1 The Stalker Within

Karen was always to busy to date, being that she always dated married men. She loved the fact that a man was married when she would meet them, because this way there were really no strings attaching them. Now Karen lives in Houston,Texas no kids the middle child. Her skin tone is a smooth bronze and hair a natural wavy coiled down her back. Height 5"6"and she's a thick curvy woman. Beautiful who owns every inch of her beauty. She works at a known law firm downtown. This is how she meets the men she dates.

Fast forward to this particular friday Karen was in her office getting ready for a murder trail where she knew her client was guilty, but she found that she could get him off, so she was going to make this an early day. While wrapping up her paperwork the receptionist buzzes in and says"Um Ms. Lattimore you have a package at the front desk!" Karen answers back "Okay Candice I'll be there shortly." On her way out of the office Karen directs Candice to take a message on all calls and to only call her if there's an emergency. So Candice says"wait here's your package." It was a beautiful edible arrangement with a card that says From your admirer. Now that could be anybody, but Karen had not been dating for awhile now.

On the walk to her Mercedes Benz SUV that was parked in number 315 slot she looked puzzled. On the ride home she stops at her God mother's home to share this mysterious thought of who was the mystery man. Knock knock on the beautiful colorful etched glass wooden door. A voice singing I'm coming came from a room close to the door. Now Rica was listening to Prince's purple rain. She invited Karen in and says have a seat and what's wrong? You know you only pop up when there's something wrong. Are you okay? Karen says"yes I'm okay, it's just that I got this arrangement from ,well I haven't a clue!" I haven't been on a date in months. Rica answered well you are special enough for someone to send this huge arrangement to. Looking more in a dazed Karen decided to leave the arrangement for Rica and her daughter, because they loved fruit.

On the long drive home Karen let her sun roof back so her hair could blow in the wind. The traffic was horrible on highway 59 South. The moonlight was beautiful glowing on her skin. Finally making it home she could hear her dogs barking, since they knew the sound her truck made. Once inside kicking off her heels and putting her black Louis Vuitton briefcase down on the couch. Walking over to her sliding patio door to let the dogs out she could not get her mind off of the mystery man. After showering and eating a Mediterranean salad she drinks a warm cup of chamomile tea. Watching the news for the weather only she gets up from the table washes her dishes and goes into the bedroom with her cup of hot tea. Gently placing the mug on a coaster on the immaculate nightstand that only had a lamp on it. Karen turns on the lamp and goes back in the den to go turn off the television,and go back in the bedroom and turn the television on in the bedroom trying to not miss the weather. While waiting for the weather and sipping her hot tea she began to feel better and relaxed. She had all weekend to think on who could have sent the arrangement. She had gotten flowers and even chocolate and cookies but never an edible arrangement.

It's Saturday morning the birds are chirping and the sun is shining. She calls her one and only friend her bestie Brandy. They decide to go have lunch at a local restaurant Boudreaux. While waiting for their order Karen tells Brandy about the gift. Brandy reassures her that she's special to someone. They enjoy their lunch and leave the restaurant. While walking to their vehicles a man walking to the entrance tells Brandy she is beautiful which she was. They looked at each other and laughed out loud hugged each other said goodbye and got in their vehicles.

The weekend goes bye now it's Monday morning and driving to work beating the traffic now driving into the parking garage to #315's spot. Getting out of the shiny black Mercedes Benz SUV. Karen closes the door checks her hair and starts walking when the parking attendant says Ms. Lattimore there was a tall well dressed gentleman asking questions about you. Karen replies"what sort of questions?" The parking attendant replied " like what floor is your office on." Now Karen is thinking that this might be an eager ex. She says okay and starts to walk off. Once off the elevator Candice says "good morning beautiful, and she replies good morning. Directs Candice to hold all calls so she could prepare for the trail in a few days.

Two weeks has gone by and nothing. No flowers, no chocolates, no nothing. Walking to her car leaving the office late Wednesday night there was a note on her windshield. It read I know you've been seeing my husband and I am warning you to stop. Karen knew she hadn't been with anyone in months. Now could it have been Lamar who was a doctor. Or could it have been Justin who worked at a chemical plant at the Port of Houston, or could it be Brock an attorney in the office downstairs in the building she worked in. All of these were men she had dated and they were unhappily married.

