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Ring the Alarm

By Wanda M. Toby

            Michelle Whitterker sat at her office desk in the building of the mortgage brokerage firm she and her husband built from nothing, contemplating the present state of her 22-year marriage while she waited for an important phone call. She had had six months to decide what she was going to do about her husband’s affair. She was a distinguished woman of regal bearing and was never prone to hysterics. She had to have a plan for everything. It was her way of maintaining control of her emotions. Weakness was something she was never fond of, which was also the reason why she had married Dalton in the first place. He was one of the strongest men she knew aside from her father, God rest his soul.

            At first, Michelle wasn’t going to do anything about her husband’s sexual escapades with a woman half his age. At 43 years of age, Michelle was sure he was going through a midlife crisis. She could handle that. Her plan was to monitor the situation and let it run its course. When three months turned into five, she began to wonder about the extent of his feelings for his “plaything.”

            Michelle sat up in her chair and opened up her desk draw. She pulled out the latest package Charles, her private investigator, had sent over. In it were new pictures of her husband and Therese, his mistress. They snuggled over dinner in a Las Vegas restaurant, bathed in Jacuzzi’s, and kissed in the middle of the park all while he was on a business trip. Nevertheless, Michelle wasn’t fazed. She was in no position to judge having had her share of special friends.

            It was the recording that worked its best to unnerve her. She pulled out a mini cassette and played it.

            “Therese, I promise you as soon and Janet goes off to college, I will leave Michelle. Why can’t you wait? It’s only a few more months,” she heard Dalton plead.

            “I’ve waited long enough. I have a life, D. I don’t want to sneak around anymore. If I can’t have you out in the open then I don’t want this.”

            Michelle was disgusted. She stopped the player and threw it down on the desk in an angry fit. Her palms were sweaty. It was her third attempt to listen to the recording and she still couldn’t bring herself to listen passed the first five minutes. She would have rather watch the two of them having sex than to bear five minutes of listening to her husband grovel.

            She was appalled that their daughter, Janet who was nearly as young as Therese, would be mentioned in any conversation between them. She was insulted that he would think of leaving her for any reason and aghast at the sniveling way he begged his whore not to leave him. Michelle looked down at the remaining contents from Charles’ package. She pulled out documents for a condominium purchase that her husband said was for her, another addition to their list of investment properties.

            The phone buzzed, startling her out of her thoughts. 

            “It’s Charles on line one for you,” her secretary informed her.

            “Thanks, Sherry.” She waited for her secretary to make the connection and hang up. “Are they there?”

            She could hear Charles sigh at the other end. “Yes.”

            “Do you think they are having sex right now?”

            “I don’t know why you want to do this. Just-”

            “Fine. Thank you. I’ll talk to you later.”

            “Wait! I can meet you there or something. You know it’s the new condos on 6^th Ave-”

            “I know where it is,” she snapped and slammed the telephone down before snatching her keys from the desk.

            Michelle pulled into the driveway of the two-story condominium unit. Her silver, seven series Mercedes Benz purred just before she shut the engine down. She reached over, grabbed her purse and pulled a key out before walking up to the front door. Michelle wasted no time getting into the house.

            Inside, she paused and listened before moving further. Laughter flowed through the house as if the affair was a normal, everyday occurrence that was in line with everything right in the world. She stepped further into the unit, taking note of the furniture and change of scenery that wasn’t present in the pictures Dalton had showed her when he surprised her with the purchase.

            Michelle rummaged through her handbag to prepare herself with what she needed before making her way up the stairs. The laughing stopped followed by erotic moaning and groaning. She could hear her husband’s pleasure laced voice as he called out Therese’s name. She reached the back room where the noise was coming from.

            The door was left slightly ajar. With her feet, Michelle slowly pushed the door open. She stood at the doorway, watching Therese’s naked body move up and down over her husband, his hands running up and down the length of her back.

            Michelle cleared her throat and waited. When no one responded, she cleared it again, louder. Dalton tilted his had, meeting her calm gaze. His eyes widened and his body stiffened.

