Thrill Of It All II

A Montreuil Exposed

The next several days were hell on earth and like a natural Tiana played the part of a sort of happy wife. Staying home or close to it so that she could spend time with her son and husband. She could never falsely love her son. He was her rock and thankful that he was more of a mama's boy.

She laughed as she watched her Daniel chasing after Max the pup in the enormous backyard.

"Mama! Look what I can do!" Daniel said before doing a cartwheel.

Tiana gasped but when she saw that he landed on his feet just fine she clapped her hands. "That's great but don't do that again!"

"Why not?" Jacques asked, placing his hands on his wife's shoulders.

She rolled her eyes. "I thought that you were headed out of town?"

"I handled everything over the phone," he kissed her cheek.

"Daddy! Look what..." he stopped to get his mother's approval. When she nodded the boy did his cartwheel. "...I can do!"

"That's my boy!" Jacques said, digging in his pocket. "Look what I have for you."

Daniel ran over to his father with open hands. "What is it?"

Tiana watched as Jacques played along with their son before handing him a bag of marbles. She raised a brow at him.

Daniel frowned, but took the marbles anyway. "Thank you," he said not feeling excited about the gift.

Jacques smirked. "Disappointed?"

Daniel didn't want to upset his father so he shook his head.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I already have a bag of marbles...," the boy admitted.

"That's all I wanted to hear," he picked his son up and smiled at his wife. "Let's all go to the French Quarter and see what I really got for our son!"

Max the dog barked.

"No Max. This is only between the three of us," Jacques told the dog who whined soon after. "Alright Let's go!"

Tiana rolled her eye before following the two back inside.

()()()()

"A new toy car!" Daniel shouted, getting inside the car.

"A new toy car?" Tiana looked over at her amused husband. "I thought we were going to wait until Christmas."

"Christmas is a long way from now, Tiana and besides," he winked at her. "You weren't around when we decided this."

"We?" she asked curiously.

"Florence and myself," he smiled over at the woman who was watching the young Montreuil. The young boy's only care in the world was his new car.

"Well why don't you two decide on what I'm going to be wearing to bed tonight. It seems as if she has a say in my attire anyway!" she eyed Florence.

Jacques laughed. "Tiana, darling...she's just another woman's opinion," he then smirked before turning back toward to older woman. "Florence why don't you and Daniel go back in my car."

"Oh daddy! What will happen to my car?" asked a disappointed Daniel.

"The deliverymen will bring the car back home for you to play with!" Jacques smiled.

Daniel ran over to his father, giving him a hug. "Thank you for the car daddy!"

"Only the best for my boy!" Jacques let him go. "Now go with Florence!"

Daniel gave his mother a hug before following order.

Tiana shook her head. "It isn't as if I'm gone for days, weeks or even months at a time."

"Not now darling," he said, pulling out a cigarette.

"I still don't think that buying Daniel's love will make up for all the lost moments you've missed," she crossed her arm.

"So what if I missed his birthday. And you of all people always say that its the thought that counts," Jacques said with a humoured smile. "And as for the clothes...it's still my final decision on whether or not I want you in them." his eyes roamed her figure. "And you are indeed looking very damn good in this one."

Tiana rolled her eyes and looked another direction and saw Naveen with the new woman she spotted him with as of late. Still feeling bitter she linked her arm with Jacques and sighed. "Well I suppose you are only looking after my well-being."

He nodded. "And that's all I'm trying to do for you my love."

Tiana put a smile on her lips.

Naveen held Olivia's hand as they crossed the street. When he saw Tiana with Jacques he was going to brush it off until he heard:

"You are the best man I've ever known," and Tiana kissed her husband.

"I know," Jacques arrogantly replied and kissed her back.

Jealousy filled Naveen's heart at what he just heard. After all the hurt this man caused her why would she say something like that to him? There had to be a catch in this.

"And you are the best woman I've ever known and have. Especially after everything I've done," Jacques caressed Tiana's face. "I want to take you out to dinner tonight. But where?"

She put her hand over his. "How about my restaurant?"

He nodded. "Then Tiana's Palace it is!"

Naveen saw the way Tiana gazed at Jacques and wanted to vomit. She couldn't possibly be feeling anything for that man.

"Naveen sweetie," Olivia called his name.