Weeks turned into months without notes or gifts. One weekend Brandy calls and asks about the mystery man. Karen replies I still don't have a clue, but tells Brandy about the note. Now Brandy is the only person whom Karen confides in. Brandy advise Karen to be careful and to stop dating for awhile and change her personal number. All of this Karen does, and thinking it all happens on Friday's. Today was Fridayday and still nothing. She thinks to herself maybe whoever got right with their wife. Hmm yes that's why things have been so quiet. She began to feel relieved and went on with daily activities. The trial was over and another win for the firm. Everyone in the office was happy. This was another early Friday for Karen since her boss told her to take the rest of the day off. She was estactic and called Brandy and they met at a local high end spa for the works. Massage, facials, and manicure and pedicure. Afterwards Brandy says I needed that girl, thanks. On the drive home Karen couldn't do nothing but relax after a well deserved treat to herself. At home Karen showered watched the news for the weather and retired to the bedroom. Snuggled under the satin comforter she fell right asleep. She jumped up thinking it was Monday morning,and it was 3am Saturday morning. Telling herself girl go back to bed..you got to do better. She turned on the TV and only to see fatal attraction the movie. She watched it till her eyes were heavy so she turned it off and fell back asleep. Only to be waken up by the shatter of glass and the alarm going off. Now it's 4:38am Saturday and the cops are driving up. They made it there quick. The cops searched and no one was in sight, but they did find a brick with another note reading" you think it was over but it's just beginning." Officer Jacobs asked ma'am do you have any enemies. Karen says"umm not that I can think of. The officer gives Karen the incident report number, and advises Karen to put curtains on the windows. She lived in a gated community and whoever just got through. This didn't sit well with her. She got the window fixed and put a wrought iron fence around her house and motion sensor cameras. She had 3weeks vacation time and decided to take it and go to the Bahamas.She booked the flight and left Monday morning.

Arriving at the private Villa Karen called Brandy to let her know she made it, and to tell her what happened. She tells Brandy that she is having her house packed up and will moved to a condo. Brandy tells her to relax and not to think about what happened. Karen takes her advice and decides to go for a swim. She stays the entire 3 weeks and loving every minute of it.

Back in the U.S. she arrives at the airport and locates her luggages and finds her car. She calls Brandy and tells her she made it back safely. Several weeks go by and Karen starts to feel sick so she goes to the doctor and finds out she 3 and a half months pregnant, but for who was the question. She didn't hesitate and made an appointment for an abortion. She took an extra week off. She had the procedure and went to the doctor by herself. She told the nurse's that she got dropped off.

Back at the condo she really hadn't had a chance to unpack, but her bedroom was together. She climbed in bed and fell asleep.

Only to awake in pain,she reached on the nightstand and took her prescribed medications.

It's Tuesday and her day to return to work. Karen parked her car on the roof and not in her spot and drove her 2seater Audi. She rarely drove the Audi to work. The parking attendant said "oh Ms. Lattimore I didn't see you pull in the garage and I love your perfume your wearing." Karen says thank you and thinking nothing of it, and proceeds to walk to the elevator. While at the elevator the attendant makes small talk and starts asking questions about Karen's personal life,and ask to take her to lunch sometime. She quickly turns him down with no explanation. He began popping up by the elevator to wait for her to come to work. So she began parking in the next building and walking to the side door of her building. The attendant thought she was on vacation again.

Karen did this for a few months and decided to go back to the old routine and park in #315 spot. When she got to the office Candice handed her 3 messages from Brock, Lamar, and Justin. All of them wanted to see her. She shredded the messages. Her boss buzzed in and asks her to report to his office. She did he asked her was she okay because she was distant, she tells him she's okay. He asks her to dinner, and she accepts. She knows he's married and after dinner she invited him back to her condo. He accepts and asks what happened to your house. She thought for a minute and then remembered she never told anyone but Brandy.

It was me he explained. It was me who sent the edible arrangements and it was me who wrote the note and threw the brick. I knew security would let me through since I had been here before. Karen I'm in love with you and want you for myself.