Addicted To Love - pt.9 (The Burden of Proof)

The Rider:
"Did I read her email correctly? Natasha is pregnant? What?!! How...? I mean...dammit! What is the meaning of this? "We only had sex one time. Now she's coming back telling me that she's pregnant?" Johnathan was no longer sitting in his wing back burgundy leather chair, it was left abandon when he jumped to his feet in total shock. He began to pace back and forth in his private corporate office. His heart was beating rapidly, the four corners of the walls were beginning to close in on him. He felt suffocated...trapped, allowing the news he just received to overshadow him in a gloom of darkness. Natasha just dropped the atomic bomb on him, causing Johnathan's shell-shocked mind to replay the events that brought on this sudden attack. "I remember Natasha and I having sex the last time we were together, her raining down insults and me waking up to a very bad hangover." "Wait a minute..." Johnathan paused in mid-thought. No longer pacing the floor, he was unable to move as he faced his worst fear. All of a sudden, his lifeless standstill became animated. Johnathan's left hand palm hit his forehead with a loud slap as he blurted out, "I didn't use a condom!! What have I freak'n done to myself?!  F*ck!! How on earth could I be so damn stupid and careless??!" Jonathan's hysterical moment was brought to an abrupt halt when the secretary, buzzed his office. "Excuse me Mr. Mandela", her voice rang over the intercom."What is it Mariyam?" She paused, obviously not expecting the icy greeting in his voice. "Sir, your elder brother, Edwin, wanted me to remind you to be at your parents mansion for dinner tonight. The Prime Minister Barnabas, his wife and daughter Peru will be in attendance sir." "Is that all?", he said to her in annoyance. "Yes sir, that is all." "Why couldn't my brother simply remind me himself instead of asking my secretary? Is business the only thing that  he and I share in common, or, the only time he speak to me directly? Besides, I'm  in no mood to put up fronts tonight. Since when now have our "family dinners" included the Prime Minister, his wife Mirabel and their daughter Peru?  When will my parents and my instigating brother lay off my back about me marrying her?", Jonathan seethed in discontentment. He knew what this whole charade was all about. His marriage to the Prime Minister's daughter was a power move.With the two most powerful, riches and influential families joined together, they would rule over all of South Africa. Jonathan is well aware that marrying Peru is all about political gain more than anything else. "Surely, it's not for love", he thought. "I've never liked arranged marriages, neither do I want to partake in one. I'm not going to play into their hands tonight. My plate is already full. No need for me to bite off more than I can chew in one day. I got a bigger problem on my hands right now to contend with other than Peru, an arrange marriage or family dinner. Natasha is her name."

Natasha:
"Once you press SEND, the information is now out of your hands." Natasha is reminded of a public service video she remember seeing at her daughter's school about being mindful of the content you share on-line or text to another by phone. Once the other person has received the information, you no longer have a choice of how it's being carried by that person or persons who have it in their hands. "Do I have a choice?", Natasha asked herself.  Not anymore she thought. "In the moment of decision, I had a chance to pull out while I was still deciding; but, revenge and a shattered heart decided his faith for him, and the consequences for me." Natasha sat in front of  her Mac Book staring at the email she just sent to Johnathan. "I finally did it." she thought out loud. "I told him that I was pregnant. Now comes the gritty part, I need to make him believe it. At least I have one thing going for me...we had unprotected sex." "I will use this very important fact to gain the advantage over him." Soon, Natasha began rehearsing what happen that night over and over her mind. The more she kept thinking about it, the angrier she became. "Johnathan, you will not get away so easily this time. I promise. I will make a lasting example out of you that you will never be able to forget." She sat her computer off to the side and stretched out fully in her bed. Fire blazed in Natasha's eyes, deadly flames that cannot be extinguished. She began to think of ways to make her scheme more believable. "I know the first thing he will want to see is a pregnancy report confirming my claims", she said. "How can I stage a fake pregnancy that will strongly convince him otherwise? I have my work cut out for me. At least he's not in the U.S. right now, that puts a little time on my hand to cultivate my plan. If he was here, he'd probably want to escort me to the nearest clinic." Humiliation flashed across Natasha's  face like an instant Polaroid  camera. She pictured the embarrassment of being busted by a doctor informing Jonathan that there was no evidence of a pregnancy. "Distance is my only saving grace", Natasha sighed in relief. 

The Rider:
"Mariyam, you can leave work a little earlier today, I'm closing the office in the next thirty minutes." "Sir...sir, thank you sir! My children will be so happy to see me home early today", his secretary spoke with surprised excitement. "It's Okay, Mariyam. Once you fax over a copy of today's ledger to Felix & Barron Accounting Firm you may go." After Jonathan's secretary had gone for today, he stayed behind. His attention was back on Natasha's email she had sent him earlier. Jonathan removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie. "What if she's lying?" he thought. "She would be the second woman to ever become pregnant from me if she is that way." Jonathan reminisced on the first time he had gotten someone pregnant. It was from a girl he dated back in college. Her name was Kisa. Jonathan convinced Kisa that he would marry her if she got rid of the pregnancy, not marry her because she was pregnant. He cleverly turned it around on her. He even bought her an engagement ring just to urge her along. Finally, she gave in and had the pregnancy aborted. Jonathan then employed one of  his friends she didn't know to seduce her so that he could stage a break up with her. It worked. He caught Kisa in the arms of another man and broke it off with her. He told her, "I'm such a nice guy, you can even keep the ring." Jonathan was a bloody shame even back then. "So, if this is Natasha's ploy to trap me into marriage, it will never work, because I'm not going to marry her. Not at all. The thought of a nagging wife constantly in my ear irks the crap out of me. I can give a woman anything...but my time and commitment isn't neither of them." Jonathan's cell phone started ringing, he looked to see who was calling, it was his mother, Makeba. He knew why she was calling...to remind him of tonight's affair. "I'm getting fed up with my father and mother breathing down my neck to settle down and marry a suitable wife and produce an heir. All this pressure is getting next to me. My father has made it painstakingly clear, that without one, I will not inherit my entire portion of his estate. That means my brother will have the bigger portion of our father's estate, including the company assets. If such a thing shall ever happen to me, that control freak I call my brother would be booming with gladness. He already think I'm incapable of managing my part of the company as we speak. Which is why he convinced our father to let him hire on Felix & Barron Accounting Firm, to check over all my financial transactions pertaining to the family empire. But enough about my egotistical brother for now, I need to focus on the current issue at hand. I need answers to the questions that have taken up residence in my mind. "Is Natasha truly pregnant?" And if so, "Is it my pregnancy she's carrying?" Only Natasha know the truth, he thought. Jonathan stood in his office staring out of the window for nearly fifteen minutes in deep meditation. Finally, after gazing mindlessly in a trance, he sat back down in his chair facing his computer. Jonathan clicked on the email she sent him, thinking out loud, "Well, I can't get answers by holding on to runaway thoughts in my head. I need to reply her." 

Natasha:
"You got mail" Natasha was awaken by the buzz of her cell phone. She didn't realize that she'd fallen asleep. "All this plotting and scheming was tiresome work", she thought. "Perhaps I should get into a more legitimate line of business...politics maybe? Naw, politicians are just as crooked and devious as the rest of us." Natasha seen she had gotten an email alert, and it's from Johnathan. "It's him..." she muttered in quiet excitement. Now she was fully awake. Natasha tossed her cell phone aside and reached for her Mac Book. "It's better I read his response on a wider screen", she said, while opening the browser. The email read:

The Rider: 

"Natasha,

You're now pregnant huh? I don't believe you. If so, how do I know that I am the one who's responsible for whatever it is you think that you are carrying? To tell you the truth, I don't think that you are..."

