A/N: Filler chapter but still important. Next chapter will be up soon. I'm almost finished with it.

The Thrill Of It All II:

Like Every Night

Tiana woke up without Jacques by her side the next morning and welcomed it. The last person she wanted to see was the man. Especially after the drunken stunt he pulled the night before. She washed and dressed herself before joining her son for breakfast and out of nowhere Max the puppy came running to her.

Smiling she gave the pup a pat on the head before taking a seat at the table. "Goodmorning Daniel."

"Goodmorning mama," answered the young boy, not looking up at her.

Tiana noticed. "What's up?"

"Absolutely nothing," Jacques said, holding the kitchen door for Florence who brought in their breakfast. He sat at the head of the table, looking at his very quiet family. "You can continue your discussion."

Tiana shook her head. "It's nothing."

Jacques sighed. "Darling, are you still upset about last night?"

"No…" she answered uneasily.

Daniel noticed his mother's quiet demeanor and asked, "What's the matter, mama?"

Jacques answered for her. "Women can be very delicate at times, Daniel. I'm sure a shopping spree will cure those blues…" He looked at his wife's direction. "Right darling?"

She returned his contact but didn't stayed silent.

The young boy was satisfied with the answer but still concern for his mother. "Will she be all right?"

"She will be," Jacques said with a nod and looked over at his son. "Try not to worry. You're too young for that."

Tiana gave Daniel a small smile. "I'm fine, baby. Now let's pray and eat our breakfast before it gets cold."

Jacques snorted. "Pray? Go on and eat Daniel. There's no need to pray."

Daniel frowned. "But mama and Florence said-

"A woman's opinion should never be taken seriously," Jacques said, looking right at his his wife.

Tiana refused to give him the benefit of returning the gaze and instead looked over at her son. "Then we will pray."

Daniel didn't know who to listen to as both his parents were eying him. But since he was trying to get his father's attention he stood by his statement.

"I don't want to pray mama!"

"That's my boy! Let your mother do her praying while we eat," Jacques said as he lifted his fork.

Daniel felt proud to get praise from his father but also guilty because he knew how much his mother enjoyed praying. "I'll pray with you tonight mama!"

Tiana smiled at him before folding her hands and closing her eyes.

()()()()

Right after breakfast Daniel, with the help of Florence walked the dog while Tiana looked over paperwork for the restaurants in her office. She was pleased to know that Jacques wouldn't be bothering her for the rest of the day due to his own business arrangements which left her more free time to herself.

Later that afternoon she went to her own restaurant to see how the midday employees were running everything and was shocked to see so many customers at this time of the day.

"Even in this economy the people still can't get enough of the food," spoke one of the managers, who is married to one of her childhood friends.

Tiana smiled. "And the decreased prices."

"Your husband is still upset about you lowering everything?" The middle aged man asked in a fatherly tone.

"I have to if I want this restaurant to remain open while making a profit," Tiana answered. "How's the family, Kevin?"

"Mildred gave birth last night," he confessed.

Tiana's eyes widen. "And you're here?"

He shrugged. "I need the money."

She shook her head. "You should've called me Kevin. I'll still pay for your time-off."

"No, no, no, Tiana I can't let you do that. Not after all that you sacrificed for me and the other farmers to even work here."

She nodded. "It's my restaurant. You have nothing to worry about."

"You ain't worried about what ya Montreuil husband will do?" asked Kevin, who was very familiar with the family. "I may not be wealthy or the smartest person but I do know that Montreuil boys ain't scared to use their hands when it comes to silencin' their women."

"He won't do anything," Tiana promised the gentleman. "He's too busy with his own businesses to worry about what's going on with mine." She gave him a pat on the back. "Plus, you're my best manager, Kevin. Keep at it with the hard working. I appreciate it. But right now you need to be at home with Mildred. She needs you so take all the time off you need."

Kevin smiled. "You really are a good woman Tiana." he shook his head. "I don't know what you see in that rich man, but you deserve better."

()()()()

After taking a trip to her and Jacques' grandmother's restaurant she returned to her car only to see Jacques across the street shaking hands with another gentleman. She tried to ease her way into her car but silently cursed when he called her name.

"I didn't know that you were going out today", he walked over toward her. "Where's Daniel?" with a hand in his pocket.

