Heyyy! I'm back! So we'll get to see some Monica + Mercedes flash back and find out why Monica dislikes Tank so much!
"Hey baby… am I interrupting something?" A tall, handsome man said looking perplexed at how close his fiance was to the man in front of her. He gave Sam a once over before looking back at Mercedes, who began to walk towards him. Once she got in front of him, he grabbed her pulling her to him and placed kiss on her forehead. Sam noticed her stiffen at his touch and her try to avoid the kiss, he felt his self move closer before stopping at a hand on his arm. Monica gave him a look and shook her head telling him to stop moving.
"Baby are you gonna introduce me to your… friend?" He ask looking back at Sam with a unnerving look.
"Ahh… he's… this is umm.. I thought you were resting at the hotel?" She asked softly.
"I was but I wanted to see the place you talked so highly of all the time. I wanted to see where my baby started her rise of fame." He replied looking down at her for second before returning his attention to Sam.
"Who is this?" He asked again this time moving away from her and closer to Sam. He stopped right in front of him and crossed his arms scanning Sam once more before nodding Mercedes over to introduce him.
"Umm.. this is umm… Sam, Sam Evans." She said avoiding eye contact with Sam.
"Hi, I'm Sam. Nice to meet you?" He said holding out his hand for the man to shake. He just looked at his hand before finally taking it and shaking.
"Mhmm. I'm Tank, her fiance." He replied smugly before looking over at Mercedes with an unpleasant expression. Mercedes bit her lip nervously and put on a fake smile nodding in his direction. Sam saw the exchange and tighten his grip on Tank's hand causing him to grimace and look back at him wide eyed. Sam's grip was getting tighter by the second as he moved in closer to the man giving him a death stare. He knew his expression could be seen by everyone because he felt Monica's hand on his arm again tugging for him to let go. He reluctantly let go and was brought out of his anger slightly by one of his students.
"So… Mr. Evans can we pick our partners now?"
Sam didn't say anything at first, he held his gaze with Tank a little while longer before looking at his class.
"Yes, go ahead and choose them and began your song selections. I will be outside with Ms. Jones and her guests." He said smiling but his students didn't buy his fake happiness. He nodded towards the door allowing everyone to go ahead of him before closing the door behind him. He noticed Mercedes wasn't sure where she should stand so gave her a reassuring pat on her shoulder, which she placed her hand on his for a moment smiling. Tank noticed the encounter and grabbed her hand pulling her next him before speaking.
So, Sam Evans huh?" He said more so to Mercedes than Sam. It was clear from his face he knew who he was and he wasn't to pleased about her being her with him.
"Mhmm. He needed help with Sectionals and being that I had the break in time, I figured it would be a perfect time to come home. So it was a win-win really, plus I think it gonna be fun helping the kids get ready for their competition." She said trying to ease the tension that was building between them.
"Couldn't you have called any other member of your old club? Like that Rachael chick?" He asked with annoyance in his voice. Sam made a face that didn't go unnoticed by he group and only Mercedes knew what that face meant and she hoped like hell he could remain calm.
"I could if I wanted to teach them show tunes or how certain voices fit to one specific genre. Mercedes, however has a voice that can literally fit into any genre and that made her perfect for this weeks assignment and in helping with Sectionals. I don't see why you would even suggest someone else to share their talents with a group of kids who aspire to be in her shoes… seems kinda misguided to me." Sam said coldly.
"My baby is pretty talented huh?" He said smiling and hugging Mercedes before tapping her on her butt. She rolled her eyes and pushed his hand away before hitting him. He gave her sly grin then let her go. Sam knew what he was doing and it was working because he wanted to punch the shit out of him.
"She's very talented." Sam replied looking at her smiling. Tank shrugged and made a face mocking him.
"Well, I hate to cut this visit short be we need to get going if we're going to meet your parents for lunch."
"What lunch?" Mercedes asked looking at Tank then to Monica who was usually silent. She made a mental note to ask her about it later.
"I don't know what he's talking about, I had you her for another hour or so before leaving. The next two weeks have this time blocked off to help Sam and his students as well any evening practices that are needed. I talked to Moma Jones last night and she hadn't mentioned lunch just dinner." Monica said raising an eyebrow at Tank. Sam saw that look and he could tell she did not like him one bit. He had to stifle a laugh because he could tell the feeling was mutual.
"I called them before coming her and asked them to lunch." He said through gritted teeth.
"Well you should've cleared it with me first being that I am her assistant and could have easily made time for it but again you do what fits you best first then expect Mercedes to accommodate." She replied harshly.
"What time is the lunch?" Mercedes asked feeling annoyed herself but masked it for the sake of everyone.
"What does it matter? I just said we needed to go so we could meet them, so it's soon." He huffed. Monica started to say something but stopped when Mercedes shot her a look. She didn't have time for their bickering and wanted this conversation to end.