-Johnathan

**STAY TUNED FOR THE REST OF ADDICTED TO LOVE PT. 9 (THE BURDEN OF PROOF 2)*


Written by:
Latarsha M. Preciado
All Rights Reserved©

Addicted To Love- pt.8 (The Scheme)

Natasha:
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...As I stare over at the clock sitting on my nightstand, it's precisely 3:00 am my time. I've been up all night like a crack addict in rehab trying to shake this feeling. Debating rather or not should I do it. Should I call him and tell him. I wanted so badly to make him pay for the pain he's caused me. He has left me in rejection's grip. I'm locked in a prison of turmoil and I can't seem to break free. Part of me just want to cut my losses and move on, but the wound he has left in my heart cuts deeper. Damn! I hate this feeling! I screamed from the crevices of my aching soul to the center of  my aching chest. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode. I was deeply wounded. Out of  nowhere, I grabbed my pillow and pressed it over my mouth and let out a loud wail. I screamed so hard that my lungs were beginning to weaken from lack of oxygen intake. Why??? Johnathan...whyyyyy??? I laid in my bed in the fetal position crying for another hour until my tear ducts could no longer produce anymore tears. I was exhausted by the overwhelming sensation of grief. Quickly my grief turned ice cold as visions began to invade my mind of the man I love in the arms of another woman. As each scene played through my mind, I saw Johnathan doing things to other women that I wish he was doing to me. Anger was beginning to rise in me like the dangers of flooding waters, and Johnathan's excuse for dumping me, was as weak as the levees in New Orleans. When it's all said and done, nothing will be able to hold me back from him. This anger that I feel on the inside has propelled me to go ahead with the plan. 

The Rider:
I've been back home for a little over a month now, and glad about it. Don't get me wrong, I love traveling abroad, but there's no place like home. The people here in South Africa have mad love for me and show great respect to my family and I. Unlike the way some of the people behave in America. They are some of the most rude and arrogant group of people you would ever want to meet. Especially when driving. Still thinking about that idiot guy who cut me off in traffic while I was in Houston, Texas. He had the audacity to point his middle finger up at me when I blew my horn at him! And he was in the wrong. Unscrupulous jerk! If anyone pulled that stunt here, they would lose that finger. I did, however, had a splendid time with "Velvet", who I later found out was a part-time stripper at "The Hustler's Club", located in an area of San Francisco called North Beach, and "Esperanza Yen" was actually her real name. "Velvet" was her stage name. She brought out the meaning in both of her names either way. Damn! That girl worked me like I was an African slave. Needless to say, she was the only one getting paid. Esperanza is Afro-Cuban and Vietnamese. Her beauty is truly a work of art. She's every man's fantasy. Over dinner, she told me that her mother gained her American citizenship under refugee status. Esperanza's mother fled Vietnam due to the many wars that torn through their country land. She arrived in America with only her clothes on her back, not knowing how to speak English, and she had no family. They all died back in Vietnam. Sang Yen was placed in a government housing development for refugees. Part of her stipulations for gaining refugee status was that she had to learn how to write and speak English, attend a trade school, and learn basic social living skills as an American citizen. Gradually, over time, Sang Yen slowly began to fit right into society. She learned how to do nails as a trade and eventually got her cosmetology license. She worked in other people's nail salons in Miami where she lived for five years. One day, a delivery guy by the name of Carlos Santiago, an equally hard working self-made man from Cuba, came to drop off a package in the salon where she worked. He made these package deliveries almost every week at the Treasure Nail Salon. Overtime, Carlos and Sang Yen took notice of each other. They began to develop a friendship that soon blossomed into a beautiful relationship. After two years of dating, Sang Yen and Carlos got married. They both dreamt of owning their own business one day. So, after months of careful planning, she and her husband Carlos relocated to San Francisco and opened up their first business together called, "Jade Della Rosa", a full service spa salon. 

Della Rosa was Carlos's late mother who was killed by a drunk driver on her way home from work cleaning houses when he was seventeen years old. Carlos was devastated over the senseless death of his mother. "Her memory will never be forgotten" he had promised himself. So, in honor of her memory, he named part of the family business after her. Jade was Sang Yen's mother, who was also tragically killed by a bomb in Vietnam. They have both suffered tremendous losses over the years, which was part of the reason why they've always felt a strong connection between each other. A bond that is visibly seen. All of Sang Yen's hopes and dreams were finally coming true. Her life has purpose and meaning now that she has met Carlos. She no longer lives in fear and chaos like she did in her earlier years. Sang Yen now has peace. Part of her name means peace, and when she gave birth to Esperanza, she knew that her hopes were finally being fulfilled, as she watched her life come around full circle.When Esperanza shared part of her background with me over dinner and drinks, I felt a familiar feeling come over me. I empathized with her and was deeply moved. My family had to flee our country also. I understood all to well. But what didn't register, was the fact that she was taking her clothes off for a living. So, I asked her, "Why have you chosen to strip at a gentlemen's club?" I asked with curiosity. She swirled her drink in slow motion with her right hand, while I took a brief notice to her well kept manicured finger nails. She raised her glass to her lips, and drew her drink in her mouth seductively and swallowed. Then she looked up at me with those sexy greenish-brown eyes, and devilish grin slowly forming on her face and said with no hesitation, "I want what you want: money...power...and control." 

Natasha:
I hate feeling powerless. And that's exactly how I feel right now. The target of my anger and frustration is thousands of miles away from me. If he was in my city or at least in the states, I'd have a better chance of doing a drive by on him. Thinking back on the last time I had to do a drive by. My daughter's father, Wayne came to mind. He had crossed me one too many times until I finally snapped. One night, I went all out gangsta on that thug and the funny thing is, I'm a box of nerds, a softy, a sweetie pie. But like R. Kelly says, "When A Woman's Fed Up", hell has no fury for a woman scorned. I geared myself up dressed in all black from head to toe. I tied a black bandana around my nose and mouth, pulled my hair back in a bun, and pulled a black baseball cap over my head. The only thing that was seen was my eyes. I looked like a Ninja Muslim woman ready to go Bruce Lee on a nigga. I asked my neighbor could I borrow his truck before I suited up, I made up some elaborate excuse to why I couldn't use my own vehicle. He graciously agreed. Before I left, I grabbed the biggest and sharpest knife from out of my kitchen, and rode off into the night like a undercover vigilante. When I approached his street, I dimmed the lights to the truck and began creeping in slow motion, passing by each house like a phantom on the prowl. It was already dark on his street with the exception of a few street lights that was dimly lit in various places. When I saw his house in view, I parked two houses away so that no one would see me pull up. I exited the vehicle leaving the engine running for my quick getaway. As I walked closer to his house, I could see that Wayne had his curtains pulled back, and that he and his friends were seated in the living room area drinking and smoking, and watching something on television. I quickly headed over to Wayne's parked Range Rover sitting on Alpine rims. That vehicle was his prize possession. He took better care of it than his own child. I removed the knife from the paper bag I concealed it in. The blade caught a glimmer of the street lights. Without no delay, I began puncturing his tires one by one as I heard the tires let out a whistle sound as the air seeped out.When I got to the fourth tire, I had difficulty penetrating its rubber, and it was taking me longer to do my evil deed than  planned. Before I knew it, one of Wayne's homeboy's stepped outside to make a phone call, and that's when he saw me at Wayne's vehicle. He yelled out for Wayne and the rest of the fellas to come outside, "Ya'll come out here! Hurry the f*ck up!" Then he yelled out towards me, "Yo, my nigga, what the f*ck are you doing?! Wayne rushed outside and took one look toward the direction of his Range, then yelled, "Man, what the f*ck?! Who is that nigga?! Let's take this ho ass nigga down!" My heart was racing and pounding in my chest as I ran back to the parked truck as fast as I could. Wayne and his homeboys were gaining in on me at top speed. I made it to the truck and quickly slammed the door shut. I hit the control switch that powered all the door locks down. I was so scared, that my hands were nervously shaking uncontrollably. For the life of me, I couldn't properly move the automatic stick shift out of park into drive. In haste, I put the automatic stick shift into neutral, the truck wouldn't go forward nor would it go backwards. I remained stuck at a stand still. Before I knew it, Wayne and his homeboys had me surrounded. They started pounding and kicking on the truck from all angles...even trying to smash in the windows. Next thing I knew, I saw one of Wayne's homeboy's pop open his trunk. By that time, I became extremely frantic as I watched my life flash right before my very eyes. My spirit rose within me as I spoke to myself, "Natasha, you ain't going down tonight, you got a daughter to live for! Now pull yourself together and get this truck out of neutral!" 