"With Florence," she answered with her hand on the car door.

"Where is Florence?" he asked.

"At home. Where else should they be?" she said.

Jacques sighed in annoyance. "You know that I don't like you out here without Florence or Daniel—

She was just as annoyed herself. "I was only checking up on the restaurants."

"You should have mentioned this during breakfast," His tone sounding more demanding.

Tiana rolled her eyes before answering. "You left before I even had the chance."

"You should have stayed at home and waited for me. I would've joined you later," he said.

"Jacques I'm not a child," she said.

He took a hold of her wrist, giving her a cold glare. "But you are my wife. My responsibility and my property."

She snatched her hand away. "Who do you think you are? I'm no one's property! This is the twentieth century, not sixteenth century."

Jacques closed his eyes, suppressing his anger. "Tiana…don't test me."

Tiana frowned. "Test you with what? Going out by myself? I am not a child, I am your wife!"

"That's right! My wife!" Jacques said, raising his voice. "Now get in the car and go straight home!" he ordered.

"You're being ridiculous!" She got into her car, closing the door.

"We'll speak about this later." He told her before she drove off.

Tiana couldn't stand that her own husband still treated her like a child, even after his promises for changing. He was getting worse and worse everyday, but for her son she had to make it work. Daniel deserved a home with a loving mother and father. Even if the father acted like a crazed control freak.

()()()()

When Tiana made it home she found her son in the dining room eating and Florence serving him some grape juice.

"Starting lunch without me?" Tiana walked into the room.

"We didn't think you'd make it by lunch," said Florence. "What are you in the mood for?"

She waved her hand in protest, "I'll fix it myself."

The maid shook her head, "Now you remember what happened the last time I let you do that."

She was aware of the huge argument with her husband but didn't care. "Jacques won't be home until tonight and you've been working hard enough for this family."

"I just don't want another fight between you two," Florence said low enough for only Tiana to hear.

"Mama may I be excused?" politely asked Daniel.

"Did you finish your…" she looked at the boy's plate, "…sandwich? I still see carrot sticks on your plate"

"But I'm full mama!" Daniel pouted.

"One more carrot stick and I'll let you go," Tiana ordered.

The boy quickly put the bite size vegetable in his mouth with eyes wide open.

Tiana laughed. "All right you're free."

"Come on, boy!" Daniel ran out of the room with the pup following behind.

Tiana started out of the dining room for the kitchen with Florence right behind her saying, "I don't want last night to happen again, Tiana," she said.

Tiana shrugged. "It won't happen if he knows what's good for him."

The maid wasn't convinced, "I want you to be careful and act like a wife. He already hates that you're working."

"What I'm doing is not work." Visiting her workers and not standing side by side with them in the kitchen was not working in her opinion.

"Well to him it is. Now what would you like to eat and I'll fix it," the older woman suggested.

Tiana simply sighed, giving up. "I'm not hungry," and left the kitchen. She honestly couldn't comprehend why there were women like Florence and her mother in her life. It seemed that no matter how wrong Jacques was, he will always right be in their eyes.

She was also disappointed for not seeing Naveen while she was in town, but was even more curious about the woman who stood by his side at the ice-cream stand the other day. She didn't look too pretty nor was she unattractive.

"Hey babycakes!" Eudora interrupted her musing.

Tiana frowned, surprised to see her mother, "How did you get in here?"

"Florence just let me in," Eudora smiled. "Now where's my grandbaby?"

"Upstairs with Max," she answered.

The middle age woman wrinkled her nose, "That dog."

"I'll bring him down," Tiana started to walk until her mother touched her hand.

"Actually I came here to see you," she announced.

"Oh," Tiana folded her arms and knew what the look her mother was giving her meant. "What about?"

"Jacques called—

"Mama…" Tiana rolled her eyes.

"You really need to stop pushing his buttons," Eudora adviced.

"How am I pushing his buttons?" Tiana was beyond annoyed and tired of the same lecture from her mother.

"Leaving the house without Daniel or Florence for one," Eudora pointed out.

Tiana sighed, "Really mama. I'm a grown woman and have only one daddy,"

"True, but Jacques is your husband and responsible for your well-being."

"Like an almost three year old and middle age petite woman will protect me from all the harm out there in the world," Tiana said with sarcasm. "Mama I'm not a little girl."