He looked down at the woman. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

"I asked if you would like to go to Tiana's Palace for dinner tonight?" she asked.

Before he answered she continued:

"I've been there several times and I have to say that it's the best restaurant in town, or this side of the entire Mississippi if I should say so myself,"

As much as Naveen wanted to discredit the restaurant he couldn't agree more.

()()()()

Tiana sipped some water from her glass cup after finishing her dinner. "Everything was absolutely delicious"

"Eh," Jacques said. "For an upscale restaurant it could've been better."

She frowned, looking over at him. "What are you talking about? I saw you eating that lobster as if it were your last meal."

"The truffle butter could've been better," he added.

Tiana rolled her eyes. "It was perfection. Just as my father would make it."

"The entrée could've been better," he also added.

She rolled her eyes again.

"I'm only being honest," Jacques took out a cigar.

"Why are you taking out a cigar?" she asked.

"To get the disgusting dessert after taste out of my mouth," he lit up the cigar.

She wasn't surprised by her husband's dismissal behavior. He would always nitpick on everything that involves her.

"Oh come now darling don't be upset," he took her hand and kissed it. "The night is beautiful and young. Let's dance."

"I really don't feel like dancing," she said.

He smirked, putting out the cigar. "You've never been a good dancer anyway so you're doing us both a favour." He took her hand. "We should be heading home."

Tiana got up and instantly noticed Jacques's wandering eyes. She sighed in annoyance and noticed Naveen wandering at her. Embarrassed, she cleared her throat which caught her husband's attention just before they headed out the door.

"Could you be more obvious," Olivia smiled.

"Hmm?" Naveen looked at his date.

"Tiana Montreuil is a beautiful woman, and very married to Mr. Jacques Montreuil," she reminded him.

"I'm aware of this," he said, hinting annoyance.

She laughed. "He was a caller of mine before he married Tiana."

"Why am I not surprised," Naveen said. Olivia was a nice girl but with her career choice she had her share of high end customers.

"All he would talk about was his future and her in it," she remembered. "After they did marry he came back to me only to talk about how happy she's made him."

"Why don't we dance?" Naveen didn't want to hear this.

"You men are horrible at hiding what you want," she said. "Ya sweet on Tiana just admit it."

"Let's dance," he helped her up. "I didn't pay for you be a psychic."

"Yes, you hired me to be your celibate wife until this one month ends, so I am doing my job which is the easiest I ever made," she smiled as they danced. "And you are a man in love. Unfortunately it isn't with me."

Naveen sighed as they danced on.

Olivia looked up at him. "Is that why you won't sleep with me? Because of Tiana?"

Naveen didn't want to hear anymore of it. "After tonight you don't have to bother—

"I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about it," she regretted being so honest.

"It isn't just that," he stopped the dancing. "I feel like I'm dragging you along this dead end and want to end our arrangements."

"What arrangements? Taking me out on fabulous shopping sprees and wonderful dinners?" she reached her hand up to caress his face. "Either you get little aggressive in getting Tiana or leave New Orleans. Two powerful men in love with the same woman can end in deadly consequences."

Naveen began the dance again without saying another word. Still angered about Tiana's behavior around Jacques and now at Olivia for speaking the truth. But he won't give the woman the benefit of admitting it. Not ever.

()()()()

"You were amazing," Jacques held Tiana in his arms in their bed. "You made up for everything that went wrong for me today."

"What about it was bad?" she asked.

"My business deals. Some ideas are good while others ended with disastrous results," he gave her a wink. "But enough about that. It's over and done with." he said. "The Pastor is coming over tomorrow..."

Tiana didn't hear him as Naveen was on her mind. She wondered what the woman was to him.

"Are you asleep?" he asked.

"Hmm? Um, yes," she lied, closing her eyes.

He kissed her forehead. "Then I will let you sleep."

And she was thankful for that.

()()()()

A couple more weeks went by and they were very hectic for Tiana. The restaurant was too far behind to profit even when the building was packed every night. Tiana hated that she was helpless with the finances of her own business due to having a controlling husband. At the time she desperately wanted her dreams to come true and with Jacques still recovering from his injury had promised to make that happen with a catch. A catch that had his no good friend Derek written all over it.

"I can't believe that this is happening," Tiana said to Derek, feeling defeated. "Where was all the money going?"

