to take advantage of your generosity.”
“Mona Johnson, you always seem to amaze me,” Terrance said.
“Let’s go do this,” Mona said.
Terrance held out his arm and Mona placed her hand on his arm. “Our chariot awaits.”
Terrance led Mona outside. Mona’s eyes widened when she saw the long, black stretch limousine waiting for them out in the parking lot. The limousine driver held the door opened and they entered the car.
Terrance poured them both a flute of champagne. He held the glass in the air to toast. “To our new partnership. May this be the start of many more to come.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Mona tapped her glass with his and then took a sip of the champagne. She placed the glass in the compartment located near them.
Terrance gave her a quick rundown on some of the people who were to be at the dinner party. “If you’re unsure of what to say, just smile and I’ll take over from there.”
“Well, you know me. Shyness has never been one of my problems.”
“You do have the gift of gab,” Terrance acknowledged.
“So stop worrying. I want this to happen as much as you do,” Mona said.
Mona placed her hand on top of Terrance’s. His eyes softened. Terrance reached over and kissed her. Not a simple peck on the lips, but the kind of kiss that consumed her.
It left her breathless.
Terrance watched Mona’s lips move and couldn’t resist wanting to taste them. On impulse, he devoured her lips. When his tongue met hers she didn’t protest but kissed him back with the same intensity.
He felt his heart beat skip a beat or two. His phone vibrating interrupted the vibe between them. He pulled away, neither one acknowledging what had just occurred. He pulled out his phone. He looked at Mona who sat quietly and said, “It’s my mom.”
“You better answer it or she’ll be calling you all night,” Mona said.
“You’re right. And I don’t need any unnecessary interruptions with what we have at stake.”
“No, you don’t,” Mona agreed. Mona scooted over towards the window and looked out.
Terrance answered the call. “Hi, Mom. I’m on my way to a very important dinner engagement so this will have to be quick.”
“Why do I have a feeling you’re trying to brush me off,” Sara said.
“It’s all in your mind, mom. You know I talk to you at least once or twice a day so you’re not going to make me feel guilty.” Terrance welcomed the phone call but wished it were someone other than his mom.
He needed to figure out why he’d just kissed Mona. He kept his eye on her, but she wouldn’t look in his direction. It was hard for him to gauge what mood she was in.
His mom talked on and on but he barely heard a word she’d said. His mind was on two things, Mona and the network executives.
“Mom, we’re almost there. I’ll call you tomorrow morning, I promise.”
Terrance ended the call without giving her time to say anything else.
“Mona, are you okay?” he asked, as the car drove up the driveway of the luxurious hotel.
Mona glanced at him. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Great. Well, we’re here. Let’s show them what we got.” Terrance debated on whether to discuss the kiss. He chickened out.
Mona said she was fine so he believed her. The driver opened the door. Terrance got out first and then assisted Mona out of the back of the limousine.
There were a few paparazzi outside. He placed his hand on the bottom of Mona’s back. Bright lights from the flashing cameras nearly blinded them while going inside of the hotel.
Chapter Ten
Mona tried to forget about the kiss but couldn’t. She smiled when Terrance stopped and posed for pictures as they made their way into the hotel. Once inside, Terrance introduced her to different people acting as if they hadn’t just shared a kiss. If he could forget the kiss, then she would have to try to do so also.
He led her to a table. He pulled out her chair and she took a seat. “I see someone I need to talk to. I’ll be right back,” he said.
Mona looked up just as she heard her name.
“Mona, so glad you’re here,” Charlotte said, as she and Sean approached the table.
Mona stood and hugged the couple.
Sean held out Charlotte’s seat and they each took a seat on the right of Mona.
“Where’s Terrance?” Charlotte asked.
“He’s around here somewhere,” Mona responded.
A waiter holding a tray filled with glasses of champagne asked, “Can I offer you anything to drink?”
Mona looked at the tray. “Sure.”
The waiter left them all with a glass of champagne.
Mona got an extra one and sat it in front of Terrance’s spot.
“I’m so happy for you,” Charlotte said.
“Nothing’s happened yet,” Mona responded.
“I’m confident your script will be the one they are interested in.” Charlotte raised her flute. “To Mona and her script.”
Sean held up his glass. “To Mona.”
Mona held her glass and smiled. Her attention was on Charlotte and Sean so she wasn’t aware that Terrance was nearby.
“To Mona,” Terrance said, as he sat down beside her.
