Trouble In Paradise (6 page)

Chapter 9

“Aaaaah!” Shay screamed.  “You’re getting married!  Congratulations!  I know Imma get to be the maid of honor so don’t worry about telling me the duties have been accounted for.” 

Victoria laughed.  “Girl you should see this ring!” 

“Girl, please tell me this negro went to Jared!” Shay screamed. 

Victoria laughed.  “Yeahh!! Babygirl he went to Jared do you hear me and let me tell you, the commercials are unde
rrated because it is so much more intense than what you see on TV.” 

“Ahhh haha,” Shay laughed.  “I believe you baby I can’t wait to see it.  Oh yeah!” 

“Haha,” they laughed. 

Victoria had picked up the phone and called Shay the moment Joshua went to the dry cleaners.  It was Saturday mornin
g and she had a great night.  Joshua wined and dined her all the way home and sexed her to the crack and I mean the crack of dawn.  She felt completely loved and she was so blessed. 

“Let me drive that car!” Shay screamed. 

“Girl I haven’t drove it yet,” Victoria said. 

“Why not, s
ee you slipping Imma need for you to tell me why not girl!” 

“
Because I let him wine and dine me.  I followed his lead the whole night. He already had my dress ready from Jones New York and he was in a custom made suit on top of that. When we got to the restaurant he ordered for me and everything girl, it was sexy.  You should have seen him with his knowledge of the menu like we just do this girl, like we didn’t just come straight from the hood of Memphis trying to move up like the Jefferson’s.” 

“Pshhh
bump all that everybody trying to move up like the Jefferson’s and he must have ‘because he was able to buy you the LEO DIAMOND!!!”

They screamed, “AAAhhHH!!”

“I still can’t believe this, girl this rock is so fat. Oh my goodness you have to see it.” 

“I know! I know!  Ugh I’m so jealous!” Shay screamed. 

“Honey, every girl in the world is jealous of this fat rock unless they got one!” Victoria yelled. 

They laughed again. 

“Shut up girl you so right.  Dang you up there with it on, I’m really happy for you,” Shay said. 

“Thank you girl, thank you.  I’m taking my baby for a spin today.” 

“I wish I was there with you but I will come to visit soon.” 

“I might be back down there before you come up here.  You know you don’t go anywhere,” Victoria said. 

“That’s because I have no reason to go places; now I have a reason to come to Chicago, so I will come thank you very much.” 

“Yeah
ok we will see.  Besides,” Shay said, “we got to plan your bachelorette party and you know it’s going down!” 

“Oh boy
,” Victoria said, “no strippers.”

“Child you must be crazy if you think Shay about to plan a bachelorette party for my bestie without any strippers. No, no, this is me shaking my head boo.  Not gonna happen.”

“This is going to be so interesting.  What if I said I didn’t want a bachelorette party?” 

“I don’t care what you say really ‘
because it’s not up to you it’s up to your maid of honor and that being me there will be STRIPPERS!!  Oww!” Shay yelled. “Yes ma’am!” she screamed. 

“Ok, ok, do whatever you want it will be my last night as a single woman so I’ll cooperate all the way,” Victoria said. 

“Yeah!” Shay said.  “I know you will you don’t have a choice baby!” 

“What’s been going on in the office?” Victoria asked. 

“You don’t want to know,” Shay said. 

“Oh boy what does that mean?  You got some
thing juicy for me? Spill it.  Whatever it is couldn’t be bad enough to damper my spirits my life is in full force and we’re moving on up!  Moving on up, to the east side moving on up we finally got a piece of the pie!” Victoria sang. 

Shay laug
hed.  “I know that’s right and I don’t want to put a damper on your spirits but Imma give it to you straight no chaser.  I think Danielle is coming to Chicago.” 

Shay paused long enough to see if Victoria was going to respond.  When she didn’t she continued,

“When I talked to Leon he said she told him she was going to get her man and that’s all.  I think he’s not telling me the whole truth but we all know who Danielle considers to be her man.” 

Victoria was still quiet. 

“You there mama?”  

“Yeah,” Victoria said.  “You know, now that I think about it, at the last minute when we we’re dancing last night Joshua got really strange.  He was really happy and then he kind of looked like he saw a ghost.  When I asked him was everything ok he said yeah.” 