"Fine, but I'm coming back after lunch. I made a commitment to help those kids and plan on keeping it." She said giving Sam a small smile and a pat on the arm before Tank tugged her along. He watched her leave and felt his self getting angry he turned and saw Monica's expression and knew she felt the same.
"What the hell was that?" Sam asked taking a moment to look in on his students who looked like they were doing everything but the assigned task. She shook his head and told his self he would deal with it later.
"That, Mr. Evans is your way back to Mercedes." She said flatly. Sam gave her a confused look and tried to figure out what she meant by that. Did she mean me going to lunch? He would but he had a class to teach and wasn't sure he would be comfortable crashing their lunch like some crazed ex lover.
"She has no intentions on letting her parents know she's engaged yet. So this lunch is basically about to force her hand into doing it. That's why he called them without my knowledge or hers, he wants to make sure as many people know so it'll be harder for her to back out of it. Which we both know she doesn't need to be with him and I know you saw it earlier. If you're a smart man and I'm hoping like hell you are then your assumptions are correct. We have to get her out of that relationship and far away from the piece of shit." She said firmly. He could tell she cared about Mercedes and it made me happy that she had someone like Monica in her corner. Sam wasn't sure what his assumptions were he just knew she wasn't happy with him and he couldn't understand why she said yes but was going to figure it out.
"Are you staying?" He asked.
"No, I have to run interference on this damn lunch… assuming its real. I'll keep you posted but she'll be back I'll make sure of it myself." She said smiling for the first time since they met, Sam noticed that her features seemed to soften a great deal when she smiled. She was beautiful not like Mercedes but still in her own right beautiful. The whole time they were in the choir room she had this resting face that could scare a small child but seeing her smile let him know she was saving face around Mercedes, which made him wonder why she had to be so harden in her presence.
"So are you required not to smile around Mercedes?" Sam asked before cussing his self for being blunt. She gave him a look before she started laughing loudly.
"She said you were observant, I just didn't think you were that observant. Cedes is like the big sister I've always wanted but she has this knack of knowing when I've been up to something so I had to put on my unbothered and semi-professional face otherwise she would have known something was up. She very intuitive. She knew the second I met Tank that I didn't approve so she can't know that I like you. She will end the trip so fast and go all "Miss Diva" on my ass and I can't have that, not now at least." She said smiling again.
"Why don't you like him?"
Flashback
"Cedes, we gotta see about changing that outfit you picked because and don't get me wrong, but it's not flattering babe. You gots body! Show it! I mea-" Monica said stopping mid sentence at the shocked look on her boss's face. She know she should have knocked before coming into her room but she knew Mercedes usually didn't have people over at this time. She saw him sitting there looking like a Cheshire cat, she felt her eyes beginning to roll before Mercedes cleared her throat snapping her back.
"Monica, this is Tank." She said sweetly and standing up walking towards her mouthing 'be nice!'
"Hi, I'm Monica. I'm Cedes' assistant. Nice to meet you." She said after a minute of debating if she was in fact going to be nice. He stood up and walked over to where she was standing extending his hand. She smiled and shook it before turning her attention back to Mercedes.
"I'll come back later."
"No need, I'm sure Mercedes needs this handled now. I'll leave. I'll call you later okay?" He said leaning down and kissing her on the cheek and winked at Monica before walking out. Mercedes stood there smiling like a damn fool and Monica couldn't deal.
"Umm girl. Who was that? Why was he here and why you look all guilty when I came in?" She asked walking over to Mercedes nook and plopping down.
"Okay, I love you but you work for me not the other way around. He's a friend I met a few months ago and he came over to just talk and I wasn't looking any type of way." She said laying across her bed.
"Oh wow… so we throwing out our titles now. Okay then Ms. Jones, as your assistant and the person you confide in a great deal, trust me when I say this, I get a bad feeling from him. He's smug and he gives me the creeps." Monica retorted slightly offended by what Mercedes said to her.
"You literally interacted with him for all of forty seconds. I just wanted someone of the opposite sex to hang out with and he's sweet." She replied.
"So… you leaning over him about to kiss him as nothing to do with that shocked look you had on your face?"
"Ugh! Look, I like him okay and I really don't have to explain myself to you and what's wrong with my outfit?" She said remembering why Monica was there in the first place.
"Fine. I'll do my job and leave it at that. Your outfit is old fashioned and does nothing for your curves, you need something a little more something just not what you picked." Monica said standing up and tossing her the papers of ideas she prepared but heading towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Mercedes asked with a confused look on her face.
"To do my job. You have a meeting in the morning and studio session at 11, so I suggest you call your friend and get some sleep." She said without any emotion and walked out of the room. She let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding and couldn't shake the feeling that she knew Tank from somewhere she just didn't know where.
