The Replacement Wife (20 page)

M
ontana stomped angrily around the living room of Emoni's apartment while she told the story of the text message. Emoni sat with rapt attention and shook her head angrily. Montana couldn't remember ever being this furious.

The only thing that was keeping her from going totally ballistic was Quentin's kiss. He'd kissed her and held her as though she belonged to him. But what if it was only because he was sad about losing Alex?

“And you think Chloe did it?” Emoni asked, when Montana finally sat down on the sofa next to her.

“Yes, although I have no idea how she did.”

Emoni shrugged. “So it's settled. She did it. Let's move on. Did Quentin like the picture?”

“Of course he liked the picture! I'm hot! Why wouldn't he like the picture? The problem is that this heffa made it seem like I was sending it to Rio but put in Quentin's number by mistake.”

“Yeah, like their names are anything alike,” Emoni said. “Quentin believed that?”

“He doesn't know what to believe. But he was thinking I was some kind of Mary Poppins or somebody. I think he believes me, but I don't want that hanging over my head. He used to think I was Mary Poppins, now he thinks I'm a freak.”

“I don't know any men that want to marry Mary Poppins.”

“Emoni!”

“Just saying.”

Montana shook her head sadly. “This is a nightmare. I was one step away from the romance of my life, and now he thinks I'm some video vixen.”

“Again, that doesn't have to be a bad thing.”

“I have to convince him that Chloe did this.”

Emoni bit her bottom lip. “He broke up with Chloe already. He knows she's a villain. I think when he really ponders it, he'll let it go. But if he doesn't, will Rio tell the truth?”

“Are you kidding? Rio wants me back! He's definitely not going to help me fix things with my rich boss that I'm totally falling for. And he kissed me, Emoni. It was the best first kiss ever.”

“Wait, he kissed you? Oh wow. So he really is feeling you?”

“Yes, I think so. But what if everything sinks in and he decides I'm not the type of woman he wants as an example for his children. I mean who wants a woman who sends freak pictures to be their daughters' stepmother?”

“You do have a dilemma.”

Montana sucked her teeth. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

Emoni burst into laughter. “You have been hanging around those teenagers for too long.”

“I know. I love those kids, girl! I didn't think I would be so attached to them so quickly, but I can't imagine life now without them.”

“Awww. . . look at God!”

“Shut up!”

“Well, let me know what you need me to do. You need me to go with you to jump Chloe? You know she can't fight.”

Now Montana laughed. “Um, I don't know. I think she got a little bit of street in her.”

“Well, there are two of us, and one of her old-man-looking self.”

Montana dropped her jaw. “See, you are wrong for that. You need to repent.”

“Tell me you didn't think it the first time you saw her.”

“She just has strong features. Mrs. Chambers said she has a strong jawline.”

Emoni clutched her stomach laughing. “A man's jawline.”

“Stop it! God is going to get you.”

“You are always warning me about getting a smite from the Lord. He knows I like to laugh.”

Montana shook her head. “Well, I need you to stop laughing and start praying. I don't want to lose this relationship with Quentin. He is so incredible. You should see him with those terminally ill cancer patients. I have never seen a man look so sexy when he cries.”

“Oh, yeah, you are totally far gone. I guess we need to fix this thing in a hurry, huh?”

Montana nodded. “I just can't see myself going on a date with Trent after this.”

“Why you gotta play Trent out? So he's not rich, and he's a bit vertically challenged.”

“He's small, Emoni.”

“He's smallish. And he has a huge spirit. You ain't about to talk trash about my friend.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Trent's a sweetheart, but he's not Quentin.”

“Okay, Operation Catch Chloe is in full effect, and it's on the prayer list. Let me know if you want me to drive the getaway car.”

Emoni squeezed Montana's hand and continued. “It's gonna work out. Trust me. When I saw Quentin in church, I knew that you were meant to be in his life. Mrs. Chambers probably hired you for just that reason.”

“You think so?”

“That is a smart woman, okay. She can't stand Chloe, just like we can't!”

Montana considered Mrs. Chambers a potential ally. It would be wonderful if she already was one. Most women thought the best way to a man's heart was through his stomach, but Montana knew the truth. The best way to win a man like Quentin's heart was through his mama.

W
henever Tippen, Quentin's attorney, came to his office early in the morning, there was something amiss. Tippen was young and successful, so he entertained to the wee hours of the morning with whomever was his flavor of the week. Early mornings weren't his thing.

But this morning he sat in front of Quentin's desk, with red eyes, probably from the previous night's exploits, and puffy bags under his eyes. His hair was a little mushed on the side, but Quentin tried to ignore it. Tippen was usually dressed impeccably. When Quentin took him around the sistas, they said, “He could get it,” even though he was white.

So Quentin knew there was a problem.

“What's going on, Tip?”

“She's suing you, man.”

Quentin cocked his head to one side. “Who's suing me?”

“Chloe. She filed a civil lawsuit against you for promissory estoppel. She's asking for twenty million dollars.”

“What?”

Tippen sighed and reached into his briefcase. He pulled out a stack of pages. “See for yourself.”

As Quentin scanned the pages, he felt himself get more and more furious with every word. In the lawsuit, Chloe was alleging that he had made promises of gainful employment to her as a director at Transitions, and that he took the position and gave it to Ms. Levy. She also said that the credit card he'd given her for expenses and shopping was proof that he was becoming financially responsible for her in preparation for marriage. He really felt his blood start to simmer when he read how Montana had manipulated him to make him fire Chloe from the foundation. A flat-out lie.

Quentin spoke three words. “Can she win?”

“She could,” Tippen said, as he cracked his neck in one direction and then the other. I've seen cases like this, but most of the couples were engaged with wedding dates and rings purchased. Basically she has proof that you were her sugar daddy.”