In quick desperation, I yanked the automatic back in an unknown gear and smashed my foot on the gas. Before I knew it, the truck jerked back in a violent motion, then started moving backwards. I drove backwards like a maniac until I reached the end of the block. I paused long enough to switch gears...Wayne and his homeboys were still foot chasing me. Finally! I got the truck to go in forward motion as I switched gears. I spun the wheel around with a sharp elbow turn. The tires began screeching as the truck leaned to one side as I drove in mad speed! Once I gained composure and full control of the wheel, the truck dropped to all fours and I sped off like the Night Rider. I was flooring the gas pedal at 90 mph in a 35 mph speed zone. Once I got far out of their reach, I rolled down the driver's side window and threw the knife out with force. I took off my black cap, removed the bandana from around my face, and shook my hair into place and drove like my life depended on it. Once I made it back to my side of town, I thanked my neighbor for allowing me the use of his vehicle. To show him my appreciation I offered him gas money, but he declined my offer. I looked at him and hunched my shoulders up and said, "Oh well, if you insist." I turned quickly on my heels and hurried to my apartment with haste. Once I made it in, I peeped in on my daughter who was still sound asleep. Slowly, I closed her bedroom door shut, eased out of my clothes and into a very hot bubble bath. Lord knows I needed it. To this day,Wayne never figured out it was me who inflated his tires that particular night. On the very next day he called me. He said, "Man, you won't believe what the hell kind of shit done happen to me last night", I said, "Try me."  

The Rider:
I got a ton of paper work to do, orders to approve, emails and phone calls to return, and I still need to drive over to the Port and check on my ship and the crewmen. I've been sitting in my office unable to get anything done in the last past four hours since I've arrived to the office. It's now a little after 11:00 am and almost time for me to have lunch. I have a meeting to attend to at 2:00 pm with my father, his advisory board, and my know it all elder brother, who is a maritime lawyer and the chief of staff over the family business. Being the youngest of my father's children has worked in my favor as well as against me. My actions and decision making have always come under scrutiny by Edwin, my eldest brother. I know how to do my job. I don't need him telling me how to do what our father has put me in charge to do. Many times he has challenged me by calling my actions reckless and immature."You look the part, but you don't know how to play the part  baby brother. You seem to be more preoccupied with chasing after women and blowing off your inheritance on them, rather than focusing on serious business matters at hand!" He roared out at me in anger in front of our father one day in his private office. His words still hover over my head like a grey cloud. How could he speak such grievous words to me like that?! Who does he think he is to me any way? My ruler? As I sat in my office in obvious deep thought, I was brought back to reality by the buzzing of my cell phone. I was being notified that I had just received an email. Without hesitation, I opened my inbox and saw that I had received an urgent message from Natasha. I haven't spoken to Natasha in over a month, what could she possibly be contacting me for now? I had made it quite clear to her the last time we had spoke that it was over between us, and that I didn't want to hear from her again. What does this woman not understand? As I sat up in my chair, I scrolled down the screen giving full attention to her email as it began to read like this: 

Natasha:
Dear Johnathan, 
"There is something that I need to discuss with you. I don't know where to start, and  I feel so alone right now. I didn't have the courage to tell you over the phone, so I decided to email you instead. Ever since we have departed, I haven't been the same since...emotionally, spiritually, or physically. I don't sleep well at nights on end, I can't hold down any food in my stomach when I eat, and I have fallen into a black hole and can't seem to find my way out of it. All I keep in my head are the memories of that night when we were last together. Do you remember that night in your hotel room Johnathan? The night you jammed your penis in me and did whatever made your flesh happy. The night  you oozed every drop of yourself in me, then turned your back against me once you were done. You even went so far by kicking me out of your hotel room late in the night and told me to catch a cab home because it was over between us. I'm sure you remember...don't you? I want to inform you that it is not over. This is just the beginning. Johnathan, I'm pregnant with your child."

Written by:
Latarsha M. Preciado
All Rights Reserved©

Addicted To Love- pt.7 (The Storm Is Brewing)

Natasha:
    Traces of black mascara ran down my cheeks. My tears matching the color of my heart which has been shattered into a million pieces. The man of my dreams, my knight in shinning armor, has turned out to be the rider on the horse. He road into my life shinning as the sun. The moon was no match to his brilliance. When he looked into my eyes, his captivating glare charged every cell within my body. He was my hope. Now my hope has been made a fool out of, right there in his hotel room...in his bed. How could he be so heartless? I mean...I thought we were forming a great relationship. But to my surprise, he had a different agenda. A million thoughts ran through my mind at the speed of lighting. Each one numbing my thought process. "I can't think right now", I said to myself. All  I can do is feel the anger rising within me. I should have known better. This fly by night had other motives. He was way too smooth with his operation. He cut my chest wide open and made his way into my heart. Why else would I be able to feel his effect on me? He wooed me over with expensive dinners, expensive gifts, and large sums of money he wired into my account on a regular. I should have known better. Most men don't embellish like that unless... My mind spun into over drive thinking about his elaborate plan he executed perfectly well. Mission accomplished. This smooth operator won, at least tonight he did. "It's not over I thought, as I slowly shook my head with squinted eyes and gritted teeth.This is not over." I paid the cab driver with the money he parted me with after we had sex. In bitter silence, I headed up the pathway to my apartment.

The Rider:
    Wow, what time is it...7:00 am?! What? My flight leaves in an hour time. I can't believe I slept through my 6:00 am wake-up courtesy call. My head feels like a ton of bricks. I drunk one too many Guinness and to top it off, Natasha started tripping. That girl got issues...too many for a man like me. She's the only woman complaining about me not being able to commit. Money plays a huge factor in this country and the American dollar speak. Hell...money is a huge factor every where. Women would do anything to be with a man of my standards. I'm the cream of the crop. My wealth is the one thing that separate me from the have's and the have not's. And me and my family have...and a lot of it. The women I meet know this about me. I'm not cheap by far. You show me a good time while I'm in your town, and I'll make sure your needs are met also. That's how I roll, and the women I meet are cool with this arrangement. Perhaps, I did lead her own a bit. I'll admit that. An easy way to gain access into a woman's heart is through her children. I allowed myself to feel for her daughter as a father would his own child. My mistake. I'm not that stone cold. I love children, but I should have known better playing daddy to another man's child. Natasha's daughter is bright, mannerable, and a sweet girl.  I truly felt for her. I have plenty of nieces around her age from my elder sisters. They love and adore their Uncle Johnathan, and I adore and love them too. She reminds me of them. Too bad. Natasha had to go left on a good thing that could have at least benefited her daughter. I must move on. My next stop, San Francisco. I have a meeting with  buyers on a shipment of crude oil that has already left out of New Orleans and making it's way there. My mind escaped business matters for a second when I thought of her. Velvet. A sexy bi-racial chic I met on my last trip to California. I promised to take her out once I returned back on business. I hope she's less complicated. It's not easy being the son to the wealthiest man in South Africa, a Prince, and an influential no none-sense business mogul. However, I wouldn't give it up for anything. I love what I do. My life is sweet