Now Shay was quiet. 

“I’m telling you Victoria if you need me to come up there say the word and I will be on the next plane.” 

Victoria sat up.

“I do appreciate that but let me tell you something if she so much as steps up in Chicago it will be on and popping I’m so serious Shay.  Now you know me I’m not with the dumbness.  I grew up a long time ago.  The way I feel about this girl is so sickening I could throw up.  I got Smith & Wesson waiting for her if she wants to step wrong and I mean that.”

“Well
,” Shay said. 

“How would she even know where we are?  It’s like tr
ying to find a needle in a haystack.  Unless she searched for Joshua online and still she wouldn’t really find anything because the only thing that was in his name was the mini U-Haul we had attached to the back of our truck.” 

“Well she must know enough becau
se I think she on her way and I just want you to be on the lookout.” 

“How would she know where to look Shay?” Victoria asked.  “It’s stupid.”

“I might have said something to Leon.  I talk to him all the time,” Shay said.

”
You’ve been telling Leon my business?” Victoria asked. 

“Well
. . .” 

“Well what?” 

“Well, I might have said you moved to Chicago and work as a psychologist.” 

“Un
-huh,” Victoria said.  “What else?” 

“I don’t know,” Shay said, “it’s not like I’m just gossiping about you.  You’re in my life so when I talk sometimes I talk about you.” 

“Oh don’t try and make this sound rosy!”

  “You done messed
up and spilled the beans and now Leon fast talking bumping his gums all over the place.” 

“Hold on, I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to talk about my best friend.”

“You should watch what you say to Leon Shay and you know this man!  Don’t act like you don’t know who you can have conversations around.” 

“Well,” Shay said, “you’ve left me so he is the only one really I have to talk to.”

“Ugh, Shay well you need to get some new friends.  Nothing you say will be safe!” 

“Well excuse me.” 

Victoria let out an exasperated sigh. 

“It’s all good but if Danielle
show up here please believe I’m cursing you out its only right.”

“OK,” Shay said.  “I’ll take that.” 

“Sho you will, talking to Leon Pshh come on now.”  Victoria heard the alarm beep. 

“Joshua’s back I’ll call you back.”

“Bye.” 

“Don’t be sounding all crazy now,” Victoria said. 

“Well you all cursing a sista out what you expect me to sound like?” 

“Honey, you know you my girl but let’s face it you got some loose screws if you telling all your business to Leon
and I haven’t cursed you YET.  He’s Danielle’s girlfriend.” She snapped her fingers, “Come on now.  I’ll talk to you later, love you, bye.” 

She hung up. 

Joshua walked in the room. 

“Hey baby.  Were you just on the phone?” he asked. 

“Yeah talking to Shay.” 

“How come every time I come in the room you get off the phone with her?  You can’t talk around me?  What? You got something to hide?” he said incredulously. 

“It has nothing to do with that and you know it,” she said.  “I just know when you’re in my presence you want my undivided attention, do you not?” 

“You know it,” he said
. 

“Ok then, that’s why.” 

“Un huh.” 

Victoria got off the bed and walked over to him.  She had on Joshua’s button down shirt from the suit he was wearing yesterday.  He had on some baggy grey sweats and a white tee. 

“You are so sexy chocolate.” 

She made a slurping noise with her tongue and imitated licking up his face. 

He smiled and nodded.  “That’s you.” 

He pulled her in and they kissed. 

When she pulled back she said, “Have you talked to Da
nielle?” 

“Y
ou cannot be serious,” he said rolling his eyes. 

“What?  What’s wrong with me asking?” 

“Where is this coming from Victoria?  Why do you have to take me around the merry go bush?” 

“Just answer the question.” 

“No, I haven’t talked to her.  Are you happy?” 

“Don’t be smart,” she said. 

“Why are you asking me that?  What have you and Shay been talking about?” he said. 

“She thinks Danielle is coming to Chicago.” 

She paused he didn’t respond. 

She continued, “
She said one of her coworkers said she put in some vacation time at her job saying she had to take a trip.  What do you think about that?” she asked. 