Derek, who was a business partner of Jacques and Tiana of the restaurant said knowingly, "Your husband told me that the restaurant stood no chance...it was bound to fail."

"He said that?" Tiana raised a suspicious brow. The men were so much alike. "Did he already know about this?"

The man sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry Tiana. But Jacques felt that with the restaurant hardly making any money that he's decided that we should all move on and focus on more...valuable businesses."

"He never told me he was going to close MY restaurant," she was beyond offended. "He said that he would help fix whatever problem..." she stopped and closed her eyes. "How could I been so..." she was now now at the point where she should've known better. It was obvious that Jacques set her business up for failure in which ever route she took with the business. "So this is it? Tiana's Palace is...dead."

"The business stood no chance against the other white restaurants Tiana. You're a wonderful woman but it can get rough with you doing your housework and taking care of your husband. So many responsibilities can be overbearing for a beautiful young woman. Perhaps this is a blessing...in disguise!" Derek said with a smirk.

"I'm sure that you and my husband stealing the money was also a blessing in disguised as well?" she could see that he was surprised at her accusation.

But he kept his smirk. "You were always different from the other wives Tiana. Never afraid to express how you really feel." he stepped over to her. "Its no wonder Jacques is always running to come home to you. I would lock you in my room if I could..."

Tiana glared at him. "You can leave."

"You know Jacques is only doing what he knows is the right thing here," Derek added. "And speaking of Jacques, he wanted me to tell you that the restaurant is to close at the end of the month," he laughed.

"Leave!" she shouted.

"In all consideration..." he stepped closer. "At least you'll be taken care of financially." he raised his hand to caress her cheek. "Jacques will make certain that you are taken care of..." he stopped when she slapped his hand from her. "If my wife was as feisty as you I would enjoy her company more often."

"Get out of my office!" Tiana said with emotion in her voice.

"All right I'll leave you be!" Derek left with a humoured grin. His plan with Jacques passed with flying colours.

Tiana tried suppressing her tears, but her emotions were hurt, disappointed and overall she felt like an idiot.

"Of course he would set me up," The more Tiana thought about it the angrier she got. "He won't get away with. Not this time," she got up and left the office and soon the restaurant. She will discuss the restaurant cloning to her staff in the morning.

()()()()

Tiana made it back into the house and was greeted by Daniel and the pup.

"Hey you two!" She was happy to see her boys. "Where's Florence and Dorothy, the new maid?"

"In the kitchen washing the dishes. Daddy is upstairs in his office," Daniel answered.

She frowned, "In his office?"

"He has a business meeting with the pastor! Loretta is also upstairs! She was very happy to see him," he took her hand. "And guess what I did today?"

"What did you do?" she asked.

"I went for a walk outside with Florence and Max!" Daniel smiled.

"That's nice baby. Now come upstairs with me," Tiana decided to speak with her husband about the business crashing later tonight. It was time she get some religious uplifting and she will do it after the meeting. "You said the pastor is in your father's office?"

Daniel nodded, "Daddy wanted privacy but left the door open. They were talking about you but—

A girl's laughter interrupted him.

Tiana and her son made it up to the stairs and saw that Jacques' office door was indeed open. She heard hush noises and assumed it was Jacques and the pastor speaking, but when she opened the door some more, a shocking view came to her. There in Jacques' office was Loretta, nude from the top part of her body on her knees obviously giving her husband oral pleasure.

Daniel's eyes widen, "Mama, what—

Tiana quickly covered her son's eyes and mouth and pulled him away from the door, "Go to your room," she instructed in a whisper.

"But mama…," Daniel was confused and scared.

"Take Max and go to your room," Tiana said firmly.

Daniel knew that by his mother's tone and from what he witnessed that there was no good coming their way. So he and the dog obediently went to their room.

Tiana sighed as betrayal finally rushed over her. Not only did Jacques set up her business for failure, but now she felt as if she sacrificed all for nothing. She returned at the Montreuil Estate just for her son to have a father. She nursed her husband back to health after his suicidal scare. She even put up with the new hell she lived through after returning home and that also includes him shoving her onto the wall. Then came the enduring nights of giving him pleasure. And of course there were the other women. And not to mention the constant controlling and buying their son's love to cover for his guilt.