They clicked their glasses. Mona who was normally cool and more confident felt a little uncomfortable. Terrance being so near made the room seem smaller. She felt herself perspiring. She picked up her napkin and wiped the sweat off her forehead and neck.
“Mona, are you alright?” Charlotte asked. She must have noticed Mona’s nervousness.
“I’m fine. I just need some air.”
“Do you need me to take you home?” Terrance sounded concerned.
Mona shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. It’s probably the champagne. The excitement. I’ll be okay after I eat something.”
Terrance said, “They’re about to open the buffet line. I can get your food and bring you something back.”
“I’m your assistant. Not the other way around.”
“You’ve become more than my assistant.”
Mona and Terrance’s eyes locked and neither looked away.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “Terrance and Sean, why don’t you bring us bo
th something back. I’ll sit here and make sure Mona’s alright.”
A few minutes later, Charlotte and Mona were left by themselves. Charlotte said, “Spill it. What’s going on between you two?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mona said. She picked up a glass of water and gulped it down.
“I can sense tension between you two and it has nothing to do with work.”
“Has Sean ever told you, you can be delusional?” Mona asked.
“Come on, Mona, don’t be like that. Hurry before the guys get back.”
Mona looked around. Terrance and Sean were standing in the buffet line holding two plates.
“We kissed on the ride here,” Mona confessed.
“Are you serious? I was just joking about you two having something going on,” Charlotte confessed.
“It was just a kiss. There’s nothing going on between the two of us.”
“Terrance is looking at you like Sean looks at me,” Charlotte said.
“Terrance and I shared a kiss and that’s all it was. Besides, I think I’ve met someone,” Mona said.
“Who?” Charlotte asked.
Mona wasn’t sure if she should share the fact that she’d met someone on the dating site. “His name is Falcon. He’s a prominent businessman and he’s everything I want in a man. So why would I chance being with Terrance when I’ve already met the perfect guy?”
“Well, I want to meet this Falcon if he’s all that.”
“You will, but after I do.” Mona let it slip.
Charlotte shook her head. “What do you mean after you do?”
Mona decided to share with Charlotte about the 2-Of-A-Kind dating site. “Before you say anything, it was Kem’s idea.”
“I’m all for new age dating. I hope it works out for you. But what I don’t want you to do is turn down something real for a man you’ve never met.”
“Terrance and I got caught up in the moment. I can guarantee you there will not be a repeat of what happened in the limousine earlier,” Mona said, just as Terrance and Sean returned to the table holding several plates of food.
Chapter Eleven
After eating, Charlotte said, “There’s some people I want you two to meet.”
Terrance asked Mona, “Are you up to it?”
Mona was reapplying her lipstick. “I’m fine. Thanks for being concerned.”
Terrance got up and held Mona’s chair as she stood.
Charlotte said to Sean. “Baby, I’ll be back.”
Terrance placed his hand on the bottom of Mona’s back when they walked as if they were a couple more so than just colleagues.
Terrance noticed the glances Mona was getting in her emerald green dress. He wanted to take off his jacket and cover her to stop some of the men’s penetrating glares.
They stopped behind Charlotte. Charlotte said, “Charles, how are you?”
Charles gave Charlotte a hug. “I’m great. How are you, dear?”
“I wanted you to meet Terrance Beckham.”
Charles extended his hand out first. “Terrance, I’ve heard so much about you. Can’t wait to hear more about these ideas of yours.”
Terrance shook his hand. “Mr. Osgood, I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to present. This is my co-producer, Mona Johnson.”
Mona placed her hand out. Charles took it and kissed the back of it. “A beautiful woman. You’re a lucky man to have a woman like this by your side.”
“We make a good team,” Terrance responded. He didn’t bother to correct Charles’s way of thinking.
He noticed Mona frown but she then smiled again.
“Charles, I know you have other people to see. I just wanted to formally introduce you two,” Charlotte said.
“I look forward to seeing you all next week,” Charles responded, right before walking away.
Terrance gave Charlotte the thumbs up signal.
“My fiancé is trying to get my attention. So now that my job is done, I’ll leave you two on your own.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Mona said. She faced Terrance. “I thought you would get a chance to pitch our ideas to him.”
Terrance placed his hand on the small of Mona’s back. “No, that’s not how it always works. Charlotte just wanted us to meet tonight. Monday, I’ll present our material and hopefully walk away with a deal for us.”
Terrance kept Mona near his side as he mingled with other people in various forms of entertainment.