“She would have nothing to gain by taking a trip up here so I don’t see why she would go through all the trouble.  I talked to her that one time I told you about and I told her then she needed to move on with her life the sooner the better.  So if she is coming down here I believe that counts as stalking.”

  Joshua thought about the last time they were together.  He was supposed to be going over there to give her money just to help her out, but of course she had another agenda. 
I can’t really blame it all on her and now this girl won’t go away
he thought.  He groaned silently inside his head. 

“Well Imma tell you like I told Shay,” Victoria said, “I got Smith & Wesson waiting for her if she want to step wrong.” 

Victoria walked over to her purse hanging on the door, reached in and pulled out her gold case.  She opened it and this time she had a light.  She put a joint in her mouth and lit it, inhaled
and exhaled, through her nose then lips. 

“Wooo,”

She blew then tried to hold back a choke and ended up choking harder.  Joshua patted her on the back and she came up for air.  “Dang,” she said, “I don’t know why it’s not legal to smoke this.” 

“It is if it’s prescribed,” Joshua said. 

She passed it to him and chuckled. 

“You right about that.”  She unbuttoned her shirt.  “Round four,” she said letting the shirt drop to the floor and crawling back on the bed. 

Joshua removed his shirt and sweats in one smooth motion, “Girl you ain’t said nothing but a word!”  He jumped on the bed, she screamed and laughed her giggles overtaking her.  “Come here girl ain’t no getting away from me.”

Chapter 10

Danielle ran up to the toilet and threw up. 

“Arggghh!”

With nothing left the gag reflex kept her choking on air.  She had watched the scene in horror. Before following Joshua and Victoria from their condo in Paradise to The Signature Room at the 95
th
, she saw the brand new Cadillac, she watched as Victoria snatched the bow off smiling and clapping her hands like she was the happiest little air head in town. 

“That was supposed to be my
car,” she growled. 

Then she watched him get down on one knee.  She could hardly move after that.  She was stuck in that moment, in that place, in that time.  She couldn’t believe it.  She stared right into his face.  He had to have seen her.  She tried to tell her feet to move but they wouldn’t.  She didn
’t know whether to go kill Victoria or to run out the door.  The next thing she knew she was walking.  She didn’t know where she was going she was just walking.  She thought about the image of him on one knee with an engagement box leaning in toward another woman.  Danielle stopped walking and swayed.  She leaned up against the brick wall and held her balance there.  What should she do? 

Danielle had gotten back to the hotel around two a.m.  She had wondered around in a daze for hours.  It was truly sickening to see the love of her life being snatched away and for what? 

“This tramp don’t have nothing on me!  Ahhh!!!”

She screamed
and sat up against the tub.  Danielle was going to make her pay big time, oh yes, she had to get it together. 
As a matter of fact
, she thought, jumping to her feet. She turned the shower on and let the water warm until it was a little hot, then she turned the knob on the tub and the rays from the showerhead sprayed down. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.  She looked affright.  She had to pull it together.  She ran to the clock it was now ten twenty-three am and Danielle had tossed and turned all night.  She would wake up screaming and run to the bathroom to throw up.  It happened so often that she finally just grabbed one of the garbage cans and sat it next to her bed.

She called Leon.  The phone rang three times.

“Hello?”

“Leon,” she said.

“What can I do for you Ms. Thang, how’s it going? I was wondering when you was gone call.”

“Yeah, well you won’t believe this.”  Danielle told Leon everything she saw. 

Leon gasped, “Na un girl, na un! He did not propose!”

Danielle bent over and gagged nothing came out. 

“I’m dying over here Leon,” she said coughing and gagging, “I need reinforcements,” she said. 

“Oh listen to you now, look I’m a lover not a fighter, I don’t reinforce shit I get reinforced.” 

“LEON!” she shouted, “that is too much information.” 

“Well I’m jus
t telling you like it is Ms. Thang,” he snapped his fingers, “so don’t get feisty with me.  What other reinforcements do you have in mind?” 

“Do you still have the forty five?” 

Leon got silent. 

“Girlfriend
if you gone talk about guns and stuff you need to warn somebody first, you know I have to make sure I’m on the right phone.”  

“Well are you?” Danielle asked. 

“Fortunately, yes, I still have the forty five but what you want me to do, bring it to you?” 

“Yes,” she said. 