Natasha:
    I woke up with the most nagging headache ever. I feel detached from reality. The reality that I was dropped like a bad habit in re-hab. I sat up in my bed trying to process my thoughts that were numbed from the shock of his rejection. I need an Advil and a hot bubble bath. My bath times are always sacred. That's the one place where I release from the stresses of life and slip into a state of  true bliss. I need that right now, but first, I must call him. Perhaps last night was just one big misunderstanding. My palms started sweating as I gripped the cordless phone in my hand. I slowly pressed the number keys into the phone, hoping that will give me enough time to think up a good excuse for calling him. I pray that his mood has changed, after all, he did have one too many to drink last night. Maybe it was the alcohol speaking and not him. By now, he should have slept it off.  Johnathan answered the phone on the third ring. "Hi", I said nervously, "Can we talk?" Talk about what he said. The tone in his voice was stern and callous. "I have nothing to say to you after you've bad mouth me." "Look, Johnathan, I'm sorry about that. Will you forgive me?" "I can forgive you", he said, "but you and I are finished." "Let's just end things on this note...okay? Tell your daughter Merry Christmas and good bye for me will you." Before I could respond he had already hung up. I sat there holding the phone with a blank expression on my face. So, he really meant it? It's over between us?? I give him my love, my affection, and my body...and in one night of intimacy he's finished with me. What the hell?!! I tried hard to fight back my tears but they came on cue as if they knew when to fall. I have been struggling all my life to receive love, even more so, just to hold on to it. Why is this always happening to me? What am I doing wrong? Isn't it normal to meet a guy, talk for a while, go out more than once, and have mutual attraction for each other? Why when I express my feelings, men haul ass? I'm human. I feel. And I too should be able to express what I want in a relationship. I really thought he was the one. He treated me like a princess when we first met. Now, he has tossed me away like a pair of used shoes. Well, these pair of used shoes are about to walk right back into his life. I've heard about women using the classic "trap" to secure their man, to secure money, or secure a position with a man. Can I get away with this "social security" scheme, I thought? I started calculating. In his haste, he didn't use a rubber. He and I are both aware of that fact. I thought long and hard. My mind took me back to his hostility and the cruel way he told me to leave his hotel room. My mind took me all the way back to the other times I gave my heart to someone, and in return got hurt in the process. Well, this time, I'm going to be the one who will leave my personal effects on a man, instead of a man always leaving his on me. The ball is in my courtyard now. Prince Johnathan...devastation is heading your way.


Written By:
Latarsha M. Preciado
All Rights Reserved© 
   

Addicted To Love- pt.6 (A Woman Scorned)

    His silence was questionable, and the atmosphere was sullen . I couldn't tell which was more colder,  his ill demeanor, or the winter chill outdoors. I was beginning to feel the effects of his sudden mood change, and I didn't quite like it. Everything had been going perfect from the start. He gave me every green light that showed me that our relationship was a go. Why was he withdrawn tonight I thought? We were driving along Westheimer heading 610 west. As we exited the highway, the Bentley drove three lights down before it hooked a sharp left onto a private road. The further we drove into what appeared to be a wooded trail, the busy street vanished. And there it was sitting, the four diamond Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa laid nestled on 32,000 square feet of land. My eyes got rounder than two golf balls when the majestic forest revealed what was hiding in them. My knight had truly out done himself this time. This place was an elegant jewel located on 18 acres of wooded oasis in the heart of Houston. It was breathtaking, and needless to say that I was speechless. I no longer fretted over his rude boy attitude. I chalked it up to a random mood swing. Tonight was going to solidify the beginning of our commitment together.


    Before we got out of the vehicle, the vallet parking attendees were already doing what they do so well. One gentleman dressed in a black suit jacket with matching pants, and a white dress shirt proceeded to open the driver side door. "Welcome Mr. X, we are delighted you have chosen to stay with us on your visit." My knight emerged from his seat, shook the gentleman hand, and gave him the keys to the Bentley. Another parking attendee reached for my door and greeted me, "Good evening madam, welcome to the Houstonian, enjoy your stay with us. Thank you I said, as I grabbed onto his extended hand as he pulled me from the car. I looked over at my handsome knight, and saw him tip a generous sum of gratitude to the first guy who he handed the keys to. As we walked to the main entrance of the hotel, we were greeted by warm welcomes and grandiose fanfare by the concierges, and other general staff members. The manager then walked over to us, "Welcome, we are so pleased to accommodate  you both tonight", he said, as he personally began to handle the logistic of our reservation. I was impressed by the quality of excellence that held up to their reputation. Even more so, I enjoyed watching my man have them eating out of his hands. Once we got the keys to our room, we were then escorted to the presidential suite. As the door swung open to our suite, so did my mouth. Actually, my mouth dropped open. I couldn't believe my eyes,  it looked like Buckingham Palace was placed inside our room. The decor was magnificent, and the bed was surely fit for a king and his queen. Everything in there was over sized, from the massive spa quality tub, on down to the pillows. I have never experienced anything like it, nor have I gone to any place so grandeur before. The Marriot was the closest I've ever gotten to grandeur. Tonight was going to be magical after all I thought to myself.


    "I need to check my email and make a few business calls, please excuse me for a while," he said to me. "Sure, I'm going to go tour the place for a bit, then I'll come back up"  I had planned to soak in all the amenities that this place had to offer, starting with their world class spa called the Trellis. Nothing else got me into a relaxed mood other than a great spa treatment. The Trellis was an eight wonder in and of itself. The 17,000 square  foot spa, had twenty-one treatment rooms to indulge in. The moment I entered its premises, I was instantly transported to the Mediterraneans. The two story residential style building had a Mediterranean design to it. The salmon colored stucco on the outside set the tone to a spa experience like no other. The outdoor landscape exterior, was clothed in the beauty of natural botanical gardens and towering Palm trees. I remember smelling the intoxicating fragrant of Night Blooming Jasmines in the air. It was heaven on Earth. And I was the chosen Earth angel who was about to earn my wings tonight. It was time to fly and kiss the gods who have made all of this possible. I was beginning to get that urge, my drug of choice was calling out for me. In a matter of moments, I said to myself, I will be high off of his love. But first thing first, I had to prepare for him.


    I signed up for the Tranquil spa treatment. I was assigned to a private room whereby every delectable delight was at my finger tips. My private room was glowing in the ambiance of off white candles in every size. The soothing sound of tropical breezes and ocean waves were lightly looming in the air created by specialized music. The effects were so natural, I felt as if I was on a secluded island. I began undressing out of my clothes and slipped into a plush terry cotton white robe, with matching slippers. I walked over to the tray of assorted fruit and began munching on sweet strawberries, while pouring me a glass of sparkling wine, better known as champagne. After a few bites of fruit, I slipped out of my robe. I headed toward the massive spa tub and enjoyed a blissful hot spring Shiatsu bath. I remember every pleasurable senses coming alive in my body, as I submerged myself underneath the hot springs. The pleasure was so incredible that I almost forgot about the man who had brought me there. After I finished my hot spring bath, I received a stone therapy massage. The massage therapist must have ironed out every crook and cranny in my body. By the time she was finished, my muscles felt like loose jello. The Shiatsu spring bath, the waterfall Swiss shower, and stone therapy massage did the trick. I was so relaxed, and smelling so fresh and clean, I wanted to be with myself. But no need for that, when I had a handsomely built Pharaoh waiting for me back in our suite. It was time to head back, I had giving him way too much time to conduct whatever personal business he needed to do.