“I appreciate you introducing me to your colleagues, but I’m a little beat. I think I’m going to sit the rest of the night out.”
“It is getting late. We can go.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” Mona said.
“I’ve schmoozed enough. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Terrance sent a text to the limousine driver. The driver was waiting for them outside on the curb of the hotel.
Once inside the limousine, Mona removed her shoes. “Remind me not to wear shoes like this ever again.”
Terrance laughed. “I don’t see why women like to torture themselves.”
“Because men like you love seeing us in these shoes,” Mona responded.
“I can’t deny that.” Terrance couldn’t help but notice her toned legs. “Let me help relieve some of your discomfort.”
Terrance reached down and held her foot. He began massaging it. Mona leaned back in the seat. “Don’t stop. That feels good.”
The driver opened the window. “Mr. Beckham, are you going to your house or the office?”
“Why don’t you drop us off at my place? I’ll drop Mona back at the office myself,” Terrance said.
“Yes, sir,” the driver said. He closed the window.
Mona moved her foot. “Don’t you think you should have checked with me to see if I had other plans?”
“I’m sorry. I should have. Do you? I can always have him get off on the next exit and take us to the office.”
“No…I don’t have any plans.”
“I apologize for assuming you didn’t have anything else to do. I’m just glad you feel comfortable enough for me to drive you home. ”
Mona rolled her eyes. “Please. I’m alone with you all of the time. Get over yourself.”
“I just got dissed.” Terrance pouted.
Mona laughed. “Please don’t make that face again.”
“I can tell the driver to turn around.” Terrance reached for the button to open the window.
Mona placed her hand on top of his.
“No. It’s okay. I’ll let you drop me off.” Mona removed her hand and moved her body closer to the door opposite of where Terrance sat.
Terrance didn’t like small talk but found himself doing just that as they rode to his house.
“I’ve always loved your house,” Mona said, as the driver pulled into the circular driveway.
“Thanks. I hate to say it, but my mom helped me pick it out.”
“She does have good taste,” Mona said, right as the driver opened the door.
Terrance helped Mona out of the limousine. Terrance tipped the driver. “Thanks Mr. Beckham.”
“You’re welcome.” Terrance pulled out some more money and handed it to him. “Buy your wife something nice.”
“That was sweet of you,” Mona said.
“I know I can be demanding, but I’m really a nice guy,” Terrance responded.
“I didn’t say all of that,” Mona laughed out loud.
Terrance removed his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. He held it open and allowed Mona to enter first.
He closed his eyes as he inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair as she walked in.
Chapter Twelve
Mona had been to Terrance’s house many times so she wasn’t a stranger to the
layout of his home. She’d always liked the spiral staircase and the chandeliers that hung above in the vault ceiling.
“Make yourself comfortable. I need to get something from upstairs and then I’ll be ready to go,” Terrance said.
Mona went straight to the kitchen. She was thirsty and wanted a cold bottle of water. She flipped on the lights as she made her way down the long hallway. The walls were filled with framed movie posters and autographed photographs of different actors Terrance had worked with over the years.
Mona turned on the light revealing a spotless kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances. The yellow and gold decorative tiles and accessories seemed to brighten the room even more.
She opened the fully stocked refrigerator and pulled out a cold bottle of water. She left the kitchen with the water in one hand and went to the living room. She stood in front of the fake fireplace and admired the pictures of Terrance in various stages of his life that sat in frames on the top shelf.
Mona was wondering what was taking Terrance so long. She glanced at the antique clock on the wall. It was almost ten o’clock. That meant it would be near eleven before they made it back to the office.
She located the remote to the stereo and turned it on. The music blasted loud. Mona kept hitting the button on the remote until she decreased the sound. She hit skip on the music until she got to a song she liked. The voice of Luther Vandross sang out through the speakers.
She swayed back and forth to the soft music.
“May I have this dance?” Terrance asked from behind her.
She turned around and saw his held out hand. She took it and he pulled her close to him. She laid her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beat that mirrored her own. They slow danced alone in his living room.
The song ended. Mona moved to pull away. She looked into Terrance’s eyes. She felt hypnotized. Just like a magnet, their lips connected. Her body jolted when the electric current flowed from his body to hers.
Another slow song played in the background, but this time instead of their bodies dancing, their tongues danced to the rhythm.
Moans seeped out of both of their mouths.
“I want you,” Terrance whispered.
Secret Liaisons Page 4