            “Wha- what happened? D, are you all right?” Therese suddenly asked.

            Michelle stood with a gun pointed at Therese’s smooth back and spoke, “Get off my husband’s d-”

            “Michelle, what are you doing here? P- put that away!” Dalton stammered.

            “What is it? The fact that I’m here or the site of my gun that’s made you go flaccid?” she asked mockingly then turned to Therese as she scrambled off of Dalton. “It’s a shame when they just go limp in the middle isn’t it?”

            The girl was fear stricken. Michelle stared at her and almost felt sorry for her.

            “Mi- Mich-”

            “Shut up!” She looked over to a chair in the corner of the room. “You guys didn’t have sex in that chair did you?” When no one responded, Michelle prompted, “Nod for yes and shake for now.”

            They both shook their heads. “Good.” She sat down on the chair and crossed her legs with the gun still pointed in their direction.

            “You can’t-”

            “Dalton, if you know what’s good for you right now, you will shut up and listen,” Michelle waited for a sign of understanding.

            “I hear you are planning on leaving me. Well, there’re 5.5 million reasons why that’s not going to happen. Surprisingly, adultery is frowned upon and I will be sure to take you for everything you’ve got.”

            “You’ve cheated too,” Dalton spit out.

            Therese tried to cover up her body with a sheet. The movement aggravated Michelle and she took a shot in her direction. The gun had an almost muted sound. Therese screeched.

            “Silencers are a great tool,” Michelle said coolly.

            “Michelle, my God,” Dalton yelled.

            “Calm down. No need to sound the alarm. No one is going to die here today. I just don’t want anyone to move. Now, I get that you realize that I have had some special friendships but you have no proof and I … well, I have plenty. Do you honestly think I’m going to let some tramp live my life, even a fraction of it?”
            Dalton opened his mouth to respond.

            “That’s not a question. Besides the money, I can be very severe in my punishment. I don’t think you would want the consequences of leaving me, either of you.” She said is so menacingly that both Therese and Dalton shrunk back.

            Therese took a breath and rushed, “D said you are crazy but this is just-”

            An amused expression appeared on Michelle’s face. She turned her head to Therese. “I am not crazy. I am an executer. I plan everything down to the last detail. That’s what I do which is why you better be worried because after today, if I catch wind of you anywhere near my husband I will make your life so unbearable for you that you will wish you had been aborted.”

            Michelle stood up and adjusted her clothing. She looked down at her husband. “You, your life is already screwed. I can make it worse. Make sure she is out of my condo and out of our lives.”

            Michelle turned to leave. As she made her way out the door she paused and without turning said, “Dalton, be sure you’re home by six-o-clock. We have a dinner party to attend.”