    By the time I reached our room, my knight was no where to be found. Where could he be? I walked into the bathroom and found it empty, then walked out on the private balcony, and it was empty too. Perhaps he went looking for me I thought. I was gone for a while. Spa treatments were my other obsession. So when it comes to them, I lose myself in the moment and time becomes obsolete in the process. Well, wherever he had gone, one thing was for certain, he would be back. I decided to climb into bed and await his return. An hour had gone by and there was still no sign of him. I was beginning to get sleepy laying in the king size comfort, of the massive luxury bed. Before I knew it, I was nodding off to sleepville. I was in a deep state of sleep when I was awaken by a soft kiss on the backside of my neck. Then another kiss. I felt his breath breathing heavily on the back of my neck. It smelled of strong liquor. I asked him where had he gone. He said, "I decided to go for a drink at the bar". My knight anxiously began fumbling at my panties, "Take them off," he said to me in an annoyed impatient tone. I didn't like the fact that he wanted to jump right into it. I wanted intimacy. I wanted to be held, and I wanted to be told I love you, over and over again. "Can you slow down? Why the rush? I want to take in this moment slowly" I said to him, while gripping my panties in place. "I thought you wanted this?", he said to me. "Haven't I been good to you? When you needed my help, haven't I came through? Well...now I need you to be here for me." I didn't like the sound of that. He's making me feel obligated, when I should be willing. And I was willing, until he started acting as if I owed him. "You're starting to upset me", he said. "I traveled all this way to come see you, now you're giving me a hard time?". I was beginning to get nervous. 


    He had turned into the rider on the horse, right before my very eyes. He was on a mission. He forcefully turned me over onto my back while unzipping his pants. He climbed on top of me before I had the chance to react, yanked my panties to the side, and at that moment he was quickly inside of me. He began  jerking back and forth in wild and reckless motions. "How does it feel?! How does it feel?!" he kept repeating over and over into my ears. It felt as if a jagged blade was stabbing me repeatedly, I thought in misery. It was the longest, miserable three minutes I ever experienced in my life. I felt sick to my stomach every time I caught a whiff of the liquor on his breath. His grunting sounds resembled that of a pig eating up slop. That is how he made me feel too...like slop. I shut my eyes tightly, while gasping for air. I started praying that it would all end soon. That's when  he let out a loud moan, as every drop of him oozed out while still inside of me. Then he collapsed on top of me like a ton of bricks. What the hell just happen here?? Tears began swelling up in my eyes, as I asked him to get off of me. This bastard couldn't even wait until I was out of my clothes. "What was that about?" I said to him. I didn't like the way that felt. "What was you expecting?" He said to me."More than this," I said, as my voice began rising at him. "Tonight was suppose to be a special moment between you and I, but you took that all away from me". "Look!", he said with tension rising in his voice to match mine, "Maybe that is what you were expecting, but not me! Listen...I want to go to sleep now, I have a meeting on tomorrow. And the way things are going, it look as if  I won't be getting any sleep tonight as long as you are here. So here is what I suggest", he reached for his wallet on the night stand, and took out three crisp twenty dollar bills, "Call yourself a cab." He placed the money between us on the bed, and turned his back to me. "Goodbye". 


    I was stunned. It felt as if someone had just taken a bucket of ice cold water and threw it in my face. He could have at least driven me back home. But he wanted me to take a cab. A cab? The very situation that led me to meet him in the first place. A cab?? The very thing I swore I was through with. A cab???!!!...right back where I started from. My mind went blank. I felt my teeth starting to grit and my heart growing cold and numb. Before I knew it, I was cussing him out. YOU WORTHLESS JERK!!! YOU CREEP!!! I screamed at him. I called him every bad name that I could think of. He sat up in bed, looked at me then said, "Now that you have gotten all the money you could get out of me, I become all these low rated names??! What did you expect...you thought I wanted to marry you? Grow up!" He said to me. "Not all relationships end in marriage. I just wanted to have fun and kick it with you. But now since you have bad mouth me, I don't want to have anything else to do with an ingrate like you. I can't be with any woman who bad mouth me. Not now, not ever! Now get the hell out of my room!!". "If you wanted a call girl, your ass should have searched the yellow pages!" I said to him with indignation, as I gathered my things and walked out. I had the concierge phone me a cab. I was broken into a million pieces. He never wanted to be with me in the way I had thought he did. All he was looking for was a good time with no strings attached. "Not all relationships end in marriage" kept replaying in my head over, and over, like a scratched record stuck on the same tune. I cried all the way home in the cab. My Christmas was ruined. I was utterly devastated. 


    He was not going to get away with what he had done to me. I had swore it. He thought he paid now, but he will pay dearly with his life when I get through with him. Even if I had to track him down like a bounty hunter. He's surely going to get what's coming to him. Never violate a woman who has already gone through sexual trauma before, like I had. And he did just that. I was stewing in the color of red, which represented blood and vengeance in my eyes. That night I became pregnant with revenge. 


Written By: LaTarsha Preciado
All Rights Reserved ©

Addicted To Love- pt.5 (The Rider)

    Being in love is a great feeling. I am full of him right now, even more so, I am addicted. Everything about my knight in shinning armor is captivating. His smile, the way he talks, the way he lavishes attention upon me, and his presence...oh yes, his presence. Whenever he enters a room, his presence commands attention. People take instant notice to him. Women swarm to his side like bees to honey, and men shake his hand, as if they are members joined together to a secret society of prowlers. Some hate on him, while others wish they could trade places. He rises mix emotions in people. He is an international business man who travels all over the world trading liquid gold, but it wasn't always like that. My knight came from a wealthy successful family who had built their empire on oil and government abuse. They had risen to the top of the food chain, while the people under them suffered. The birth place where my knight came from, has been torn and divided by poverty, war crimes, and government corruption. In order for my knight's family to have survived the desperate conditions in that part of Africa, his people made alliances with European settlers. Other tribal groups in the area did not go for that, they wanted to rid their land of the pale face invaders who had come among them, ripping their land, people, and culture apart, so they fought in rebellion. It was a major division among the various tribes. My knight's family and their tribe  had decided to form a partnership with the European settlers, as a result of this union, they benefited in ways that the other groups did not. While working under European influence, select tribes gained advance education, and some even inter-married with the pale face settlers. My knight's tribe grew in number, as well as influence. They were considered the superior ones among other neighboring tribes in the area because of their level of education and their exposure to the first world as they called it. My knight's family land was sitting on oil, something very valuable to the settlers, and something they also wanted. Instead of fighting them off of their land to get what they had wanted, the settlers proposed an offer that obviously became a treaty among them; however, it made my knight's family and other local tribes enemies. 


    Many years has past since that treaty was signed in blood, but the effects were still very much present. The part of South Africa where my knight came from has been saturated with violence and war over social stratification brought on by the control of basic necessity. Major oil companies have drilled pipe lines through local villages where people live. Violent gangs have killed many innocent people, including women and children, in order to make a political statement. These war criminals have set fire to major oil refineries that have driven pipes through their lands in hopes of discouraging their company from making profit. The land is wealthy, but the people who live there are poor and living below their means, it wasn't so with my knight and his family. The alliance that was made in the earlier century secured them. Though he was not born when all of that took place, he still became a beneficiary of the promise that was made. My future father and brother in-law became top government leaders of South Africa. With such power and influence over the country they were able to dictate where the wealth was going and to whom. Many people and their families were not seeing the wealth, mainly because favoritism was being shown to those who belong to the so call royal class, or those with superior education. These select group of tribes had special ties to the Euro society and the Euro dollar. In which my knight's family had. They had no worries, they had it all. They were educated, wealthy, taught how to be civilized, and they owned oil...lots of it. This made enemies and caused bad blood between them and other neighboring tribes. The fat cats of South Africa soon became targets of the people anger and frustration. The lower class people and the underdogs began fighting for freedom and their right to their piece of the pie. One day, an angry mob of protesters stormed my knight's family mansion and burned it down to the ground while chanting, "Freedom from Apartheid, freedom for our land, freedom to our people!!!" It was no longer safe for their family to live in South Africa, so they fled to Europe, where they lived in exile for many years until it was safe to return to their home again. My knight was only two years old when he and his family escaped to Europe. Over there he grew up and went to private school. As he got older, he was groomed into the family lucrative business, and now the mantle of the family legacy has fallen upon him.