Three weeks later
Ever since that night Tank had been showing up more and more and though it irked the hell out of Monica she couldn't deny that seeing Mercedes somewhat happy wasn't a good thing. Though she didn't trust him or like being in the same room as him she held her tongue around him, that is until that one night when his true colors started to show.
"Cedes we gotta go! You're gonna be late." Monica shouted.
"Okay, okay. Here I am, we can go." She said finally stepping out of her room.
"Girlllll! Damn! Banging body, spicy mami, hot tamale! Do a little spin for me!" Monica exclaimed while Mercedes started to do a little twirl. She was presenting and performing tonight and she looked amazing. She was wearing a black body con dress with ruffles on the sleeves and neckline, her hair was up and her make up was subtle with dark lips. She let out a laugh before putting on her black bedazzled heels. She was looking at herself in the mirror before the knock on the door caught their attention, Monica walked over and opened it. Tank was standing there with a bouquet of roses… Monica rolled her eyes because everyone knew Mercedes hates roses but she just smiled and let him pass.
"Hey!" Mercedes said smiling.
"Wow… you look…" He started before tilting his head to the side and looking her up and down.
"I know, she looks amazing right!" Monica said taking the flowers from Tank to put in a vase.
"Amazing… right. Are you sure that's what you want to wear tonight?" He asked in a hushed voice.
"Excuse me? Is there something wrong with what I have on?" She asked looking confused, her outfit was perfect for this event and she felt like she looked great.
"No, it's just… it's just a little much don't you think?"
"No, you bitch she looks good. Why would ask such a dumbass question." Monica said walking back into the room.
"Monica, calm down. It's fine I-" Mercedes started before Monica started speaking again.
"The hell you will! Tank your presence is no longer wanted or needed. Come on girl we gotta go." She said grabbing Mercedes by the hand and leading her out the door before closing it leaving her and Tank inside alone.
"Look, I don't like you and I damn sure don't like you coming in last minute shaking my girl's confidence like that so I think it's best that you steer clear."
"Monica, I'm not going anywhere so its best you get used to this face because I'm going to be around for a while. I honestly think you should try to conceal your obvious attraction to me because it'll never happen between us. Now before you go off and tell Mercedes this remember one thing, it's your word against mine and I can be a hell of a lot persuasive than you can. Be very clear you don't want to push me any further than this." He replied with so much rage it almost scared her. She stepped closer to him with her hands on her hips and the meanest look on her face.
"What? Don't nobody want you boy! You may want to think twice before you step to me. I don't scare easily and if you think for one second I will let you play with her emotions, bring her down or make her feel like she is less than then you are seriously mistaken. I will fight you. She is amazing and if you want to continue to be in her presence I suggest you learn this real quickly and listen when I say this; I can and will destroy everything you think you have and I will do it with a damn smile on my face. She hired me for a reason and if you don't want to find out just what that reason is I'd be sure not to push me any further than this." Monica said with so much grit he backed down and moved away from her.
"Hey, I'm just trying to be a good guy here. No need to get all snappy, I just thought her outfit was a little revealing is all. I won't make the same mistake again." He said with a smirk. Monica just huffed and turned to walk out before being grabbed by her arm and felt herself being pulled back to him. She turned and saw ice in his eyes and she tried to pull away but his grip was too much.
"If you want to keep this little job of yours, I suggest you keep that pretty little mouth shut. I meant what I said about you pushing me and if I feel like I'm backed into a corner I will lash out. You may have the bark but I have plenty of bite and I will use it when I deem it necessary. Now I will be escorting her tonight and she will have the time of her life. Make sure you're not here when we return." He said before releasing her and walking out the door. She was about to go after him but stopped when she heard Mercedes giggle and decided she would tell her later. She looked down at her phone and saw Mercedes just sent her a message.
Hey girl, Tank said you weren't feeling good?
No, I'm fine. You just be careful okay? He's not… just call me when you make it home okay?
He's not what? I thought we agreed you'd give him a change? He's the first guy since Sam…
I know… sorry girl. I'll step back.
Thanks girl! I'll call you later, make sure you watch okay?
You know I am! Have fun.
Monica wanted to tell her what happened but she couldn't, she was finally willing to date and maybe she did overstep. She decided to let things fall as they may but she wasn't going to forget. She locked up and headed home to do some research on who this Tank guy was before she made her move. She found the number she written down and placed it in her wallet for safe keeping. She would have to give him a call tomorrow when after she had more time to figure out what she was going to say.
Soooooo? Yes I know... Tank is horrible but just how horrible is? Can we just appreciate how badass Monica is for a moment! We'll for sure see more of his actions and we're gonna get our first Samcedes sweet moment as well! Also we'll get to see what made Monica finally call Sam after deciding to fallback on Tank! Thanks and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