“And how am I supposed to get it there clap the back of my heels and wish it there like Dorothy?  This isn’t the Wizard of Oz.” 

“Don’t be so smart
Leon.  Get on a plane.” 

There was a
nother brief pause. 

“Ok my girl, I know you didn’t just tell me to get on a PLANE WITH A forty five!” 

“You’re making my head hurt Leon!” she shouted. 

“I’m making your head hurt?  You can’t have a decent conversation with me because you
shouldn’t be asking for the gun anyway.” 

“Can you get it here or not Leon?” 

“Dag girl,” he said blowing and making frustrated sounds. 

“I’m confronting her today
,” she said interrupting Leon’s rant.

“Today?” he said. 

“What you need the gun for if you gone confront her today?” 

“Because Le
on I just want to let this trick know that I’m in town and I’m not going anywhere until I’m with Joshua.  I want her to feel threatened and if she doesn’t I’ll put that four-five in her face and I bet she will then.  It’s going down; this has gone on long enough.   I can fight fire with fire.” 

Leon shook his head.  The girl was delirious she acted like she had no clue that Joshua was gone.  It had gone too far. 
How far would she let it go
he thought? 
Dang she crazy
.  It was so clear that Joshua had moved on and yet she was still fighting it.  He couldn’t understand he knew she had to find out on her own but this is getting out of hand. 

“Well can you bring the gun or not Leon?” she asked. 

“Why don’t you go buy you one Danielle?  You want me to come all the way up there to bring you a gun so you can scare somebody!  What are you smoking?”

“I can’t buy a gun Leon.” 

“Why not?” 

“I have a felony on my record.” 

“For what?” Leon said.  Did he know this girl at all he wondered? 

“An assault charge,
it was something that happened a while ago.  I don’t want to discuss it.  Will you bring me the gun or not?” 
How about NOT
he thought.  “Come on Leon my water is almost cold I’m trying to take a shower.” 

“Um
I guess honey.  I’ll bring it to tomorrow which means I’ll have to drive.” 

“Don’t bring anybody with you Leon and please don’t open your mouth about this one ok,” Danielle begged. 

“Honey boom I’m about to make me a video, one of those ‘if you’re watching this video that means I was dumb enough to take my hind parts to Chicago to try and help Danielle get her sense back and she blew it for the both of us’.” 

Danielle let out a small chuckle. “Thanks Leon I needed that but it’s really just a scare tactic.”  Leon hoped Danielle was right because this could get bad real quick. 

*****

I’m looking especially fly
Victoria thought as she modeled in the mirror.  She was wearing a black Baby Phat bodysuit, some grey Baby Phat boots with silver buckles.  She looked great.  With a smile on her face she reached over her vanity and picked up her earrings putting one in each ear without the assistance of her other hand.  She was concentrating on the image in the mirror.  Her chocolate smooth complexion was perfect with her black and grey colors and she knew she was hot.   She grabbed the Baby Phat purse Joshua had bought her.  He had been buying her a lot of presents lately.  Every time she turned the corner he had another present in his hand.  Not that she was complaining, she could get used to this. 

Victoria was about to go to a jewelry store on Delaware Street to pick up Joshua’s engagement ring.  He said “Baby men don’t wear engagement rings we just put the ring on when we get married,” but Victoria was hearing none of it.  He had gone to do his morning run and Victoria was getting out of
the house today.  She didn’t get to move around yesterday.  They spent the whole day inside cuddling, watching movies, eating in and doing monkey business. 

She grabbed the keys and looked at herself in the mirror one more time.  Maybe she should carry her twenty-two, but the holster she loved most definitely wouldn’t go right with the outfit.  Mmm what to do?  Victoria thought about Danielle. 
If she really came all the way to Chicago I’m gone have to shoot her cause that means she is certifiably crazy
, Victoria thought shaking her head.  I can understand though, Joshua will have that type of effect on you. 

She went to the closet and walked to the back.  The closet was the size of a studio apartment.  Once she was at the back of the closet she put in the combination to the safe:  thirteen, twenty-six, thirty-four, twenty-one, forty.  It made a clicking noise and opened.  She pulled it completely open and grabbed her twenty two.  Along with that was her Smith & Wesson, Joshua’s forty-five, two silver-plated box cutters that Joshua just had to have for some strange reason, and forty thousand dollars cash.  Victoria was pleased with her man he was doing well with his real estate business.  He must have planned this because he had credits cards already in both of their names.  He was being wonderful and she couldn’t ask for anything better. 