"Well ya actin' like one," Eudora said.

"How so? For wanting to go out and check on my restaurants on my own? I'm going upstairs in my office to look over plans for my businesses. If you want to see Daniel he should be in his room."

"Tiana I'm only here for ya safety. Jacques is a dangerous man when provoked." Eudora remembered the young man pointing a gun at her in his study a couple of years ago.

Tiana headed up the stairs without saying another word to her mother. She was aware of her husband's mood swings. Last night proved how much he self-control he lacked. There were times when she would fear him by the cold glares in his eyes, his mannerism at the dinner table when she disagrees with him, but there was always a compromise she would make that would satisfy him, even if it pained her at the end.

"Um, Tiana?"

She looked up to see her assistant Melissa, an attractive woman in her mid-thirties standing by her door with a folder. "I just spoke with the international guest for the YNN foundation?"

"Oh," Tiana rose from her seat. "What did they say?"

"He's in town and will like to met with you."

"Tell him I'll see him in my office at Tiana's Palace tomorrow at 11:30."

"Okay." the woman wrote down the info. "Is there anything else?"

"That is all," Tiana brushed the woman off.

"Oh there's one more thing," the assistant handed Tiana a rectangular box. "It's from Mr. Montreuil himself."

Tiana sighed, opening the box to reveal a diamond bracelet.

"You are lucky to have a man like Mr. Montreuil for a husband," the woman said before leaving the office.

"Walk a day in my shoes and tell me that," Tiana stared at the bracelet.

()()()()

Naveen splashed water in his face after another session of sex with his fiancée. Eliza who was as cold in the bed as she was in their daily life. She rolled on her back, exposing her entire body for him to see.

Now Naveen always appreciated a woman's body, but in the case of his fiancée, it did nothing for him.

"You were magnificent," Eliza said with an evil grin. "I can't believe that huge thing can fit in me."

'Anything can get in you,' Naveen kept his thoughts to himself as he dressed in his bed attire. "We really should be getting some sleep."

She rolled her eyes, "I'm ready for round two."

He suppressed a shudder before looking back at her, "Really Eliza, I want to look presentable for this presentation."

Eliza groaned, rolling out of the bed, "Fine, I'll return to my suite if only you give me another kiss."

Naveen leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek, "Good night."

She winked at him, pulling on her dress. "Good night. But I won't let you get away with that tiny bird peck you just gave me."

Naveen walked her out of the suite, like the gentleman that he is and was pleased to see the back of the woman.

Tiana still haunted his thoughts when he tried moving on with other women, and he had to thank her for succeeding a sex life with Eliza, though also wise enough to use protection. Eliza would give her left arm to trap him with a child.

But his day wasn't too bad. He saw Tiana earlier while visiting her restaurant, and though the visit was short he took in all of her beauty...

…

Naveen watched Tiana from a distance as she spoke to one of the waiters, an older gentleman and could tell that she respected the man. He almost got up to see her but Eliza quickly stopped that from happening.

"You know that once we're married your philandering is going to have to stop. Or do I have to remind you later?"

Naveen would've up and left the woman if he didn't have to worry about the state of his kingdom due to his father's irresponsibility."Yes, because looking at people is a horrible crime."

"No, looking at women, pretty looking common women is," she smirked at him. "I saw the way you were staring at that woman.." she squinted her eyes and laughed. "...a married woman, too!"

"Damnit Eliza shut up!" Naveen had enough.

The woman laughed. "God...you are sexy when you're angry!"

Naveen cut his eye over to where Tiana was and saw that she was gone. "Let's get out of here," he said, disappointed.

…

Naveen wondered what he would've said or did to Tiana if he had the chance to speak to her.

"The last thing I want is closure with her," he admitted.

As his head rested on the pillows, his final thoughts before slipping into a deep slumber were of her.

Like every night.

()()()()

"Mama do I have to go to sleep?" asked an obviously tired Daniel.

"If you want to refuel all of that energy you ran out of today you have to," Tiana told her son.

"Do you think daddy will be home before I fall asleep?" he asked

"Perhaps," she leaned forward and gave him a kiss, "Now let me tell you your story and sing your favourite lullabies," she patted an already sleeping Max's head.