    As he slapped on a generous amount of aftershave, he began tugging at the jacket of his double breasted pin stripe suit making last minute adjustments to his appearance. He is off to a meeting with an investor who is looking to buy top quality crude oil. He had already sent a ship ahead of him carrying six containers to New Orleans. He had already closed the deal on that bid and made another fortune in the process. In two weeks time he will be arriving to the United States, New Orleans, Louisiana will be his first stop, then he's off to Houston, Texas. "I have unfinished business to take care of," he thought to himself, as he stared at the picture he took of her on his last visit there, "...and this time I hope she's ready." Perhaps if I send her a little motivation before I arrive, I won't have too much to say, he thought. I'm a business man who presents an offer, invest in what I want, and at the end I expect to close the deal. I see no difference when it comes to women. As long as they're getting what they want out of the deal, and I get what I want, everyone goes home happy. Which reminds me, I need to call Esperanza, this Cuban hottie that I met in San Francisco, California. Her name speaks for itself, I just hope she is as easy as she looks. Damn, that girl is super fine!


    My knight in shinning armor recently call to tell me that he would be arriving in Houston in less than two weeks. I am excited! For days I have been walking around my apartment giddy, and smiling at everything. I have fallen deeply in love with him. He is the absolute choice I want in a man. He's perfect in every way. Since he left the states, he has made sure that I didn't have to be behind the wheel of another cab again. He wired a generous amount of money into my account on a regular basis, which help kept me a float. I was grateful to him for that. I was also able to move into a nicer apartment. I wasn't too much worried about not having a vehicle, since I was out of one after I no longer decided to drive cabs. I had a gut feeling that my knight wasn't going to allow me and his new daughter to go without one for too long. My knight has made a mark improvement into our lives. A faithful hard working man needed to be shown all the love he has given me in return. And I plan to do just that. This time I hold no resistance back from him. I want to make love to him, and I want him to make love to me. I want to go even further with him, I want to get married, and I am quite certain that he feels the same way that I do about him. "Should I tell him that I love him", I thought. I do love him and I want to spend the rest of our lives together. A strong urge came over me to make use of one of those numbers he had given me previously. I want to call him and tell him how I feel about him before he arrives, that way he would know just how serious I am about our relationship. I am ready to go to the next level.


    As I nervously began to dial his number, I felt a lump forming in my throat. I cleared my throat and swallowed hard...then suddenly the ringing stopped. "Well hello there, today must be my lucky day because you called." My heart beat was thumping so loud in my head, that I had to ease the phone away from my ear to hear him clearly. "Hi", I said to him, with a nervous calmness in my voice. How are you and my daughter doing? Are you guys Okay? Did you get the money I sent you? His British accent was heavy, and when he spoke fast, his words jumbled together which made it more difficult for me to clearly understand him. "Oh yes, thank you, I did receive the money that you sent to us", I said. As I built up the courage, I finally told him what was bubbling up on the inside of me. My words spilled out of me like a breaking dam. I told him how much I loved him, I told him that he meant the world to me, and I hope that he felt the same way about me. By the time I had finished talking, he knew where I stood. He listen to all I had to say without once interrupting me, however, he added no comment. He just simply said, "Okay, thanks for calling. I'll see you guys in a few days." As I hung up the phone, I felt relieved yet nervous all at the same time. I thought, soon my love will be here, and he picked the perfect time to come and see me too...Christmas.


    After five months of phone conversation, the moment has finally arrived. My knight was heading to Houston in less than two hours. It was the day before Christmas eve. I made sure that I kept my calendar clear and my schedule open for him. This is the moment that I had been anticipating for. The moment to be with the man I had grown to love. He captured my heart, now I was ready to give him more than just my heart and soul. I was ready to give him my body as well. He is the one for me, and I am sure that he feels the same way as I do. He told me that he loved my daughter as if she was his own. Even during one of our regular conversations, he mentioned that he wanted to adopt her. "Please for now own, do not have Destiny call me by my first name. I would like it if she called me Pappa", he said. I pondered over his request and took it to heart, I thought, surely if he wasn't serious about me, then why would he ask a personal thing such as that? On the night he arrived, he called me and said that he wanted to take me and my daughter out to dinner. "Be ready by 7:30", he said. As I hung up the phone, I notice that his tone was slightly rough. It didn't have its usual pleasantness to it. Some how, I manage to over look that, perhaps he has jet lag, I thought. After all, he just flown over thirteen hours to get here, and he's driving in Houston's traffic too...not a good combination. The poor fellow is just probably hungry and tired I reasoned, as I excused his sudden change in behavior. He pulled up in a sporty black Bentley when he arrived to my apartment complex. The Bentley that he was driving was a smaller version than the ones I am generally use to seeing. It looked sleek and elegant, yet sporty all at the same time. A sporty British car, fit for a sporty British man I thought. And my...did he look sporty and classy. My knight was wearing dark grey slacks with a medium crease running down the center of his legs. He also had on a classic white Polo shirt, layered with a brown, grey, and black vest underneath a chocolate colored blazer. The blazer had grey elbow patches on the back of them. He was looking smashing, as they would say back in the UK . As I entered into his car, my nose was greeted by the familiar scent I smelled on him when we first met. I was instantly taken back to that magical day, I could only hope that at this moment, we could re-kindle that magic again.


    We all sat in silence at the restaurant. My knight took us to another five star dining experience once again.We ate the best Texas steak dinner one could ever imagine. And it wouldn't have been a great steak dinner without a basket of buttery crunchy Texas toast on the side. The silence was killing my mood. My daughter didn't seem to mind that it was rather quiet at our table compared to all the other tables. She was too preoccupied with all of her expensive Christmas gifts she just had received from her new found Pappa. People were chatting and laughing all around us, needless to say that the holiday cheer was everywhere, except at our table. I decided to break the silence, "So, how was your flight?" He looked up from his plate of food only to respond briefly that it was a long flight, and that his body hasn't caught up with the time difference yet. After a few more attempts of small talk, I was ready to end the evening. He surely wasn't in no mood to talk, and to come to think of it, his mood has changed...drastically. Is this the same man I met five months ago? As the waitress approached our table, she asked if we wanted to have dessert..."no thank you, I pass", I said. The waitress looked at him, and he said the same thing. She then thanked us for coming out, and left the tab on the table. After we ate, and were very full, my knight asked us is there any other place that we would like to go, I told him no. When we pulled up to my apartment complex, I had my knight to wait downstairs for me while I escorted my daughter upstairs. "I'll be right back down", I said to him. As I walked off I said to my daughter, "I may be out a little late, so don't wait up okay" Are ya'll going back out, my daughter said to me? "Yes, just for a little while", I said. Oh...okay then, she said. "Bring me back something" Girl! I said laughing, "bring you back what?" "You already have a handful of gifts", I said to her. "Now lock the door, I see you later". It was nice and cool outdoors as I briskly walked back to his car. "I hope I didn't leave you waiting too long out here," I said to him, as I strapped up my seat belt. He slightly smiled at me, though his facial expression read his thoughts: Yeah, about five months too long you kept me waiting, he thought to himself as we drove off, but tonight the wait is over. Tonight this will all come to an end.  After that phone call she made to me a week ago, it through me off my game. I haven't felt the same about her again. She seem to not get it. The other women I have met along the way knew what time it was. I laced them up real good, and in return I'm given what I want. Hell...most of the time I win on the first day I meet a woman. That's the way I like it, and that is the way it's going to be. But Tasha  is different. She want more than I'm willing to give her. I mean...sure, I must admit...I fell for her situation and her daughter, but I'm not trying to wife her, or make any emotional commitments with any woman in the U.S. Tonight, I must make my move, then after I do, I got to cut her loose. On to new business in San Francisco. She has no idea what she have gotten herself into. I turned my head to look at the man I loved, but he seemed to have been caught up in deep thought. I wondered what on Earth was he thinking about. He had been acting very distant and aloof since he arrived. But none of that really mattered to me at that moment. What mattered, was what we were about to share between us that night. I was willing and ready to prove my love for him. I'm not like other women, once I give him that sacred part of me...getting rid of me won't be that easy...