“I wasn't her sugar daddy. We were in a relationship. It didn't work out. I shouldn't have to pay her.”

“I agree. That's why I'm your lawyer. But the fact that she mentioned Montana in her lawsuit bothers me. What does she have to do with it?”

“She needs to leave Montana out of it. Montana just happened to show up right at the end of a very long relationship that was never going anywhere.”

“Well, you could settle with her. I bet she'd disappear for a few million, and you could make her sign a confidentiality agreement. Then she wouldn't be able to say anything else about you and Montana.”

Quentin pounded a fist on his desk. “If I let her win, women all over Atlanta will be trying to sue their sponsors.”

“Not really,” Tippen said. “Most of their sponsors know enough to send them packing with a hefty amount of cash. Apparently, you left Chloe high and dry. In the allegations, she said that you canceled her credit cards the same day you broke up. That's kind of cold, man.”

“She wasn't my wife! We weren't committed on that level. Since when do boyfriends have to pay alimony?”

“When the boyfriend is worth almost a billion dollars a payday is always part of the equation.”

“I won't do it. I'm not paying her anything.”

“Whatever you decide, I'm here for you, man. Let me know how you want to proceed.”

Quentin's chest rose and fell with deep, angry breaths. He never thought Chloe would go to these lengths to keep from having to take a job. In his mind, she was the lowest of the low. And he wouldn't give her a penny.

But he did know who he was taking on a shopping spree. Montana needed a dress for the masquerade ball.

M
ontana relaxed in her bedroom after dropping all of the children off at school. She tried to read a novel, but she couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept drifting to the kiss she and Quentin shared, and how it had made her feel. She wondered what would come next.

Chloe was out of the picture—at least Montana thought she was—so there should be nothing holding her and Quentin back, except that photo. Quentin said he believed her, but she wanted Chloe to admit she'd done it. And that was something that would probably never happen.

A knock on her bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. She knew it wasn't one of the children, so she hoped it was Quentin.

It was.

“Montana, do you have anything pressing to do this morning?”

“No. I was just reading. Do you need anything?”

“No, but you do. I can't let you take on the planning of this ball, alongside my mother, and not be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

“It'll be fine. I'll watch from the top of the stairs with the children.”

“No, you won't. You're going shopping for a dress.”

“I am?”

“No, we're going shopping for a dress.”

Montana was hesitant. Did this mean she was stepping into Chloe's place? Was she going to be the next woman Quentin splurged on but never married? She wouldn't wait around five years.

“Quentin, I don't know if I should accept any gifts from you. I wouldn't want to think we were going in one direction and then get my heart broken.”

Quentin nodded slowly. “You're thinking of Chloe, aren't you?”

“I'm thinking of me.”

“Montana, I want you in a way that I never thought I'd want someone ever again. Having you here makes Chandra's memories only sweet and not bitter. Chloe never did that for me. I think Chloe may be the reason I grieved for so long.”

“But what if I can't live up to Chandra's memory either? I don't want to forever be compared to the perfect wife.”

“She wasn't without flaws. None of us are, especially not me.”

“If you want me to go to the ball, I'll go, but I will wear something I already have. One of my church ensembles.”

Quentin dropped his shoulders. “Why won't you let me do this?”

“Because I want you to know that your money isn't the best thing about you. And that it's not the reason I like you.”

“I know that the money isn't important to you. That makes me want to spend it on you even more.”

“Well, spend it on breakfast, then. I really want a waffle from Waffle House.”

Quentin laughed. “I haven't eaten there since college.”

“Well, let's go. There's a pecan waffle calling my name right next to a pile of greasy bacon.”

“Oh, I see you're trying to run for two hours,” Quentin said.

There was another tap on the door. It was the rapid triple knock that was Ms. Levy's signature.

“Well, what do we have here?” Ms. Levy asked, as she stepped into the room and saw Quentin.

“Quentin was just here for a visit.”

“In your bedroom? Quentin, you know better than that. That's not proper.”

Quentin dropped his head with false repentance. “You're so right, Ms. Levy. I'm horrible.”

Then Ms. Levy smiled. “It's about time you handled your business, though. Your mother and I wondered what took you so long.”

“What? You've been waiting on me to fall for Montana?”

“It was like putting a piece of chocolate birthday cake in front of a toddler. At some point, the cake is . . . well, I don't think I like where my analogy is headed. It isn't proper either.”

Quentin and Montana burst into laughter.

“Ms. Levy,” Quentin said.

Ms. Levy slapped Quentin on the arm and smiled. Montana could tell she'd been beautiful in her youth; she was still beautiful from the inside out.

“Listen here, boy, I served plenty of cake in my day.”

“I bet you did,” Quentin said, still laughing.

“But I didn't come in here to school you two on that. I came to tell Montana that Danielle's dance class will go a little late today, because they are preparing for a recital. I just got an e-mail.”

“Okay. Thank you, Ms. Levy. I'll know what to expect, then.”

Ms. Levy nodded and headed for the door. Then she turned around and winked at Quentin and Montana.

“You know the best part of the cake is the frosting,” she said, as she left the room.

Quentin looked at Montana with a confused face. “What does that mean?”

“I have no idea, but I'm almost one hundred percent sure it wasn't proper.”

“Was Ms. Levy a freak?” Quentin asked, before bursting into laughter.

Montana joined him. “Who said it was past tense?”

Quentin scrunched his face into a frown, and then he doubled over, holding his midsection from laughing so hard.

Montana gazed at him and smiled. He looked so happy. This was the Quentin she wanted to be around. This is the man she would've fallen for if he hadn't had two nickels to rub together.

This was her prince.