Daniel closed his blue eyes as his mother began telling him his favourite story of the knight and his dog and fell asleep right in the middle of the story.

Tiana closed the book and kissed her son once more before leaving his room.

While bathing she thought of the disappointing eyes her son had when asking about his father. She knew that he missed him and hated her husband even more for shunning him for his buddies and a good time.

Tiana also wasn't stupid to believe Jacques' promise to never lay with another woman. She knew that there was more than one. If she could guess there had to be four or five he slept with behind her back. Not that she cared. That meant he would be too tired to touch her and if anything she prefer him with other women. It would make her thoughts of Naveen less pathetic when he did come for her.

After her bath she moisturized her skin and dressed in a beautiful silk night gown. The beautiful crème colour made her glowing skin look even lovelier. After that s he got on her knees to pray.

Once she was done she got on her side of the bed to rest, her son's sad blue eyes as her final thoughts as she drifted to sleep.

"Darling I'm home!" Jacques sang, the door opened. He saw the back of his wife's resting form and smirked. "Darling, are you up?" he slurred, getting on the bed.

Tiana kept her eyes shut, despite now being fully awakened.

Jacques pressed his lips on the back of her neck, inhaling her vanilla scent, "You feel and smell lovely."

Tiana almost cringed at his breath, reeking heavily of whiskey blowing against her skin. She pulled the covers over herself. "I'm tired, Jacques."

"Do you know how incredibly rich we are darling? Especially in this economy?" he asked and laughed hysterically.

"Go to sleep Jacques," she told him.

"Not until I get what I want from you," he began kissing on her shoulder.

"Daddy!" Daniel ran into the room in his pajamas. "You're home!"

Tiana's eyes shot open at the sound of her son's voice, and hurried out of the bed before Jacques could.

"Why is he still up?" asked an irritated Jacques.

"He wanted to see his daddy," Tiana said, giving him a glare.

Daniel knew by the look of his mother's eyes that she was upset at his father. "Don't get mad at daddy, mama."

Jacques got out of the bed and picked up the boy, "That's right. Stand up for your father. Come on. I'll tuck you in for bed."

"No, I'll do it," she offered.

"I got this, darling," he gave her a conniving grin before leaving the room.

Tiana plopped on the bed and decided that laying back down and pretending to be asleep wouldn't work. He would come strolling back into the room, ready for her to pay up.

And within a few minutes he was ready for that payment.

Resting his hands on her shoulders Jacques kissed her ear, "The door is locked, and I already informed Florence in case Daniel gets up again." he sucked her earlobe.

She closed her eyes, trying her best to picture Naveen doing such an act. She really had to think fast if she wanted to become arouse, but the alcohol in her husband's breath made it very difficult .

It didn't work and Jacques's rough advances made the entire experience painful. Her prayers have been answered when he finally finished and rolled off of her.

"No matter how many times I have you, darling. You never disappoint," Jacques breathed, pulling her into his arms. "I love you."

Tiana didn't respond, pretending to be asleep as he too begin dozing off. And when he was finally to the point of snoring, she eased out of bed, dressed and went to go check on her son.

Opening the door Max welcomed her with a lick before dashing down the stairs and going outside through the doggy door.

"Mama..." Daniel said in his sleep.

"Yes baby?" Tiana asked, surprised to hear her son's voice. She was relieved to see that he was still asleep. Leaning forward, she gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight," she whispered before leaving the room for her bedroom once again.

The bathroom and bathtub was her next destination as she began scrubbing the scent of her husband off her. Soon after the bath came her moisturizing and slipping into another beautiful night gown, this one was a light cotton material and an item she got for herself.

Lying back down Jacques' arm crept over her but she didn't think much of it since he was out of it. But she did imagine what it would be like to have Naveen by her side again.

Her eyes watered at the thought of choosing Jacques over Naveen simply for Daniel to be with his real father. At the moment he was born she felt the choice was the right one until a couple of weeks after that. She still missed Naveen three years later and felt heartbroken and as selfish as it sounded betrayed when she saw that other woman with him.

She wondered if Naveen really loved this woman. Or was it one of those business as usually type of arrangements she heard about? Whatever relationship they had she still envied that woman because she had what she wanted. What she needed but blew it all away because of guilt.

And as she began dozing in and out her final thoughts before slipping into a deep slumber were of him.

Like every night.