A gasp interrupted her musing and she knew that it was Loretta.

The young girl pulled on her blouse before running over to Tiana. "Mrs. Montreuil…I'm so sor—

"Get the hell out of my house!" Tiana couldn't even look at the girl.

The girl cried as she quickly ran down the stairs and out of the house.

"Tiana?" Jacques stepped out of his office, running his fingers through his hair. "I didn't expect you to be home so soon from your meeting with Derek."

"You brought another woman in this house to suck your..." she stopped herself. So enraged that she ad to continue, "...our son saw you and her." she exhaled, trying to remain calm. "Where's the pastor?"

"He left about a half hour ago," Jacques answered, remembering his son and Florence also leaving for a walk then.

"How long has it been going on?" She asked looking at him dead in the eyes.

Jacques raised his brows. "I don't understand—

"How long have you been sleeping with that little girl?" Tiana was beyond angry at this point and couldn't look at him.

"Only for three months," he answered with a shrug. "And as for her being a little girl. My cousin took care of that a long time ago."

She shot around to glare at him, "Only three months? You think that's going to make a difference that she also slept with Trent? Who most likely raped her!?"

"She belongs to him," he said. "And with him going away for college, she was worth the cost," he said with no empathy in his tone.

Tiana couldn't believe what she just heard. "You are sick!"

He shrugged. "Don't worry darling. Like my other whores I don't love her—

"Like that makes a difference!" she turned away from him.

"No, it isn't I suppose," he put his hands in his pockets.

"So I suppose you been having her in our bed, too?" she asked.

When Jacques didn't give her an answer she only shook her head.

"You're pathetic," she walked into her bedroom, closing the door.

Jacques followed her and saw that she had already pulled out a suitcase, "What are you doing?"

"I'm not going to pretend that everything is fine when it's not," Tiana went to the closet.

He reached out for her. "Tiana—

"No Jacques!" She snatched her arm away. "I gave up a lifetime of happiness just for you."

"You're not leaving me," he confirmed.

She shook her head. "Our son and my guilt for leaving the first time was the only reason why I came back, but you have shown no appreciation since your recovery..."

"You will give me another chance," he was determined as he stepped closer to her

"You pushed away our son and even bullied the dog" her eyes watered. "You continued with the cheating, the verbal assaults and even setting my business up for failure by stealing money from it. I trusted you because I thought you had a little ounce of integrity!"

"I love you," he exclaimed.

"Horseshit!" She spat out, "You don't love me! You don't even love our own son. It's best that we leave you be. You don't want to be a husband or father. That whole speech you made about changing and turning your life around have all been a sham."

Jacques shook his head, fighting to control his temper. "Darling, why don't you have a seat and think this through."

"I thought it through long enough!" Tiana put some clothes into the luggage. "I'm leaving and taking Daniel with—

A sharp blow to the left cheek prevented Tiana from finishing her sentence.

"Hell will have to freeze over before I let you and that boy go," Jacques said darkly, his fist still balled.

Still feeling heavily dizzy, Tiana saw the dark glare in Jacques's hazel blue eyes and knew he was just as true to his words as she was with hers.

"You see what you made me do?" He grabbed her by her arms and pulled her from the floor. "I will forgive you since you've lost it for a moment. The sudden shock got you to forget your place. Now go sit down and think this through." His voice more threatening than caring.

Tiana had so many feelings running out of her that she didn't know what to do. She despised him, she feared him, but no feeling could top at how much wanted to kill him.

Jacques walked around to pick up the luggage of clothes and threw them across the room. A shower of dresses falling onto the floor.

"Mama?" Daniel's voice could be heard from the other end of the door.

Jacques placed his hand on the door knob. "I'll take care of him while you think about that unnecessary outburst you made." He closed the door as soon as he left the room.

At this point Tiana's body was trembling and with her head no longer suffering from dizziness, the burning pain from his hand was still there. She knew that it'll be wise to remain in the room for her son. He didn't deserve to see his mother in the state that she was in. So like the good wife that she was, she remained in their bedroom until later that evening when Florence stepped into the room.

The older woman saw the purple bruise on the young woman's face and could only pity her. She knew that it would be a matter of time before Jacques snapped.

He wouldn't be a Montreuil if he didn't.