Written By: LaTarsha Preciado
All Rights Reserved©

        

Addicted To Love- pt.4 (The Discovery)

    It was on a Saturday night, the fourth of July weekend. The air smelled of hickory smoke and ignited firecrackers. We were enjoying our second day together. Our first meeting went pleasantly well. We hit it off perfectly. My knight in shinning armor lavished me to no end. I shopped and dined at the best places in town. His taste was exquisite, as he embraced the finer things in life. I liked that quality about him, even though I could not afford the best things at the time, doesn't mean I didn't deserve a taste of it. On that weekend he made my dreams come true. I felt like Cinderella, minus the pumpkin and the fairy god mother. He was my shinning prince, here to save me from the day to day grind and toil of every day life. Before he came along, I was managing the best way I could, with the little I was making. I was sick and tired, of just being plain 'ole sick and tired. There was no need for me to put up fronts here. All this, "I'm a powerful black woman", mantra, didn't mean a hill of beans to me at that point. I needed help... and fast. I wanted, and needed a reliable and dependable man in my life. I wasn't just looking for a man to pay my bills, but I wanted a companion. Someone to simply say to me, "Babe, I got you". I'm not the kind of woman who goes around strutting my stuff in Wonder Woman boots, and tasseled ropes hanging from my hip with an attitude. I'm the kind of woman who doesn't mind asking for help when I need it, and the kind of woman who would go the extra mile for the man in my life if he were present. The hard facts was simply this: roles have reversed. Most men these days want the woman to take care of everything, while the man have 101 reasons to why he can't. Well, I was tired of hearing it. The old folks would say, "You can do bad all by yourself, you don't need anyone else to help you do that". And for that reason, I stayed by myself until he showed up in my life with something better.


    We sat in his brand new car staring at each other for what seem like eternity. That was our last night together, he was catching an earlier flight out leaving the country the very next morning. So we set in silence, staring into each others eyes. He drew his face so close to mines, that our lips were nearly touching. His freshly shaven face smelled of  spice and he was wearing an erotic fragrance on his clothes that rose something up on the inside of me.  I was enraptured by his alluring effect he was casting over me. Finally he spoke, "would you like to come back to my place tonight?" I paused, then blinked for a second, I answered him, "I don't think it will be a good idea tonight, my daughter is waiting up for me." I thought for a brief moment to myself...dah...why did you have to say that? Now he is going to think that I am a tease, or a mood killer. For a split second I felt nervous and put on the spot. After all the money that he had spent on me and my daughter, I could at least entertain him for one night I thought. After a minute of internal struggle, I chose to tell him no. I also resolved the issue in my mind that he would not be seeing me again. I mean after all, I didn't show him how much I appreciated all the things that he had done for us. I felt a cloud of disappointment forming over my head. "Okay"... he said, "I understand, however, I would like to see you again when I return." Did he say, what I just thought I heard him say? "Can you repeat that?" I said to him. He looked at me slightly confused, then he repeated himself once more. "I want to see you again, if that is alright with you." "Of course, I would love to see you again", I finally said to him as I exhaled. At that moment the sky parted ways, and a beam of light shown on us as the chorus began singing from heaven, hallelujah over and over again. My prayers were finally being answered.


    I could barely sleep that night. I was happy and all too excited that I met a man who treated me like a princess. Not only was he gorgeous, he was kind and generous. It is rare to find the two combinations together. The unattractive men are the ones who are usually generous and nice, while the gorgeous men are usually the self centered bastards, who you couldn't squeeze a dime out of. On top of all that, my knight in shinning armor didn't even reside in America. How was I going to make a bi-continental relationship work out I thought? He did not indicate that he had plans on moving to the U.S., in fact, he loved his home. As my mind was pondering over a million thoughts, my phone began ringing. "Hi, this is me" he said."I'm calling to give you my contact information so that you can reach me wherever I am." I liked the sound of that. This guy is really serious I thought to myself. "You ready?" I said, "Sure...shoot" He began spouting off numbers to places in New York, L.A. California, Atlanta, Europe, and South Africa. "And of course you have my Houston number already", he said. Sister girl was loaded down with contact information, along with his personal email address. In the back of my mind, I wondered why he had so many numbers to so many places? And what does this all really mean? My night in shinning armor went on to say, "if you google my name you will find me on the internet, and my brother also. I thought out loud without even realizing I was asking him the question, "Who is your brother?" And what does he have to do with you and I, I thought to myself at that point. My knight in shinning armor just simply said, "go on there and see for yourself". After we said our "see you later", but never goodbye speech, I bid him safe travel then I hung up the phone. As I walked over to my computer desk, I heard his voice trailing in the distance, "go see for yourself". So I did just that.


    Images of prominent names and faces popped up every where when I googled his name. One popular known person from South Africa was seen standing next to my knight in a family photo. I could not believe what I was seeing. I stared at my computer screen clicking links, on top of links that had my knight plastered all over the internet. I discovered that he was the baby of seven children, and his family own shares to almost every major oil company that I see on corners every day. He himself was an oil trader who operated a successful business along with his family. Hence the reason he traveled all over the country, to make sure that the family's wealth was in tact. My future husband's family (my views changed) were the black Kennedy's of South Africa. My future father in-law was a top governing official over there, and my brother in-law, the one he told me to check out, lets just say that he and the wealthiest black woman in America have dined out. For hours I kept reading news paper articles that were written about he and his prominent family. They were powerful and affluent people. I even seen a picture of my knight in fashion week in New,York City. How could I not know all of this? The obvious question that stuck out the most, was how come he chose to ride in a cab, instead of a personal limo? I guess faith wouldn't have it any other way. We were meant to be together. It all explains why I picked him up at the location he was at, the name on the building...it all made sense now.


    True to his word, he kept in touch with me by phone and email. In the beginning, he was the one doing all the calling and emailing. I liked it that way, it made me believe he wanted me just as much as I wanted him. Whenever my future husband would call, he would say, "How is my daughter doing?" Every time he referred my daughter to his own, I felt a warm tingling sensation between my legs. He was pushing all the right buttons, pulling on all the right strings, and saying all the right words. I was beginning to miss him deeply, and I longed to see him again. He told me that he had made arrangements to travel to the States in December, and that he was looking forward to spending Christmas with us. I was thrilled with excitement. I can't think of a better time to spend with the man I have falling madly in love with. And boy was I snow balling down a hill in love with him. Full speed ahead. One day he called, and told me to ask his daughter what do she want for Christmas. To ask a child that question, only mean that you are setting yourself up to either suit up, or die. My daughter answer was typical, she wanted the latest in every electronic gadget out there. When I gave him her wish list, he simply said, "done". "I'll personally give you your gift when I see you on Christmas", he said to me. "In the mean time, I'll send you a little something extra to help you manage." He asked me for my banking information, I replied, "what for?", "So that I can send you some money".  "Can't you wire it through Western Union?" I said. But what I later realized was that he had a bank account set up here in America, so all he really needed was the name of my bank and a routing number. I provided both with slight hesitation. Once he received my information, my account gained weight overnight. It gained fifteen hundred pounds to be exact. The next morning I was throwing my keys on the desk, and told the man sitting on the opposite side of it, "Good riddance", as I left Yellow Cab where I found it.