Victoria grabbed one of the box cutters and slid it in a pouch on her boot. 
It actually accessorized nicely with the boots
she thought and chuckled.  She closed the safe, turned, and walked out of the closet and down the stairs.  She walked up to the alarm and put the code in.  It beeped twice; she now had thirty seconds to exit before the alarm chimed.  She was out of there in five. 

In the garage she got in her new Cadillac and let the ga
rage door up.  She checked her face in the rear view mirror and made sure her lipstick was smooth and on point.  It was, she smiled and blew herself a kiss.  The garage door stopped, she put the car in reverse and turned out of the driveway.  Thirty minutes later Victoria was on Delaware Street. 

The jewelry store was on her right but she could only park on the left next to a parking meter.  There was a UPS truck parked in front of the store.  Victoria pulled up to a parking meter.  She grabbed her purse, got out and closed the door.  She hit the alarm and walked over to the meter to put some change in it.  She had plenty of change so she just put five dollars in it and started to cross the street.  She jumped out onto the road and tried to speed across as a guy on a motorcycle sped by an
d honked beep beep!

“Sorry!” Victoria yelled
.

S
he skipped across the street.

Before she could step foot onto the sidewalk Danielle came from around the UPS truck and slapped her in one smooth motion with a backhand
‘WHACK!!’  Danielle actually put a couple of steps in front of that one so she knew it came with force.  She had handpicked that slap because it was supposed to be a warning slap for Victoria.  Caught off guard, surprised, the force from the slap knocked Victoria back; she lost her footing and hit the ground. 

“YEAAAH MUTT
!” Danielle yelled.  “DID YOU REALLY THINK I WAS GONE LET A TRIFLING STRAY DOG LIKE YOU RUN OFF HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH MY MAN?”

Victoria touched her nose and felt
wet moisture she knew to be blood.  Danielle stood over her. 

“WHAT DO YOU SAY TRICK
?” 

Victoria was stunned and
in a daze not believing this girl just came out of nowhere like she was Jackie Chan.

Victoria looked up at her and replaced her shock with anger she bounced up like a graceful kangaroo, on her way up she grabbed the box cutter she had in her left boot pushed the blade up and cut Danielle from the back of her neck to the front.

“AAAhh!” 
Danielle screamed and took a couple of steps back.  Blood seeped from her neck and it stung. 

Victoria got in her Mike Tyson stance and
leaned in on her left foot punching Danielle with a right.  Danielle swung wildly hitting Victoria over her head but Victoria blocked her punches and swung with her left fist catching Danielle’s face, punching her in a combo so fast Danielle didn’t see it coming.  Victoria tapped Danielle catching her in her nose, she fell down and her head hit the pavement with a thud. Danielle was dazed and could hear sirens in the background. She hadn’t expected Victoria to fight back.  This was supposed to go smoothly.

“You better kill me tr
ick,” Danielle sputtered with saliva and blood shooting out of her mouth.  “You better kill me or I’m gone kill you!”

S
he meant every word.  Victoria couldn’t believe her.  The nerve of this psycho to be still talking after she had practically had her mouth punched in.

“You’re i
n no position to talk heifer!”  Victoria yelled. 

Danielle started to laugh.  She was still dazed. 

“You better do it,” she said in a song like tone. “You better do it because I mean what I say and I say what I mean trick!”  Danielle screamed.

Victoria took out her twenty-two; she let it hang in her hand at her side as she glared at Danielle.  She contemplat
ed if she should shoot her now and get it over with, besides no one would miss her.  The sirens got louder which meant they were closer.

“DO IT!
I DARE YA!” Danielle screamed. YOU DON’T HAVE IT IN YOU,” Danielle taunted, “YOU’RE WEAK, YOU DON’T HAVE IT IN YOU!”

This girl was definitely
psychotic. Victoria’s foot went up with a violent thrust kicking Danielle in her face and her head fell back hitting the pavement a second time.  Everything faded to black.