© 2006, Wanda Toby

Karrine Steffans, the former self-described “coke whore” who got clean and wrote a book detailing her sexual exploits with rappers and famous athletes, is responding to claims that she is dating one of those previous sex partners, Bobby Brown.
J Records founder Clive Davis, the man responsible for signing a teenaged Whitney Houston to his former label Arista Records in 1983, tells MTV that he and the troubled singer are currently working on songs for a new comeback album.
Sprinter Marion Jones has the last laugh in her headline-making doping scandal, which she leaves in her dust after a second “B” sample tested negative for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian, Ellen DeGeneres, who won acclaim for her smooth hosting of the Emmy Awards shortly after the September 11 attacks, will host the Academy Awards next year, organizers said on Thursday.
Actor Jude Law is reportedly still upset at what Chris Rock said about him during the Oscar telecast in 2005.
Charles Barkley is not playing around when he says he wants to be the future governor of Alabama. The former NBA player is currently making moves to ensure that he will indeed take over the position as soon as he becomes eligible.
Sean “Diddy” Combs and his longtime girlfriend Kim Porter are expecting twins, his spokeswoman announced  Tuesday.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has invited some big names to join him on his upcoming album, “Press Play,” due Oct. 17 from his own Bad Boy label. The rapper-turned-mogul shares tracks with such artists as Christina Aguilera, OutKast's Big Boi, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Nas, Fergie, Brandy and Keyshia Cole, among others.
Looks like 50 Cent has grown tired of his beef with the Game and has turned his entire G-Unit arsenal toward Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The hottest couple to grace MTV’s VMA red carpet this year seemed to be LL Cool J and 50 Cent, who used the high-profile occasion last Thursday to announce their new partnership in the form of a new LL album to be executive produced by the G-Unit general.
A judge Wednesday gave Michael Jackson until Sept. 28 to pay his ex-wife $60,000 in attorney fees as she pursues a custody case against the pop star.
Rapper C-Miller, formerly known as C-Murder, has managed to write a novel during his stint behind bars for second degree murder.
Tamyra Gray, a finalist on the first season of “American Idol,” tied the knot last weekend to former Color Me Badd member Sam Watters during a ceremony in Capri, Italy.
Legendary soul man Ronald Isley, whose silky pipes fronted such songs as “For the Love of You” and “Between the Sheets” with his band the Isley Bros, was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison for multiple counts of tax evasion.
General Electric Co.’s Universal Pictures could lose as much as $30 million on its $235 million film adaptation of Miami Vice,” which has grossed only $63 million at the U.S. box office since opening this summer.
Chris Tucker is in the midst of a nationwide standup tour in advance of his role opposite Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour 3,” which begins shooting Sept. 25 in Paris, France.

Akeelah and the B

Take the Lead

I guess you could say I am writing because thats what I do when I get down- I either read or write. I was trying to read tonight but my daughter wouldnt let me. At any rate, I started writing a book not too long ago and in about a month I had 80 pages or so of a rough draft. Dang, I thought things were going great until recently. I dont even know what happened. I went from writing all the time to dodging my pen and pad. Now, not only am I depressed about my life situations in general but Im also upset with myself because I havent written much.

Doesnt it just burn when you have some type of plan in your mind but when it comes time to put it into action, the whole thing just seems to slip away from you? That is how I feel. I am on a one-year plan to get a publishing deal. Yea right, LOL. It would really help if I actually finished the book I would like to shop around.

So, tonight (right this instant) is the night I refocus. Dont you find that every now and then, refocusing is an essential part of survival? Somewhere along the way, I think, we get off track. I am definitely off track right now. So, tonight I am getting back on. What does that really mean though? Well, tomorrow I am going to write. I am going to forget about all the other life stuff I have going on and do what makes me genuinely happy when all else fails- write.

Now about this plan of mine you know, that will have to be for later. Check back with me on that.

Friday we got Lulu and Carly, Jason, Liz, Lucky, Maxi, Sonny and more.

Listen to my Rant and Rave review for more details

For anyone who loves a great court room drama, Justice is definitely one to watch. It has a great pace and is done with a twist at the end.

This episode featured the death of a cheating wife.

I had quite a bit of raves on this one. Not a lot of bad things to say about it. Listen to the recap of the first show.

The Price of Forever

by Joel McIver

Joel McIver gives the reader an insightful and loving story of three women linked together by one man. The novel, The Price of Forever, is about Alexis and Damon who together have reached a point in their relationship where they are planning to take it to the next level of marriage; however, before they can do that some baggage needs to be checked and it is Damon lugging them around. Damon has a beautiful daughter that he takes full resp onsibility for but finds he cannot avoid the baby mama drama. If that were all, Alexis would not have any issues dealing with it. Unfortunately, Damon also has an unbalanced pseudo ex-girlfriend for whom he feels responsible.

One day after missing a court date in New Jersey last week, rapper Foxy Brown allegedly pulled an Oprah Winfrey and Winona Ryder at a Greenwich Village boutique by demanding entry after hours and then shoplifting two $400 belts.

Looks like Lil’ Kim will be back in a courtroom soon due to a lawsuit filed against her by reggae artist Tanya Stephens, who claims the rapper illegally borrowed her music and lyrics for a track on her latest album, “The Naked Truth.”