    For weeks he faithfully put money into my account and called me on a regular basis, all the while my heart was swelling with undying love for him. No man has ever cared for me like this accept for my grandfather. My grandfather took care of his family, along with his grandchildren. I never went without as long as he was around. He spoiled me, and showed me just how a real man is suppose to look after the people he loved and cherished. My future husband was beginning to fill my grandfather shoes, before he had come along, those shoes stayed empty. No man came close to walking in those shoes but him. I can not let him slip away from my grasp, I will do anything to keep him near...anything. I felt fear tormenting me like it always does when ever something good has come into my life. But I will do what it takes to keep him. I will leave all that I've ever known in America to follow him, I will learn to cook his food, I will learn his native tongue, I will even give him a baby. A baby he desired, yet never had or never known. He told me to expect his return, and get ready for him. I'm ready my love, I hold no resistance back from you, all that I am I give to you. 


    As I anticipate his return, the fire that is burning within me reaches its full peak. I am blazing with passion and love for him, but something went terribly wrong, this wasn't suppose to happen. The fires of passion and love quickly turned into a deadly inferno. How could he have done this to me???? It is time now... to even the score. 




Written By: LaTarsha Preciado
All Rights Reserved©

Addicted To Love- pt.3 (Desperate Measures)

    What started off as an innocent encounter turned into fatal attraction. I was no longer being chased, I was the one doing the chasing. We hit it off well in the beginning, he was my knight in shinning armor. Whatever I needed, he provided. He started off buying me expensive items, taking me to five star restaurants, he even bought my daughter a three hundred dollar cellular phone the day we first met. I was instantly impressed by his generosity. I had convinced myself that he was my angel sent by God, how else was I going to justify his reasoning for coming on too strong so soon? I was a struggling single mother working dead end jobs with no man around, so I thought to myself...my salvation has come. Before my knight came along, I was driving cabs to make a little extra money. It was a risk I was taking, there were not too many women driving cabs, especially at night, which I chose to do. Driving cabs was risky for me, but at night was when most cab drivers made the most money. I did what needed to be done to feed my child, and keep a roof over our heads; even if that meant being robbed at gun point, or raped by a stranger at night. 


    I had been driving for three months now, by that time I was ready to turn in my keys. I was tired of staying up all night driving from one place to another, not seeing my daughter for hours on end. I ate on the go, so I started gaining weight from all the burgers and fast foods I was eating. I felt trapped with no way out, until the day our paths had crossed. I was out running errands in my cab during the early part of the day. I didn't have a personal vehicle anymore, because the one I owned caught on fire as I was leaving my day job downtown. So, my survivor mode kicked in, and that magic light bulb appeared above my head. I had a grand idea to start driving cabs for that sole purpose. I needed a vehicle. I thought, not only will I have a way to get around in the big city, but I can make money at it too! I was determine to dig myself out of this black whole of despair by any means necessary. 


    My meter began flashing in my cab which indicated I had a pick up. I was going to hit the ignore button because I was on my personal time. I had plan to work later that night. When I saw how close that pick up was to where my destination was, I decided what the heck, let me make this quick money. I'll use it to fuel my cab for later tonight. As I approached the address where the customer was waiting, I couldn't help but notice the location, and the name on the building, then all of a sudden he walked out. He was laden down with his luggage, ipad, briefcase, and navigation device in his hands. Instantly I knew he was a traveler. We hit it off well, I was the perfect host, and he was the perfect customer. He tipped me as well as he looked, nothing about him read cheap. Inside I was very happy that I had decided to pick up that trip. I found out that my knight was traveling from Europe, though his parents are natives of the motherland. He was handsome and well put together. He spoke with a British accent, with a sprinkle of native influence in his voice. My knight  asked me to accompany him to dinner that night, I told him that I couldn't, I had to work. "I am willing to cover your salary tonight, and treat you to a fantastic evening", he said, "What do you say to that?" There wasn't much to say I thought, other than hell yeah! So throughout the early part of that day, I spent it with my knight in shinning armor. He lavished both me and my daughter the entire day. Sale clerks where starting to mistake him for her real dad. One even said to my daughter in his presence, "You sure have a wonderful dad to buy you all of these nice things." I didn't bother to correct her, I didn't want to spoil the mood. After a day of shopping, I dropped him off at a very nice looking home, in an expensive neighborhood. The lawn was  well manicured, the area was secluded. That is where he was staying at on his trip here. As he was exiting my cab, I asked him, "What time should I come back to get you for our date tonight?" There was no need to he told me, "I'll be picking you up myself." I drove back to my apartment in a daze, I was high already off this guy. My heart was pounding hard in my chest, my hands were shaky, my thoughts were running wild. I was thinking this is my lucky day. I mean, how often does a girl meet a guy who will go all out for her right? Wrong. I found out in the end, that it was I who really paid the high cost.


    I wanted to look my absolute best for him on our date. I spent the rest of the evening scanning through my closet trying to pick out the perfect attire for our night out. I pulled out a red dress, then thought, a red dress on the first date gave obvious signals I didn't want to send just yet. Next, I picked out a white dress, but soon decided against it. I didn't want to give him the impression that I was wearing my Easter suit. Finally, that's when I saw it, the black dress that I had recently purchased. The reason I bought the black dress in the first place, was because it camouflaged the extra weight I had put on previously, so I decided to wear that. I was pleased with my choice, the black dress concealed what I didn't won't to be seen, and accentuated all the parts that I wanted to flaunt. I felt good, and might I add, I was looking fabulous. My daughter gave me her final approval, she's my mirror who wouldn't lie to me. I kept her busy that night with DVD's and her favorite snacks, while I went on my date. Around 7:30 pm, my phone rang, "Are you ready? I'll be arriving in fifteen minutes." My knight in shinning armor pulled up in a brand new black Audi, he told me he had just purchase the vehicle for himself to take back home. I was thinking to myself, he's catching a cab one minute, now he's the one picking me up in a brand new Audi. The night is off to a good start already. 


    "I'll be catching an early flight leaving out on Sunday", he said. I would like to spend more time with you before I leave. It was Friday night, we were having a blast on our date. I was all to pleased that he wanted to see me again. We were having dinner and dancing at this jazz spot in the Galleria, that is the area where most international travelers like to visit. Especially those with money. After we left Sullivan's, we headed Uptown to the Tasting Room, where we sat outdoors and sipped on fine wine. The mood was great, the atmosphere was perfect, and he was the perfect gentlemen. I constantly kept pinching myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming or something. This was too good to be true. Did God truly send this terrific guy my way? I prayed, and longed to have a man like him. He was the total package, good looks, hard worker, financially secure, and he embraced my child as if she was his own. But there is something to be said when you combine alcohol with drugs: the mix can be deadly. He was my drug of choice, and after all that wine tasting, I was under the illusion that I thought I knew all those things about him. In fact, I didn't know anything, other than he spent money well, and that was all I knew. The night was coming to an end. That was the best date I had in such a long time, as he pulled up to my apartment complex, we sat in his vehicle staring at one another in total silence. Although he did not speak, his heart was telling me as he moved closer to my lips, "You are the one who will bear my children. You are flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bones. I am forever yours, and you are forever mines, two hearts beating as one."


    The first hit is usually the one that get you hooked. There is nothing like that first high, and oh did he have me soaring, I was so high that I kissed God for sending him my way. But I'm not speaking about sex, that came later on his second visit to the States. This guy had me on a mental orgasm high. He set the perfect trap, and silly me was too far gone to realize that he was on a mission. My knight in shinning armor, soon became the rider on the horse. The enemy had a plan to seek, kill, and destroy. Satan took me high on the mountaintop, and presented me with everything I needed and wanted. I made a choice that backfired, and nearly cost me my life. Stay Tune...




Written By: LaTarsha Preciado
All Rights Reserved©